Significant Changes in Perspective?

My Mom didn't want any guns in the house and my Dad didn't care about anything gun related after he got back from WWII. So that just left me and my older brother to our own devices and we kept everything on the Q.T. We had guns hidden throughout the house and would go shooting down in the basement whenever they went out of town (still, shooting a .380 down there, without a really good backstop, was one of the dumbest things we ever did!).

I was still in my teens when I use to go out shooting and hunting with a buddy of mine from work. His Dad was a big city cop who liked to frequent the various pawn shops in his district. He had quite the collection of old Remington and Winchester rifles (I seem to recall he had a Winchester lever action in something like .218 Bee), and would let us take some of the various "beater".22s and 12 and 20 gauge shotguns out to their "farm". I appreciated their generosity of letting us use their guns but this actually made me want to go shooting and hunting with my own guns so I got a Remington Model 870 12 gauge with a 28" Vent Rib Modified Choke barrel and a 20" slug barrel with rifle sights for deer hunting and a Ruger 10/22 for small game hunting and plinking. So that's how I got started with long guns.

My interest in handguns came mainly though my brother and he was pretty much hooked on semi-autos. I on the other hand preferred revolvers and one of my first ones was a Charter Arms Undercover which in turn got me interested in reloading for the .38 Special. It was some years before I began to see the advantages of semi-autos and started to switch over to them, selling or trading in most of my revolvers for new self-loader acquisitions. No regrets but I sure wouldn't mind getting some of those Colt, S&W, and Ruger revolvers back!

By definition I have never been a gun collector; more like I see something new or used, check it out, and if I like the overall feel of it I will eventually get it. For some time now my interest in CCW guns have steered me in that direction. Definitely have more semi-autos still but for awhile now I have been on a bit of a wheelgun spree, primarily single actions to have fun with and maybe reminisce with about the "Good Ol' Days"!

“A shotgun is the best home defense gun available and everyone really should own one.”

Im just plain better with handguns because that’s what I enjoy shooting most. I also have a lot of short tight turns in my house, which is small. Maneuvering a shotgun could be difficult if a perp gets in close around a corner.

I’m good with a handgun.

Perspective:

I am much more concerned about preservation of our Second Amendment these days than I was as a younger shooter. So I spend my money accordingly.

Started shooting when revolvers were paramount for self-defense and the "thuttyoughtsix" was de rigueur for most anything riflish. My eyes were never good enough to last for an entire shooting match and now I'm older. My rifles now tend toward bolt guns between 6.5 and 7 millimeter and the .30-06 Springfield is for moose and larger. I collect WW1 rifles and about the same era .32 ACP pistols. And I've become interested in hunting rifles of prior to the Second World War.
Which is silly, as it's too cotton pickin' cold to leave the house that time of year.

I reload for nearly all the rifles. Don't reload for many of the pistols lately.

Firearms-wise, two major ones. One positive the other kind of negative.


FIrst, positive, moving out to Colorado from New York City in the mid sixties, I was stunned to learn that the only thing required to buy a handgun was a driver's license to prove you were a resident.

Gave me a change in perspective from the submissive New York attitude of "You can't fight City Hall," to "What the hell are you trying to get away with, City Hall?" Started to read the Constitution as a consequence.

Quite a change in perspective, that.

The other was I figured I was getting to be a good shot. I had my own 100 yard range in the west pasture and decided to shoot competitively. Well, with respect to long arms (with a borrowed accurized M1 Garand from the Coors Gun Club), I figured with more actual match practice, I could climb up from the middle of the pack on the range house scorings. I figured I'd never be a Herb Hollister, but I might collect a trophy or two sooner or later. I did collect a couple of Vs at a 1000 yard match, after all.

But what kind of soured me on competitive shooting was when I shot in couple of handgun metallic silhouette matches in the Factory class with my Model 19. I did fairly well, but then I discovered that some of these guys were shooting Buck Rogers style ray guns all spiffied out and specially designed. I found out that there were a couple of outfits which built specialized handguns just for those matches, and they were classed as "Factory" guns even though these "factories" only produced a couple of these guns a year, and holsters for them were non existent.

