[Min]

More so than long guns and shotguns. I just get that impression.

[Skunkabilly]

Threads:
Rifle Country 5114
Shotguns 1894
Handguns: General Discussion 1879
Handguns: Revolvers 2417
Handguns: Autoloaders 5211

Appears so. :) (skunky likes handguns)

[Preacherman]

Min, I think there are a number of factors influencing the answer to your question.

1. Our focus at THR is on the right to keep and bear arms, the Second Amendment, etc. This means that we're likely to be less interesting to dedicated single-focus hunters, shotgunners, etc. Most of us here, I think, shoot rifles, shotguns and handguns: but our participation in THR is for its overall emphasis, not a narrower focus on one type of weapon.

2. Since CCW is a major preoccupation with many of us, it's natural that handguns would be a dominant interest among members. I can't recall the last time I carried my Remington 870 in an ankle holster... :uhoh:

3. We've combined several fields of interest into a single forum. For example, we could divide "Shotguns" into repeaters, doubles, clay games, hunting, etc. We could split Rifles into centerfire, rimfire, long-range, sport, hunting, etc. Full-auto could also be spun off into its own forum. However, when THR was established, it was decided to prune extraneous forums by combining interests wherever possible. Initially we had only one "Handguns" forum, but by popular demand from our members, added the present "Revolvers" and "Autoloaders" forums, and converted "Handguns" to a general discussion forum for all types of handguns.

So, I can see why you might think that members here are more into handguns than long guns: but I don't think that's necessarily true. If enough people want to split up Shotguns or Rifles into more than one forum, and there's enough participation, I'm sure we'd consider that.

[Min]

Well, I also frequent AR15.com, and they are of course more into long guns. THR just seems to be a contrast to them.

Nothing wrong with that, though. I like handguns very much. But I have a slight favor toward my Remington 870 Police, my AR15, and my FAL right now.

[greyhound]

Guns, guns, guns - I love em all!:D

I check out all the forums, since I am always looking to learn.

I know the most, however little that may be, about handguns, so I am more likely to post there as opposed to just look....

[MaterDei]

That's only because handguns are so much more interesting.

[Brian Williams]

Yep, they are easier to haul around when living in the city. I get ugly looks or drooling looks from my blissninny or Boysndahood neighbors.

Also cheaper to load for.

[TallPine]

I think there's more variables involved in handgun shooting and carrying. And it takes a lot more practice to keep up any level of skill.

Take my 243 for instance: the last 3 rounds I fired from it were hunting - one last year and two this year (2nd shot to break the neck on a deer that was down but still looking around). No shots fired in the intervening year between deer seasons. So what's there to talk about?

[Hkmp5sd]

This forum is a cross section of America. In America, most firearm owners own a handgun and/or a shotgun for home defense.

I own more long guns than handguns, yet I shoot handguns far more often than the long guns.

[George Hill]

:D

[Kobun]

Preacherman,
I can't recall the last time I carried my Remington 870 in an ankle holster...

Maby not an ankle holster, but what about a cross draw?
http://www.holstersinternational.com/images/8710a.jpg
:D

[Skunkabilly]

I can't recall the last time I carried my Remington 870 in an ankle holster...
Preacherman, have you tried a good holster and a sturdy belt? Also, dressing around your shotgun won't hurt :neener:

[Cosmoline]

Handguns kind of bore me. I like them, but view them as backup "in town" weapons and fun guns. Part of it may be that many folks in the lower 48 can no longer find rifle ranges. We're much more urban as a society than we used to be, and urban means handguns.

[Stevie-Ray]

I am more into handguns than rifles or shotguns also, but I think there may be a benefit in this site being so into handguns.

As was said, this site is about the promotion of The Second Amendment. The anti-gun crowd is generally down more on handguns than any other type of arm. So it follows that the more interest we generate in this site, the more interest in handguns and sales of handguns will increase. The numbers of legal handguns will speak volumes to our elected officials. Even now, it seems the numbers of congressmen speaking out against the anti-gun crowd is increasing. Little by little, we are gaining ground, thanks in large part to handguns and interest in CCW.

[BryanP]

Preacherman says -
I can't recall the last time I carried my Remington 870 in an ankle holster...

Skunkabilly smarts off and says -
Preacherman, have you tried a good holster and a sturdy belt? Also, dressing around your shotgun won't hurt



That might work but it would require a different outfit, method of walking and a new accent.

