THRers and their guns, what do you do with them

Hunting, plinking, HD/SD, collecting, 2A. I'd also love to get into three gun but I'm not currently aware of the rules of how those competitions work.

Nearly all of the above.....collecting, hunting, competitions, and recreational shooting. Although I have a CCW, not much crime where I live, personal protection isn't a real concern.

I'm more of a shooter than a collector. Most of my shooting is training related, though I do enjoy .22 plinking as a stress reliever.

I'm a mixer. I'm not so much into antiques as just old ones. Having a nice one permanently on the wall is not as nice as having one with history that you can take to the range every week. I also like the newer designs. The contrast between the older and newer styles is fascinating to me.
I do not hunt, but I like having the proficiency to shoot, just in case I might need it. I've been in a couple of local IDPA matches, but I haven't had time lately due to work. I'd like to get into 3-gun eventually.

I would like to get back into 'shape' as a rifleman in terms of military (CMP) match shooting. In practice, this is hard having little kids and money and time constraints. I use my M-1's as backyard plinkers at ranges <100 yards.

I have started hunting deer having never been raised to hunt as a kid. First time out was last year. I didn't get one but had a great time anyway. I'm giving it a go again this season.

My wife and I are both NRA and ISRA members. We keep a pistol for home defense, but we live in pretty quiet area. I have a type 3 FFL, but can't afford many goodies. I also have a CWL not good in my own state.

Although I am a passibly good shooter with rifle and pistol, I have never been worth a darn with a shotgun; I would like to teach myself to be a better clay shooter so it's something I can do with my girls when they are bigger as a sporting activity.

I would like another (or five!) M-1's. I take fair to middling care of my weapons, and have a couple nice ones, but I don't fret over NIB status as that takes to fun out of it for me.

And the most shooting I've done of late has been off my back deck w/ a second hand Crossman 1377 air pistol from a garage sale---and I enjoy the heck out of THAT, too.

I first got into guns because I liked rifles (especially with a historical connection) and figured I'd also own a couple handguns.

I've evolved into more a pistol shooter, and few of my guns have any historical connection (if you stretch, the modern S&W 1911SC, and Charles Daly have a connection because they are 1911s, and of course there are the 2 blackpowder replicas, the lever rifles, revolvers, and the SKS).

For type of use, I don't hunt but I guess my guns are for a bit of everything else. Target shooting (plinking, no competition, but I may eventually get into one of the shooting sports), self defense and collecting. While few of my guns are collector items or in collector condition (some are), and there is little rhyme or reason behind what I have (I don't collect mil-surps, rare guns, all wheelguns, etc.), I do buy many of my guns without a needed niche to fill but just because I want them (a type of collecting).

New or used, pristine or "shooters"? Yes. I've bought used collectable guns in collector condition, otherwise collectable guns in "shooter" condition, garden variety "work" guns used (like my SIGs) and I've bought plenty of new guns as well.

I'm primarily a collector and target shooter. While I have no problems with hunting or hunters, I'm not a hunter myself (don't believe in shooting anything with a face, except in self-defence).

Collector, 2Aer, hunter, defender, plinker, and cleaner

Primary: handguns for CCW/SD
Secondary: collecting

For me right now it kind of goes like this (in order of what I'm doing the most), .22 plinking, trap and skeet, long range target shooting (informal), hog hunting (just started that this year) and a little bit of pistol shooting just to keep my skills up. I also like WWI and WWII pistols (especially WWI as there were some funky designs back then) and I've collected a few of those.

I'd like to get into 3 gun and high power rifle competition shooting. I'd also like to get back into IDPA. The 3 gun and high power rifle is something that I've always thought about doing, but it always seems like the locations are too far for me to go to regularly and I have no one to go with as no one I know is interested in either.

Self Defense and Home Defense
Can't afford to be a collector, but would like to be one.
I'm an avid bowhunter too.