Huh. And I had the naïve idea that a factory gun was one you could buy a holster for and wear whilst prancing around in the woods without snagging the 18" front sight extension on your "factory" gun in the grass or stabbing your horse with it when you mounted up.

Quite a change in perspective, that.

Terry, 230RN

Never thought I would get into Black Powder. But that is changing fast. One thing I learned many years ago. Never say Never.

I'm really enjoying this thread. I can certainly echo some of the sentiments already shared. Where to begin!

First is probably the shift from automatics to revolvers. When I was a kid, I had no interest in revolvers. Growing up in the era where the 1911 and Beretta M9 were ubiquitous in action movies, this was naturally where my interest fell. But after being introduced to cowboy action shooting by my dad and grandpa, and as I came into my adult years with a limited budget (ironic, you may say), revolvers became far more interesting to me. They are super simple to handload for. You can load such a different array of ammunition, and not have to worry about things like recoil springs and feeding problems. They are forgiving in terms of OAL and bullet shape. You don't need to go chasing your brass at the range. And they are a lot more fun to dry fire than automatics when you're stuck inside and can't go shooting -- which happens in life quite often, really. I think if we're honest, most of us -- as we take on real world responsibilities of working jobs, and being husbands and fathers -- spend more time thinking about and fondling our guns than we do shooting them. I also just came to appreciate the aesthetics of revolvers more.

I own a few automatics now. I really appreciate my Glock 19 and 43 as good, reliable 9mm carry guns -- but I definitely find revolvers more interesting to shoot and to handload for. With the exception of loading .45 ACP for simple cost savings in my 1911, I have absolutely zero interest in handloading automatic cartridges. It's just boring to me.

Second, kind of like @labnoti touched on, I came to realize in my mid-twenties that I really have very little practical use for rifles and shotguns. I'm not a big game hunter, and I'm not a long range precision shooter. I scarcely have access to any shooting range over 100 yards, which is about as far away as any whitetail shot would ever be in my state. Most of the shooting I do nowadays is at an indoor range that is close enough and convenient enough that I can go there on my lunch hour. I can't shoot .223 there, let alone anything more powerful, and the range is only about 20 yards. But I can shoot my .45 Colt lever gun and single shot there, and if I ever do get around to trying for a whitetail, either of those rifles will do the job, as straight wall cartridges are the only rifles allowed in most of my state.

As far as shotguns go, I haven't shot trap for 5 years or so. My dad and my brother used to go out with a hand thrower a couple times a year, but we haven't been out since my dad passed a few years ago. I don't hunt waterfowl -- largely because I've just never had anyone to help me get into it. I have a single shot 20 gauge that I could conceivably use for squirrel, and let my boys learn to shoot. I also have a cut down 12 gauge single shot stays in the closet. But neither of these guns have been shot for a couple years. I actually sold my Maverick 88 a few months ago (for a nice little profit, I might add). I certainly appreciate the concept of the home defense shotgun, but eventually I just came to conclude that in the event that I do need to deal with an intruder, I'll be better off with one of the guns I actually spend time shooting, and the pump shotgun simply isn't it.

And third, at the end of the day, regardless of how much I might enjoy handloading and the theory-crafting element of it, I have to admit that .22 LR is really where the most fun occurs. It's the only cartridge I can go to the range and shoot "care free" without thinking about how much money I am spending, or keeping my brass sorted, calculating when I am going to have the time to reload it, etc. With .22 LR, I feel more free to just enjoy the act of shooting, itself. And my children can enjoy shooting it just as much as I can, which adds a whole additional dimension to the enjoyment.

More could be said, but those are the things on my mind right now.

My early experiences were probably similar to a lot of folks. Started off squirrel hunting, then on to rabbits/quail/pheasants, then deer. In an area where centerfire rifles could only legally be used for varmint hunting, a .22 rifle and a shotgun of some type covered my needs. Shooting for fun was unheard of, so the once or twice a year we shot clay birds (one box of shells each) was considered practice.

