My Dads got a gun but he doesn't Know how to use it.

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sinisterevil01

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I bought a shotgun a few years back and when I did, come to find out, my old man has had one under his bed forever. So for 3 years I have asked him every week to go to the range with me. Not only for fun but to get a handle on your weapon. He has yet to go. Now what should I do? I had mine at the range next day. I go shooting every week I can take my gun down and put it back together blind folded. cleaning and oiling are essential to the operation of the firearm. so what kind of malfunction hazard is there when my dad bought the gun used from a buddy who had it sittin in a safe fer a while and now its been under a bed fer 5 years never been fired broken down and oiled or anything. he just refuses to budge on takin it out though.
 
If he doesn't want to go shooting then let it go. Invite him occasionally, if you like. Too much persistence has the opposite effect that you want... makes people stubborn.
 
Ask to borrow his gun.

Seriously, I don't know the structure of your relationship, but if my dad were to suddenly tell me that he had a gun under his bed that he hadn't ever shot, I go into his room, pull it out, take it out to the farm and dirty it up. But that's only because we have that 'what's mine is yours' type of relationship.
 
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ask him to allow you to clean it for him. He may just get an interest from YOU doing something with it. If not, heck, it's cleaned and ready to set under the bed some more...
 
ask him to allow you to clean it for him. He may just get an interest from YOU doing something with it. If not, heck, it's cleaned and ready to set under the bed some more...
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Agreed. If he isn't interested, he isn't interested. You can't force him to go.

FWIW, my dad is the same way. I clean his guns for him from time to time. Sometimes he goes shooting, sometimes not. I pulled a Remington 1100 out from his closet that hadn't moved in 15+ years I bet. There was some surface rust, but it ran through all 5 shells stored in it no problem. I checked for obstructions, racked a shell in and ran it as is. It could have definitely used some oil and the o-ring was in need of replacement IMO, but it ran.
 
Maybe your pops simply doesn't like guns/shooting and only bought it to protect his family? I know quite a few people like that, though most of them do have basic firearms knowledge and know better than to leave a piece of machinery unmaintained.
 
I think asking to borrow/shoot it is a good idea. Clean it up, give it a workout and then let him know it works great and leave it at that.

Some people just don’t have much interest in shooting. It may not be the best plan to have a gun “just in case” that you never practice with, but it’s not the worst idea ever either. I assume it’s possible he at least knows how to operate it even if he’s not very proficient.
 
Three things seem to be apparent to me...
  • The shotgun's functionality is unknown.
  • The dad doesn't seem concerned with the reliability/dependability/functionality of this shotgun.
  • The OP is certainly questioning it and seems concerned.
Therefore, the OP needs to dig this gun out and do whatever is necessary to alleviate those concerns and answer those questions.
 
so what kind of malfunction hazard is there when my dad bought the gun used from a buddy who had it sittin in a safe fer a while and now its been under a bed fer 5 years never been fired broken down and oiled or anything.
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I doubt anything, I bought a double that hung in a rack for 30 years and it functioned perfectly from the get go.
 
Wondering if the OP's dad is a war vet. Many of them, like my granddad, didn't like guns after being involved in WWI. He never talked about his service. The OP's dad may have it for defense purposes. He may not actually like having it in the house, but knows that having it there for an emergency requiring a firearm is important to him. I agree that the gun should be inspected and cleaned.
 
If it worked when he got it, chances are about 99.99% that it will work now. It may be dusty and might even have grown some rust but unless their house has a weird climate indoors it should be OK. It could probably use some attention, but it isn't as if it's going to die of neglect inside a house under a bed.

As has been said, being a nuisance about it is very likely to produce the opposite result from what you want. Continue to ask him to go to the range with you, don't even insist that he take his gun if he'll agree, and if he does go with you, make the session short and pleasant. Show him how responsible and safe you are by demonstrating it, not talking about it. Then go home and let it go for a while. Take it slow...

BTW, there are probably more guns that have service lives shortened by too much cleaning, over oiling etc. than too little... if your long guns have wooden furniture, do you rack them muzzle down?

fwiw,

lpl
 
^^^ From what I've read it's not a bad practice to store all firearms muzzle down because it's better for any moisture we miss to run out of the action and into the barrel where it should quckly evaporate. This is especially true right after we're done shooting.
 
we've always had guns in our house. my brothers, myself, and even my liberal sister know how to shoot. years ago i would take my daddy shooting. after this experience i decided it would be for the best if i just gave him my old 18in stevens double. now daddy is almost 90 and my sister hides his shells. we decided it would be for the best.
 
I like that. And I would really like to do just that. But there's no doubt I'd have to give it a good lubing first bein that it's semi auto. Dont want the action gummin up on me.
 
I realize that ha may not be interested in all the shooting and stuff but my concern is he did buy it for home defense but he has never fired a gun in his life let alone a 20 gauge semi auto with 000 buck shot. all i'm sayin is if u never shoot it the u have too many unknowns such as: Recoil, cycling speed, mounting and hiting your target. not to mention that even if you buy it for home defense u should know your gun inside and out and how to maintain it. am I wrong?
 
My pops has never been in the service. and hes always had an interest in weapons and shooting but who knows maybe hes just scared to take the bull by the horns. Ive been shooting since i was 5 with friends and family other than him so at this point im just tryin to find a hobby that we can share to spend time together. I know hell never go huntin with me so why not take down some clays.
 
No one is arguing whether or not your father "should" learn how to properly handle the firearm nor whether or not it should be kept clean/lubed/ready and tested occasionally. What we're saying is you can't force a grown man to agree with you nor can you force him to like your hobby.

Maybe you're better off asking to participate in with one of "his" hobbies? Then, maybe, he'll take more interest in your hobby... I'm not saying that should be your goal, mind you.
 
yes ive definitely heard that guns can have their life span shortened by over cleaning but I was told to clean at least the barrel every 350 rounds. and I don't just badger my dad I started off by buying the ammo for my gun and offering to pay for the rounds of skeet but he tells me no if hes gonna go to the range he wants to take his gun. but because he bought it for home defense he has nothing but 000 buck shot rounds. can't very well shot skeet with that now can we people would be gettin peppered a half mile away.
 
your right. im not trying to force him to do anything and wasn't tryin to seem like i badger him i am persistent but only because If it ever does come down to having to rely on a weapon youve never used or practiced with, and bam it doesn't work or you fire it and it kicks so hard and your not ready what are the odds you are gonna hit anything
 
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