What's THE greatest day you ever spent at the range?

[jeepnik]

Any day with my dad or my sons. No matter the weather, the scores or anything else, a day with them was/is to be treasured.

 

[JR24]

The last one.

Naw, probably my first one actually. My grandpa taught me to shoot the .410 he would give me with my completion of hunter's safety.

I love that gun and look forward to sending on to my son once he gets old enough.

 

[tark]

I would have to say it was the day I fired that 4 bore elephant gun for the first time....and broke my collarbone because I wasn't holding it correctly and I ended up in the hospital.

You say?

Here's why. I met the most wonderful gentleman who owned the gun, collected them, and had hunted in Africa extensively. His name was Ray Meyer. He was a CPA and he did taxes for guys with names like Alioto who was once Mayor of San Francisco. Ray was in his seventies when I knew him almost 40 years ago. After recovering, I shot the 4 bore a couple more times, while holding it properly, standing, with your right elbow firmly tucked against your body. A step or two backwards was required. Don't fight the recoil, flow with it. I designed a logo for Ray, which he adopted and had made into a stamp for the return address on his letter correspondence. I'll post a pic tomorrow.

Ray invited me to his house and it looked like something out of a Playboy cartoon. Mounted Rhino heads and Elephant heads, lion skin rugs, Ivory tusks framing the door way (over 100 pounds a side). Zebra lampshades, elephant feet waste baskets, you name it, it was there. Ray had a machine shop in his garage, where he spent his retirement Turning 4 and 8 bore cases from 1/1/4 " brass rod. He was under licence from Holland and Holland and James Purdy and sons to repair their firearms. He had several priceless firearms in his collection, like a a handful of 4 bore single shot rifles. The one that broke my collarbone was a Thomas Bland & Son. There are only a handful of 4 bore single shot rifles in existence I seem to remember a 4 bore double rifle by James Purdy & sons. I think Ray said they only made two or three...

Anyway, the experience of meeting this man was unforgettable. Ray took me out for breakfast one day, and we talked for two hours. He was a good friend of Elmer Keith. He told me stories that would turn your blood to icewater. That Rhino mount over his fireplace was shot at about seven yards. It was charging. Ray hit it with an 1600 grain 8 bore bullet pushed by about 300 grains of 1F. The rhino dropped in its tracks. They found the bullet in the back end of the rhino after it destroyed just about everything inside. I begged Ray to write a book, but I don't think he ever did. I believe the gun writer Craig Boddington also knew Ray.

Actually, Ill post pics tonight.

 

[tark]

Pic # 1 is Ray, holding the 4 bore that broke my bone. Thirty five years ago. It weighed eighteen pounds, if I remember correctly. Pic # 2 is the markings on the barrel, I'm sorry they aren't more clear. Pic #3 is the 4 bore (the longer one) sitting next to a Holland and Holland Royal Grade 8 bore double rifle. The last pic is the logo I designed for Ray. I didn't cross out the address or phone number because Ray is gone, now, and the phone number is invalid.

 

[Bobson]

My best was probably the day I qualified expert, #1 in my class, back in 2012.

The only bad day I ever had at the range was when I was in basic training in 2004, qualifying with an M16 and M9. Both had failure after failure after failure, and I barely qualified at all. I grew up shooting and was always a great shot, and I went into that day with high hopes for shooting at or near the top of my flight, but it was the biggest letdown ever. Just stressful and annoying.

 

[claiborne]

The first time my son went with me a few years ago.