When did you get into firearms?
- Thread starter Beav
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DSRUPTV
Member
There were always guns in the house, but ole 41 Redhawk didn't get me seriously shooting until my teens.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Same Year I Got Married
1968
At the ripe old age of 21~
1968
At the ripe old age of 21~
Tom Servo
Member
Since I was 6 or 7. I had to be just big enough to handle some recoil. Most of my ancestors died in war or opression in Europe at some point, so it was only natural that my family took the 2A VERY seriously we came here.
Father gave me a pistol in my late teens, and I bought my own when I turned 21.
Father gave me a pistol in my late teens, and I bought my own when I turned 21.
dodge
Member
As far back as I can remember there were guns in the house. Shot my first one before I waas even big enough to hold the gun up. My dad held the rifle and I squeezed the trigger. I must have been 4 or 5 at the time.
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
Ladies and Gentlemen, the results of this poll are pretty obvious. The earlier you get introduced to firearms, the more likely it is to take. If you want to secure your children's future, you had best do what you can to make shooting an enjoyable experience for more than your children.
2nd Amendment
member
There were always guns in the house while I was growing up(none of them locked up, BTW). I had a gaggle of BB guns before I got the real thing. But I didn't really get "into" guns until the AWB. I had my CCW and had this or that over the years but the ban made me sit up, take notice and spend stupid sums of money I could not afford. 
Rexrider
Member
I was always "aware" of firearms thanks to my late Grandfather (I was raised by my Grandparents until I was 14). He always owned guns (former Marine) however, he was not really an active shooter until a few yrs after my Grandmother passed away.
I was 17 the first time I shot a rifle and handgun. The rifle was a 30-06 bolt action and the handgun was a .357 mag.
After I turned 18 I bought my first rifle. A Marlin .22 bolt action (currently owned by my Godson).
My hobby did not really kick into high gear until I turned 24. Oh so many years, guns, and dollars ago.
Some of the best times I had was shooting with my Grandfather. His 45 against my 45. He is the reason there will always be a 1911 in my collection. (off subject buy had to say it).
I was 17 the first time I shot a rifle and handgun. The rifle was a 30-06 bolt action and the handgun was a .357 mag.
After I turned 18 I bought my first rifle. A Marlin .22 bolt action (currently owned by my Godson).
My hobby did not really kick into high gear until I turned 24. Oh so many years, guns, and dollars ago.
Some of the best times I had was shooting with my Grandfather. His 45 against my 45. He is the reason there will always be a 1911 in my collection. (off subject buy had to say it).
Wags
Member
Started hunting with family at an early age, but didn't start purchasing and being interested until after a 4yr stint in the military (22 yrs old).
1911 guy
Member
Grew up
with guns and learned to be safe before I learned to shoot. Dad let me "help" clean his guns when I was little and drilled it into me. My son had a bolt .22 in my cabinet before he was born. A noble legacy for a noble people - good old American mutts.
with guns and learned to be safe before I learned to shoot. Dad let me "help" clean his guns when I was little and drilled it into me. My son had a bolt .22 in my cabinet before he was born. A noble legacy for a noble people - good old American mutts.
M
mrhuckins
Guest
Growing up, it was just me and my mom. Still I don't remember a time when I didn't have a bb gun and then a 22 rifle. That is until my mother passed away, and I was no longer allowed to have anything more dangerous than a pellet gun. Then I got to fire some really heavy stuff in the military. After that I lost interes for about 12 years, until I just recently got back into weapons again. Have never really been into handguns, but thats all I own right now. I have a couple more handguns on my wishlist, then after that I have about 3 rifles on my wishlist. I got bitten by the gun bug.
Commissar Gribb
Member
My dad always had a shotgun around the house for home defense and occasionally went hunting with his dad but I never shot a firearm till I was about 13 at boy scout summer camp. I dont think I'll ever forget how lousy those .22's were.
When I was 16, me, my cousin, my dad and uncle went shooting and I shot my first .38spec. I remember it felt like the revolver was trying to jump out of my hand!
for my 18th birthday, my Dad bought me a ruger 10/22- I remember not being able to hit a thing with it at the pit where we used to shoot. Good memories though.
