Hmmm myself:
I started shooting in 1961 at an NRA sponsored air rifle course at a local park. I came up through exclectic groups of shooters from my friends uncle with his converted BOYS rifle (.50 cal) to the Class III community...
Over the years I was somewhat just "normal" about my shooting (mediocre) until the 70's when I came across IPSC just atfer Jeff had moved it down from Arrowhead. It was GREAT! Practical pistol shooting at it's best! Shot IPSC competitively until 1982 at which time a disagreement about the state of ISPC split the South West Pistol League in half, half stayed to shoot with the compensated pistols/money match stuff, the rest of us wanted to stay more in tune with "Practical" and non-compensated pistols (Now IDPA). Was friends with some of the classics, including several of the instructors for Jeff's school, Armond Swenson, etc etc etc. During those years, we used to shoot a minimum of 1000 rounds a month (but 3000 rounds a month was not abnormal) and that was the old ISPC load of 5.8 to 6.0 of 231 behind a H&G 68. That was hardball equivelent. Got the Arthritus to prove it! None of this light loaded .38 super.. or even 9mm. In those days we used a great press called a Star, if you were good, you could actually load 1000 rnds an hour. By the 80s a good competitive year in IPSC cost 5 to 6K.. no kidding!
I also have a love of long distance rifle shooting. Have shot NRA Hipower and PALMA matches since the 70's when I was using an M21 (accuraized M14) or a tuned M1A. Bought my first M1A way back when (Springfield meant Devine Tx and an M1A cost $3/400). I used to build and/or tune M14s, M1 Garands, Match rifles... loved it. Used to work on ,45's.. but quit 45 work quickly! And if anyone ever thinks a decent Military rifle can't shoot over 3-400 yards, I never shot less then 80% of score at the PALMA matches with a tuned 14/M1A, that was the Any rifle/Iron Sights part. (Palma Matches are at 1000 yards, standard Hi Power matches were 200 400 and 600 yards). Still got my score books. While I've shot Hi Power for many years, it took the training of an ExMarine Sniper to shape me up and get me good. I had the black and blue spots to prove it, he was OLD SCHOOL! (Semper Fi Don). Still have my stuff except my eyes aren't quite what they used to be, but last time I was up at the range, I supprised a lot of young shooter that didn't understand distance shooting and of course.. they knew better! Chuckle.. Had the strangest prone rthym most people ever saw.. I only had X amount of time to get the shot off before I'd have to roll out of position and rest me eyes... then go back into position.. so I developed my LD rthym and it worked
I also had a great time taking people up for some auto fun during the years I had my class III. I've still seen some of the piles of brass that were left years ago... We took up everything from MaDuece to Mini UZi's (what a silly weapon), kept a ParaFal in my car, just in case and it did have the switch.
Professionally I worked in the arms industry off and on until the 80's both commercially and for the Gov't.. I don't care about discusions the commercial side of the industry, but no.. I don't talk much about the other, except in really vague terms. These were the days when we were beseaching Colt to start modifying the 70 series... of what a waste of time. Then there was the supperb Stainless .45 that came out about that time and the folks that were making it came out to the IPSC matches all the time! To bad they were underfunded... sigh..
In the late 70's got interested with computers, and in the 80s Fidonet started up, by 1985 I had started the discussion areas for technical Firearms discussions and the RTKBA echo for politics. That ran until the late 90's when the Internet had pretty much taken over... but it's never stopped me from getting off my duff and getting out to take the battle to the people... The Shooting community cannot afford coach potatoes, not anymore!
Still love a good pistol and a fine rifle, be it a 14 or a Garand of a pre 70 Winchester... or even my friend's Ruger International in .243 (best darn little bush rifle I've ever used, really handy and nice balance).
Most of all, I'm deeply concerned that most of the shooting community does not see how badly we're loosing our ability to keep firearms and does nothing about it, and that if they don't do something about it SOON, there will be almost no more shooting community by the year 2020/2030. Because there will be no more 2nd.
Also how in the heck do you get rid of the darn wink at the top??