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  #1  
Old 02-18-2010, 12:27 AM
BLACKHAWKNJ BLACKHAWKNJ is offline
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Default If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?

My old man walked out on me when I was 6, my first proper exposure to firearms was in Boy Scout Camp when I was 13. Fired the M-14 in BCT, first time I fired an M1911A1 was in combat. Typical Army, I received ZERO training on it, fortunately for me and my buddies I owned one and had learned to fieldstrip it with the help of my trusty copy of W.H.B. Smith's "Small Arms of the World". Pretty much a self starter when it came to firearms.
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Old 02-18-2010, 12:30 AM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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My dad wasn't into guns, growing up in Chicago like he did. I got into guns when I went to work for a shootist when I was 21. Been headfirst into them since.
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Old 02-18-2010, 12:42 AM
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SFC George Fotias, USA, and I can't print here what he told me I looked like while trying to shoot in the prone position.
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Old 02-18-2010, 01:18 AM
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SFC Petroski, USA Drill Sgt. and Sniper. Through the entire course of BCT he never raised his voice. That made him a lot scarier than the others, but when he spoke we were very sure to listen.
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Old 02-18-2010, 01:55 AM
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Completely self taught. I learned back when there was no internet and I learned everything from reading Shooting Times and Guns and Ammo and American Handgunner.

Man that seems a long time ago.
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Old 02-18-2010, 02:27 AM
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Sir, my dad and both grandfathers taught me about shotguns and bird hunting. Dad's dad got me started with rifles, but the Marine Corps provided the bulk of my rifle training. Pistols I've learned on my own, both from reading and trial and (mostly) error.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
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Old 02-18-2010, 02:59 AM
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My grandfather was my teacher, He took me along with him for a year and one half then gave me a .22 rifle and said "hunt on your own". that was in 1949
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Old 02-18-2010, 08:30 AM
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My mother and stepfather hated guns. I learned to shoot on the High School rifle team. Learned center fire rifle and pistol in the army. Been a shooter ever since.

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Old 02-18-2010, 09:20 AM
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The first time I went shooting was with a friend in 1977-I was hooked. I shot a 4 inch Colt Trooper and the first shot was a bullseye. My dad taught me how to aim, but only on paper-I did the rest myself over the years.
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Old 02-18-2010, 09:40 AM
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Dad hasn't touched a gun since turning his in at the end of WWII. My first real exposure was at Boy Scout summer camp. One week a year for about 4 years. maybe 150 rounds total of .22lr.

Next was the USAF in '66. Fired maybe 200 rounds total. Qualified expert with 59 of 60 qualifing rounds on target during basic training. M16 .223. Fired about 100 rounds a year for the remaineder of my 4 year inlistment. So by the time I was 23 I had fired maybe 650 - 700 rounds total.

No other formal training other then that mentioned above. I returned to handguns and rifles in 2008, joined a local pistol club and go to the range once or twice a week ever since.

For the most part I consider myself to be self trained by reading and listening to others at the club.

LTC
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Old 02-18-2010, 10:25 AM
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Shot a BB gun as a kid, nothing special. Some unknown sergeant in AF basic training taught me to fire a M-16 and M-1 Carbine good enough to qualify expert. Then a police sergeant in the academy taught me to shoot a M10 revolver, good enough to qualify as an expert. I just listened, watched and practiced.
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Old 02-18-2010, 10:48 AM
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Uncle Sam. I was a good student - didn't have any bad habits to un-learn. Qualified Expert.
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Old 02-18-2010, 11:04 AM
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Scouting and USMC
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Old 02-18-2010, 11:13 AM
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My father taught me with a Marlin model 60. My Uncle (Mother's side) taught me on a 22 revolver. I don't recall what brand it was.
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Old 02-18-2010, 11:40 AM
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My Dad taught me rifle/shotgun shooting. He had a couple handguns that we would plink with on occasion. Then when I was 12 I met SGT Lou Seigel of the Henrico County Police. I delivered the news paper to his house. He was the range officer for the local PD. He invited me and a couple of my friends to come to the range. It was close enough we could ride our bikes. He showed us around and then asked if we would like to try a revolver out. They were Model 64's. We took to it immediately. Out of the three of us two are getting ready to retire from law enforcement I chose the military. Most of the lessons he taught us I still use today. This was in the early 70's. Doubt many departments today would allow a couple of 12 yr olds to even watch on the range much less shoot. I lost track of Lou years ago. If someone on the forum knows him, how he's doing please shoot me some mail.

Thanks Lou!!
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Old 02-18-2010, 11:41 AM
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I grew up in Apartheid Chicago and my mother wouldn't allow any guns in the house. She tried to make me stop reading about guns, but my paternal grandmother subverted her at every turn. I got my first "Small Arms of the World" between 7th and 8th grade.

In Catholic prep seminary, I usually had more gun books and magazines in my bag than school books.

