How Long Have You Been Into Guns?

[PawDaddy]

I got my first gun, a .22 single shot, when I was about 6 years old. Next came the single shot .410 and then a bolt action 20 guage Mossberg. I was probably 11 or 12 when I got my first handgun; a nine shot double action .22 made by High Standard. So, you can see that I have been around guns most of my life. I am 41 now.

I grew up hunting squirrel, deer, and turkey. Now, it is mostly deer. But, I think that I like shooting more than hunting. There is nothing like getting together with friends and plinking with a wide assortment of guns! We don't have any ranges around here, but a buddy has some land and I also have a hunting lease that we can shoot at.

What about other High Roaders?

 

[Chip00]

Dad took me hunting when I was seven years old.
Started shooting on my own in my late teens. Used my Dad's 22 rifle and 22 pistol. Moved up to his S&W 38 Special M&P. Bought a surplus Springfield 1903 for $15 and started reloading when my friend, who later became a noted Dallas pistolsmith, taught me how.

 

[BluesBear]

My dad started showing me his guns and teaching me about safety when I was 8. I really got into them when I was 10 and discovered that my elementary school library had a subscription to Guns & Ammo.

I joined the NRA at 11 and I got my first subscription to G&A when I was 12.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Over 60 years.
Parents and grandparents all gunnies.
shot, rifle, handgun. target and hunting.
Kinda born into it.

Sam

 

[Mike Irwin]

I can't remember a time when I wasn't.

 

[jsalcedo]

1982

Fired my first Winchester 94 and a Walther PPKS in the same summer.

 

[tomkatz]

Like the rest so far have said, most of my life. My dad got me into shooting and hunting rabbits, pheasant, and deer at a really young age.
I got my Smith 686-0 in 1990 when my dad left it to me, bought my glock 17 later that same year and my love for handguns(and long guns) has grown steadily ever since ......tom

 

[Lancel]

When I was five, my father and grandfather helped me shoot a .36 cal muzzleloader squirrel rifle.
I missed the beer can target; that still happens 50 years later.

Larry

 

[4570Rick]

Started when I was about 5. For Christmas I got a Roy Rogers two gun rig and the Roy Rogers hat with the derringer in it. Four years later, I got lessons from an NRA instructor and started hitting targets with live ammo.
Right handed, left eye dominent kept me from hitting anything until I was 9. I owe my skills and safety record to the YMCA Ranch Camp outside Tucson, AZ and The NRA Instructors Program.

 

[Dan Morris]

Got my first 22 at about 6, 20 guage shortly after. Dad wasn't a big hunter but had no objections either. Uncles and older friends got me into deer hunting.Old THP trooper got me into competition pistol.I've grown into other stuff myself.Took both my kids deer, antelope and elk hunting when they were old enogh to go.This doen't count hundreds of hours on the range with them. Just kinda tried to teach them the proper attitudes and safety.Should lst them a lifetime!
Dan

 

[Tamara]

Started thinking they were really interesting 'long about the 5th or 6th grade. Didn't actually have one 'til I was 18. My mom still says "I just don't understand; it's not like you were raised around guns, but it's not like we were anti gun, either!" I reply that they should've bought me a BB gun when I asked for it, 'cause I've spent the subsequent years making up for it with a vengeance.

 

[Art Eatman]

Got my first Daisy Red Ryder for Christmas of '41; 'bout 7-1/2. Got to use my grandfather's .22 around that time, when we'd visit his farm.

Got into reloading for an '06 when I was sixteen. Funny-odd; I did a lot more shooting with an '06--both bolt action and Garand--before I went into the Army than while in it.

After the Army and college and such, finally had enough money of my own to mess with guns and hunt and all that sort of thing about age 29-ish. So, I guess "serious" doings with guns for about 40 years, now.

