I have an annual 4th of July party. It has grown over the years and we usually have it the weekend before or after the 4th. Depending on my work schedule. We have a BBQ, games for the kids, free beer, live music, and a fireworks show at dark. This year I added a new feature that went over really well. I will have it every year from now on. I took a section of our property and roped it off and built a shooting range. It was 75 yards and I set up targets and backboards. We had a shooting competition. Shotgun, shooting 3x5 index cards at 15 yards. Most holes in the card wins. Then pistol. .22 SA revolvers, shooting ballons and clay pigeons at 25 yards. Then .22 rifle at 50 yards shooting spinner targets with a shoot off on a dueling tree to determine the winner. We had trophys made for the winners. My daughter won the shotgun compitition. It was a lot of fun. We had a lot of young, first time shooters. Several of the guests were from the city and had no where to shoot so I opened it up for anyone to shoot after the competitions. I have to find a longer run to build a permanent range. I had to rope this area off and will take it down eventually. I had John Wayne guard the entrance so no one crossed the firing line. We had about 80 people at the party and probably 25 shooters. We invited all the nieghbors. I met my newest neighbor who just bought a horse ranch down the road. He's a retired Marine Corp sniper and was a mercenary in Africa for years. He helped me run the shoot and is going to come over and shoot with me on the range. Hell of a nice guy and a great nieghbor to have. Next year I hope to have some Monkeys there!!
that's pretty cool, MM. I do about the same thing except no guns. I would love to shoot but my wife's family are a bunch of heavy drinkers and I keep the arms locked down.
You can't see it in the pictures but there is a "Range Rules" sign posted and the first rule is "No Alcohol allowed on the range". The drinking comes after the shooting.
Breakfast mimosas here, then wine and margaritas before lunch. By early afternoon, they are asking for guns but mean to shoot one another.
That looks like an outstanding time, sorry I missed it. Balloons always go over well with young shooters. Gives them instant gratification. Good job!
Sounds like a blast! Some friends and I went shooting at my In-law's range. After we were done, I started to teach a young lady (friend of my wife) how to shoot. I started her off with my Walther P-22 and suppressor. We fired about 250 rounds until it got too dark to see the target well. After that is was beers and a bonfire. You gotta love the US of A! BTW, I love the John Wayne poster! It's the little things like that, that people remember the most.
My wife found that at a party store. I balked at using it at first, thought it was kinda corny but she won out. I had lots of people comment on it. My friend is a retired Marine Corp Sgt. and Vietnam Vet, he wanted it to put in his office so I gave it to him.