After I joined the airforce, he bought me my Bushy AR-15 as a present. We were surprised they made such great quality firearms in our own state! After this, I was hooked on EBR's! I took it home after shooting it and stripped and cleaned it like I did with my service rifle after qualifying in basic training.
Last year, my dad bought me a S&W mod 645 as a present for when I got back from Iraq. It's always been one of my favorite shooters and got me into autopistols.
I remember he always said the one rifle he always wished he could get was an M1 Garand and this year I'm gonna surprise him! I know it's just a small repayment.
When I was 16, me, my cousin, my dad and uncle went shooting and I shot my first .38spec. I remember it felt like the revolver was trying to jump out of my hand!
for my 18th birthday, my Dad bought me a ruger 10/22- I remember not being able to hit a thing with it at the pit where we used to shoot. Good memories though.
After I joined the airforce, he bought me my Bushy AR-15 as a present. We were surprised they made such great quality firearms in our own state! After this, I was hooked on EBR's! I took it home after shooting it and stripped and cleaned it like I did with my service rifle after qualifying in basic training.
Last year, my dad bought me a S&W mod 645 as a present for when I got back from Iraq. It's always been one of my favorite shooters and got me into autopistols.
I remember he always said the one rifle he always wished he could get was an M1 Garand and this year I'm gonna surprise him! I know it's just a small repayment.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Although I shot competitively for two years in college, I didn't really "get into firearms" until I married the daughter of an outdoorsman. My wife and father-in-law bought me my first gun (Mossberg 500). He and I started hunting together, and I took my first whitetail with one of his rifles. Wanting to hunt with something other than a slug gun in "shotgun only" areas got me interested in handguns. Then a friend introduced me to Mas Ayoob's Lethal Force Institute, and I started reading about the history and Constitutionality of firearms and the rest, as they say, is history.
41 Redhawk
Member
That's cuz he was broke raising you
38SnubFan
Member
I started getting into firearms at age 14, after a friend and his mom taught me to shoot first on an air rifle, then with a .22LR rifle.
My father, although no longer owning and carrying a gun and not planning to do so again any time soon, allowed me to learn how to shoot and gun safety, and even put me through a firearms safety course at that time. He was going to buy an air rifle or .22 for me to practice with, but my mother, who is vehemently against firearms (long and rather stupid story I'm not going to get into) was totally against it, so it ended up that my father kept me away from guns altogether (he follows the, "Yes dear! Whatever you say dear!" theory of happy marraige LOL).
At about age 18 my friend bought a .22 rifle to plink and target shoot with, and I re-learned my marksmanship skills once again. Anytime he got the bug to shoot, I chipped in a box of rounds and we made an entire day of it.
At 22, I decided I wanted a gun, but my grandmother (who I was living with at the time) was (and still is) more anti-gun than my mother. So no firearms or CCw/LTC for me until I moved out on my own, but she was willing to allow an airgun, so I picked up a Crosman 3576W air pistol and would probably go through a 5-pack of CO2 cylinders and a 500-round box of pellets per week plinking cans, bottles, or anything else I could find to "pop off".
I finally moved out to my own apartment at 25, but my then-fiancé (I ended up dumping her) was also totally against guns, and told me if I brought a gun in our home she would pack and leave. Wish I would have gotten the gun then!
At 26, after dumping the controlling fiancé, and after her new boyfriend starting making threats against me, I decided that it was time to purchase a gun, and my co-worker made me a good offer on a .38 snub-nose ($100 for a 20-rounds-fired-only Weirauch/EAA Windicator) that I couldn't pass up. I filled my long-time desire and NOW necessity to be able to protect myself (should new boyfriend decided to get stupidly-brave). I practiced at least 3-4 times per week (now down to once a month unfortunately) and became nicely proficient with the revolver.