As I got older, I became interested in varmint hunting and got into centerfire rifles, then reloading. Handguns were never really a necessity back then, because concealed carry wasn't legal in Ohio and I didn't have a practical need for one. I'd shot a couple here and there and enjoyed it, but couldn't justify buying one.

As houses started popping up all around where I would typically have access to shoot, my max range got cut down incrementally to where I can now only shoot about 150 yards. After Ohio began allowing CCW, I picked up a Springfield Armory V10 to carry. After quite a bit of practice, I realized how much fun shooting handguns can be and how challenging it is to do it well.

I never got away from shooting .22's, but I shoot way more semi-auto handguns now than everything else put together. Not having to walk very far to check targets is a plus too.

I have been a fan of the 30-06 for a long time but injury changed my perspective about shooting one. My shoulder has been repaired and it doesn't give me any pain as long as I pay attention and don't overload it. 30-06 recoil is something that overloads it now so I no longer shoot my one remaining ought six. 22-250 is about my limit now. It sucks to get old and beat up physically but it is still better than the alternative.

Like the OP, I did not grow up with guns (except my dad's police revolvers), so it wasn't until I was out of college and working construction mgt. that I got into bird hunting. Slowly added deer and similar game with rifles. Started shooting rifles for accuracy (not competition) which got me into reloading, same for my handguns. Started shooting a little shotgun: trap, skeet, sporting clays and that took off big time. Hundreds of thousands of rounds at clay targets, both for practice and tournaments and the rifles have remained unused for almost 20 years in the safe.
So, I have started downsizing as I get older,selling off some handguns, rifles and shotguns, trying to get down to a "minimum" for what I have guns for: targets, HD/SD, hunting, plinking.

To that end, I am thinking of selling ALL of my shotguns and then buying 2 nice 28 gauges, nice as in Perazzi bespoke nice; keep one of my rifles for the possibility of a deer or hog hunt, a .22lr rifle and handgun for that plinking and settling on one cartridge for HD/SD; my wallet say 9mm, my heart says 45ACP, my practical reloader self says 38spl.....that will be the harder choice to make of all of them.

When I was first getting into guns as a 20-something-year old (I’d shot recreationally with my dad but not a lot) I cleaned my guns every time I went shooting. Then I started shooting matches and shooting a lot more. Now I only clean them if they stop working or I start feeling bad for them. I keep them lubed and I wipe off fingerprints from all blued surfaces after handling. And I clean after any corrosive or black powder.

I also was ignorant about how cool semi auto rifles were. I made fun of a shooting buddy because his M1A Scout wasn’t full-auto. I was an idiot. Then I got into Garands and learned more and realized how dumb I was. I wish I could go back and apologize to him.

I also wish I’d kept all my brass from the early years.

redneck2 said:

Wish I had spent more on hunting trips and less on hunting guns that never got used.

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Im nearly 30 and this is what I have found. What makes me a better/more productive hunter... $1000 in fuel or a $1000 rifle?

After working in the gun industry for a few years, I learned I don’t need to own something to appreciate it.

I am selling as many guns as I can part with during this panic. Maybe one day I’ll regret it. But in the interim I’ll be happy to spend more $ on fuel, less on accessories, and lead a simpler life with less crap.

HB said:

Im nearly 30 and this is what I have found. What makes me a better/more productive hunter... $1000 in fuel or a $1000 rifle?

After working in the gun industry for a few years, I learned I don’t need to own something to appreciate it.

I am selling as many guns as I can part with during this panic. Maybe one day I’ll regret it. But in the interim I’ll be happy to spend more $ on fuel, less on accessories, and lead a simpler life with less crap.

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Wait until you get into your mid 60s.........

George P said:

Wait until you get into your mid 60s.........

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Or 40s. Things I've gotten rid of over the years that seemed impossible they'd ever be sought after became quite desirable. And pricey. ($69 SKS? $150 Winchester 94s and 97s?) And that's only been 20 years or so.

