When did you get into firearms?
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jefnvk
Member
Don't remember a time without them
No_Brakes23
Member
My dad used to be a gunsmith before transitioning into being a Machinist/Tool & Die maker. Sometime around my 3rd birthday, (1977) I received a plastic 1911 replica with safety, removable loadable magazine, working slide, and little plastic cartridges that would fire a plastic bullet a short distance, and then eject the "brass" when you worked the slide. I loved that toy.
But they say the cobbler's children have no shoes, and so it was that I never fired a gun until I was almost 19. 5 rounds out of a 4" S&W Model 28 kicked so hard, I thought twice about trying my Series 70 1911. After all, I reasoned, 45 hundreths of an inch must kick harder than 38 hundreths, right? When I fired the .45, and that slabsided heavy frame soaked up all that recoil, I fell in love.
Didn't shoot again until I was at Edsen Range a few years later learing to fire the M16A2. Then aboard MCAS Yuma, I was trained to use the Marine Wingmasters in '99. Later that year, I experienced my first dove season.
After my kids were born, my borderline anti-gun wife decided that mommas need to know how to shoot so we got her a gun, and I taught her to shoot.
When my son turned 5, we practiced the four rules and some target shooting with a pellet gun. Now as soon as I find him a pistol he can fire, or a rifle with a short enough LOP, he will learn to shoot .22LR.
But they say the cobbler's children have no shoes, and so it was that I never fired a gun until I was almost 19. 5 rounds out of a 4" S&W Model 28 kicked so hard, I thought twice about trying my Series 70 1911. After all, I reasoned, 45 hundreths of an inch must kick harder than 38 hundreths, right? When I fired the .45, and that slabsided heavy frame soaked up all that recoil, I fell in love.
Didn't shoot again until I was at Edsen Range a few years later learing to fire the M16A2. Then aboard MCAS Yuma, I was trained to use the Marine Wingmasters in '99. Later that year, I experienced my first dove season.
After my kids were born, my borderline anti-gun wife decided that mommas need to know how to shoot so we got her a gun, and I taught her to shoot.
When my son turned 5, we practiced the four rules and some target shooting with a pellet gun. Now as soon as I find him a pistol he can fire, or a rifle with a short enough LOP, he will learn to shoot .22LR.
mainmech48
Member
My Dad started to teach my younger brother and I the basics of shooting and gun safety with the old Winchester ss .22 BA he had as a kid when I was eight.
When I was ten, his Iver Johnson ss .410 became mine, and I learned to hunt small game and quail with it. Dad, my uncles, some older cousins and I would gather almost every weekend during the season to tramp the woods and fields of Henry Co., MO.
I still have that old .410. Retired and sadly in need of restoration after nearly eighty years, it is my touchstone to the people and places of happier memory.
When I was ten, his Iver Johnson ss .410 became mine, and I learned to hunt small game and quail with it. Dad, my uncles, some older cousins and I would gather almost every weekend during the season to tramp the woods and fields of Henry Co., MO.
I still have that old .410. Retired and sadly in need of restoration after nearly eighty years, it is my touchstone to the people and places of happier memory.
Gus Dddysgrl
Member
I think Dad always had guns, but I didn't go shooting until my cousin was into them in his early teens. His interest resurfaced my dad's interest. Cause he talked about shooting out at his house we went one day and were shooting out there for a while. Now dad tries to go on his lunch breaks. I got more into them when I got older and was able to buy my own. Otherwise it was only when I could go shoot at my cousins that I would go.
Gus
Gus
Vern Humphrey
Member
I had a BB gun when I was about 6. My dad and mother were divorced at that time (they later got back together) and Dad worked in the oil exploration business. For two years he was in Ethopia, and collected quite a few antelope, a cheetah, and so on -- he was always a hunter.
Later on after they remarried we went to Peru. I had a pellet rifle there. Then we went to Egypt, where Dad was manager for operations in the Western Desert. We went to all the battlefields, and found among other things a BMW motorcycle, complete with side car and MG 32. We got both motorcycle and MG up and running, and the Egyptian Army confiscated the latter.
Later on, when I found a working Bren gun, I was more circumspect -- but Dad wouldn't let me try to smuggle it back into the states.
In '56, Dad retired and we ran about 250 head of cattle on 3,500 acres in Arkansas. I spent most of my time in the saddle, with a .30-30 in the saddle boot -- Dad's gun, but mine by adverse possession. I killed a lot of deer while out looking for cattle in the woods.
By the time I joined the Army, I had been using real guns for about a decade or so.
