How Long Have You Been Into Guns?

[WhoKnowsWho]

Shot my first firearm Jan of 2002, had lots of cap guns growing up and a few bb guns, but that was all I was exposed to. The rest of my family doesn't care for guns... they shoot children all by themselves and nothing good can come out of them... and since I am the youngest, none of them listen to me, oh well, their loss.

 

[Dave R]

Dad took me shooting around age 8. Bought me a shotgun in my teens, went duck hunting with him once, and deer hunting once.

My Bride bought me my a .22 in my mid twenties (at my request).

Moved to California and went "dormant". Few places to shoot.

Moved to Idaho about 7 yrs ago and remembered how much fun it was. Been into 'em ever since.

 

[JohnBT]

1955. Age 5. Maybe earlier, I can't remember.

JT

 

[NewShooter78]

When I was 11 I got a Daisy air rifle, and started target shooting in the back yard with that. That was my only exposure to guns until I was 14. That summer I went to visit my grandmom and my mom's sisters in Montana. My mom's oldest sister had a little .380 pistol, that she let me shoot when I was up there, so that was my first experience with a "real" gun. I didn't really get into shooting seriously thought until about a year and a half ago. Since then I've been "reborn" a shooter.

Gun ownership, and shooting have really changed my outlook on the world. Before becoming a shooter, I was really blinded by "liberal" ideas and all the hogwash that comes along with being a registered Democrat. It's certainly been an eye opener.

 

[Crimper-D]

Since Percussion caps were State-of-the-Art

There is a dugerrotype of me at age 4 shooting a rimfire handgun
Been doing that ever since.

 

[sm]

Came home from the hospital and a gun was next to the crib. That Sentinenl I first fired with help around 2.5 to 3 y/o. First centerfire was a Singer made 1911 age 6. Hit the ground runnin' you might say...ain't stopped since.

 

[jercamp45]

All my life!

Dad was a trained zoologist, life long Scouter, adventure traveler, outdoors fanatic, hunter, etc. By the time I took the young hunters safety clinic to get my hunting license(at ten? I think), I had hiked, canoed, camped, rock climbed in nat'l parks all over the country, had a BB rifle and BB pistol, .22 single shot and shot a few shotguns.
Then came the four years in Boy Scouts, Four years in Alaska and Four years as an assaultman in the Marine Corps Infantry. Trips to Gunsite, casual IPSC matches(early 80's) and shooting everything I could get my greedy little hands on(from the Ma Duece and LAW rocket on down to a .trusty webley pellet pistol). I have owned 50 firearms over the years, more than some, not as many as alot of others. 2/3 of those were handguns!
I have simplified since a divorce, but the day I croak...it will be from terminal gun-nut-itus!!
Jercamp45

 

[greyhound]

Bout a year now. Grew up in a house with no guns but not anti either.
Post 9/11 and sniper shootings here, offhandedly mentioned owning a gun might be a good idea, would probably have dropped it but the GF insisted we go look at guns in the local shop.

Well, ended up buying a S&W 64 4", and 3 more guns later here I am.

Highlight of my new found obsession: after going skeet shooting w/ the GFs father in Alabama, he gave me one of his 870 Wingmaster 20 gauges.
Best gift I have ever received!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Shot my first 2 firearms in 1967, a Mossberg .22, and an old single shot 12 ga. (ouch) Received my own first firearm in 1968 for my 12th birthday, (Stevens bolt-action .22) and love was in bloom. I doubt the madness will ever end. I dearly hope not.

 

[Feral_Goz]

I started out with a Luznik(sp) air rifle back in the mid eighties on my father's farm. I went through that many packets of pellets the old man used to joke he could mine lead in the back paddock if he fell on hard times. Also used a .22 and a .410 shotgun. Stopped around 88, due to school requirements (Senior High School, no time to go to the farm).

Then ended up with an unplanned leave of absence till late 2001. Had joined the shooting association in 99h, but hadn't actually fired a gun since 88. Work commitments got the better of me and it wasn't until end 2001 that BIL No.1 took up shooting and dragged me to the range. Ended up getting my licence and bought a .22 and a .223 early 2002. Then BIL No.2 moves in with me and brings his .22 with him. Was too much for the wife, who decided that as her brothers were spending so much time with me, she had better join in.

Mid 2002 we got our licences upgraded for handgun. Now I can go shooting with my wife, either (or both) BIL's, my FIL and my old man. Definitely must have been some dormant gene in my DNA.

Got into reloading start of 2003 and am sitting here wondering why I didn't keep on with shooting back in the 80's. I have at least 13 years to make up. Don't have time for any other hobbies any more. I'm either shooting, reloading or cleaning. (I can only get the wife to join in with the shooitng, the cleaning and reloading don't interest her.)

Feral_Goz

 

[greyhound]

the cleaning and reloading don't interest her.)

Feral_Goz-

Funny how that works sometimes, isn't it? My GF is the same - will shoot the .38 or the rifle all day, but the cleaning is all me. She thicks Hoppes smells "yucky".

Doesn't matter, I'm just glad for the company/support of my obsession. (Besides, I LIKE cleaning guns)

 

[standingbear]

a coons age

my grandma had my father and his brothers go out and get a table meat from the woods.they didnt have much but enjoyed what they did have.my father taught me the same ideals when i was just big nuff to hold up a shotgun.im teaching my son the same.its what its all about.my wife doesnt care for hunting or shooting.believes food from the store is more civilized.shes learning to understand my hillbilly family.ill have her going hunting one of these days.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'v been a gun nut since the ripe old age of nine, which was forty-four years ago.