As a young man I hunted and shot competitive benchrest until the Uncle Sam wanted me to do a bit of jungle training and spend some time in far away places. That sort of activity can give a fellow an new perspective. After I got back I would not touch a firearm of any sort for about two years.

After a while I "got normal" and started hunting again and shot the informal club benchrest matches. At some point a quantum of newly acquired wisdom allowed me to completely quit the benchrest game. I have now hunted big game as a backpack hunter in the Rocky Mountains many times and have traveled to Africa to hunt a few times for bigger game (not the SA fenced farms). I do gunsmithing as a hobby, and in a complete disregard for common sense have put together a new benchrest rifle.

I respect and support fellows owning and using all legal firearms, but do not care for the AR, AK, SKS rifles. I do not give permission to hunt my property to fellows that show up with those rifles or use the word "weapon" when describing their hunting rifle. I give substantial financial support to the NRA to protect our Second Amendment rights. To each their own.

I’ve had several perspective changes over my life.

My first major perspective change was realizing lever guns weren’t just old and outdated. That they actually had value and purpose. Because until the age of probably 32-33, that’s how I felt. Having been a bow hunter for the first ~15 years of my hunting life (18-33) I’d learned how to get close. But when I started rifle hunting I thought I needed a modern hunting rifle. I had a nice M70 CSLT in ‘06 that was very accurate. So I started taking it. And I shot my first rifle deer at maybe 30 yards. Let me tell you something. 165gr Winchester Supreme Ballistic tips are not a good choice for close range deer hunting. And it didn’t feel like any kind of challenge. A few years ago a good friend of mine “felt” he owed me some money when I loaned him my quad and the transmission blew. As payment, he gave me his JM 1895 in 45-70. I’d always thought that gun was cool. Probably just because of how big the cartridge looked. It was his primary hunting rifle. But when we hunted, he would rifle (or muzzleload) hunt and I would bow hunt. But now I had this rifle and suddenly felt excited to hunt with it. Thus began my affinity with lever action rifles.

My second perspective change I think came in the form of a good deal on a 1911. I have large hands. At only 5’11” I can palm an NBA basketball. The only two factory handguns that ever felt even decent, were a Glock 21 and a 92FS. Every other handgun I had need aftermarket grips on. And truthfully, the Beretta needed them also. I’d shot several 1911’s and they just didn’t fit, even with grips. But one day my buddy who works at the pawn shop (I’ve told stories about him) sends me a few pictures of a new 1911. I told him I hope he liked it. He said it wasn’t his and asked if I wanted it. I didn’t. But I asked how much and what caliber. He said it was a 10mm and $400. I was intrigued by the 10mm. And a quick search revealed that $400 was a pretty good price. But I’d shot so many 1911’s and didn’t like them. So I countered at $300. Figured I could flip it (Should have known better. I don’t sell guns). He came back at $350 and I bought it. Ordered some Hogue wrap around grips that night. My brother was the 1911 guru and at 6’3”, we have the same size hands. When I took the gun to his house, he watched me shoot it. Admittedly, I didn’t do very well. He then took the gun, loaded a fresh mag, and at 15 yards proceeded to put 7 in about a 4” group. My group was at least 4x that size. Being a good older brother, he gave me some tips on how to shoot a 1911 properly. Being a wise younger brother, I listened. And now, I’d choose a 1911 over just about any handgun.

My perspective changed when I started shooting competition. Prior to that, I thought I was a pretty good shooter.

Found out I wasn’t all that good, when I wasn’t simply putting holes in paper at a range.

I’m much better now.

My gun buying habits have changed according. Any new purchases aren’t necessarily pretty, but they are very effective, for me.

I love this discussion. A couple of things I’ve changed on:

verbage: I used to be that guy who was insistent that referring to your non dominant hand as your “weak hand” was setting you up for failure. I’d jump down your throat if you called a magazine a clip. You’ve got a bumper sticker that says “I carry a 45 because they don’t make a 46” and I’ve got a speech that starts with “hello sir, do you have time to learn about the 460 Roland?” Now I really don’t care. You want to call it a bullet hopper and say that you have a weak hand and a weaker hand? Rock on dude . I’m just glad you’re out shooting and (hopefully) being safe.

