If I knew then, what I know now, I would have...

[sm]

Twenty-Twenty hindsight is so clear.

In the normal life cycle, one learns to crawl, then walk, then run.
Humans being human, have a tendency to want to run before they can walk in life endeavors.

There is much truth in the old adage that goes:
One learns from mistakes, it is less painful and less expensive if those mistakes are those of others.

It is also normal for those that have gone ahead, to pass forward to others, those things they have done, experienced, or observed, that if one were wise to heed the words, some mistakes could be prevented.

One cannot change people, places or things, only thing one can do, it change themselves in how they deal with life, on life's terms.
So one passes forward in hopes mistakes will be prevented from being made, the reality is accepting what the recipient actually does with what is shared and passed forward.

If they choose to accept and heed, or choose to ignore and ridicule, that is that person's choice, and they are responsible for their decisions and actions.

Shotguns and the use of shotguns , like anything in life, is a learning curve.
One has to crawl, then walk, then run, just a simple fact in life, there exists a natural order as to how life is.

Those with many years of shotgun use, have mistakes they can share , be these they made, experienced, or observed themselves , or those mistakes others made, experienced or observed and chose to heed these sharings.

The numbers on the calendar years roll by, new technologies come to be, new ideologies come in vogue, still the sun rises in the east, and sets in the west.


20/20 hindsight is so clear.

If I knew then, what I know now, I would have...

[Ghost Tracker]

Yeah, I wouldn't have spent $$ to buy a high-grade aftermarket pistol-grip stock for my "social" 870. While the pistol-grip looks tactical (I HATE that word) the truth is that as I put the new configuration through its paces I found it felt almost chunky & somehow awkward compared to a conventional synthetic stock. I've switched back...forever.

[Kingcreek]

If I knew then, what I know now, I would have...
Never sold that '69 chevelle, the Gibson SG guitar and Fender twin reverb amp, ...
I would have bought more old classic winchesters and brownings...

Mostly, I would have spent more time with quality folks, oldtimers like my Grandpa and others...

[Markbo]

Wow... I'm glad you narrowed it down only to shotguns! I have a long list of things I would have done differently! :D

Shotguns only:
Even Parkerized shotguns can and will rust. Easily.
Spend more time practicing BEFORE whatever the next season is.
Like all men deserve a nice .22 and a custom rifle in their stables, I think all men should have ONE high $$ shotgun. I shouldn't have waited so long.


Personally witnessed: Never... ever.... shoot a shotgun to clear the barrel of mud. :uhoh:

[TrapperReady]

I generally don't like to play the hindsight game. Too often, it minimizes the importance of the journey to focus on the destination.

For example, I could honestly say that I would have saved a whole heck of a lot of time and money if I'd gotten a custom-made Kolar and a year's worth of lessons from Dan Carlisle as soon as my neighbor first suggested I go out and shoot a round of trap with him.

However, that would have prevented me from experiencing the trying, learning, failing, trying again... ad infinitum that has gotten me to this point.

If you really push me on it though, the only thing I'd change if I could is that I would have bought a heck of a lot bigger safe.

[kentucky_smith]

the only thing I'd change if I could is that I would have bought a heck of a lot bigger safe.

Just buy more safes. Whole lot easier to move and you can coordinate: Rifles, Shotguns, Smiths, Colts, Brownings... :D

[sm]

TrapperReady wrote:
I generally don't like to play the hindsight game. Too often, it minimizes the importance of the journey to focus on the destination.

Wise words and worth reading and truly understanding.

[Robert Hairless]

We can look back on our mistakes, understand what we did wrong, and employ what we've learned from the past as guides in the journey. Otherwise we risk repeating the same mistakes, always going down the same unprofitable path, never getting anywhere of interest except by accident. The road always leads to the same place but there are so many enjoyable ways to get there and so many different kinds of people to meet along the way. There's the real fun of it.

[Big Boomer]

I've only got one thing that really comes to mind. It's not about what I should have bought, or what I shouldn't have it's about one thing that will ruin your life forever...

I would have never said "hearing protection?!?! we don't need no steenkin hearing protection!!!"

Well not really like that, but if I would have known then what I know now, I would have doubled and tripled up if possible! The tinnitus is a real added bonus as well...

I'd give quite a lot to have my hearing back.

3 words people, 3 words...

Being Deaf SUCKS!

[chris in va]

I bought a Knoxx SpecOps stock for my HD/range 500. Long story short I should have bought the CompStock as I couldn't hit a darn thing at the range with the other one.

If the gun was STRICTLY home defense, I would have kept it. But I like to practice clays (which I feel helps) and it just wasn't happening.

[wileycoyote]

What was the problem with the Knoxx?

[evbutler462]

BB, I know what you mean about hearing loss. I started off my adult life in the military shooting 40mm AAA and quad 50s at drone targets. Then went into the USAF where I was exposed to the high whine of the JT-3 jet engines for extended periods. I spent 30+ years in LE. Back in the late 1950's, early 60's I did a lot of shooting. Now have tinnitus and loss of hearing in my left ear, some in the right. Sometime in the 1980s, it was brought to our attention that we needed to wear hearing protection. I laughed at them. But it was required.

Retired, went to work as a security manager at a large company. They gave me a hearing test. I flunked it but good. Only then did I realize that I was constantly asking people to "say again". They allowed me to stay but I had to give it up. I can hear some but can't understand what peolpe are saying.

Wear hearing protection! I learned too late.

[PJR]

Hindsight is 20/20 but here goes:

I would have got shooting lessons sooner.

I would have gone through a proper fitting session sooner.

I would have bought a Perazzi even if I had to borrow the money. The constant switching of guns didn't improve my shooting but it was educational and fun.

All of these fall into the "better late than never category" but I hope someone can learn by my experience. :)