Ad Toepperwein

Ad Toepperwein is considered the greatest marksman of his time and, perhaps, the best trick shot gunman ever. ​

Toepperwein set 14 world records during the 36 years he toured the nation with this .22 caliber rifle. He became famous for the marathon exhibition held in 1907 at the Old San Antonio Exposition and Fair Grounds. Using three Winchester rifles, Toepperwein shot seven hours a day for ten consecutive days at 72,500 two-inch wooding blocks, each pitched to a height of 25 to 30 feet from a firing distance of 25 feet. Not knowing exactly how many blocks he would need for the occasion, he had only 50,000 blocks made, so his last 22,500 shots were at pieces of the original blocks! In ten days of shooting, he missed just nine times. ​

Toepperwein retired from shooting performances in 1945 but did not give up shooting until he was in his eighties. He died March 4, 1962, in San Antonio at age 92. Ad Toepperwein is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. ​