That started the "gun bug," and I don't see it stopping anytime soon. I just bought a DA/SA compact .45 last February, and from there it will be a 1911, a .357 mag., an AR-15 or AK-47, a .308, a 12-ga. shottie, etc., etc.,
-38SnubFan
My father, although no longer owning and carrying a gun and not planning to do so again any time soon, allowed me to learn how to shoot and gun safety, and even put me through a firearms safety course at that time. He was going to buy an air rifle or .22 for me to practice with, but my mother, who is vehemently against firearms (long and rather stupid story I'm not going to get into) was totally against it, so it ended up that my father kept me away from guns altogether (he follows the, "Yes dear! Whatever you say dear!" theory of happy marraige LOL).
At about age 18 my friend bought a .22 rifle to plink and target shoot with, and I re-learned my marksmanship skills once again. Anytime he got the bug to shoot, I chipped in a box of rounds and we made an entire day of it.
At 22, I decided I wanted a gun, but my grandmother (who I was living with at the time) was (and still is) more anti-gun than my mother. So no firearms or CCw/LTC for me until I moved out on my own, but she was willing to allow an airgun, so I picked up a Crosman 3576W air pistol and would probably go through a 5-pack of CO2 cylinders and a 500-round box of pellets per week plinking cans, bottles, or anything else I could find to "pop off".
I finally moved out to my own apartment at 25, but my then-fiancé (I ended up dumping her) was also totally against guns, and told me if I brought a gun in our home she would pack and leave. Wish I would have gotten the gun then!
At 26, after dumping the controlling fiancé, and after her new boyfriend starting making threats against me, I decided that it was time to purchase a gun, and my co-worker made me a good offer on a .38 snub-nose ($100 for a 20-rounds-fired-only Weirauch/EAA Windicator) that I couldn't pass up. I filled my long-time desire and NOW necessity to be able to protect myself (should new boyfriend decided to get stupidly-brave). I practiced at least 3-4 times per week (now down to once a month unfortunately) and became nicely proficient with the revolver.
That started the "gun bug," and I don't see it stopping anytime soon. I just bought a DA/SA compact .45 last February, and from there it will be a 1911, a .357 mag., an AR-15 or AK-47, a .308, a 12-ga. shottie, etc., etc.,
-38SnubFan
Smoke
Member
Depends what you mean by "got into them".....
Dad and Granddads were big bird hunters. Uncles too. Guns were always around. Had my first BB guns around 6 or so. Was allowed to get the .22 and go off by myself by 10. Spent me hours roaming the ranch shooting things....anything. Kinda got bored with guns in my teens other than bird season and the occasional rabbit killing, I didn't shoot or hunt much.
After marriage, (and having a little more disposable income) I started buying some new and different guns and getting back into them some.
Then came my first gun school and my first semi auto handgun
That was the catalyst that made me nuts. Started buying lots of guns and having a ball with them. Opened up a whole new world of fun.
Haven't slowed down since.
Smoke
Edited to add:
This whole interent thing where you guys post pictures of fancy guns (and rare guns, and custom guns, and old guns, etc) hasn't exactly helped my sickness any.
Dad and Granddads were big bird hunters. Uncles too. Guns were always around. Had my first BB guns around 6 or so. Was allowed to get the .22 and go off by myself by 10. Spent me hours roaming the ranch shooting things....anything. Kinda got bored with guns in my teens other than bird season and the occasional rabbit killing, I didn't shoot or hunt much.
After marriage, (and having a little more disposable income) I started buying some new and different guns and getting back into them some.
Then came my first gun school and my first semi auto handgun
That was the catalyst that made me nuts. Started buying lots of guns and having a ball with them. Opened up a whole new world of fun.Haven't slowed down since.
Smoke
Edited to add:
This whole interent thing where you guys post pictures of fancy guns (and rare guns, and custom guns, and old guns, etc) hasn't exactly helped my sickness any.
Nuts590
Member
I was hooked by age 10 or 11. Fired a .22 at boy scout camp and that was all she wrote... I grew up in the middle of nowhere Nebraska so I was always around someone shooting something, but was until my family moved to PA that I actually shot for myself. Started reading every gun publication I could find until I weaseled an agreement with my parents about a pellet gun (Used crosman 3576 from a friend for 10 bucks, but only after passing the PA hunter safety course!) Built a small indoor range in the basement of our house.