 

[Baba Louie]

I remember "policing" brass at age 5 (1960) for my Dad and Uncles at an old rock quarry near the Missouri River. Dad's brothers were Marines and were riflemen. Mom's BIL's were policemen and were pistolero types. They all hunted ducks, geese, quail, pheasant and deer.

Shooting Dad's Marlin 39 a year later, buying my first "Mail-Order" .303 with birthday money about 2 years later. Kinda heavy. Dad got me a Sears .22 for my 10th birthday, scoped it, made a "Monte Carlo" stock complete with carved bighorn Ram, brass inlay with my initials. Got an M1 Carbine thru CMP (DCM back then if I recall) for my 12th birthday.

There were always guns and shooters around. Whats a young burro to do besides "Join the Club"? Been hooked ever since.

Got pictures of me shooting a Ruger MkII while holding one of our little'uns (with ears on him) when he was about 9 months, so I've tried to pass on the proper genetic mindset. He too has joined the club as has his younger sister. I've taken them both with their respective GF & BF out shooting a time or two as well as my GF's two sons (they were 10 & 6) and they ALL love it.

And thats a good thing.

Adios

 

[NRA Instructor]

I had a BB gun when I was around 9 or 10. Then got my first "firearm", a .22, at the local Sears store when I was 16. That was 56 years ago and I still have that rifle. This past summer I took it to the outdoor range and repeatedly made 10 shot groups at 25 yards that could be covered by a dime.

 

[P95Carry]

Guess it goes back near 50 years!! SAs a kid had several pellet guns .. in later teens was shooting in military competition squad linked with school ..... then from there a lapse of active shooting tho interest no less. Got back into it such that from about late 70's was into regular competition stuff .. built up collection from then mainly.

Not quite as active these days with range time but the addiction is not diminished any!!

 

[Feral_Goz]

greyhound,
At least she is understanding of my obsession....errrr hobby. Funny thing is I find cleaning guns and reloading extremely relaxing and the wife knows not to bug me when I an in the "cave" doing gun stuff.

Having the wife involved though has it's good points. I came home with 1000 9mm lead projectiles and she went nuts, until I told her how much cheaper they are over jacketed. (In Aus jacketed cost up the $30 per 100, lead is $22 per 500). That made her happy and she always asks if we have enough ammo to go to the range.

Feral_Gozb

 

[BHPshooter]

Some of my only memories from my very early childhood (like before age 5) were of/with guns. My first favorite toy was a capgun modeled after a revolver, with black grips. To this day, if I happen to walk through the capgun aisle at Wally World, I have to glance and see if they have any with black grips like the one I had. I always used to ask my parents for another gun everytime we went to the store... kinda like now.

The first things I remember watching on TV were Magnum, P.I. and The Three Amigos, both of which I liked most for the guns and the shooting.

I actually never even thought about asking about my own gun until about the time I got my shotgun [age 12]. That's all I've owned up until recently.

Then, about five years ago, we moved to a new house at the edge of town. My Dad bought his first handgun [a stainless Taurus PT92] then, and that's when I started to really think about them seriously again. Then, about two or three years ago, I thought I wanted a .40 Beretta 96FS. My Dad said if I could get the money, he'd get it for me. Well, on one trip to a gunshop, I found and held a Browning Hi Power. I had to have one. Fast forward to June, when I finally got the money, my Dad and I went to get my BHP.

Now it's gone from love to addiction. Two weeks ago, I picked up a FEG Hi Power clone.

Cheers,
Wes

 

[Spieler]

I have always had a fascination with guns, maybe just a few too many WWII movies chock full of MP40s, MG42s, Thompsons, etc. When I was 12 I was able to fire a lot of different military weaponry at the underground range at my dad's work , like MPKs, Hi-Powers, M1911s, M16, PPK and I was hooked! Starting reading all the gun rags and finally got my own rifle, a Rossi M92 lever gun at age 14 and I've never looked back.

 

[jrhead75]

Have loved 'em as long as I can remember. My grandfather (WWI Marine), had me out plinking at squirrels when I was about 6 (1963). My folks weren't antis, but never trusted us kids with guns, so until I was 18, I contented myself with my buddies' bb guns and firearms. My first was a Winchester 94 30-30...since then, it'd take me hours to type out all the guns I've owned!

 

[BowStreetRunner]

I always wanted to shoot as a kid but never got to own anything more powerful than a BB gun
when i was 19 YOA i shot skeet, hit 11 out of my first 11....i then shot a 1911 .45 and some other goodies the same summer
been addicted since then
dad and brothers got into it too about the same time
we had always been one of those "we dont need a gun in the house" families........now back at the homestead Dad boasts a stable of oh, 5 or 6 in the safe
way to go Dad!
BSR

 

[igor]

My mom taught us kids the basics on a little BB gun when just about big enough to load it oneself, <insert deity> bless her soul. When a bit older, I took possession of her pretty big and accurate Luzhnik and eventually wore its trigger assembly out. Plenty shooting with friends' older brothers and their .22's and shotguns growing up, but never really took up acquiring one myself then.

Got my military training, tried my hand with everything infantry up until the TOW2 and got my first 9mm Taurus after returning to reserve. That's thirteen years ago and counting. Now I'm active in IPSC and getting into the mil. reserve 3-gun competitions... contemplating whether to learn real shotgunning on a Mossberg pump or a Saiga-12K...