I moved from our first house in the second grade, so I was under 7 years old, and I have vivid memories of my mom telling me to get the gun and kill a rabbit or squirrel out in the garden. So I would say i was shooting by age 6, at the very least, I will turn 50 in a few weeks.
Have you been shooting longer than I've been alive?
- Thread starter grimjaw
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bhk
Member
Started NRA four-position small-bore target shooting when I was about 11. I am 58 now. I have actively shot trap, skeet, sporting clays, IDPA, rifle silhouette, and informal smallbore benchrest. I enjoy hunting deer, quail, doves, and small game with shotguns, rifles, muzzleloaders, arrows, and handguns. I also enjoy reloading a great deal. My grandfather was an active shooter and died when I was about 4. I inhereted several years of late 40's and early 50's American Rifleman magazines and all his shooting/gunsmithing books. Also got my mother's target rifle (tricked out Winchester High Wall .22 target rifle) when I was 11. The rest is history.
Fisherman_48768
Member
I'll be 60 next week, got my first BB gun when I was 6 by selling Christmas cards door to door, first 22 when I was 11 as a birthday present. Bought my first shotgun when I was 13 with money earned delivering papers, hoeing beans,raking leaves and mowing yards, it was a brand new Rem 870 16 ga it cost me $85.00. No papers to sign, folks weren't called and feds didn't show up at my door and I've never been arrested for anything. I understood that if I wanted to keep what I had bought with the hard earned money I better not screw up period.
Clipper
Member
I started with my dad's K-22 at 6, and I've now been at it 46 years...
22-rimfire
Member
I think there is a great deal of experience with members of this forum. Makes it all the more interesting.
PennsyPlinker
Member
I got my first .22 rifle when I was 12, and have been shooting as much as I can since then. That makes 37 years for me. Those days when I was a kid meant driving up to the free range with my friends, or going to the range with my father, and are a wonderful set of memories. Nowadays I take my own kids, and even a couple of step grandchildren! My father still makes it to the range on occasion. He would be in the 60+ category.
Pilgrim
Member
First experience was at age ten at YMCA summer camp. I've been at it just over fifty years.
Pilgrim
Pilgrim
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Pushin' 20 years of serious shooting. I was late getting started.
Kimber1911_06238
Member
I'm 24 and started shooting a .22 on my 6th birthday. I got a marlin model 880 and went to the range later that day.
41+ here. Started shooting Dad's Savage model 5 when I was about 5 (with supervision of course) and began learning about them I guess about then. Got really interested in them by the time I was nine and have been a bit of a enthusiast since then. Didn't get really serious about them until about 1978 when I turned 21 and got first H/G. The problem grew since then. Being a mechanic at the time and in a way before (was one that was trying to figure out how ANYTHING worked...nothing was safe!). Firearms just seem a natural fit to mechanics. Ballistics, physics and all come together in the medium. Now as a teacher, I find F/A a great mode of relaxation and alleviation of frustration imparted by students. I like to think I have learned history, law, and a host of other tidbits in the process of learning about shooting.
grampster
Member
I'm 64 and my dad started me in shooting his Remington .22 bolt action when I was about 10 or so. I've been shooting over 50 years. That Remington is downstairs in my gun safe. I think I'll take her out and heat her up a bit tomorrow.
Guitargod1985
Member
I first shot a bb rifle with my grandfather when I was 8 years old, but my first firearm experience was not until over a decade later.
I didn't start shooting firearms until I was 20 years old, and I'm only 22 (almost 23) now. Although my grandfather served in Korea, he wasn't really a gun person per se, and as a result, neither is my father. My mother has had a .38 Special snubby for over 20 years, but she hardly ever practices with it. In spite of my parents' relative lack of experience and/or proficiency with firearms, my mother is a staunch 2nd amendment supporter and member of the NRA and my father is somewhat pro-gun, although he believes in that "reasonable restriction" crap.
I first became interested in shooting after I went shooting clays with my grandfather and one of his veteran pals. After that I was hooked. I went hog hunting with a buddy of mine a few weeks later and took a hunter safety course shortly thereafter. After that I turned 21 and decided to purchase my own handgun for self-defense and a shotgun with which to shoot clays.
Things really didn't start to take off until about four months after I turned 21. I purchased another shotgun for home defense and ditched the Kel Tec in favor of an HK USP compact. I then got my concealed weapon permit and purchased my first rifle - an Armalite AR-15 (M15-A2).
Ever since then, I've been actively involved writing my reps and senators (state and federal) regarding pending gun legislation to make my position as a constituent known, and I joined the NRA a couple of months ago.
