I'm gonna talk about Zombies (intelligently?)

[mshootnit]

Back in the 1970's when my Dad was just trying to put food on the table and presents under the tree (which wasn't easy then) he took this shooting thing pretty serious. He reloaded powder charges to the individual piece of powder, let alone +- one tenth of a grain. And he practiced, each coyote was worth 85 dollars to a man that knew how to sew up the bullet hole, clean and stretch the hides. These guns were for serious. Whistle Bang Flop. If you don't know what I am talking about move on. Plinking was the fun; trying to hit an occasional beer bottle put far out on a hill (400 yds).
Fast forward to today's crazy world. There are zombie shooters everywhere but no zombies other than the fun loving folks "crawling around" at an unrelated annual event in Denver. To me this whole thing kind of demeans the riflemen of old who depended on guns for real survival. Now are they toys to satisfy an urban video game fantasy? Instead of zombie killing events, why not have some running coyote silhouette shoots, or moving moose targets like in Sweden? Why not devote the time to something more useful like improving hunting skills... instead of shooting at fictional characters. When did we shift as a culture from preparing for hunting and practical things to just playing with our money? Is it lack of hunting ground or connection with nature? Or are we just more centered on shooting at people (terrorists/zombies) instead of animals these days?

 

[Rail Driver]

I think it has more to do with how we're raised now. Things (in my opinion) have gone seriously downhill since the government took over childhood education. Even before that there was significant evidence of "the times they are a'changin", primarily due to more people living in larger cities vs. in the old days when more folks lived on and worked their land.

Kinda hard to hunt 'yotes and moose in downtown Detroit.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

They do have zombie moose targets you know....

 

[hso]

When did we shift as a culture from preparing for hunting and practical things to just playing with our money?

'60s and then further in the '90s

The percentage of the population that farms has nearly shrunk to an incidental group using technology to offset labor. The same for fishing. Why would hunting be any different?

 

[dbro822]

I remember how mad my mom got when she caught dad and I "fluffing" up coyote hides in the dryer few days before we took the to the buyer. Those were fun days as a young dumb kid, looking back at how hard my father work during the summers back then starting out his own construction business, going out coyote hunting was so much fun for me, and was a great way for him to make a little extra money during the slow months.

 

[zorro45]

Hunting is a lot harder, and the marksmanship is but a small part of it, it requires planning, fitness, foresight to line up areas to hunt, patience, perseverence, fortitude to handle environmental challenges of bad weather, injuries, and your gear, arms, vehicle, and dogs (if you have them) need to be in good shape. In addition, in some states, you need a law degree just to understand all the gun and hunting regulations. Not to diminish the skills of competitors in non-hunting events, but they lack many of the elements that make hunting "special."

 

[mshootnit]

here' s a curious fact: The Burris "Eliminator" is marketed with that name here in the US and with the grim reaper on the tube. As if we need to "eliminate" our deer. The same scope in Europe is marketed as the "Ballistic Laser Scope". Why the difference? Is it because the "Eliminator" moniker alienates the tastes of our European friends? If this is the case I for one understand why.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Having done a 'zombie' themed shoot this past month I'll chime in. It wasn't much different than other IDPA or IPSC style matches. It was meant to be run n gun.. wasn't really 'tactical' (as you didn't have to use cover). It was still fun and informative.

There ARE gun games that make you shoot on the move, load behind cover, try to use concealment etc. Esp. in Colorado.

Many rifle matches lean towards the tactical high capacity semi automatic rifle, but practice is practice. Sometimes you don't know the exact range of a given target. Sometimes you don't read the wind as well as you thought. Banging a gong at 300 + yards isn't quite the same as a heart shot on a skulking coyote, but there are few ranges available with MOVING targets at range.

I suggest you take a look in our competition section and find a gun game that suits you--many match directors are willing to let you 'run what you brung' to get a feel for it the first time.

Or you can spend more time hunting coyotes. Nothing replicates hunting like actual hunting and you can harvest coyotes year round in Colorado.

I can't get out and hunt as much as I used to, but I have made time in the past several years to shoot a competitive match of SOME kind 1x a month March-October. Which is far more shooting than I did when I was 'just hunting'.

