Did your taste in firearms change as you aged?

[ArmySon]

When I was 20-22 years of age, I was in love with Glocks, Berettas and many of the modern semi-auto pistols. AR-15's, AK-47's and various tactical rifles were my cup of tea.

However, once firearms became a major passion of mine, my interest slowly leaned towards the older pistols, rifles and shotguns. While I still enjoy firing Glocks, Sigs, HK's and Berettas, the majority of my collection now consists of 1911's, Over-Under shotguns and side by side Merkels.

Instead of always raging about semi-auto rifles, I much prefer spending the day at the range with a nice bolt action. There's now more joy for me shooting targets at 200-500 yards instead of 50-100. Gotta love seeing the progression of your groups shrink with more and more practice.

Anybody else in the same boat?

 

[Harbinger]

Always good to see your name on board, Son.

Can't say that my tastes have changed much. Still have a love for revolvers and 1911's. Give me time, though. At the ripe age of 32, there's still time for my tastes to change. I really doubt it, though.

 

[Archie]

Earlier in life....

I was enamored of multi-shot spray and pray type firearms. When I was 16 or so, my idea of the ultimate rifle was an M1 Carbine.

I still like carbines, but for different reasons now.

I've always liked 1911 pistols. But I've grown to appreciate a fine revolver, too.

And groups get tighter. And further away.

And I fancy a red-dot aiming device more and more, too. (Not taste, visual acuity.)

 

[ArmySon]

I've learned to appreciate the red dot site too. Lately, I've been using Trijicons on my M4 Carbine. Couple months ago, we were using Aimpoints.

 

[TallPine]

Well, let's just say that I have finally become convinced that cartridge firearms are here to stay.

 

[Navy joe]

With the exception of learning to like Glocks, no. I can just afford my tastes better now. I've only been seriously onto guns for 3.5 years now, and I like Glocks, 1911s, BHPs, ARs, M-1 Garands, M-1As and 870s. Toss in a few old milsurps and how could my taste get any better? Leastwise that's how I see it.

 

[cool45auto]

I used to want my dad's old Colt 45 revolver really bad when I was younger. Then I fell in love with automatics, especially the Beretta. I don't have any revolvers and my dad only has one automatic.

 

[spacemanspiff]

definitely. but my "aging process" has taken the last year and a half. i started out with a POS AP-9 (twice the gun a tec-9 is but still isnt saying too much) and now am waiting for my Kimber TLE II to be delivered, should be monday....stupid 2nd business day shipping!

after this, i'll probably hold off buying more pistols and stock up on rifles. the garand is still high on the list, but a remington 700 is also calling my name.

 

[Okiecruffler]

In my teens and twenties,I thought every gun had to be the latest semi auto with the highest cap mag humanly possible. Now as an old man of 33, I've sold off most of my autos, carry around a 5 shot snubby (half the time with no reload) and the only guns that really get me slobbering are old military surplus bolt actions.

 

[JeremyIA]

ArmySon--I'm assuming that you are in the Army. MOS?

To answer your question, I liked the whiz-bang goodies too when I was younger. Now I like wood on my guns and am buying more 1911's myself. Always back to the tried and true.

SSG JeremyIA

 

[Atticus]

My tastes have changed over time, but I've come full circle to some extent. I've always liked the look and feel of blue and wood lever action rifles, bolts, 1911's, S&W revolvers and old shotguns. For a time I was really into black/tac. I still keep some heavy fire power around, but I have a much greater love of the old classical firearms. Unfortunately, I'm getting so far sighted these days that I'll soon have to start shooting a Kentucky long rifle, or get my arms lengthened, so I can see the front sight .

 

[HSMITH]

I have come back full circle to USEABLE rifles and revolvers. Nothing like weapons that will do what you need done when you need to do it.

 

[Bostonterrier97]

When I was younger I was fascinated by Semi-Automatic Handguns and Rifles...particularly the AR15.

As I've gotten older..I find myself preferring to shoot revolvers over Semi-Auto handguns. And my love for the AR15 has been turned into disgust..When shooting Semi-Auto Rifles..I prefer the Garand or the M1A. (Actually I prefer the Garand over the M1A) If I want a light weight rifle..I prefer the M1 Carbine.

But mostly I just love shooting my 1866 Yellow Boy Reproduction (in 45 Long Colt) and my Lee Enfields.

As for Hunting Cartridges..I used to love Magnums..now I prefer more classical cartridges such as the 30-06, 257 Roberts, 6.5x55mm..and of course that old standby (found nearly everywhere in the world...) .303 British. Though if I want some decent 215 grain bullets I have to load them myself...Woodleigh is expensive.

 

[Shane]

When I first started out, I was mostly into semi-autos. Now that I've been shooting many years, my tastes have changed to revolvers. In fact, for recreational shooting I LOVE single-action revolvers, despite their slow reload time. For defense, my front line defenders are double action revolvers.

I still have semi-autos, I just don't shoot them that much anymore.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Son,

I think my perspective of handguns shifted from the
wheel guns of yester-year to the semi-auto's of today;
mainly because of my duties as a LEO. Grant it, I still
find myself mystified with some Smith & Wesson and
Colt vintage revolvers. Why? Cuz IMHO revolvers are
still the most accurate of all handgun's; and most
are not finicky with regards to handloaded ammunition.