IPSC and other practical shooting matches, plus a 357 under my bed to keep me safe.

Just got my first rifle, an M1A, and I'm leaving now for my first match with it

Self defense, home defense, 2A supporter, target shooter, plinker, hunter.

I don't shoot trap or skeet but would like to try it.

Good Thread Brian, My Friend-

Well, back in late 60's and early 70's I was just classified as an "informal
shooter"; using my weapons [including high power rifles] for range use
only, with shooting distances averaging from 50 ft. to 300 yards. Then,
in the mid 70's I became a professional LEO; and the requirements then
shifted a bit, shooting mostly handguns both informally and formally. As
crime increased [starting in the late 70's for my area], I looked to the
self loading semi-auto pistols as the weapon of choice. As the crime
increased, I added a home 'D 12 gague shotgun to protect my family
and assets. Now, with crime being at an all time high two years ago
I added a .223 caliber Colt M4; to fend off possible multiple attackers
or home invaders.

Now retired, I still do a "fair amount" of shooting; trying to stay on top
of my game; but also expecting the unexpected. Overly cautious? Most
likely so, but up too the task of protecting myself and loved ones~!

I'm a history buff. That's what got my interest in collecting guns started. I have a C&R and have collection guns from various times in history.

I also keep a few guns for home defense of course. A shotgun and a couple carbines stand guard. There are some handguns available. I have a CCL so I do carry a concealed handgun on my person.

However, my first gun was a 22LR Marlin when I was a teenager. It was used for shooting paper targets and that is what all my guns are used for. I love taking the old Mausers, Enfields and Springfields out and punching paper at 100 yards. I love ripping up the black at 50 yards with an AR and a reddot or an AK with a 30 round mag. I love punching big .45 cal holes at 15 yards with my CCWs. My various 22LRs still get the most use in the back yard 25 yard range.

I've done some competition shooting in USPSA. It was loads of fun shooting cardboard tombstones or metal poppers in plywood shoot houses. I really loved it and want to get back into it, but gas and ammo prices interfered with the fun of the two hour drive and back every weekend.

No hunting guns for me though. I do all my hunting at the local supermarket, armed mainly with a debit card.

I"m a mall ninja. All my guns have gizmos and gadgets attatched to them, and are are in tactical black or stainless...no blued for me!


However, I'm a hunter as well, and enjoy target shooting at least once a week, so my guns do see plenty of actual use!

I am from a Military/LEO upbringing. I have a respect for firearms and have been drilled from day 1 on safety which I continue to impart on all who know me. I enjoyed hunting when I lived in the country but most of my current enjoyment comes from the semi frequent trips to the range for target practice. I'm always running SD scenarios through my head. It annoys the soon to be wife. I thank my father for helping me develop my situational awareness from an early age. It is something I constantly work on as one can never be too aware. I shoot what I buy...no king's or queen's of the safe...its an 'autonomous collective' here.

There is a long military tradition in my family. Nearly every member of the family (male and female) has either served in the military or was/ is married to one who served/s (although most served).

Most of my interests are in military firearms for training, collecting, and just shooting for pleasure. This is a primary reason for ownership.

Many of us hunt. The wife and I enjoy hunting and are passing it along to our kids. So we have a number of hunting rifles and shotguns as well. We do not hunt with handguns, although I tried it once, just didn't ''feel right''. We also bow hunt.

Home defense/ self defense is entirely secondary to the above purposes although we are quite well prepared in that regard. This is something that just comes with the terroritory.

There is a long history of defending civil rights in our family. My mother who recently passed was a big champion of civil rights before it became the ''cool'' thing to do. She learned this from my grandfather who was well known for treating blacks equally in the South during the 30s when it was very unpopular to do so. That is another of the primary reasons for gun ownership.

Collecting. I am not much of a collector but a collection seems to have found me. The FIL is a big collector and it seems to have rubbed off a little. Like SD/HD I think it just comes with the terroritory. I don't really care about having a NIB 1892 .45-70. I just buy what I like and what I can afford and am patient enough to wait for a good price.

