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Your start with guns.

7RiverMan77RiverMan7 Member Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 2009 in General Discussion
It's really surprising to me how many people haven't hunted that post on this forum.

What got all of you interested in guns?

I grew up hunting big game, small game, birds, varmints and anything else that happened along.

Never been a collector but how does a collector get started with guns if they have no hunting experience?

Military? Inheritance? Personal protection? Or just because it's your right?

No wrong answer, just wondering.

Comments

  • storm6490storm6490 Member Posts: 8,010
    edited November -1
    My hobby started out with my dad showing me how to shoot 22 pistols and rifles at a very young age. Then there was cub scouts, boy scouts, hunting and the infantry.

    People who don't have the upbringing but still collect usually like mechanics. My friend is a Mercedes Master Tech, he loves pistols and has never hunted. His love of weaponry comes from his love of cars.

    Collectors also get an interest in weaponry from the Wild West, Craftsmanship and value. Anything worth money will spark an interest.

    The shooting sports have also introduced a lot of non hunters.
  • hk-91hk-91 Member Posts: 10,050
    edited November -1
    I grew up hunting. I also enjoy long range target.
  • shoff14shoff14 Member Posts: 11,994 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I hunted varmints and small game growing up with a gun. I rarely deer hunted with a gun and stuck with bow hunting. I got my first bow when I was 12 or 13. As far as collecting goes, my grandfather was a collector and gunsmith. He worked on the railroad, and with the long off times, worked as a gunsmith on the side. I was able to shoot just about anything growing up. He mostly collected WWII guns and had several he brought back from Germany after the occupation. I just hope that when my grandmother passes, I am in a position to buy the collection. My collection consist of mostly modern weapons.
  • calrugerfancalrugerfan Member Posts: 18,209
    edited November -1
    We had 1 bb gun for the three boys. Lever action, weak spring (or air pressure, I don't know). It was so slow that you could see the bb lob towards the target. We would put up a paper plate and it wouldn't even go through it from 20 feet away. We would actually go collect the bbs from in front of the plate and shoot them again. Rollie Pollies worked well since they made a mark on the plate. [:D]

    My first time shooting a firearm was with my uncle in Utah. He took my little brother and I when I was about 10. It was a browning 22 auto with bottom eject. He set up some bean bags on the hood of the car to help us keep the gun stable. One of the shells bounced off the hood of the car and into my shirt. I had a scar for about 4 years. However, the gun actually belonged to my great-grandfather. He later gave it to me before he passed away. It is by far, my favorite gun.
  • MossbergboogieMossbergboogie Member Posts: 12,211
    edited November -1
    Grew up spending a good amount of time in a Duck blind. This was my start, and from there is has progressed.
  • LesWVaLesWVa Member Posts: 10,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 7RiverMan7
    It's really surprising to me how many people haven't hunted that post on this forum.

    What got all of you interested in guns?


    A Winchester just seem to work better than the old bow and arrow setup we were use to.
  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    My dad took me shooting when I was about 8 for the first time with a .22. I've loved it ever since.

    Sort of like saying, "I know a lot of you have never eaten sushi but you like Japanese food"- just because we don't all like the same aspects of the sport doesn't mean we don't enjoy it.
  • 7RiverMan77RiverMan7 Member Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by jonk
    Sort of like saying, "I know a lot of you have never eaten sushi but you like Japanese food"- just because we don't all like the same aspects of the sport doesn't mean we don't enjoy it.



    No wrong answer, just wondering.
  • BaseJumperBaseJumper Member Posts: 5,570
    edited November -1
    My dad has been in LE since as far back as i can remember. Since he always had guns in the house my brother and I were brought up to understand and respect the tools. BB guns when little. Shooting 22 shorts at about 8. I shot his 357, a 1911 45 and a Colt AR when i was 10. Just progressed naturally from there. Not a huge collection while I moved around the world in the military, but we can change that now.

