It's enough to make you cry.

[danbrew]

And I left wondering about how he even qualified for his CCW. I'd love to be able to afford any one of his fine weapons. He seemingly doesn't have any real use for them.

Unless, of course, you happen to be on the receiving end of of one of the four.

I always get a kick out of folks thinking they know what somebody else is doing/thinking/shooting. Perhaps his goal is to improve his non-aimed rapid fire skills and he routinely fills up the x ring when slowing down? Or maybe he just likes to blast away?

 

[ghoster]

i grew up on a dairy farm and had guns my whole life.

all my buddies were town folk and loved to come and shoot.

still a farmer and construction worker and i have several nice guns but no really fine / expencive ones.

all my old buddies make plenty of money and one is rich, they all still love to come shoot and bring their sweet guns over to play with.

none are very good shots but love the sport. they bring thier kids when they get big enough for me to teach safety and hunting to.

it is really fun to out shoot them with their own guns and i probably would never get to play with such nice examples otherwise.

if anything they put ME on a higher level and listen to what i tell and show them, they just didnt have the opertunity to shoot for 40 years.

the rich one even brought his wife ( another fine example ) out for me to teach and they have a security detail, so he could have had anyone he wanted to teach her. plus i get a smooch on the cheek every trip so dubble fun for me.

so the moral of the story is: go ahead and gush about nice guns and offer to help with the finer points and you might find a friend that is true and dosent realy see money but just happens to have it.

 

[Werewolf]

Matthew 19:24

Yeah...
Right...

Cuz like everyone knows: working smart and being rich as a result is just so freakin' evil. GOD wants everyone to be poor and miserable.

Please leave the religious references out: It's off topic, against the rules of the board and there's no place for it here.

 

[Werewolf]

A friend of mine is into bird hunting big time. He also trains and sells the dogs bird hunters use. He's very good with a shotgun, pump or auto and very fast. He uses everything from a basic Rem 870 to high dollar Benelli's. He's not poor but he's not rich either.

He's also got a bit of a mean streak - well - I'm not sure it's mean but it's something because every now and then he gets the urge to compete in clay pigeon matches (not sure what they're called - not a shotgun guy). I went with him once to a match and asked him why he bothered. He told me I'd figure it out at the end of the match.

At the match he was shooting an 870, an old beat up one. Most there were shooting Browning or Benelli autos - the high dollar ones. Long story short, Gerald won. The looks he got from the other competitors and some of the comments made by some of them were priceless. Mean streak? Maybe. He told me that every now and then he just needed to prove to himself that it wasn't the gun but the nut behind it that counted the most. Pissing off the guys with the $20K guns was just gravy.

 

[Mr_Rogers]

A friend of mine is the literal poor boy from the mountains who made good. Yes, his purchases tend to be a compensation for his early days but he deserves every toy he buys. He's good with a shotgun and rife but barely average with a pistol and not too interested in learning - it happens.

 

[Dulvarian]

Whatever. If I had been at the range, shooting next to a guy with that many toys and I discerned that he had no real training with them, I would have mentioned that there were classes to teach all kinds of skills with firearms. I also would have gone over basic marksmanship if I saw him physically doing something weird. I would have tried to help him out, even if it meant that I got to spend less of the time I had given myself to go shoot helping him.

And I would have done the same thing if he was holding a junked out Sat night special. I probably wouldn't have mentioned high dollar training courses, but I would have worked with him.

One time, I was at the local indoor range, and there is a guy shooting an AR on irons, and he is barely hitting the target out at about ten yards. I know he is military because I asked. The local Navy base ends up shooting quals at the range... which I don't understand because we have 4 ranges on the base... but anyway, they pay $125 bucks or something to go there on Sat mornings and qualify. Haha. That isn't a joke. Anyway, it's Friday afternoon, and he is trying to get ready to qualify in the morning. His third try, at $125 a pop.

So, he asked me a question. I was playing with my SIG 556, and I was changing out a target and I had a neat little group on there and he asked me how I did it. I shrugged and told him practice. He told me how much he had been practicing, but wasn't getting any better. So when he went to fire, I stepped back and watched his stance. So I got his attention and showed him a little better hand position, told him how to breath and fire. His form got better, but his aim didn't. Pulled his target in, put a new one up, and talked to him about not anticipating the shot. Ran it out to five yards, told him to try again. Still all messed up, and then he told me that he had trouble focusing on BOTH sights and the target. I told him just to focus on the front ones, and he shot about a one inch group. He shook my hand, thanked me, and we both went back to shooting.

