I know several people on the boards have military backgrounds or are currently serving, and I believe a few cops post as well, so I thought I'd see.
I've had an interest in guns since I was little. I'm guessing being in a family with a huge military background, having 3 cops in the family (dad, uncle, grandfather), and growing up in a rural southern town where gun racks and hunting at the age of 8 was the norm, had something to do with it.
Currently I own 4 hand guns all for enjoyment or protection not for collecting
Smith and Wesson M-41 .22 caliber (bought to become more comfortable with semi-automatic pistols and target shooting)
K-22 Revolver (bought to be more comfortable with revolvers and target shooting)
.38 Special snub nose Smith & Wesson Model 60 (bought for wife for protection who refused to pick it up and was appalled at the idea of defending herself with it)
Sig p229 (bought for personal protection)
I'm thinking of pick up another one for target shooting preferably higher powered than a .22. Any suggestions?
I'm thinking of starting to collect guns in general I guess, but more so looking at older pieces, more for show than function. Anyone do this or have any tips?
I also have a wide selection of rifles, muzzle loaders, and shotguns. I've hunted everything from deer, elk, rabbit, dove, turkey, duck, geese, squirrel, raccoon, to bear.
Anyone else enjoy shooting as a hobby or hunting?
I bow my head in shame at the stereotypical gun toting American. I blame it on America's obsession and approval of vigilante justice...
Fizz
Oh before I ruffle any feathers. I have no kids, all guns have the proper licenses and permits, all but one gun is locked in a cases with ammo stored in a separate locked case, the one gun has a trigger lock on it, and I have been trained to properly use said firearms.
All animals killed while hunting were done so in a humane manner with clean shots, and I or someone field dressed, cleaned, and severed to eat all said animals besides the bear. I will admit bear hunting is purely sport.
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*raises hand*
Yeah, I have guns. They're pretty small (well, medium) potatoes, though.
- Winchester .22 lefty bolt-action rifle with a custom black walnut stock
- Friggin' bizarre Remington single-shot over-under .22 rifle / .410 shotgun with dual action (two hammers = frustration)
- Ruger .22 pistol, stock model. Looks like some sort of space gun.
- My favorite, a surplus M-1 Garand, complete with ejectible clip. The only problem is that the only ammo I can find is the Chinese crap that my grandpa orders, so about every one in six rounds is a dud. Pisses me off. Also, I have to watch just in case the clip smacks me in the face (I shoot left-handed). Even with all its weirdness, bad ammo, and notoriously painful loading mechanism, it's fun to shoot
- And finally, the real odd one: an M1861 Colt navy service revolver.
This gets interesting. It was originally my grandfather's*, then my father's, then mine. My grandpa had customized the s%#* out of it so it was nearly unrecognizeable- hair-trigger, a jury-rigged spinning (rather than creeping) action, and a found hexagonal barrel (replacing the round barrel). What bugs me is that, when adding rifling to the barrel (why? I don't know-), he drilled it out by .03, so now I have to order special .39 bullets.
*My grandpa is a major gun collector. His prized possession: a LeMat Confederate Navy service revolver - Jayne Cobb's gun.
I don't hunt, mainly because I don't have the time. I used to hunt squirrels when I was in grade school, but I never shot anything and eventually lost interest. However, I target-shoot frequently, both at the range and in my own yard (the one good thing about living in the middle of nowhere). I'm actually decent for someone with no coordination.
Why do I like guns? They're shiny and loud. That, and I grew up around them, mainly due to the above grandfather ("What's that, grampa?" "Oh, that's the flag of our nation, son." "Then why does it have that big 'X' with all the stars in it?") That's about it.
I'm about as anal about safety as anyone, especially when actually shooting. I've gone through a lot of safety safely locked in a gun cabinet, though not with trigger locks (mainly because I haven't been able to buy any).
I keep meaning to get a .357 of some sort. Not sure why, but I really like the calibre. I found a Sig a few months ago that I wanted to get. But I currently live in a barracks, and they make it difficult to own a gun here in Ft Sill.
As for hunting, I never really got into it. I went a few times as a kid, but we never got anything. Never really even saw anything when I did go. I really do prefer hiking and camping if I spend time in the wilderness.
I've got a Smith & Wesson model 57 (.41) and a Remington 700 (.308). THe former my father bought in the late 70s (I think) and kept in his desk because professors were being shot, and the latter I inherited from my grandfather a few years back.
I use the Magnum as a backpacking pistol in northern BC, in case something hungry f%&&s with me. The rifle I haven't shot since my grandfather was alive.
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I'm thinking of pick up another one for target shooting preferably higher powered than a .22. Any suggestions?