    Never was a big hunter, cause my dad never had time. We had plenty of property to hunt on (wish I had done more now). My dad told us if he ever caught us killing an animal (even a squirrel) that we did not clean and eat, he would give us a whoopin that we would feel well into our 20's. I never violated that rule.
  • FatstratFatstrat Member Posts: 9,147
    edited November -1
    I grew up in a house w/guns. Dad had several, some of which were milsurps.
    My 1st shooting experience was squirrel hunting w/a .410 shotgun at about age 6.
    But what really fueled my interest in guns was my interest in American history. And listening to my dad and our neighbors telling war stories.
    Dad is a Marine Chosin Reservior, Korean War vet. When I was young, our next door neighbor was an WW-2 Pattons 3rd Army vet.
    They would talk about the charactoristics of varios WW-2 weapons. And I was an intent listener.
    Watching war movies, Dad was always one to point out Hollywood inaccuracy's and tell how it really was. What incoming mortars sounded like etc.
    Anyway, Dad was a travelng salesman for all of my childhood. And was generally only home on weekends. He didn't have time to take us hunting very often. We went some, but not much.
    But my interest in history lead to an interest in historical guns. And therefore to gun collecting.
    Another factor was that in young adulthood, I could afford milsurps and old guns much better than I could new ones. And from the start, even while still in high school, I got into acquiring old broken guns (because of my age, no one would sell me on my own, working guns) and trying to fix them.
    Old habits die hard. Even to this day I have little interest in new modern shiney guns. Altho I do own a few.
    I like old, well worn and used guns better. And most of my "collection" consists of broken guns I bought cheap, then repaired. Occasionally I have "restored" some. But I actually like the honestly acquired worn finishes better than brand new looking.
    So that's the story of this gun nut that doesn't hunt.
  • Mr. FriendlyMr. Friendly Member Posts: 7,981
    edited November -1
    Started trying to find common ground to bond with my father. Tried to make his interests my own so we could have at least one activity to share. It failed miserably, but I kept my love of firearms.
  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Got laid off as a hit man when the mob fell apart[;)]
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 21,849 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I didn't buy a gun until California got crazy on bans. Kind a like picking up a first pack of smokes when they started to ban smoking in places.
  • Colt SuperColt Super Member Posts: 31,007
    edited November -1
    Are you the one building the dossiers ??

    I know it was you with the long lens on the tripod, over by the big oak.

    I warn you - FIND SOMEONE ELSE.

    Doug
  • screwobamascrewobama Member Posts: 625
    edited November -1
    My fathers parents were not the type of people to have wepons being "socilaites" from upstate NY so my father I guess didn't have a firearm until he went into the service. As long as I can remember there was always a gun in the house. When I was about 12 Dad bought me my first pistol for my biirthday a Ruger MKII with 10 inch barrel and took me shooting at the indoor range.
  • Survivalist86Survivalist86 Member Posts: 3,105
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 7RiverMan7
    It's really surprising to me how many people haven't hunted that post on this forum.

    What got all of you interested in guns?

    I grew up hunting big game, small game, birds, varmints and anything else that happened along.

    Never been a collector but how does a collector get started with guns if they have no hunting experience?

    Military? Inheritance? Personal protection? Or just because it's your right?

    No wrong answer, just wondering.




    Grew up shooting my dads old Drilling rifle he brought from Germany when he immigrated. It really caught on when he bought me a Ruger single 6 at age 8. Too bad it was eaten by a freak locust plague. I do not own any firearms any more. All were lost in a plethora of freak accidents.
  • SpartacusSpartacus Member Posts: 14,415
    edited November -1
    what makes you think I'm interested in guns?
    I just come here for the recipes.
    tom
  • mauser54mauser54 Member Posts: 3,733
    edited November -1
    Growing up in the Marine Corps and being a Marine brat, I grew up with guns and recieved my 1st .22cal rifle on my 10th birthday[:D] And I have been hooked ever since![:D][:D]
  • zinkzink Member Posts: 6,456 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My mom swears I came out of the womb with a gun in my hand. I had my first shooter (a Daisy pump bb gun) when I was 3, shot my first animal when I was 6 (squirrel) and took my first gun apart at 9 (Winchester 1894, thought my dad was going to stroke out before I got it back together). Gunners Mate in the Navy, carried a S&W 19 when I was a cop and graduated to a Colt Delta Elite later, got my 01 FFL at 40, gave it up when I was 48, went thru TSJC gunsmith and now a full time gunsmith for Gander Mountain. I have hunted and killed everything from quail to geese and prarie dogs thru elk.


    Guess she was right![:D]

    Lance
  • 53hawkeye53hawkeye Member Posts: 4,673
    edited November -1
    BB guns, sparrows, pigeons, rabbits and such. Walking corn rows and weedy sloughs for my Dad and Uncle, busting pheasants. Who needed a dog when you had boys?
    We, my brothers and I carried BB guns for 2 or 3 years, and had to exhibit safe handling of our "weapons" at all times.
    Then graduated to a .410. After that we were on our own.
    Bought my first center fire at age 14. It was a mil surplus .30 cal carbine, that is all I remember about that gun. Wish I had it back.
  • King BeeKing Bee Member Posts: 103 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Never much of an outdoorsman and never fired a gun, even a BB gun as a kid.

    I was more interested in self defense. I was hit by a drunk driver and paralyzed from the waist down and started to worry about being vulnerable to crime. A friend of mine (who was a client at the time) took me to a local range and got me started. The next day we went to a gun shop and I bought my first gun.

    Who knew I would enjoy it?

    My little Tomcat .32 branched out to two shotguns, a rifle, and a .357 Magnum as well.
  • 7RiverMan77RiverMan7 Member Posts: 1,522 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
    Are you the one building the dossiers ??

    I know it was you with the long lens on the tripod, over by the big oak.

    I warn you - FIND SOMEONE ELSE.

    Doug


    Don't worry, your all talk and I know it. We only wasted a couple of days observing you before we realized the only person you endanger is yourself.[;)]

    Just a little side note...

