Annoying Rant.

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TimboKhan

TimboKhan

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Apr 15, 2005
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Greeley, CO
So, I will say up front that I know a lot less about guns than some of the people on here, but that I think that I know more than the average bear. I have had 30 years experience with guns now, and I think I have picked a few things up here and there.

I went into a gun store recently, and this semi-shady guy that now works at this particular store was regaling me with how I should start to shoot suppressed, which I have no particular interest in, and I told him that. Then, he kept bringing it up. At one point, he told me that he had something like 5000 rounds of ammo through a RR AR, and that "Half of that is suppressed". I finally just had to tell him flat out that I didn't care and failed to see why it was impressive that he shot suppressed. I don't like being a prick, but after 10 minutes of gun shop commandoism, I just had to lay it out.

Also, this particular guy went on a rant about how internet forums are full of lies. Granted, even here on THR I have seen some spectacular examples of internet BS (my favorites being the one where the guy said that WD40 was corrosive to metal and the one where some guy said that the .30-06 was not enough gun for an elk because they were like rhinos with hair) but the fact is that I have also learned some really interesting and true things. In any event, his standpoint seemed to be that since he was behind the counter in a gun store I should listen to him.

sigh... I know it's just a pet peeve and I am sounding a little bit like a whiner here, but it just annoys me that the knowledgable old guys are no longer working behind the counters at gun stores and are being replaced by closet commandos who are more interested in trying to get you to believe that they are operators of some sort.
 
and the one where some guy said that the .30-06 was not enough gun for an elk
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That would have been a good one to catch. My Howa 1500 .30-06 says she is a perfectly fine elk rifle and has proved it on several occasions.
 
this particular guy went on a rant about how internet forums are full of lies.
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Same thing happened to me this weekend. The guy knew A LOT about guns, reloading, you name it. I mean a lot. But he made it sound like everything that is on the net is false, everything. I almost started to disagree with him but I let it slide. I did make sure to back up any facts he stated with "Yeah, that's what I read on thehighroad, an internet forum". :rolleyes: The two ranges I frequent are blessed with knowledgeable staff (even though they told me, flat out that my M&P compact was not available with night sights) but they might not always feel like calling to check on something. That's a different story. I blame that on the lack of something I've yet to name (complete lack of knowledge about anything released in the past few years). I guess that's how things become true, they are filtered through many people that heard it from someone that heard it from someone that read it on the net. I wish I was smart enough to make that statement make sense.
 
I went into a gun store recently, and this semi-shady guy that now works at this particular store... went on a rant about how internet forums are full of lies.
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Mr. Pot, may I introduce you to Mr. Kettle? ;)
 
Well, the guy was right...shooting suppressed is fun.

Of course, it doesn't make much difference out of an AR, what with the supersonic crack and all, but it's still fun.

But yeah, you're right...there's too many gun shop/armchair/online/whatever commandos out there. If I wanted to hear BS, I'd turn on the news. At least on the internet, one can search for and verify claims made by people.

Sadly, I've found that knowledgeable retail staff are few and far between these days. Whether I'm looking for a book at a bookstore (I used to work at a Barnes & Noble -- surprisingly, there's a bunch of very knowledgeable people who work at bookstores, or at least at the one I worked at) or shopping for a gun, it seems as if the staff know less and less these days.
 
sigh... I know it's just a pet peeve and I am sounding a little bit like a whiner here, but it just annoys me that the knowledgable old guys are no longer working behind the counters at gun stores and are being replaced by closet commandos who are more interested in trying to get you to believe that they are operators of some sort.
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I think you're getting wistfull for the good old days that never actually existed.

Those "knowledgable old guys" could be just as full of crap as anyone else. I've had some old gun store guys tell me things that were so amazingly false that my head brain tried to escape my skull. One of the main reasons I got into the gun business is because of just how badly some of those "old guys" sucked at things like education, customer service, and overall knowledge.

I own a gunstore. Everybody that works for me knows quite a bit about some certain topics. We all have our areas of expertise. The mark of a good knowledgable gun person is that they know when they don't know something. Sometimes I just don't know the answer and I have to get somebody who does.

I've got one really young guy that works for me, and by your criteria, you might just dismiss him as being some young punk. But this guy is also one of the top ranked Olympic style collegiate shooters in the country. In his area, he's an expert.

As for suppresors, they have nothing to do with being an "operator" or being "tactical". They have everything to do with making shooting a whole lot more pleasant for everybody involved. I talk up suppresors too, and I sell boat loads of them as an NFA dealer. Doesn't mean that I'm trying to make you think I'm Jack Bauer.

I'm partially deaf, and I'm trying to keep what I have left. Suppresors make teaching new shooters far easier, because your aren't dealing with blast that causes flinch, intimidation, and bad habits.

As for internet forums being filled with lies, I've spent a pretty good chunk of my life regulating THR, and yes, there are lots of lies on the internet. I think THR is probably one of the best spots on the web for truth, but if you surf around to some other places, you can find 15 year olds arguing with guys who are currently in Iraq about what guns work better in combat.

We've had a couple of really well respected experts quit posting on THR, when they finally gave up in disgust after having to argue over and over again with morons who have no clue what they're talking about. I'm talking about people who are the actual decision makers and power shakers for gun industry stuff, being argued into submission by airsofters that live in their mom's basement.

So yeah, some days I hate the internet. Some days I actually despise the internet. But I also love it at the same time, and that's why I help run this place.