All of the above, i have a good supply of parts on hand to build all most anything. the guns i am building now are 1911's.
I buy parts year round from retiring gunsmiths and current makers so i have something to do with my down time.
The shop i work at is a restoration repair shop, so anything i find i practice on rebuilding everything i can. there's more time in them than money. I won't pay more than $100.00 for a project but when i am finished it is back to as new factory condtion or better. i shoot everyone of them i build or rebuild.

THRers and their guns, what do you do with them

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Some of everything you listed I like, do, have done, or have a interest in, except collecting mil surps. There is a very few of them I care much about. 1903-A3's or some of the mausers do, and are exceptions to that rule, and do interest me.

I have a Curio and Relic collecting license, so I have many older, historic, collectible firearms.

I also have a concealed carry license, so I have several rigs for that purpose. I believe that defending our Liberty is one of our responsibilities as American citizens, and our Constitution guarantees that right to us.

I love to target shoot and practice marksmanship. That is what got me started with this hobby in the first place. I love trying to get the rounds in the bullseye at 100, 200 and 300 yards. The art of the rifle is my passion. Nothing can touch the accuracy and overall effectiveness of a well-made rifle and skilled operator, in my opinion.

I also am an ardent 2nd Amendment supporter. I'm a member of the NRA and the Texas State Rifle Association.

Regarding the post:

Numerous have not seen the light of day in awhile (safe). Others I shoot as often as I can. The important ones a couple of times a month.

Just purchased a Kel Tel su 16 ca 223 that I plan on shooting at least 100 rounds before the end of the month

Did I need this rifle Not according to some

HQ

I suppose I fall into multiple categories.

I deer hunt with Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Bow, Muzzleloader. I usually hunt more with the bow and muzzleloader than anything these days. I gun hunt but most of my vacation time is spent in the early seasons and I just hunt Saturdays and holidays in the gun season.

I am a daily carrier of a concealed handgun. I have gone through periods where I didn't spend a lot of time at the range, but in the last year I have gone at least twice a month up until a couple months ago when I joined the local gun club. Now I'm there usually twice a week on the handgun and rifle/shotgun ranges.

I am also a target shooter in that I like to poke holes in paper and tin cans with .22's just to pass the time and I enjoy shooting my hunting rifles in search of the one hole group.

I would like to get into shooting trap. Have only done it a couple of times and was not very good at it. Would like to learn. I'd also like to get into IDPA or benchrest competition one day but right now with work and the kids I really don't have the time to invest in competition.

My primary reason for owning guns is because I live in a place where the earth can move and all of societal infrastructure can fail. I'm told by the county and the American Red Cross that I should be able to take care of myself in terms of food, water, and medical for at least 3 days.

Glaringly, they never talk about police services disappearing, or suggest that I get a gun.

But having lived through the Loma Prieta earthquake, I'm here to tell you that as a part of your urban survival kit, you'd better be set up for home defense if you live anywhere near a fault line, because it would have been real easy for things to go real bad from that earthquake. I'm talking Katrina bad.

Yes, that's right. I've had a deep, gut-level feeling since 1989 that something like Katrina could happen to an American geographical area. I might have been one of the few people in America who wasn't surprised by Katrina. (Saddened, but not surprised.)

At the moment I own mostly pistols, and I mostly use these for target practice just to make sure I can hit what I'm aiming at. It is on my list to get a shotgun, but first I need to figure out how to store it safely given that I have small children in the house. I'm also beginning to look into self-defense shooting courses, now that I have the time and money to pursue that interest.

I'm not a collector and I don't consider myself a sportsman where it comes to guns. I own them out of practical necessity.

If CCW ever came to my county, I'd get a license and carry a gun when away from my home, and in that case my self-defense reason for owning guns would be even stronger than it is today.

Thanks for asking!