Later on after they remarried we went to Peru. I had a pellet rifle there. Then we went to Egypt, where Dad was manager for operations in the Western Desert. We went to all the battlefields, and found among other things a BMW motorcycle, complete with side car and MG 32. We got both motorcycle and MG up and running, and the Egyptian Army confiscated the latter.
Later on, when I found a working Bren gun, I was more circumspect -- but Dad wouldn't let me try to smuggle it back into the states.
In '56, Dad retired and we ran about 250 head of cattle on 3,500 acres in Arkansas. I spent most of my time in the saddle, with a .30-30 in the saddle boot -- Dad's gun, but mine by adverse possession. I killed a lot of deer while out looking for cattle in the woods.
By the time I joined the Army, I had been using real guns for about a decade or so.
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
Had a Daisy 881 when I was 7 and a Marlin Model 60 when I was 12.
fredcwdoc
Member
When I was 13 my uncle gave me a 03A3 that had been sportized by his father. Thing kicked like a mule at that age. After 38 years I passed it on to my 13 year old nephew who still thinks it kicks like a mule.
db_tanker
Member
I was 5 shooting cans with my dads old Marlin 22 semi...
I was 8 shooting cans with my dads Model 94 30-30 and my Stevens 410 Break-over
I was 10 shooting my Winchester 120 Ranger 20 gauge pump.
I was 17 and joined the Army to be in Armor...wanted the biggest gun I could get to shoot alot.
All I need now is to have a son to start the cycle over again as my dad would want me to.
Darrell
I was 8 shooting cans with my dads Model 94 30-30 and my Stevens 410 Break-over
I was 10 shooting my Winchester 120 Ranger 20 gauge pump.
I was 17 and joined the Army to be in Armor...wanted the biggest gun I could get to shoot alot.
All I need now is to have a son to start the cycle over again as my dad would want me to.
Darrell
Rockrivr1
Member
My Dad had firearms in the house for as long as I can remember. As kids we knew not to touch them and before long I had a nice new Crossman BB Gun. Oh how I loved to shoot that thing. While I was able to shoot with my dad as I was a teenager, it was only with long guns. I never shot a handgun until I qualified with a 38 and 45 when I was in the Navy.
Even after I got out of the military I still just shot long guns. It wasn't until my Uncle passed away in the early 90s that I got into handguns. Reason was is that my Uncle left me his S&W M15 that was his service revolver when he was a local LEO back in the late 60s. Then the handgun bug struck BAD!!!
I've been shooting anything I can get my hands on ever since then.
Even after I got out of the military I still just shot long guns. It wasn't until my Uncle passed away in the early 90s that I got into handguns. Reason was is that my Uncle left me his S&W M15 that was his service revolver when he was a local LEO back in the late 60s. Then the handgun bug struck BAD!!!
I've been shooting anything I can get my hands on ever since then.
gulogulo1970
Member
Bought my first shotgun the day I turned 18, my first handgun the day I turned 21.
My dad owned a revolver for family protection but didn't really like guns. So I had to take matters into my own hands.
My dad owned a revolver for family protection but didn't really like guns. So I had to take matters into my own hands.
Third_Rail
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Mostly recent exposure, as my folks aren't pro-gun at all. Basically, I've had an interest in firearms from the time I was 10 or so, then around age 16 I found this website. I registered soon after, and finally got to go to the range for the first time a year or so ago.
Feanaro
Member
I voted "in my teens". Still in them, actually. I knew there was a shotgun(I now know it is a Remington 11 in 20 gauge, 1948 production) in the house and I had been partially briefed on it by my father. The first part of this lesson was "don't touch it or I'll beat you back into the womb", the second was being shown the insides of a shotshell. Dad even lit the powder to show up what it was like. I didn't even think about touching it after that.
My younger brother and I had bugged our dad to taking us hunting since I was 9 or so. Things got in the way, lands closed, etc. But eventually my dad asked if I wanted a shotgun. I think I was 14. I had a working idea of how guns worked. But being curious I hit the net. Somehow along the way that morphed shotgun into an M48A. Then an SKS for the cheap ammo. Then a CETME, just because. And here I be, still without the shotgun. I'll fix that soon enough. Then I need a .357 revolver. Then a .45ACP semi-auto. Then a... 
My younger brother and I had bugged our dad to taking us hunting since I was 9 or so. Things got in the way, lands closed, etc. But eventually my dad asked if I wanted a shotgun. I think I was 14. I had a working idea of how guns worked. But being curious I hit the net. Somehow along the way that morphed shotgun into an M48A.