EDIT: The majority of folks participating in the zombie crawl aren't gun folks or preppers they are just people having a good time at a big costume party. The 'real' cross-over percent of the zombie community and shooting is rather small. However I will say this (as much as I am beginning to loathe zombie themed bright green everything) any thing that gets people involved in shooting and the RKBA can't be all bad. Nor can 'emergency preparedness in general be a bad thing.

 

[mshootnit]

I remember how mad my mom got when she caught dad and I "fluffing" up coyote hides in the dryer few days before we took the to the buyer. Those were fun days as a young dumb kid, looking back at how hard my father work during the summers back then starting out his own construction business, going out coyote hunting was so much fun for me, and was a great way for him to make a little extra money during the slow months.

Thats a good one!

 

[gpurp]

I would venture to say that a lot of gun owners are completely disconnected from the land meaning they have a firearm for home defense and shoot at a range but are not really the hunter/outdoorsman type. They have little connection with animals in the wild.
I think the whole zombie thing is a giant metaphor representing the crazy world we live in today. Its kind of like the whole invaders from outer space thing started in the 50's. So the zombie and alien becomes the monsters under everyones bed that can be easily related to.

 

[mshootnit]

I am going to get off my high horse and get some z's thanks for your replies.

 

[leadcounsel]

Natural evolution of SciFi. This isn't recent... Zombies have been lore for centuries, and popularized by modern movies getting big starting in the 1960s...

I truly think Zombies are the combonation of:
1) Scifi
2) Survival
3) Breakdown of civilization - kind of a big "reset"
4) Darwinism type of anarchy
5) Guns
6) Hunting
7) Anti-government folks
8) Zombies and Nazis are the only acceptable things you can shoot!
9) Video games
10) Shooting 'yotes and varmints just isn't as cool as YOU think it is. It's actually depraved.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Is there still a market for coyote hides in these "fur is murder" days?

The zombie stuff is a very curious bit of culture that someone smarter than me will need to sort out, at least when it rises to the point of people buying firearms, other weapons, and otherwise prepping for the possibility. That aside, though, I don't know what percentage of firearms owners will never use any firearms for hunting, but I suspect that it's getting to the point where that's the majority of the demographic.

 

[wacki]

As for going your standard nature route, I don't hunt. I just don't feel right about shooting something that's not attacking me. So the idea of shooting Moose, deer, etc simply does not appeal to me. I actually get sad when I see a magnificent animal such as a moose get shot. If others do it, fine. I understand the whole balance of nature thing. I love the outdoors. But the outdoors is a symbol of peace and tranquility for me and I want to keep it that way (even if that dream is not accurate). It's where I go to escape my busy life.

I could shoot imaginary criminals... but I'm not really into that either. That could be someone else's kid being a mischievous teenager, someone that's hungry, etc. Criminal's aren't always black and white. Plus there's the thought of dealing with lawyers and convincing a jury it was self defense. Yuck!

As someone that has lost count of the number of days spent in Biosafety level 2 & 3 labs.... I'm a sucker for the end of the world story lines. I'm very familiar with just how nasty some of this stuff can get. End of the world scenarios are very real to me.

Zombies, unlike criminals... are simple. Humans are the good guys, Zombies are the bad guys. Shoot them and ask questions later. No lawyers, no jury and best of all nobody cares. What could be simpler and more guilt free than that? In this complex world filled with shades of gray, I appreciate a little simplicity every now and then.



.
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[Texan Scott]

The zombie apocolypse is real, and unfolding in Texas. They're pigs, over 3 million of 'em. "Assault" rifles are a good start, but may not be enough....

 

[Sam Cade]

That aside, though, I don't know what percentage of firearms owners will never use any firearms for hunting, but I suspect that it's getting to the point where that's the majority of the the demographic.

Last figures I saw put the percentage of Americans who hunt at around 5%. The Archery Trade Association puts bowhunters at 1.4% and falling. Most bowhunters are also shooters.

 

[DNS]

I enjoy the heck out of the zombie genre and see nothing wrong with it. Gave up hunting years ago but still enjoy putting holes in zombie Bob.

I won't do anything to discourage the younger guys from shootings sports and if zombies get them into shooting so be it. My concern is the old farts don't get it and drive people off. I've actually seen range officers do that much to my disgust.

 

[DammitBoy]

There is also the idea that "zombies" is a euphemism for real live looters and criminals after your property in the aftermath of an actual catastrophe.