Three Star Springfield - very rare and very accurate in a skilled shooters hand - You can pick a bunny through the eye at a half mile in a cross wind.
Of course If you are into weapon design, you might consider designing/developing/patenting your own - I designed a rifle that is specifically too heavy for children and physically weak people to pick up and use - and must be broke down to load the next shot. It is a Hydrogen/Oxygen fuelcell heavyweapon that avoids gunpowder (A sniper rifle with a one mile range and no debris of use).
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I'm thinking of pick up another one for target shooting preferably higher powered than a .22. Any suggestions?
Three Star Springfield - very rare and very accurate in a skilled shooters hand - You can pick a bunny through the eye at a half mile in a cross wind.
Of course If you are into weapon design, you might consider designing/developing/patenting your own - I designed a rifle that is specifically too heavy for children and physically weak people to pick up and use - and must be broke down to load the next shot. It is a Hydrogen/Oxygen fuelcell heavyweapon that avoids gunpowder (A sniper rifle with a one mile range and no debris of use).
What's it designed for? Military or civilian?
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What's it designed for? Military or civilian?I'm thinking of pick up another one for target shooting preferably higher powered than a .22. Any suggestions?
Three Star Springfield - very rare and very accurate in a skilled shooters hand - You can pick a bunny through the eye at a half mile in a cross wind.
Of course If you are into weapon design, you might consider designing/developing/patenting your own - I designed a rifle that is specifically too heavy for children and physically weak people to pick up and use - and must be broke down to load the next shot. It is a Hydrogen/Oxygen fuelcell heavyweapon that avoids gunpowder (A sniper rifle with a one mile range and no debris of use).
[cough]erm...shooting bunnies?[/cough]
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I'm thinking of pick up another one for target shooting preferably higher powered than a .22. Any suggestions?
Three Star Springfield - very rare and very accurate in a skilled shooters hand - You can pick a bunny through the eye at a half mile in a cross wind.
Of course If you are into weapon design, you might consider designing/developing/patenting your own - I designed a rifle that is specifically too heavy for children and physically weak people to pick up and use - and must be broke down to load the next shot. It is a Hydrogen/Oxygen fuelcell heavyweapon that avoids gunpowder (A sniper rifle with a one mile range and no debris of use).
A long-stroke gas cylinder?
well; it really depends an what you want the gun for; I like to do some cowboy action shooting so that has specific rules and you need a revolver, shotgun and carbine.
for all around shooting at targets and self defense; I like the .40 smith and wesson caliber. I dont like glocks much myself and prefer a baby eagle.
if your going to do concealed carry; well; pick the gun first then the round; doubt it really matters much ;lots of peeps like .45 acp but that is not my thing.
if you want to shoot a larger caliber and save money; the .38 is not a bad round; if you by a .357 revolver then you can shoot .38's or .357; I love the .357 round; easy to shoot for a long time without much hand and arm strain like you get from a .44 magnum.
if your interested in like shooting in your backyard without hearing protection; you can get dampners for your pistols; but the caviat is that the bullet has to go slower than the speed of sound so .357 is out as are many large bore things.
rifles are a whole new ball game; for plinking I prefer a carbine chambered the same as my pistol so I dont have to carry different ammunition.
if your thinking of hunting; well you can hunt anything in North America with a 30.06 which is my favorite round of choice; some peeps prefer a 8mm in brush as the heavier has less deflection, but I tend to not shoot through brush myself. Lots of peeps around here still hunt with 30.30 winchester; works fine; and being a short gun is easier to carry in the bush.
shotguns are for hunting birds mostly; but I like a 20 gauge pump action for home defense; much less chance of shooting the neighbors than with a pistol or a rifle. 20 gauge is good for many birds; you really need a 10 gauge if your going to try your luck at turkeys though. 12 gauge does work; but is more iffy.
for combat; well; I like the 5.56 round in a m16 with a m203 grenade launcher mounted underneath hehe just thought I would add that :)
if you want to collect some nice looking guns; well; take a look into cowboy action shooting; they are making some really nice replicas all nicely tooled, but function also.
My father used to have a gun business with a class 3 (full auto) lisense. The biggest thing he owned was an H&K 21 belt fed, full auto. The only full-auto he has kept and still owns is an H&K MP5A3. I've shot it on full auto and its a blast. Full 30 round mag in about 2.7 seconds. Over the years he's had various Mausers, an M1 Garand, M1 carbine, SKS, and AR15.
The gun I use the most is a Ruger 10/22 to pop woodchucks that vandalize the garden. Its a nice relible and compact rifle.
I was planning on buying a Sig P226 chambered in .40 S&W after I got my bachelors in mechanical engineering, but I'm staying and getting my masters (and then likely PhD). With no guns on campus I figured it would be a waste of money to get one now.