The whole “never bring a knife to a gunfight” or “I’ll just shoot the guy” thing. I used to think that was the only way. Now? I’m all about the clinch pick. I took a course from Southnarc/shivworks and holy guacamole did that open my eyes to what the real world is like, and how soft I was!!!

Taking the legends as gospel: I was going to have a couple different things about calibers, semi autos vs revolvers, the importance of iron sights, superiority of the 1911, and the list goes on and on. But really it falls under this one heading. Just because some of the original gun nuts said some really catchy things, doesn’t make them true. I still love reading about Wheland and Cooper, but I know longer use their greatest quotes as my filter for validity of information.

I started carrying a gun for self defense in 1995. My perspective has changed DRASTICALLY but in small changes over time rather than one big drastic shift.

The Obama Ammo Panic of 2008 was the start of it. I spent eight years scrounging for ammunition and decided I was NEVER going going to go through that again.

In 2013 Three things happened. My employer decided to get serious about arming all the guards. Colorado passed a magazine capacity limit and I joined my church's volunteer security team. I decided to sell all but 3 of my guns and start over. My criteria was it had to be 9mm, it had to be on my employer's approved list and the standard magazine had to be legal in Colorado. I also decided that I was going to buy as many magazines as I could reasonably afford and I was going to buy guns that would operate off the same magazine.

Being on the church security team gave me a chance to get professional training. The very first thing I learned in training was how much I didn't know and as I learned I changed the way I did things and I started to insist on good quality equipment.

In 2016 two guys tried to rob me on my way to work. That changed my perspective on everything. I realized just how serious this stuff actually is. I also realized that just the sight of your mighty Boomstick won't make them piss their pants and run screaming into the night and I realized how important having my equipment in good working order is. No one has a gun that never malfunctions but I will never bet my life on a gun that makes a habit of malfunctioning.

Speaking of things that changed my perspective, he first time I shot one of these



Caliber Wars became kind of silly to me

The change in perspective as the OP calls it is in buying firearms. For a period I was on the lookout for something new to me.
Now I would rather have a special firearm, one that just checks all of the boxes, than to keep looking for another one.

Example #1:
My Anschutz 1712 with a Leupold FX-3 25x40 on top of it. It is a rifle that is plenty accurate and the scope for me is about perfect. I use it to compete in small bore silhouette. To me this is a special rifle; I can’t imagine another .22 rifle working and fitting me as perfectly as this one.

Example #2:
My late 1980’s Smith & Wesson model 41 is another. Sure I have a S&W K22 but my model 41 is just nigh on perfect. Again, I can’t imagine finding another .22 handgun that would provide more satisfaction.

If I had to rebuild my collection it would be much smaller than what I have today with what I consider to be special firearms. The new flavor of the month just doesn’t appeal to me any longer.

I guess that has been a big change of perspective, few but nicer firearms.

Trunk Monkey said:

I also realized that just the sight of your mighty Boomstick won't make them piss their pants and run screaming into the night . . .

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Ain't that the truth.

I grew up shooting and hunting with my dad and grandpa back in the 1970s, but long guns only. Per my dad, handguns were bad. After helping him clean up after a hurricane back in 2008, I found out he had a .38 Special service revolver for many years.

Most of my experience shooting as a kid and teen was outdoors on land that you could walk on for hours. As a young adult, most of that unlimited access was disappearing, but I still spent my time shooting outdoors and almost never at a shooting range. I haven't hunted or done a lot of shooting outdoors (away from ranges) since the end of the 1990s.

While I resisted becoming a suburbanite shooter over the last two decades, that's exactly what I've become. Getting a carry license in 2008 just cemented my association with small handguns forever more, it would seem.

My latest shift in the last couple years is further into handguns and long gun purchases being pistol caliber carbines only. I've really thought hard about selling my last shotgun and hunting type rifles and just focus on owning what I can shoot at the close ranges available to us suburbanites.