Then an SKS for the cheap ammo. Then a CETME, just because. And here I be, still without the shotgun. I'll fix that soon enough. Then I need a .357 revolver. Then a .45ACP semi-auto. Then a... larryf1952
Member
I was always "around" guns from as early as I can remember. My Dad had a Winchester Model 12 and a Marlin 39A lever action .22, and we'd plink cans and junk down by the river. We'd go bird hunting with my grandfather and uncles in the fall. When I was 8, I lusted after my first BB gun, which I received for Christmas that year.
I didn't buy a gun of my own, though, until after I got married at age 21. My collection grew slowly until about age 36, when I began to collect them at an accelerated pace.
I didn't buy a gun of my own, though, until after I got married at age 21. My collection grew slowly until about age 36, when I began to collect them at an accelerated pace.
As a teenager, I had a BB rifle, and was a member of my high school rifle team. When I turned 21 I bought two things I couldn't previously purchase legally: A S&W 28 .357 mag, and a bottle of Champaign. I sold the 28, regretted it, then bought another. Still have that one.
My second gun was a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 mag. Shooting the .357 and .44 created some very bad habits that took years to correct. I really should have started with a .22 to learn correct gun handling habits, but I was young, dumb, and overly macho at the time! :banghead:
My second gun was a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 mag. Shooting the .357 and .44 created some very bad habits that took years to correct. I really should have started with a .22 to learn correct gun handling habits, but I was young, dumb, and overly macho at the time! :banghead:
MilsurpShooter
Member
Shot my first gun at about 5 or 6 when my dad would come around. He would drop by on the weekends or when I had a day off of school. Fired my old .22 Chipmunk around 30 times while I was growing up.
Me and my dad grew apart after I hit 14, he was living his own life and doing what he thought was most important I guess. Never really fired a gun after that .22 chipmunk when I was 7 or 8 at the latest. Fast forward to my 20th birthday. By now I'm an avid WWII, WWI history type and can't get enough of the subject. So why not get something that resembles the KAR98, thus introduced to my new Yugo M48 I take to the range... where I proceed to make a fool out of myself. Fired 40 rounds out of that gun and I think the black and blues have just finally gone away.
Me and my dad grew apart after I hit 14, he was living his own life and doing what he thought was most important I guess. Never really fired a gun after that .22 chipmunk when I was 7 or 8 at the latest. Fast forward to my 20th birthday. By now I'm an avid WWII, WWI history type and can't get enough of the subject. So why not get something that resembles the KAR98, thus introduced to my new Yugo M48 I take to the range... where I proceed to make a fool out of myself. Fired 40 rounds out of that gun and I think the black and blues have just finally gone away.
I wish there were multiple answers allowed. I grew up with them. I was a killer shot with the ol' BB gun and pellet gun.
My wife bought me a .22 and a 12ga during our first year of marriage.
Then I forgot about 'em for a couple of decades. We moved a lot for jobs, and I never caught onto the shooting scene in the new places.
Then I moved to Idaho. Turned me into a gun nut again.
My wife bought me a .22 and a 12ga during our first year of marriage.
Then I forgot about 'em for a couple of decades. We moved a lot for jobs, and I never caught onto the shooting scene in the new places.
Then I moved to Idaho. Turned me into a gun nut again.
Tyril
Member
First time I ever fired a gun: last month =)
I'm 19.
suburbia sucks.
-mike
I'm 19.
suburbia sucks.
-mike
smokemaker
Member
Guns have just always been around. Dad and all the uncles always have shot/hunted, so it was kinda normal for me. Dad took me out in the yard at 6 or seven with his Marlin 39, and then my very own Marlin 15. There's a picture at my parent's house of me, age 18 months, holding my Dad's flattop Ruger Blackhawk. (OK, kinda cradling it) You can see that the cylinder is empty, but Sarah Brady would crap herself if she saw it.
I'm gonna inherit that Marlin 39 someday, and cry.
I'm gonna inherit that Marlin 39 someday, and cry.
Monkeyleg
Member.
The usual story: guns around when I was a kid, BB gun when I was 9 or so, rifle league when I was 12.
My own guns had to wait until I finished college.
My own guns had to wait until I finished college.
Matthew748
Member
My father has always hunted so I grew up watching him clean rifles and shotguns and load cartridges. The first time he took me out shooting I was so little he had to help me support the weight of the gun. It was a 20 gauge Remington pump shot gun, I do not remember the model number.
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