Art

 

[Brian Williams]

I wore out a Daisy BB summer of my 5th grade, I was 11. did not get my next gun till I was 16 and my parents finally let me get a Sears 22. I got a 1851 navy while I was in the Marines and that is all till about 4 years ago I really started shooting. Too many other stupid hobbies should have stayed with shooting.

 

[Litlman]

The day my DaD handed me my Winchester 94 qnd said it's yours. It cost him $50 used and I KNOW how hard he had to work for that money. It is a good memory. Been hooked ever since.

 

[Dorrin79]

I've always thought guns were neat.

was taught to shoot by relatives (grandfathers, uncles) at a young age. Shot off and on growing up.

Didn't get my first firearm, though, until I was 22.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Got my first BB gun around 8 yrs old and then duck hunting around 12.

Step Father intruduced me to guns and hunting.

 

[einnor1040]

I've been into guns all my life. My dad is to. I was born into it.

 

[Radagast]

Since I could breath.

Seriously, my greatest remembered disappointment was around age 8 when my dad didn't come good on buying me a .22 rifle.
Age 12 I got to shoot for the first time.
Age 18, registered to vote, applied for a firearms licence and went to my first progun street rally all with in two weeks.
Age 21 Bought my first handgun.
Age 33 I shoot IPSC and want to make my national team, I'm an IPSC section Secretary, Club Secretary, on my ranges management committee, political activist, etc, etc, etc.

If only I could find a way to make money out of it.

Radagast

 

[RustyHammer]

Born into it.

/Rusty

 

[Werewolf]

The one common thread amongst this crowd is we all started young.

Seems to me that if that is the general case in the US population that unless the RTKBA crowd doesn't concentrate on young people that the RTKBA will die within the next generation or two.

 

[blades67]

Born into firearms as the son of a Marine.

 

[Terminus]

I guess I'll buck the trend by saying "just two years".

You see, I was raised by card-carrying ACLU, anti-gun, hippie liberals and it took 34 years of life experience to jettison all of the crap.

As you may guess. Mom and Dad are not happy with Junior's hobby (not to mention his politics).

 

[Border]

4 years there abouts. The first time I shot a rifle I was 11 and in Boy Scouts. I beat everybody and not just for that event but all summer long, the men too. I BEGGED my father to let me take up the sport but he wouldn't allow guns in the house. Not even a magazine or book on it! Shot skeet a few times with my friend and his father when I was 13 but he was a Navy guy and moved away. The interest had to become dormant and later I even wrote an anti-gun paper in college!!! Long story short-I like some others here are late bloomers and today being my birthday and at 46, I will just HAVE to buy another gun!

 

[Gunhamr]

First Benjamin air rifle at age six in 1927, first shotgun, a 410
Winchester Model 20 at age ten in 1931. Have never been without
a gun since then. Still buying and shooting. Will be 82 next
Saturday if the Lord permits. Going to town this afternoon and
trade for another Blackhawk in 44-40. Love them Rugers.

 

[PawDaddy]

My dad and uncle introduced me to guns and shooting, but they are not really into guns the way that I am. My son is 20 and has 6 long guns and 3 handguns. He is not into them as much as I am either, but I think the he will be one day.

My daughter likes to shoot when I can get her to go out, but she SAYS that she doesn't care that much for it. But, I see a different thing when she gets behing a gun. I do not push her and am hoping that I can get her to go more often. She is not timid about shooting as she has fired some of my big guns, including my 10 guage.

My other daughter has not showed much interest at all. She is 23 and married to a non gun person. He is not anti, but just never got into guns or hunting. He likes to race and has a dragster. That takes his spare time and money. But, he is not opposed to guns. His mom has a carry permit, but I don't know what she carries.

We need to get children more involved in shooting sports. They really do not know what they are missing out on. And, their parents don't realize how dangerous it is to bring kids up without firearms education. Knowing about guns and having the proper respect for them could save their lives one day. But, before that, parents need to teach their children to respect God and their fellow man. Unfortunately, too many parents fail in this area.