But, I still shoot and enjoy both quite well. My first two
quality pieces were a 4" barrel Smith & Wesson
model 57 .41 magnum, and a .45 caliber Colt Combat
Commander. Nowdays, its my 5" barrel Smith & Wesson
629-5 .44 magnum "Classic"; and my .45 caliber SIG-
Sauer P220A!

Well, thats about it Son. Good to hear from you my friend,
as I think about you quite often when surfing here at THR!
May GOD bless you, and all troops stationed around the
world. My thanks for keeping us homefolks safe.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[dude]

No pistol gripped mag fed rifles in the safe anymore, they bore me now.

..............lots of Dan Wesson revolvers and a P7 though! My favorite pilnker is a .308 Styer Mauser these days.

 

[cratz2]

I grew up thinking that semi auto pistols were the neatest thing since sliced bread. They were relatively compact, loud and the mechanics, while I certainly didn't fully understand them (still don't) fascinated me to no end. Now that I've onwed at least one of most of the major designs, I'm not as intrigued, I suppose. Rifles didn't interest me at all. I liked hearing about shooting stories and hunting stories, but I didn't look forward to the next time we'd shoot a rifle.

I have three bolt rifles 22 WMR, 243, 25-60) that more use than all the rest of my guns, CCW aside, put together. So, yes, my tastes have changed. Always liked 1911s - right from the very start. Of course, if you had told me back then I'd be carrying a Kahr P9 and a P32, I never would have believed it - actually, I would have had no idea what you were talking about. Matter of fact, if you told me last July I'd be carrying these two, I wouldn't have believed it.

 

[techmike]

When I was a teenager and through my twenties I was a die hard pistoilero...If I couldn't do it with a pistol I didn't want to do it. As I age I gain a much better appreciation for a good rifle - Both the the Tacktikcal and the traditional.

 

[bpisler]

I started with revolvers then went to semi-autos and now back to revolvers.

 

[BHP9]

However, once firearms became a major passion of mine, my interest slowly leaned towards the older pistols, rifles and shotguns. While I still enjoy firing Glocks, Sigs, HK's and Berettas, the majority of my collection now consists of 1911's, Over-Under shotguns and side by side Merkels

With age comes wisdom. Too often our media portrays older people as doddering nin-compoops but the reality is that with age comes experience in many things.

Experience has taught me that there is simply no comparison between the older finely crafted weapons made with much hand workmanship. They were durable, often having lasted a century or more of hard use and they were often way more accurate than many of todays out of the box plastic, sheet metal and cast iron guns.

I have found that given quality ammo old weapons like my 1895 7x57 Mauser rifle will shoot 1/2 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards even with cast lead bullets. I have seen new wave plastic and sheet metal rifles that do not do nearly as well.

I personally get no pride of ownership out of modern weapons. They are not works of art and I seldom even show them to friends preferring to keep them well hidden and out of sight. Not so my older weapons. They are like fine books or paintings they beg to be shown off to experienced friends (old?) who know and appreciate what they are looking at. None want to look at plastic, sheet metal and cast weapons.

When young you want the most powerful, hard kicking, high capacity guns you can lay your hands on. When older you want the skill to be able to hit what you are aiming at, foregoing the pray and spray technique for the one shot one hit philosphy.

There is no subsititue for basic marksmanship and with it you need less and less the powerful magnum rifles that shoot a mile or more realizing with age that hunting skills and a garden variety 30-06 is all anyone needs for most applications in the hunting field.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I still own all my semi-autos...

But for some reason, I've gone back to wheel guns and lever action rifles. I have NO idea why~Other than that CR Sam told me, "Wheel-guns rule".

KR
P. S. Hi Son!

 

[Kharn]

When I was young (12-16ish), I wanted sporting guns as that was all I had seen in Boy Scouts. When I was ~19, I wanted the black rifles (as I was afraid Spendenning was going to give us the shaft even further), now that I'm 21 I'm into C&Rs, hunting guns, black rifles, shotguns, pistols, er, I'll cut to the chase: If it goes bang, I want to buy it.

Kharn

 

[benewton]

I didn't really get into weapons, on my own, that is, until after high school, when I did my term.
First weapon bought was a MK IV Series 70, which went with me while playing Army.

Followed that up with a present for obtaining my Master's, an M1A NM.

Both are still in my hands, but I've since moved to a more practical stance, per my old DI: it's only a bullet launcher.

So, black plastic works for me, 'cause living in the woods, I'm unlikely to take a shot beyond 100 yards, so an AR A2 easily beats the M1A, and the plastic H&K USPc is much easier to carry than any metal framed weapon of the same size.

My eyes are going, though, so I suspect I'll be heavy into red dots in the future.

Too, I'm starting to get real interested in shotguns of the 870P type....

 

[blades67]

Nope. I still like 'em and I still shoot 'em every chance I get.

 

[Black_Talon]

I started shooting a 6" K-38 about thirty years ago in college but always wanted a 1911. I bought one the day I turned 21 and have been in love with that series ever since. I've gone through my revolver stage and my DA auto (Browning BDA/Sig P220) stage as well but I keep coming back to my 1911's.