Few minutes later, he ran a new target out to 25 yards and ran through about ten rounds. One inch group, prety much ripped the x out of the bullseye. Happiest I have ever seen a guy shooting a group. Took all of about three minutes total of my time. Pretty sure he qualified the next day, though I have never seen him again. And pretty sure that I made a huge impact for another shooter.

I'm not a great shooter by any means, and the stupid muscle relaxers I have been taking for the last 8 months for my back have played hell on my shooting. But I can still tell someone what the basics are, and it usually makes a difference. I don't see why someone would go green with envy and not at least try to toss a pointer or two over. Hell, you might learn something yourself. It might get you back to focusing on your basics and improve you.

Just a thought.

 

[iScream]

the match he was shooting an 870, an old beat up one. Most there were shooting Browning or Benelli autos - the high dollar ones. Long story short, Gerald won. The looks he got from the other competitors and some of the comments made by some of them were priceless. Mean streak? Maybe. He told me that every now and then he just needed to prove to himself that it wasn't the gun but the nut behind it that counted the most. Pissing off the guys with the $20K guns was just gravy.

I actually started off shooting at Elm Fork in Dallas using a Rem 870. I wasn't competing but shot a lot of 5-Stand next to guys shooting autos and nice over/under shotguns. I would occasionally score higher than someone shooting a nicer gun but I never experienced anyone getting upset. I did get compliments from guys shooting some very expensive guns though. Most people consider an auto with screw in chokes to be pretty much minimum equipment for the different clays games. Some target setters definitely have a mean streak and racking a pump shotgun just isn't something you can do with two fast moving targets in the air.

It's funny, the one experience I did have out there was shortly after I bought my Beretta 391. It was almost exactly what I described with my MKIII, where someone else shooting a 391 made a comment to his buddy, but loud enough to be sure I could hear it, about not needing a fancier model gun to hit the clays.

Just a different perspective...

-Chris

 

[Mr. Bojangles]

If the guy can afford them (and isn't a criminal) he deserves them. To those of you who insist you deserve those very nice firearms more than him, perhaps instead of complaining and whining you should go to college.

 

[skoro]

OK...


Rich guy has nice guns, but can't shoot. Maybe he'll improve with some range time.

I just don't see why that should upset anyone. Each of us does what we can with what we have.

 

[scythefwd]

Mr Bojangles, what does college have to do with anything? There are very few guns that are nice and common that are out of the price range of someone who works hard and is willing to save for it. I should probably stop there before I get ...... pissy.

 

[Winter Borne]

Firstly, there are plenty of "wealthy" guys with "nice" guns who know how to use them! I can understand the desire of more and more guns, but I have a lot more respect for the guy/gal who finds the best fitting gun for their needs and masters it than I do for a guy at the range with one of each, and master of none. Be proud of your skills IMO

mk

 

[GD]

Obama is in power because of people who envied the rich. Let the rich guy play with his guns, and do what you can with what you can afford.
If I gain knowledge and skill and save my money, I can be as good a shooter with the right equipment as anyone.

 

[B yond]

I have a buddy with a several-thousand dollar rifle package. Fancy jeweled bolt, custom stock, high-priced leupold scope, all professionally put together and zeroed for a specific loading...

It really pisses him off when I out-shoot him with my sporterized (Bubba'd?) mosin nagant m44, drug store scope, and surplus ammo.

 

[thorazine]

I looked down the firing line to watch this large 30ish guy blazing away at a man sized target on the 5 yard line. That target looked like it had been used to pattern multiple rounds of 00 buckshot at 60 yards.

What is wrong with that?

He is hitting his target right?




My targets are never pretty.

I shoot for speed.

Speed from the holster.
Speed from one.. to five shots on target.

They still hit the target -- groups aren't tight but I get no thrill from slow fire bulls eye shooting.

 

[AKElroy]

Mind you, I didn't particularly mind that this kid was blasting away at a nearby target that he was hardly hitting, but the chafing point was that he probably spent a fortune customizing his pistol that he apparently made no effort to shoot accurately. Maybe he had his reasons, but it sure looked like a bunch of stupid to me.

I have shot with a great deal of focus for good groups; in fact, that is what I try most of the time. I have also, (in years past, when one could buy cheap ammo), taken a bunch of cheap Wolf ball ammo to break in a new gun, just to get it hot & dirty without any regard for groups. So, I might be that guy that "has his reasons".

 

[scythefwd]

Cuz like everyone knows: working smart and being rich as a result is just so freakin' evil. GOD wants everyone to be poor and miserable

That is not what that verse means. It doesn't say a rich man can't get it, it just says it is more difficult. Many people believe that this is due to humilty, not money.