I had no idea what I was missing out on for suc a long time!
I didn't start shooting firearms until I was 20 years old, and I'm only 22 (almost 23) now. Although my grandfather served in Korea, he wasn't really a gun person per se, and as a result, neither is my father. My mother has had a .38 Special snubby for over 20 years, but she hardly ever practices with it. In spite of my parents' relative lack of experience and/or proficiency with firearms, my mother is a staunch 2nd amendment supporter and member of the NRA and my father is somewhat pro-gun, although he believes in that "reasonable restriction" crap.
I first became interested in shooting after I went shooting clays with my grandfather and one of his veteran pals. After that I was hooked. I went hog hunting with a buddy of mine a few weeks later and took a hunter safety course shortly thereafter. After that I turned 21 and decided to purchase my own handgun for self-defense and a shotgun with which to shoot clays.
Things really didn't start to take off until about four months after I turned 21. I purchased another shotgun for home defense and ditched the Kel Tec in favor of an HK USP compact. I then got my concealed weapon permit and purchased my first rifle - an Armalite AR-15 (M15-A2).
Ever since then, I've been actively involved writing my reps and senators (state and federal) regarding pending gun legislation to make my position as a constituent known, and I joined the NRA a couple of months ago.
I had no idea what I was missing out on for suc a long time!
Guitargod1985
Member
I first shot a bb rifle with my grandfather when I was 8 years old, but my first firearm experience was not until over a decade later.
I didn't start shooting firearms until I was 20 years old, and I'm only 22 (almost 23) now. Although my grandfather served in Korea, he wasn't really a gun person per se, and as a result, neither is my father. My mother has had a .38 Special snubby for over 20 years, but she hardly ever practices with it. In spite of my parents' relative lack of experience and/or proficiency with firearms, my mother is a staunch 2nd amendment supporter and member of the NRA and my father is somewhat pro-gun, although he believes in that "reasonable restriction" crap.
I first became interested in shooting after I went shooting clays with my grandfather and one of his veteran pals. After that I was hooked. I went hog hunting with a buddy of mine a few weeks later and took a hunter safety course shortly thereafter. After that I turned 21 and decided to purchase my own handgun for self-defense and a shotgun with which to shoot clays.
Things really didn't start to take off until about four months after I turned 21. I purchased another shotgun for home defense and ditched the Kel Tec in favor of an HK USP compact. I then got my concealed weapon permit and purchased my first rifle - an Armalite AR-15 (M15-A2).
Ever since then, I've been actively involved writing my reps and senators (state and federal) regarding pending gun legislation to make my position as a constituent known, and I joined the NRA a couple of months ago.
I had no idea what I was missing out on for such a long time! I'll tell you this though: My wallet certainly doesn't have quite as much cash as it used to.
I didn't start shooting firearms until I was 20 years old, and I'm only 22 (almost 23) now. Although my grandfather served in Korea, he wasn't really a gun person per se, and as a result, neither is my father. My mother has had a .38 Special snubby for over 20 years, but she hardly ever practices with it. In spite of my parents' relative lack of experience and/or proficiency with firearms, my mother is a staunch 2nd amendment supporter and member of the NRA and my father is somewhat pro-gun, although he believes in that "reasonable restriction" crap.
I first became interested in shooting after I went shooting clays with my grandfather and one of his veteran pals. After that I was hooked. I went hog hunting with a buddy of mine a few weeks later and took a hunter safety course shortly thereafter. After that I turned 21 and decided to purchase my own handgun for self-defense and a shotgun with which to shoot clays.
Things really didn't start to take off until about four months after I turned 21. I purchased another shotgun for home defense and ditched the Kel Tec in favor of an HK USP compact. I then got my concealed weapon permit and purchased my first rifle - an Armalite AR-15 (M15-A2).
Ever since then, I've been actively involved writing my reps and senators (state and federal) regarding pending gun legislation to make my position as a constituent known, and I joined the NRA a couple of months ago.
I had no idea what I was missing out on for such a long time!
I'll tell you this though: My wallet certainly doesn't have quite as much cash as it used to.Otony
Member
Started shooting about 1963 or so, when I was 8 or 9 years old. My dad wasn't much of a shooter, but we had a relative who often took me to the range (with his daughter!) to shoot .22s and an M1 Carbine.
My first gun was a Daisy BB, followed by a Remington Nylon 66. I owned my first handgun as either an 8th grader in junior high, or as a freshman in high school (A Browning Nomad, followed soon thereafter by what was the first of about 14 Ruger Single Sixes, but I digress).