By dehumanizing these people, it makes it easier to talk about shooting them, should the need arise.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I don't hunt because I have to eat or make money from it. I have a decent income and choose to waste a portion of it on guns and ammo, though.

 

[tarosean]

The 'real' cross-over percent of the zombie community and shooting is rather small.

With the amount of zombie guns and gear showing up now-a-days. I am guessing it's a larger percentage than you think.

Its not something I would ever be into, but I don't fault anyone who does it. I guess it's no different than "Cowboys and Indians" when I was a youngster.

 

[Njal Thorgeirsson]

I think there are two main types of shooting- Shooting for sport and shooting for entertainment. In the old days, most shooting obviously fell under the sport category, and it was often to put food on the table or make money etc etc. Nowadays, there are far more reasons to shoot. Some shoot because they like video games, some shoot because they want to collect firearms, some shoot to support american freedoms, and plenty of people shoot just because its a lot of fun. I don't really see how the zombie stuff falls outside of that "entertainment" category. Its just a way to have some silly fun, and add a little more interest to the hobby. Besides being misunderstood by a lot of people (on both sides of the argument), i don't really see a difference between zombie stuff and any other are of entertainment shooting.

Also, I'd like to point out that hunting is not particularly accessible to those who don't have hunters in the immediate family (me included). It's not really accessible at all, especially if you've never hunted before, and weren't ever taken as a kid. And I think that's becoming a more frequent scenario. For me, shooting is a great hobby, and a great excuse to get outdoors. I shoot because its fun (but I think the zombie stuff is really goofy). I have no reason to "improve hunting skills" because hunting isn't something that's easy for me to just get up and go do.

 

[maskedman504]

10) Shooting 'yotes and varmints just isn't as cool as YOU think it is. It's actually depraved.

Depraved- dpraved/diˈprāvd/Adjective: Morally corrupt.

Synonyms: corrupt - vicious - rotten


Shooting coyotes is morally corrupt?

 

[il_10]

By golly, anyone who doesn't shoot in a way I find pure and true shouldn't be allowed to do so at all! We should, at least, endeavor to dissuade anyone from joining in our hallowed ranks if they don't prove themselves to be firearms purists of a breed that has never existed except in our own minds.

I don't mean to be hostile, and I don't mean this as a jab to the OP or anyone else, but I've seen this argument come up for zombies, tactical shooting sports like three gun, etc. all the way up to "assault rifles" and NFA gear. It's a fudd argument, and one that ultimately undermines what we're trying to do here, which is preserve the RKBA.

I'll qualify this. I'm a hunter. I'm a collector of, mostly, classic and antique firearms, most of which are from around the wwI-wwII era or earlier. My guns are, for the most part, blued steel with wooden stocks, but that doesn't mean I bought the majority of them for hunting. My luger makes a terrible deer piece. My IJ top break is even worse, and isn't even all that collectible. It is, however, cool, in my eyes. Somebody else wants to plink at zombies with a glock? I don't see how that's different.

Besides, ammo's cheaper nowadays than it's ever been, so it's much easier to shoot purely for enjoyment. Besides, I work for every dime I make, and I don't make many. If I want to spend them launching mortars at zombie targets filled with neon-green water balloons I should be able to do so, as long as it doesn't infringe on anyone else's rights.

Shooters are shooters. People supporting RKBA are people supporting RKBA. If you want a pre-64 winchester, a kimber 1911, a glock, or an uzi, you're alright with me. What you're shooting and why doesn't matter in the least.

 

[TAKtical]

I used to think that zombie prepping was ridiculous until someone pointed out to me that its not really something specific to zombies. Its really SHTF prepping. Its not uncommon for normal people to have extra food and water put aside for emergencies. And who here doesnt stockpile ammo when they can? Let me also point out that zombie targets encourage better accuracy. You can only kill a zombie with a headshot right? Im not a zombie fanatic but ive shot zombie targets before. They have targets with tannerite that explodes when you shoot it. I honestly dont care what targets people shoot. If it makes it more fun for you, its a good thing. If its a gimmick that gets new shooters into the sport, its a great thing. I know some one is buying this stuff because companies keep making more of it. And on a side note, I cant stand the thought process that the RKBA has something to with hunting.

 

[Halal Pork]

Fads come and go. All you have to do is wait. I would say far more people are interested in self-defense or range fun versus hunting though. To each his own.