Great day today

[jfolanddvm]

So, for a little background: my in laws moved from MT to TX about 18 months ago to be closer to family - all their kids and grandkids live here. The property they purchased has an open area that allowed me and my son to build a shooting range where we can shoot from 50 yards to 1000 yards, all from the same bench. We welded a metal frame and poured a concrete top bench and covered it so we could shoot all year long. Near the end of July 2020, just as we were about to finish it, my FIL was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, a week before his 78th birthday. He had to have a port placed to receive chemo, and tho he asked them to put it on the left side so he could continue to shoot, when he woke up from anesthesia, they had put it on the right upper pectoral region close enough to his shoulder that he thought he might not ever be able to shoot anything more than a 22. I don't think any of the doctors expected him to make 6 months, but on August 1st of this year, we celebrated his 79th birthday. He never had the chance to shoot long range before he was diagnosed and then, because of how things went down, he thought he might never get the chance. Today, he was feeling good enough to go shoot and when I asked him if he wanted to try shooting the 6.5 at long range, he said "sure, why not?" After making sure he was still zeroed at 100, we dialed up and he hit steel with his first shot at 500, the farthest he had ever shot. We then dialed it up for 1000, and after a miss due to my bad wind call, he was able to connect twice in a row! Although we have initiated 14 other family and friends into the thousand yard club at this range, today was by far the sweetest one ever - a 79 year old lifelong hunter and shooter that had never shot much past 300 yards, and who had all but written off the thought that he ever would.
Sorry to run off at the mouth so badly, but I wanted to share this special moment with someone, and not many would understand my excitement as well as the shooters and good folks on this site.

 

[huntsman22]

good stuff, fella....

 

[steel2]

That was a great job at coaching and kudos to the old hunter/shooter

 

[gillettehunter]

Good job and great memories.
Bruce

 

[J-B welder]

Out-friggin-standing, mister! Thanks for sharing.

 

[trustyrusty22]

Nice job! I'm sure it was a happy memory for the old hunter.

 

[tribb]

So, for a little background: my in laws moved from MT to TX about 18 months ago to be closer to family - all their kids and grandkids live here. The property they purchased has an open area that allowed me and my son to build a shooting range where we can shoot from 50 yards to 1000 yards, all from the same bench. We welded a metal frame and poured a concrete top bench and covered it so we could shoot all year long. Near the end of July 2020, just as we were about to finish it, my FIL was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, a week before his 78th birthday. He had to have a port placed to receive chemo, and tho he asked them to put it on the left side so he could continue to shoot, when he woke up from anesthesia, they had put it on the right upper pectoral region close enough to his shoulder that he thought he might not ever be able to shoot anything more than a 22. I don't think any of the doctors expected him to make 6 months, but on August 1st of this year, we celebrated his 79th birthday. He never had the chance to shoot long range before he was diagnosed and then, because of how things went down, he thought he might never get the chance. Today, he was feeling good enough to go shoot and when I asked him if he wanted to try shooting the 6.5 at long range, he said "sure, why not?" After making sure he was still zeroed at 100, we dialed up and he hit steel with his first shot at 500, the farthest he had ever shot. We then dialed it up for 1000, and after a miss due to my bad wind call, he was able to connect twice in a row! Although we have initiated 14 other family and friends into the thousand yard club at this range, today was by far the sweetest one ever - a 79 year old lifelong hunter and shooter that had never shot much past 300 yards, and who had all but written off the thought that he ever would.
Sorry to run off at the mouth so badly, but I wanted to share this special moment with someone, and not many would understand my excitement as well as the shooters and good folks on this site.

So, for a little background: my in laws moved from MT to TX about 18 months ago to be closer to family - all their kids and grandkids live here. The property they purchased has an open area that allowed me and my son to build a shooting range where we can shoot from 50 yards to 1000 yards, all from the same bench. We welded a metal frame and poured a concrete top bench and covered it so we could shoot all year long. Near the end of July 2020, just as we were about to finish it, my FIL was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, a week before his 78th birthday. He had to have a port placed to receive chemo, and tho he asked them to put it on the left side so he could continue to shoot, when he woke up from anesthesia, they had put it on the right upper pectoral region close enough to his shoulder that he thought he might not ever be able to shoot anything more than a 22. I don't think any of the doctors expected him to make 6 months, but on August 1st of this year, we celebrated his 79th birthday. He never had the chance to shoot long range before he was diagnosed and then, because of how things went down, he thought he might never get the chance. Today, he was feeling good enough to go shoot and when I asked him if he wanted to try shooting the 6.5 at long range, he said "sure, why not?" After making sure he was still zeroed at 100, we dialed up and he hit steel with his first shot at 500, the farthest he had ever shot. We then dialed it up for 1000, and after a miss due to my bad wind call, he was able to connect twice in a row! Although we have initiated 14 other family and friends into the thousand yard club at this range, today was by far the sweetest one ever - a 79 year old lifelong hunter and shooter that had never shot much past 300 yards, and who had all but written off the thought that he ever would.
Sorry to run off at the mouth so badly, but I wanted to share this special moment with someone, and not many would understand my excitement as well as the shooters and good folks on this site.

Very special indeed not enough words to describe how you must feel is there? Tribb

 

[jfolanddvm]

No, sir, there are not.

 

[C170B]

Things like this.. Makes everybody feel good.... Great memories.. Thank You for sharing. Scott

 

[MagnumManiac]

That will be a great memory. Thanks for sharing your story. Gave me a smile.

Cheers.

 

[Reemty J]

You are an example of your purpose on this earth, we are to help others not just ourselves, HE designed us that wayWell done sir! Well done

 

[338 dude]

Made my day start off better just by reading your story ,great job!

 

[ButterBean]

You are an example of your purpose on this earth, we are to help others not just ourselves, HE designed us that wayWell done sir! Well done

Amen

 

[Riverguy]

Excellent story! Good on you. Thanks for sharing.