Some odd time later was given a .22 by my aunt & uncle. Learned that CCI CB Longs are a hell of a lot more fun to shoot because I didn't have to freeze my hand to a CO2 cylinder every 30 or so shots. Same uncle that gave me the 22 took me out shooting pistols when I was about 12 or 13, that just served to solidify my love of shooting. (Couldn't shoot his S&W 41 to save my life but could put .38 wadcutters & .45 FMJ through the X every time.) Used my high school graduation money to invest in the Mossberg 590 I always wanted. Some odd years later realized I found the woman of my dreams when she bought me my first Mauser for Christmas. Now I'm addicted to C&Rs. It's a slippery slope I tell ya...
We now have a new addition to the family (25 days old today actually) to pass on this hobby to. Can't wait until she's old enough to learn...
Edit: I'll second what Smoke said, the internet doesn't help this addiction any...
Some odd time later was given a .22 by my aunt & uncle. Learned that CCI CB Longs are a hell of a lot more fun to shoot because I didn't have to freeze my hand to a CO2 cylinder every 30 or so shots. Same uncle that gave me the 22 took me out shooting pistols when I was about 12 or 13, that just served to solidify my love of shooting. (Couldn't shoot his S&W 41 to save my life but could put .38 wadcutters & .45 FMJ through the X every time.) Used my high school graduation money to invest in the Mossberg 590 I always wanted. Some odd years later realized I found the woman of my dreams when she bought me my first Mauser for Christmas. Now I'm addicted to C&Rs. It's a slippery slope I tell ya...
We now have a new addition to the family (25 days old today actually) to pass on this hobby to. Can't wait until she's old enough to learn...
Edit: I'll second what Smoke said, the internet doesn't help this addiction any...
Stevie-Ray
Member
Around 1966 or so. I was about 10 years old and saw my father's pistol for the first time. Colt Pocket .32 Auto. It's mine now, of course, but that little gun (seemed huge at the time) instilled in me a hunger for more. From then it was .22 rifles, shotguns, anything I could shoot that belonged to somebody else until the ripe old age of 12, when my folks bought me my Stevens bolt .22. My recently returned from Vietnam brother-in-law fed my addiction with his collection and his Marine gun-ho attitude, and we spent a lot of time shooting. I'll always be indebted to him. Took me til '79 to get my first handgun, though. Naturally, another .22, but it got better. I'm starting to slow down, now.
M
mrhuckins
Guest
LMAO--I feel your pain there brother and AMEN to that!
Punkermonkey
Member
All my life
I grew up around guns. Started with a BB gun when I was 9 or 10, handguns and rifles at 15. Guns where never "evil" or "needed to be banned". I'm 31 now and I'm still not a homicidal maniac. I guess Sara Brady was wrong after all.....
I grew up around guns. Started with a BB gun when I was 9 or 10, handguns and rifles at 15. Guns where never "evil" or "needed to be banned". I'm 31 now and I'm still not a homicidal maniac. I guess Sara Brady was wrong after all.....
enfield303
Member
Started shooting competition when I was 11 yrs old(Jaycee Shooter Safety program). I can't remember when I have not had a deep love of shooting.
My grandmother Enfield got me my Lee-Enfield #4Mk1 when I was 12(that one is getting passed down to the next generation). I slacked off for a while after moving to Ames. Tried Pheasent Hunting, Fell into a drainege ditch in December(kept the weapon dry!), decided that was not my bag. I really want to get into IDPA, but my work schedule has not been kind. When selling cars, it really helps to be there when the customers are there. I now have a range membership and get out at least once a week.
My grandmother Enfield got me my Lee-Enfield #4Mk1 when I was 12(that one is getting passed down to the next generation). I slacked off for a while after moving to Ames. Tried Pheasent Hunting, Fell into a drainege ditch in December(kept the weapon dry!), decided that was not my bag. I really want to get into IDPA, but my work schedule has not been kind. When selling cars, it really helps to be there when the customers are there. I now have a range membership and get out at least once a week.
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