So I wouldn't bag on this guy too hard. His internet experience might have been on some other boards that I'm not going to name. :)
 
I always saw the Internet as a tool to verify or debunk stuff I heard locally.

As for shooting suppressed, I personally think its a great idea and there is no good reason to regulate suppressors. The idea of suppressors has been demonized for so long, people tend to see them as items used by hitmen and assasinations.

I'd like the reduction in noise so I don't have to double up on hearing protection when shooting rifles or going lone with a pair of plugs and risking hearing damage. Its usually hard to get a decent cheekweld with bulky ear cans. I'd love to try shooting subsonic ammo with a suppressor one day. I can imagine the convenience of being alert to all sounds around me whilst still operating a firearm.

Also, I'd personally put one on any firearm(s) designated for home defense use. A gun going off in a confined space like that doesn't bleed off acoustical energy like open spaces so it's going to cause your ears harm as collateral damage.

They're useful safety and ergonomic devices that the antis try to ban. They're about as harmless as telescoping stocks for best length of pull fit or using a good muzzle brake on a magnum caliber to save your shoulder.
 
Correia, I have no problem with suppressors, and I don't even have a problem with people trying to sell them to me. There is a big difference between someone telling me why I should buy a suppressor (as you mentioned, quieter and more enjoyable to shoot) and attempting to impress me. Trying to make yourself out to be Frank Castle is annoying and unneeded.
 
Correia...

After reading your thoughts I felt compelled to say a quick Thank You for your Moderator efforts here.

THR is IMO the finest place to come and learn and share and the Moderators make sure that this happens more often than not.

Gunstore Commandos and Web Wannabees share much in common, but the truth can normally be found here in this place. Thanks!
 
TimboKhan - "... and the one where some guy said that the .30-06 was not enough gun for an elk because they were like rhinos with hair)..."


But, but ... I thought elk were like rhinos with hair. :)

L.W.
 
the knowledgable old guys are no longer working behind the counters at gun stores and are being replaced by closet commandos
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Me thinks you have made a fatal error herein with your reasoning. When you were younger, and less experienced with firearms, the old guys behind the gun counter probably seemed very knowledgeable to you because of your own lack of knowledge about guns. Truth be told, most of them were probably as dim witted and pig headed as their contemporary counterparts. Sure some knew a lot about guns, just as some do today, but many of the old timers were just as wrong as the gun store wizards today.

All the best,
GB
 
I better stop telling customers about this site and others, you people are all full of lies!
 
I have a hard time finding gun shops that actually listen to what you want and not what they want to sell you.I am in the firearms buiness and sell to shops.I'm surprised some shops are still in buisness.The ATF is closing alot of the good ol boys shops because of bad book keeping.So,we should all find our favorite shop and support them.Walmart is out of the gun buiness so we can't go there anymore and that leaves the small shops.
 
I better stop telling customers about this site and others, you people are all full of lies!
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And because of those lies, I keep buying guns and gun stuff. Do you know how much trouble I'm in with The Accountant because of you?!?!?!
 
It doesn't matter what the topic is, when it comes to firearms every gun nut is opinionated. Suppressors are fun, and help keep your hearing, several european countries that have relatively tight gun laws are no where near as strict as the US with supressors. I would like to get one, but the cost and hassle especially in MD aren't worth it. The amount of information you can find on just about everything on the internet is overwhelming, but ultimately you have to sort out the knowledgeable guys with priceless wisdom from the Gecko45's, sometimes a little hard to do, but misinformation can come from anywhere. Some of the regulars and employees of my local gun shop, have pics and trophies all over the place from hunts and competitons and will take the time to help you with any question you might have, but ultimately one person's advice and opinion doesn't work for everyone.
 
We should consider ourselves lucky to have gunshop employees who have shot 500 let alone 5000 rounds through guns and suppressors that they sell!

Making some inquiries.. good chance I know the person you spoke to. :evil:
 
Sweet! I was just hoping someone would recognize the Frank Castle comment. I am old school with my comics!

Zak, I will just tell you straight up it's a new guy over at Jensens. It wasn't that he was a bad guy, just that my annoyometer got lit up with the incessant supressor comments. Of course, to be completely fair, as much as I love Jensens, that store is always teetering on the brink of dysfunction. Bob himself isn't exactly the most normal guy, and that lady behind the counter, while nice in and of herself, is always about 92% PO'd at Bob and if you know who I am talking about, you know she isn't afraid to make her feelings public and loud...
 
TimboKhan, you weren't thinking clearly! After listening to that "suppressor guy" for awhile, you should have asked him, "Do suppressors work on loud mouths, too?"

The few times that I've had to put up with gun shop employees that continue to babble about things of non-interest to me, I've merely given them a look of disdain, then turned and walked out of the gun shop. I don't NEED that kind of treatment!

HMM! You could have also feigned bad hearing as "Mr. Suppressor" talked! "Can you speak up? I can't hear what you're saying!". You might have been a big hit with the other customers if "Mr. Suppressor" started screaming out his words!
 
Firing a pistol or rifle with a "silencer" which is a actually a noise suppressing device. There is no such thing as a silencer like in the movies. I believe that to be a good explanation if I'm wrong someone will improve on the above statement
 
TimboKhan - "... and the one where some guy said that the .30-06 was not enough gun for an elk because they were like rhinos with hair)..."
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But, but ... I thought elk were like rhinos with hair.

L.W.
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No no. They are like hippos with headgear.


Or was that tiger sharks with hooves?
 
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