<IGOR>
"Walk this way."
</IGOR>

On the bright side you could store extra ammo in the artificial hump. :neener:

[ARperson]

Definitely a "bias" towards the handguns. I noticed that right away, especially having spent a very long time over at arf.com.

[Standing Wolf]

I've to confess I don't own a shotgun, and the only rifle I have is a .22 caliber model I take to the range once or twice a year. Hand guns are far more challenging to shoot well.

[El Tejon]

We dazzling urbanites love firearms of all kinds! No discrimination here.:D

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

My personal preference is definitely handguns!:D Much
easier to handload for, and transport.:rolleyes: With all the
different makes and models, one can let their imagination
run wild!:uhoh:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Preacherman]

Hmmm... to take respondents in order:

Kobun: Strange habits you Norwegians have... must be the midnight sun that does it! :D

Skunkabilly: You said that "dressing around my shotgun won't hurt". If I carry in Kobun's cross-draw holster, would that make me a cross-dresser? :confused:

BryanP: I'm a pastor, I don't hump - err, I mean, I don't have a hump... :neener: :p :D

[Orthonym]

Modern times, I'm afraid. I recall how much I envied the foreman at a job I had once, when he spoke of shooting high-power rifles off the back porch of the house (safely) when a kid. Of course they didn't have municipal water and sewer lines, either, and the road to their place wasn't paved. Don't know if they had indoor plumbing.

[BamBam-31]

Start a poll. Handguns-to-longarms ratio.

For me, I have at least 2 longarms for every handgun in my collection. Those darn milsurps are prolific!

;) :D

[Kobun]

Preacherman,
Skunkabilly: You said that "dressing around my shotgun won't hurt". If I carry in Kobun's cross-draw holster, would that make me a cross-dresser?
Please don't make me laugh that hard again! :D
It's in the middle of the night here...

[Moparmike]

No no Preacherman. The line is "What hump?":D

Actually, I need to shoot all my guns alot more. I think I will over the winter break. Need more disposable income too, but heat in the car seemed more important. I know, I know, I really need to re-assess my priorities.

[Hal]

Well, I also frequent AR15.com,
Interesting.
One of the reasons THR is so handgun oriented came from an early schism with AR15.com over TFL (yes TFL not THR) not being "hard - line" enough.

Bear in mind, THR is really just an extension of TFL's latter years.

[Pappy John]

dressing around your shotgun won't hurt

At least not till you try to sit down.:D :D

[Balog]

I didn't know TFL had ever been associated with that "wretched hive of scum and villany" arf.com. Details anyone?

[gun-fucious]

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36377
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35264
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31791
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30526
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30489

[CZ-100]

I Love them All!!:evil: :evil:

[greyhound]

Part of it may be that many folks in the lower 48 can no longer find rifle ranges.

Thats a big part of it, at least around here. (Yes, I know that might seem strange that in a big anti-gun state, there's more handgun ranges).

Plus, the rifle ranges tend to get ridiculous for the 3 months of hunting season.

Most handgun ranges take up less room, and though some of them allow rifles in handgun calibers, that can be pretty boring limited to 50 yds (I took my scoped .22 to Continental Arms, and even having never fired a rifle before, was putting them all in the 10 ring after sighting it in).

Finally, this is the state wher some leftist chucklehead wanted a shotgun range in the DC area shut down because "the noise kept him from taking naps on the weekend". (The shotgun range has existed sine the 50s(?)).

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I own many more longarms (mostly rifles) than handguns, but I don't carry a rifle daily. I do carry a handgun daily, however.

I suppose my excuse is that I just haven't found enough handguns I want/covet enough to match them up one for one.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[Orthonym]

Didn't anyone read Pax's post on locking the Ammosaurus thread? I know it's late at night, and we don't have anything better to do (sleep? yeah me too) and all that, but could we try to be at least mostly non-silly and non-goofy? I mean, aren't we supposed to be discussing deadly weapons in the hands of private citizens and their influence on politics?

I tried to interject a little bit of rationality,and some provocation, in my post above, so as to stimulate discussion about how things have changed in the last 40 years or so. (I'm talking about urban sprawl, and how (and ONLY how) it reduces the number of places at which we can just go out and shoot cans, without having to ask permission, without getting in trouble with the Law, and without worrying about hurting anybody).


Edit: Closed a parenthesis I'd forgotten.