Dad became a bit more interested in guns because of me! He first bought a Mossberg 500, and I later gave him both a Remington 1100 and an SKB 100. He never owned a rifle until a few years before he passed, a minty Carcano I found to match the one he carried in WWII (yeah, he was on Il Duce's side, I don't need any jokes about that).
That Ruger Single Six pretty much ruined me for life, as I have owned 30 or 40 single actions since that time. There are more than I like to admit to in the safe. I have been involved in many aspects of shooting, rifles, handguns of all sorts, shotguns, black powder, air rifles, you name it. I love to shoot.
Retirement is in 2 years, 107 days as I write this, and I am blessed with a young wife and a two year old son. We intend to move to the country soon after I leave my job, and I will have the distinct pleasure of teaching my son (and our June expected new child) the pleasures of shootin' 'n fishin'.
Hey, this middle-aged wonder has gone on long enough!
My first gun was a Daisy BB, followed by a Remington Nylon 66. I owned my first handgun as either an 8th grader in junior high, or as a freshman in high school (A Browning Nomad, followed soon thereafter by what was the first of about 14 Ruger Single Sixes, but I digress).
Dad became a bit more interested in guns because of me! He first bought a Mossberg 500, and I later gave him both a Remington 1100 and an SKB 100. He never owned a rifle until a few years before he passed, a minty Carcano I found to match the one he carried in WWII (yeah, he was on Il Duce's side, I don't need any jokes about that).
That Ruger Single Six pretty much ruined me for life, as I have owned 30 or 40 single actions since that time. There are more than I like to admit to in the safe. I have been involved in many aspects of shooting, rifles, handguns of all sorts, shotguns, black powder, air rifles, you name it. I love to shoot.
Retirement is in 2 years, 107 days as I write this, and I am blessed with a young wife and a two year old son. We intend to move to the country soon after I leave my job, and I will have the distinct pleasure of teaching my son (and our June expected new child) the pleasures of shootin' 'n fishin'.
Hey, this middle-aged wonder has gone on long enough!
shootin
Been at it since about 8 years old am now 50
Was reloading at 13 years old 30-30 22-250 .222 . Now load for everything I can find . :banghead: Can't afford it like I used to though. Blasted communists I mean liberals , ( sorry communists didn't mean to down grade u) 
liberals
Been at it since about 8 years old am now 50
Was reloading at 13 years old 30-30 22-250 .222 . Now load for everything I can find . :banghead: Can't afford it like I used to though. Blasted communists I mean liberals , ( sorry communists didn't mean to down grade u) liberalsBlue4
Member
First gun (Mossberg .410) in 1949. Been shooting ever since. Looks like 58 years (oh my!). I'm 70 now and still shoot that old Mossberg occasionally.
I was probly 10 when my dad taught me to shoot with a ruger 10/22 (that he still has) and I would occasinally go shooting with whoever. but when I was 18 and got my first M44 mosin nagant is when I really got started. so I figure I really only have about 7 real good years of experiance.
60 Years!
Started with a .22LR/.410 over/under at the age of 7 on a cousin's farm. However, didn't really get fully into it until I hit college at 17. Shot pistol competitively in ROTC and was captain of an Army pistol team while in the service. Did quite a bit of amateur gunsmithing on both own and others rifles & pistols for most of my life. If I take the former as my actual starting point, I have been in the shooting game for 60 years!
Do I get the record?
Started with a .22LR/.410 over/under at the age of 7 on a cousin's farm. However, didn't really get fully into it until I hit college at 17. Shot pistol competitively in ROTC and was captain of an Army pistol team while in the service. Did quite a bit of amateur gunsmithing on both own and others rifles & pistols for most of my life. If I take the former as my actual starting point, I have been in the shooting game for 60 years!
Do I get the record?
Tigerseye
Member
Santa brought me a Winchester Mod. 67 "boys rifle" in 1956. I was thirteen. My daughter has that gun. I've been actively shooting, competing and reloading since about 1975.
greenflash107
Member
51 here. Started when I was 8 or nine.(my first was a 410) for wabbit hunting. I like the poll numbers, more my age than I thought.
armedandsafe
Member
Moved up from the Red Ryder to the Win .22 when I was 6 in '45. Didn't get to shoot the -06 until 1948, but I got my own that Summer and started shooting the competitions on the KD range.
Pops
Pops
possum
Member
about 15 years, but in to guns and trainning heavy like i am now, 5 years.
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