 

[AKElroy]

Quote:
Cuz like everyone knows: working smart and being rich as a result is just so freakin' evil. GOD wants everyone to be poor and miserable

That is not what that verse means. It doesn't say a rich man can't get it, it just says it is more difficult. Many people believe that this is due to humilty, not money.

This turn in conversation to the religious is also a likely way to get this thread closed. As for the passage in question, it referes to those "minded" to be rich. IE; money is their priority. An idol. First in their lives.

 

[ohioshooter]

I think it's funny that people actually think that just because you have nice guns that you should be able to shoot them like some skilled marksman. Why can't he have the guns for the love of collecting something that he thinks is really nice. What if he wants to take his safe queens out and shoot them a time or two. I'm by no means anywhere near rich but I have a few $1000+ guns that I like for the sake of the beauty and craftsmanship of the firearm. And I don't shoot them very often but the ones that I shoot often I know I can hit center mass at 25 yards so I could be the guy who has this expensive AR that can't hit squat with it but in due time those pathetic groups you may see now you won't see over time.

Just my $.02

 

[tex929rr]

To the OP: I understand the point you were trying to make, but it's his stuff - give him advice if he wants it; otherwise it's his decision what he does with his money and firearms.

Some other posters seem to show some real resentment of the man's posessions and/or presumed wealth. I see this on every forum I belong to. I see it on Corvette forums - "this guy's car is filthy, he doesn't deserve to own it". Bike forums: "He's not fast enough; he doesn't deserve that bike".

Let it go. Watch your own lookout and be the person that YOU want to be.

 

[bowman1962]

Why do ya think our money is GREEN.
If ya want something someone else has, go get your own. That whinning about I scrimped and saved for what I have is an excuse for (I got tired of waiting and bought what I could afford RIGHT THEN).
We aim higher when we shoot at long ranges, it's the same with everything, if you want something that is further away you have to adjust your sights. Just my $.02.

 

[Doggy Daddy]

There's an old David Bowie movie called "Labyrinth" with a character that I often think of. She's burdened by her possessions. Literally.



The last few years, I've found myself thinking of her whenever I'm tempted to buy something. Will it enrich my life or become a burden? I've also started getting rid of "stuff" that I haven't touched in years.

But I still have 3 gun safes.
And I'm not a bad shot either!

DD

On a side note, it's amazing that a person can reference or quote anyone from Darth Vader, to PeeWee Herman or Elmer Fudd in a post. But if you quote or reference the Bible, the "Freedom from religion" zealotry surfaces quick.

 

[kda]

I am the OP. I think the only thing that surprises me is how long this thread has survived and how strong and intense many of the replies have become. Like WOW.

I am always surprised by how much of themselves people read into a lighthearted observation and how much about themselves they reveal in their attempts to make sure no one even suspects how they actually feel about issues.

Folks, when you go off the deep end in analyzing, criticizing and giving advice like you do, you provide readers with a very good look at your own dark side ... as if ... well, "me thinks you protest too much" about nothing and in the process give away much about yourself which I suspect you wish others could not see.


So quit reading so much of your own dark side into what you read and control your urges to expose yourself and your real feelings by endless pontificating about how terrific and pure you "really are". Your efforts to deal with your own dark feelings by acting holier than thou ... well is just isn't working and you are both exposing and embarrassing yourself.

 

[Werewolf]

On a side note, it's amazing that a person can reference or quote anyone from Darth Vader, to PeeWee Herman or Elmer Fudd in a post. But if you quote or reference the Bible, the "Freedom from religion" zealotry surfaces quick.

Ya know what they say about friends and family when it comes to discussing sex, religion and politics. They're right.

There's no place for it here.

There used to be a politics forum here - years ago. Not here now is it?

 

[gym]

If you really love something and can afford it then there is nothing wrong with buying it. Cars are a prime example also, just because a guy can afford a Ferrari, doesn’t make him a great driver. But when you bring up a gun topic, in a gun forum, you are going to get some very personnel feelings in the responses. I'm sure you know that already, we all tend to me a bit passionate about anything gun related.

 

[UniversalFrost]

KDA,

our CCW marksmanship qualifying for AZ is a joke and that is most likely how the guy got his CCW. basically you stand a few yards away blast at the man size target (if you hit it a few times your good) and then sit through the class. there are a lot better classes, but this is what the bare minimum is.

I took my CCW class through the AZ rangers and it was excellent (and was only $35 plus the 65 processing fee that DPS charges for the background check, fingerprints, etc...) . Also, Hansen CCW in Phoenix area does great classes.

Keep your spirits high. It doesn't matter what you are carrying and shooting it matters how well you can shoot the gun.

JOE