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[cough]erm...shooting bunnies?[/cough]What's it designed for? Military or civilian?I'm thinking of pick up another one for target shooting preferably higher powered than a .22. Any suggestions?
Three Star Springfield - very rare and very accurate in a skilled shooters hand - You can pick a bunny through the eye at a half mile in a cross wind.
Of course If you are into weapon design, you might consider designing/developing/patenting your own - I designed a rifle that is specifically too heavy for children and physically weak people to pick up and use - and must be broke down to load the next shot. It is a Hydrogen/Oxygen fuelcell heavyweapon that avoids gunpowder (A sniper rifle with a one mile range and no debris of use).
Bunnies wearing uniforms?
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Bunnies wearing uniforms?[cough]erm...shooting bunnies?[/cough]What's it designed for? Military or civilian?I'm thinking of pick up another one for target shooting preferably higher powered than a .22. Any suggestions?
Three Star Springfield - very rare and very accurate in a skilled shooters hand - You can pick a bunny through the eye at a half mile in a cross wind.
Of course If you are into weapon design, you might consider designing/developing/patenting your own - I designed a rifle that is specifically too heavy for children and physically weak people to pick up and use - and must be broke down to load the next shot. It is a Hydrogen/Oxygen fuelcell heavyweapon that avoids gunpowder (A sniper rifle with a one mile range and no debris of use).
Rabbits - like the Rabbits the great wall of China was built to keep out.
Big rabbits.
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Gun guy, here...over the past 15 years my collection has grown, shrunk, and is back on the grow. I started with guns around 11 with the usual BB/Pellet, and I was hooked pretty quick. By 13 I was using grandpa's bolt action Springfield 35 that he got when he was a kid. Like many of the kids I hung out with in our tiny rural town I was an "avid avian opportunist" until I was 15 or so, regrettable now, but dumbarse kid stuff was the name of the game. I also got a little experience with grandpa's 16g breech load shotgun that he got for his birthday in 1936, not sure of the make though. Finally, when I was 22 I had a job that paid enough to justify buying my own gun; I talked it over with the "gun people" that I associated with, and they all agreed that the best handgun round for personal defense is the .40 S&W. So I went to my local dealer, who conveniently has an indoor range attached, and fired all of the .40's that they had to rent. By the end of the testing I had gone through 500 rounds and filled out the paperwork to buy a Glock 23C, which has the ported barrel to reduce recoil and muzzle climb. About 3 months later my boss sold me one of his SKS's, and 6 months after that I bought his Ruger Mini 14. Good times...we would go out on the farm and shoot thousands of rounds in a day, from a myriad of different guns. My boss, at the time, was what some people would call a "gun nut", he was a collector for 40 years by this time. We were going to the gun show once a month to buy cases of ammo...5000rnds of 7.62, 5000rnds of 223/5.56, 2000rnds of .40 S&W, we blew out the tires on our dolly more than once.
Anyway, stopped working for him and got BROKE real quick...so I sold him back his rifles, and sold the pistol to my best friend so that I could have a roof over my head.
About 2 years later I started making good money again, got a place on a nice piece of property 3/4 of a mile from my nearest neighbor; and the urge to shoot got REALLY STRONG. First things first Mossberg 500, 12g "tactical" shotgun to shoot skeet. Next came the new pistol, I LOVED the Glock 23C; but I wanted something in a sub-compact, so I repeated my test fire day and settled on a Springfield XD40 Sub, which was especially nice because it was VERY cost friendly and had ZERO malfunctions while testing (and still). The nice thing about using Rental guns at the range is that they've been beaten, abused, and neglected over thousands of rounds; which tells me that the ones that still function flawlessly are pretty well made.
Next I got the urge for a rifle, but I decided to go with something a little different. So I got a Beretta CX4 .40 S&W carbine, this way I'm only concerned with buying ONE kind of ammo. I have never been happier with a firearm purchase before or since, just a joy in every way. Well, except that now I want to buy a PX4 pistol so that I can share magazines between my primary and my sidearm; but that a story yet to be told.
And then I got my wife involved, which some of you know, can be a challenge. I took her to the range and set her up with some of the rentals a Ruger .22, a .380 Walther (I think), and a full frame Springfield XD9. She flatly refused to try a revolver. The 9mm was "a handful" (toss), the .380 FELL APART after 3 rounds (range abuse :) ), but the .22 was just right. Next was picking her frame, I offered minimum input and set her off on the .22 test drive. Winner is The Ruger Mark3 Hunter, with the fluted bull barrel and fiber optic front sight, "because it's the pretty one"; and now we she's well on her way to being a deadeye.
Cheers,
A Gun Nut