[Hal]

I didn't know TFL had ever been associated <snip> Pardon my lack of clarity. TFL and AR15 didn't have any formal association.
TFL was an entity unto itself. Rich (Lucibella) was from what I gathered,, a member of the old Compuserve forum. When they closed up shop, he kicked around the various web forums and for one reason or another, felt he could host a "more perfect union",,so to speak.

To be perfectly honest,,, he failed miserably in the first few weeks.

Earl Stewart ( of the original Knifeforums.com and Gunforums.com) started gunforums.com at almost the exact same time. Posters went to gf.com almost 5 to 1 over TFL for the first few weeks. TFL even went so far as to offer gifts as an incentive to posters (Ask George Hill,,IIRC he was the first winner). The reason for a lack of interest was fairly simple. If you go back and peruse the general forum in it's earlier form,,circa Fall 1998,,, you'll notice a lot of non -gun topics. It wasn't originally like that. In the beginning, it followed pretty much the rec.guns/compuserve format of heavy moderation. Anything,,and I mean ANYTHING, not 100% gun related was locked down immediatly. (Remember Geo. and his prize?)- What seemed to be the turning point of the lock-down was a "prize winning" thread about either who the posters were, or where they lived- forgive me for not remembering exactly - point is, it was marginal as far as being topical. That seemed to loosen the rules a bit, and TFL became a more relaxed atmoshpere. This bit of background is important in order to understand what follows.

TFL,,in it's early incarnation,,was an alternative. To be polite,,,the most popular on-line forums were a bit boisterous.. What TFL lacked mostly was a "soul" and an identity of it's own. If you go over to TFL and search the membership for the first ~ 6 months,,, you'll see a few names there that you see here. Maybe,,,50 or so. What changed that, was a post by one "Cornered rat" aka Oleg Volk.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=31817

If you read the original post, you'll notice that it has almost zero gun content (well as close to zero as you can get)
What followed, could best be descibed as a giving of a soul to TFL. TFL immediatly assumed the identity of "I dare you"- - "come and take them" - - "Molon Labe" - - "Hoka Hey". If I had to pick one definative thread, about what 4 years of TFL stood for, it would have to be that one. It defined a turning point in attitude - content - membership. After that point, if you browse the member list, the number of names familar to here virtually soars.

Where this ties in. - - Well, for the first few months,,,TFL was more of a refuge for defunct boards/defunct-displaced posters. It was open and susseptable to the influences of bo-rads such as Glock Talk - AR15 - Shooters, and any number of others...including Bladeforums.com. For any number of reasons, Rich didn't want TFL to be just another bo-rad. Of all the on-line forums, bladeforums.com probably matched TFL the closest in "personaity". The reason for that is pretty simple...most of the memebrs of BF were memebrs of TFL,,,Spark and Mike Turber hosted TFL at the time,,,Spark and Mike Turber had an enormous hand in launching TFL from a tech standpoint. The one big difference - BF was/is a commercial venture and Rich flatly stated that TFL would never have any,,,any,,commercial interest. (It's sad to note that this is probably one small reason TFL went light-out becuase of Rich's close ties with SWAT)(I'm 100% sure the drain on Rich's time was the biggest reason though).

How does all this fit inwith the topic? *shug* beats me :D I just started to respond and got all nostalgic :D and though some history as I saw it unfold would be interesting.

[280PLUS]

2 rifles
1 old shotgun
5 handguns

guess i'm leaning hangun at the moment

i may have to work on that,,,

:D

[MaterDei]

That is very interesting. Thanks for sharing it.

Blue Skies,

MaterDei

[Brian Williams]

6 S&W revolvers
1 Ruger Revolver
1 Taurus Revolver
1 Sistema 1911
1 Ruger MkII slabside
1 glock 19
1 1851 navy clone

2 Shotguns, Mod 1300 and old Rem 10

3 rifles
1 Mod 70
1 NEF
1 Mar1894c but it is in a handgun caliber



Yep I lean towards handguns

[Orthonym]

I understand your pardonable pride in bragging about the really cool weapons you all own, in duplication and multiplicity. May I please say (concurring with the new, tighter moderations on this board) that maybe we should try and get serious (raising the signal/noise ratio here, as the OWNER and Kaylee have suggested) about the really important issues.
(You know, things like who gets to shoot whom, and why, is it OK for govt people to shoot private people, but not otherwise, etc etc.)

Let's get serious here. I really am trying to help.