Deus Machina
Member
No, not another 'what caliber' thread! 
A post in the 'first gun you shot' thread reminded me--do you guys have any superstitions or charms about shooting or your guns in general? Any interesting stories about how they started?
For example: my great uncle, grandfather, and dad (who proclaims not to believe it) have a tradition of 'shooting talismans'. Take a penny (the older the better, and only a penny; "You don't need luck if you're rich," as my grandpa told me.) out of your pocket that you had when you purchased or first shot a particular gun--it doesn't work otherwise!--set it down the range, and shoot it. Carry that dented penny whenever you have that gun with you for luck in your aim.
My grandfather's account of how he got the idea: his grandfather (or a friend's, I was too young to remember) fought in a war before Korea. WW2, probably. Had a long, tough shot on an enemy scout, but hadn't been seen yet. Decided he could make the shot instead of risking being seen while waiting to ambush the guy, took it a single shot and a clean kill, and slipped up to check the guy.
He had caught the soldier through a pocket, which contained some of his personal affects. It missed all of them (which they left with him) except a single coin, now with a .30-caliber hole zipped through it.
So the man kept that coin, and (allegedly) afterward never missed an aimed shot with that rifle, and came home safely with it still in his pocket.
Grandma's account: Grandpa's grandpa (or his friend's; see above) was silent against another's story about his shooting prowess, until another shooter bet him he couldn't hit the coin (still foreign; the bringback was undisputed). Set it out, zapped a hole into it in the first shot.
Either way, a good start to a superstition.
A post in the 'first gun you shot' thread reminded me--do you guys have any superstitions or charms about shooting or your guns in general? Any interesting stories about how they started?
For example: my great uncle, grandfather, and dad (who proclaims not to believe it) have a tradition of 'shooting talismans'. Take a penny (the older the better, and only a penny; "You don't need luck if you're rich," as my grandpa told me.) out of your pocket that you had when you purchased or first shot a particular gun--it doesn't work otherwise!--set it down the range, and shoot it. Carry that dented penny whenever you have that gun with you for luck in your aim.
My grandfather's account of how he got the idea: his grandfather (or a friend's, I was too young to remember) fought in a war before Korea. WW2, probably. Had a long, tough shot on an enemy scout, but hadn't been seen yet. Decided he could make the shot instead of risking being seen while waiting to ambush the guy, took it a single shot and a clean kill, and slipped up to check the guy.
He had caught the soldier through a pocket, which contained some of his personal affects. It missed all of them (which they left with him) except a single coin, now with a .30-caliber hole zipped through it.
So the man kept that coin, and (allegedly) afterward never missed an aimed shot with that rifle, and came home safely with it still in his pocket.
Grandma's account: Grandpa's grandpa (or his friend's; see above) was silent against another's story about his shooting prowess, until another shooter bet him he couldn't hit the coin (still foreign; the bringback was undisputed). Set it out, zapped a hole into it in the first shot.
Either way, a good start to a superstition.
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