Convinced my 67 year old Dad to get a gun!

[greyhound]

My folks aren't antis, they're neutrals. The old man was drafted into the Army; and once tried to take up bird hunting (he felt sorry for the pheasants and quickly sold his shotgun; kept the German SH Pointer, though). No guns in the house growing up.

They've watched my post 9/11 and DC Sniper slide into gun nuttery with curiousity (Dad) and mild concern but not alarm (Mom).

My folks (both in their 60s) live on a pretty large and isolated horse farm (the fact that they have NO firearms on a large farm will seem downright odd to folks in lots of areas, but this IS liberal Maryland).

Lately he's been making a bit of noise about getting a gun since they are isolatd, plus I have finally been able to convince them that the police can't always help them. I suggested a shotgun but very gently.

So I took him to the gun show, where to my surprise he took to the cowboy action revolvers. (He watches the Western channel all the time!)
We have decided that he should get a Ruger Vaquero in .357. He's a hard bargainer though, and plans to shop all over to get the best deal!

Mom can live with it; apparently some clown knocking on their door at 8:00 asking "If George was home" (the kid went away whe told he had the wrong address) didn't hurt.

We also discovered that they have a natural shooting range on the property (20 foot high dirt berm) where Dad can practice. (Wish we had found this before I was moving!).

I still would rather he got a shotgun, but he wants the SA revolver because as he puts it "Cocking it will make me darn sure I have to shoot anybody".

Its an odd position to be giving advice to the man that has taught you so much, in fact it makes me feel old.

But, being the only person in my family to be moving away ever (Alabama in late October) - it gives me some peace of mind that my older parents will at least have some protection. And my old man is a perfectionist - when he says he will practice with the revolver he means it. I'm going to take him shooting next weekend with my .38, and he seems to grasp the difference between a DA S&W and his (soon) SA cowboy gun. Hopefully he'll get it before I leave so I can give him some cleaning tips.

Anyone have any similar experiences with their folks?

PS: I am taking my brother shooting in 2 weeks!

 

[Piney]

You make it sound like your father at 67 is old, decrepit and just short of a wheel chair in the nursing home. I can assure you that most people have all their facilities at 67. I’m only 6 years younger than your father and if my son talked about me like I was a helpless old fool I’d kick his ass.
BTW, my wife and I just returned from the range.

 

[JJohnston015]

We also discovered that they have a natural shooting range on the property (20 foot high dirt berm) where Dad can practice. (Wish we had found this before I was moving!).

Wish I owned enough land that such nice surprises were possible.

Regards,

DJJ (who's pretty sure there are no shooting ranges tucked away on his 9,375 square feet)

 

[greyhound]

You make it sound like your father at 67 is old, decrepit and just short of a wheel chair in the nursing home.

Heck no, he runs the whole horse operation AFTER doing his weight training!

Nonetheless, dailing 911 out in the sticks is a no go, so I am glad they will be armed. Against a gang of neer do wells nothing else will do.

Sorry if I implied they were less than on top of things, that wasn't my point.

The man has taught me how to build houses, work on cars, and play sports. I'm glad to give something I know about back. Esp since I will be moving away soon.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Good for you and the whole family! Learning new tricks is what keeps old dogs from rusting out.

 

[Mulliga]

It's an often overlooked factor, but I believe that to truly shoot a firearm well, you need to like it. Better to have a SA revolver that reminds him of the Old West and the independent men (and women!) who tamed it than a shotgun that sits in the closet all day. That familiarity just might save his life in case trouble shows up.

Cowboy action shooting, BTW, looks super-mega-ultra fun. Riding horses and shooting guns? Sign me up!

 

[mustanger98]

Hey greyhound, I just turned 30 last month and my Daddy's turning 51 this year- he's the one that got me started on guns when I was a kid. I grew up watching John Wayne and them and I like SA sixguns as good as anything. Mulliga's talking about liking a gun being important- I'll second that thought, but then I like just about anything quality that shoots. I have a friend- a 50 year old woman- who shoots single action revolvers because that's what she likes. She's another Old West afficianado- rides and shoots CMSA. Oh, and I've shot a SASS/CAS style match and it is fun- 3-gun for those who like to enjoy rather than think SHTF all the time.

 

[thumbody]

What about a Christmas present of a side by side shotgun.I believe there are some replicas of old west style ones. If too expensive maybe a group present w/ sibilings

 

[mustanger98]

What about a Christmas present of a side by side shotgun.I believe there are some replicas of old west style ones.

This reminds me of my friend I mentioned- the woman who shoots CMSA. She keeps a hammerless coachgun handy too. She never shoots it; just keeps it stoked on her nightstand. I'd do the same. But, if the guy absolutely don't care about a shotgun, I wouldn't push it on him. That .357 sixgun's gonna put a world of hurt on a perp if it should (hopefully not) become necessary.

 

[Pocomoke]

greyhound,

Your dad might want to mosey over to the Mason-Dixon Stampede in Thurmont MD Sept 30 to Oct 3 if that's in his neck of the woods and with his interest in cowboy guns. Certainly should be a lot of fun what with cannon and Gatling gun demos.

I just recently got interested in cap and ball and will be attending for the first time myself. I understand that there are quite a few vendors scheduled and almost all of these cowboy folk are very happy to let newcomers fire off theior pistols and give advice. Lots of good used deals are bound to be there as well.

Here's the link:http://www.tcandsc.org/tcscCowboyMatchesMasonDixonStampede.htm

BTW I've been told that SASS membership is NOT required for attendance, unless he wants to shoot and hoot already. ;>)

Where in MD are you? I'm in Gaithersburg.

 

[greyhound]

Pocomoke - thanks for the update. He might enjoy that !

 

[dairycreek]

Its an odd position to be giving advice to the man that has taught you so much, in fact it makes me feel old

Given your feelings it seems as if Dad did his parent job right well. Good shooting

 

[Jim K]

I am an old guy of 71 and might consider becoming interested in guns if someone would donate me one. Maybe it could be charged to charity. I think a new .45 Colt Gold Cup would be OK, but a nice Luger carbine with "GL" on it would be even neater.

Jim

 

[Skirmisher]

I am 67 years old and shoot a lot of guns, competion, hunting and for fun. There are some others who are in competition with us who are in their 80's. I've read about women in their 90's shooting their attacker with a pistol. Age is a relative number. Only dirt is old.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Maybe you could get Dad interested in a Marlin 1894C .357 lever-action rifle.

Very cool, very cute, very bad news for anything in its sights.

 

[mustanger98]

The Marlin 1894 in .357 and Ruger's Vaquero .357 makes a great set. One type ammo. And whatever you shoot in the revolver gains about 300fps from the rifle. (For comparison, consult Hornady's 5th Edition load manual- .357 rifle vs. .357 revolver with the same bullet weight and powder charge weight. Whatever's running 1200 in a revolver is running more like 1500 from a rifle.)