    I have a pretty strong stomach but....

    that little running man dance you do naked in front of the mirror at night, actually made me throw-up a little.[xx(]







    You know what I'm talking about.
  • burdz19burdz19 Member Posts: 4,145
    edited November -1
    Grew up with a Dad that loved to hunt, raise bird dogs, and shoot trap every so often. He gave me that love also, God Bless him for that. [:)][:)]
  • soopsoop Member Posts: 4,633
    edited November -1
    When I was a little kid I would stand on the edge of the bath tub and look out the bathroom window and watch my neighbor hunt pheasants in the field north of the house.I would watch as his dog worked the field,hopeing to see him flush a bird so I could see the old guy shoot it.I wanted to be out there with him, but I was too little,and my dad didn`t hunt.
    Years later ,when I was old enought to hunt,I took this old neighbor venison from the first deer I shot. I told him of how I would watch him out the bathroom window when I was too little to see out without standing on the edge of the tub. I told him what an impression he had made on that little kid looking out the window.I knew I would be hunter. I think I surprised him.We had a good talk.It was the first time I had ever talked to him. He was just a neighbor that you might wave at as you walked down the road. Never close because of the distance between our houses and the difference in age.
    It was several years before I got my next deer,but I stopped in and gave him some more back straps from that one too. He was a nice old guy.
    Rest in peace Mr Managold. I`m still hunting.
  • Colt SuperColt Super Member Posts: 31,007
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 7RiverMan7
    quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
    Are you the one building the dossiers ??

    I know it was you with the long lens on the tripod, over by the big oak.

    I warn you - FIND SOMEONE ELSE.

    Doug


    Don't worry, your all talk and I know it. We only wasted a couple of days observing you before we realized the only person you endanger is yourself.[;)]

    Just a little side note...

    I have a pretty strong stomach but....

    that little running man dance you do naked in front of the mirror at night, actually made me throw-up a little.[xx(]







    You know what I'm talking about.


    First, it's a religious ritual. It fogs the brains of the OBSERVERS.
    I don't do it just for pleasure.

    Are you the one with the green ball cap, the black derby, or the the porkpie ??

    All your sophisticated surveillance equipment will get you NOWHERE.

    I always drink my Kool-Aid and wear my tinfoil hat.

    So there, commie !!

    Doug
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,516 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I grew up on a farm i have had a firearm for as long as I can remember
  • quickmajikquickmajik Member Posts: 15,576 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Guns got me intersted in guns. I didnt need much goading.[:D]
  • dreherdreher Member Posts: 8,881 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My start as a hunter began with my first kill when I was 6. My Daisy pump BB gun drilled that sparrow. That was 56 years ago. I can still remember how proud I was showing that sparrow to my Mom. Talked to Mom tonight, her Mothers Day flowers arrived today. Both her and Dad said the lillies were really pretty.
  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Grew up in the 60's, Westerns were the norm. Then friends with guns(None Allowed in my home growing up).

    Then the Biggest of all Joined the Marines.
  • SuwanneePirateSuwanneePirate Member Posts: 65 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    My granfather was a gunsmith and his hobby was building muzzele loaders ,he past in 1945 10 years before I was born .

    My dad was a gun enthusist and trader /tinkerer and bought me my first gun a winchester model 94 when I was born .When I was three he bought me a Winchester model 67 22 calibur rifle and started me shooting.When I turned 16 he gave me his fathers Winchester model 12 sixteen gauge with both barrels.

    When I was in grade school I would take the 22 to school and put the rifle in the coat room and give the bolt and bullets to my teacher . when the bell rang at 3pm she would give me the bolt and bullets back so I could hunt rabbits on the way home [ I walked a little under 2 miles to school]in the overgrown field by an old barn .

    When dad passed he left me several Shutzen rifles that he got out of the Prince of Bravarias summer place in Belgium. I have never shot them ,when they came through customs someone took a spring or some other small part out of them .

    Growing up in West Virginia was great, game was plentyful and you didn't have to go very far to hunt. When Kennedy got shot it changed everything.My uncle was a guide on the Snake River in Idaho and we used to send rifles back and forth but that soon ended. They took away our gun rights and started making money out of worthless metal sanwiched between two layers of silver to give it the appearence or real money .

    I still have the guns dad gave me and a few more . I gave my .22 target Mauser to a friends son about ten years ago. I belive that he will keep it to pass on to his kids. I gave my father in law my Winchester 101 and a first edition Thompson Center pistol and a copy of a 36 calibur Navy Colt built by Horase Dimmick that was picked up on the battlefield at Gettysburg.He and I used to stay at a friends ranch in Commanche Texas and shoot the place up . His friend that owned the ranch passed away a few years ago .So we don't go there anymore.

    I went to Walmart today to pick up a brick of 22 so my wife and I could shoot the Colt SA 22 pistols this weekend and they were out .Went to the areas biggest gun store and they were out but did have one box of 100 CCI ,It might last us an hour if we streach it out. Boy O boy times have changed. Dad said that they took all the guns away from the people in Europe before they tried to take it over from them.
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