Newcomer Jon Pardi and Luke Bryan took part in the inaugural Tug McGraw Celebrity Sporting Clay Shootout at the Nashville Gun Club on Tuesday. Luke did pretty well, but Jon Pardi says he did pretty well, scoring an 84 (when Tim McGraw shot an 88). Jon grew up going hunting with his father, and this week, he used a shotgun he received when he was 12-years-old. “I got mine for free, and I’ve had since I was 12, and it’s a pump, and I was the only one shooting a pump shotgun,” Jon says. “So, I shot pretty good for having a tank as a gun, and it made me feel good to have that old gun…we were at a Ducks Unlimited dinner and I won it on a raffle, and so I kept it ever since. It’s been a good gun.” 

He was so happy to participate that he went to the gun range to practice and told us he now has a place to go when he’s in Nashville (which is rare). “. I was glad I found out something really fun to do in Nashville for like a hobby, is to go out there and shoot, so that was really fun.” 

The Shootout was organized by Tim’s brother Mark, to benefit the Tug McGraw Foundation, which supports medical care for the country’s veterans with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Jon, who is currently making his way up the country charts with his debut single “Missin’ You Crazy,” is on the road until Sunday, when he’s back in Nashville for his first official CMA Music Festival performance at Bridgestone Arena.

AUDIO: Jon Pardi talks about taking part in one of the first events of CMA Music Festival, the inaugural Tug McGraw Celebrity Sporting Clay Shootout at the Nashville Gun Club earlier this week. 

Jon Pardi (Tug McGraw Shootout) OC: …great cause. :16

“Once I found out I was gonna do that, I went out there [to the gun club] and practiced, ‘cause I wanted to know what I was gonna do. I was glad I found out something really fun to do in Nashville for like a hobby, is to go out there and shoot, so that was really fun. It was cool just to be included and it’s for a great cause.” 

Jon Pardi (Tug McGraw Shootout) 2 OC: …good gun. :25

“My gun is not, it’s an old…like all those guys were shooting high-dollar shotguns. I got mine for free, and I’ve had since I was 12, and it’s a pump, and I was the only one shooting a pump shotgun. So, I shot pretty good for having a tank as a gun, and it made me feel good to have that old gun…we were at a Ducks Unlimited dinner and I won it on a raffle, and so I kept it ever since. It’s been a good gun.”