This is Part 2 of "Shooting Illustrated" freelance writer Art Merrill's piece "Open Range Day Experience: The AR15."

Ryan's motivation is “just coming out and doing something that's not readily available,” he said. After a moment's thought he added, “I like being active and busy around other people with disabilities. I like showing able-bodied people I can still be active in the community.”

Don Price enjoyed his second year here shooting Open Range Day.

“I was a hunter 28 years ago, before my injury,” he said. “I really enjoy doing what I did before. A couple of us are talking about getting a group together for some regular air rifle shooting.”

Scott Hassel of Mesa, AZ grew up a waterfowler and small game hunter, but hadn't picked up a firearm in years. Only 15 months ago he suffered an injury that makes a wheelchair necessary for mobility. Scott's motivation to shoot again comes from seeing others tackling that same challenge.

“I'll try anything. Before my injury I wasn't so much that way,” he said. “But I look at what some of these guys are doing from the chair...” He trailed off and shook his head in admiration at the other shooters around him.

The volunteers today are equally as admirable. “There about as many as there are shooters,” Vanessa said. Among them, I found champion Long Range shooters Nancy Tompkins and Michelle Gallagher, members of the Phoenix cowboy action group “Dusty Bunch,” and even a handful of kids, who helped prepare lunches and sweep up the copious amounts of brass left by the shooters.

The brass is from cartridges very generously provided by Remington and Lapua. This event is receiving the support of a lot of names in the industry that you know well. I'll share more with you on that in the next posting. Gotta run to the next event...