I shot a piece of brass once. About the third day of basic rifle training the Drill Sgt gave us ass chewing for being the worst shooting basic training class he ever had the displeasure of instructing. He then turn down range, walked the zero target rack, set his campaign hat on the rack, came back mumbling to himself the entire time. He said it was his favorite hat, given him personally by the post commander, but since we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. He lined us all up, gave us one round each in turn, telling us to take our best shot offhand. My turn comes up by which time he is laughing so hard he has tears running down is face. I take my shot, the hat goes flying. I can't repeat the string of expletives flow as he ran down range. He brings the hat back to the firing line with a hole in the brass disk about a quarter inch from center. Boy did a pay a price for that shot. Later, he called me over said well done Private, and asked where I learned to shoot. Thanks Dad.