I actually learned to shoot as a freshman in college. I took basic rifle and basic pistol for PE credit, then started helping out with the classes. I joined the small bore rifle team. Our ROTC SGM was the marksmanship instructor and team coach.
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Old 02-18-2010, 11:56 AM
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Since my father passed away when I was small, (but my mother saved his guns for me), I learned from a fine gentleman who ran a Sat. evening American Legion gun club at age 12. I had had a BB gun, as well as having fired a few guns, and loved them. I haunted the Army Surplus store in town. This gentleman that taught me was former army, and wore WW2 army pants and boots to the range. He taught this program for over 50 years, and probably half the males who grew up here learned the fine points from him. I earned the 6th bar of the NRA marksmanship program before I discovered girls, and spent Sat. evenings doing other things. "Barney" instilled responsibility and leadership in us that stood us well for our entire lives. I went on to be involved in various shooting competitions over the years, bullseye, small bore rifle, High power rifle, IPSC, IHMSA, International Air Pistol, Trap and Skeet.

In the Reagan era, when they had the 1000 points of light, "Barney" was nominated and awarded a point of light. He deserved it. He is still with us, and at age 95 only last year had to quit shooting trap.
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Old 02-18-2010, 02:17 PM
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Oh about 1964 an NRA instructor in my neighborhood, taught about a dozen youngsters the Safe Hunter Program. I got to shoot a 30.06 and a bunch of other guns. Then I was able to get an H&R .22 bolt action rifle. Had the Boy Scout marksman training a few years earlier, chipping clay pigeons with .22 birdshot at Scout camp.

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Old 02-18-2010, 03:35 PM
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My firearms instruction was a group effort of sorts. My father was a gun guy and I recieved early instruction from him, heavy on safe handling and lighter on marksmanship. I received my first course of genuine marksmanship training from 1st Sgt Fairman of the MO National Guard. He covered positions and breathing, sight alignment/sight picture, and call and plot among other fundamentals in a shooting program I took part in as a youngster. The culmination of my training occured under the tutlage of PMI Sgt. Nava at Edson Range, Camp Pendleton, CA. I am very lucky to have received such a thorough education and I have enjoyed shooting and firearms all of my life.
Sam
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Old 02-18-2010, 03:57 PM
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scoutsdad, no water in that area? I see that cow at your feet didnt make it!
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Old 02-18-2010, 04:31 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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My dad always wanted a gun in the house but my mom was against it "because of the children", the ironic part is the day my dad and I moved out(my parents split up) my mom's boss/boyfriend who was a Conrail rent-a-cop gave her a .38 to keep in the house.



My first exposure to firearms was as a 9yo Cub Scout at summer camp and I was hooked.
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Old 02-18-2010, 04:43 PM
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In 1969 Walt Labaugh, retired Special Forces 1SG, Distinguished Rifle and Pistol, Hunter Safety Instructor and Explorer Post Leader, gets the credit for the bulk. He instilled good basic marksmanship and gun handling skills, which served me well when I went into the US Army and later into Law Enforcement. I held “Expert” qualification in both rifle and pistol while serving my twenty plus years in the US Army.

The US Army Marksmanship Training Unit (USAMTU) polished my skills. In 1974 I qualified for the fifth position on a Battalion Pistol Team, but didn’t improve above that spot. In 1977 I again qualified for the fifth position on another Battalion Team, but this time I also qualified to be taught to be a pistol and revolver instructor by the USAMTU. In those five days of training with the USAMTU Coaches I learned more about precision handgun shooting than most people can imagine.

In both 1978 and 1979 I again qualified for teams, but this time as the top shooter, and both times I made the Division Team.

In 1983 I earned my Excellence in Competition Badge (Pistol), shooting for another Battalion Team.

In 1990 I trained under Jeff Cooper and his staff at Gunsite, greatly improving my practical hand gunning skills.

I’ve attended other trainings since then, and will mention that the Oregon Firearms Academy (OFA) Staff offer excellent instruction at their school (Oregon Firearms Academy LLC).

My LE Academy and Department Firearms Instructors were all good, but not as influential as Walt, the USAMTU, Jeff Cooper (Gunsite), or OFA.

In Pursuit,

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Old 02-18-2010, 09:11 PM
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There were outdoorsmen and hunters on both sides of the family, but none were especially savvy or sophisticated about guns or shooting. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I took a marksmanship class (shot indoors at the Masonic Hall, in Manistee, MI, with no eye or ear protection) and at 9, for about $15.00 (mail order, mind you) bought a single-shot bolt action Marlin .22, which I kept in my bedroom closet through the remainder of my childhood and adolescence. My father had a cheap Savage or Stevens sxs 16 ga. shotgun, and a second-hand M94 .30-30, and only bought a .22 rifle so as to have something to take along when he took me squirrel hunting. He never owned a handgun until I was an adult, and urged him to get a Ruger MKI for porcupine suppression and general field use. I guess I picked up my shooting skills pretty much as an autodidact...
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Old 02-18-2010, 09:53 PM
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My father was an avid small game and quail hunter. He taught me to shoot.
However, the man who really taught me to shoot was CSM Paul Walls, U.S. Army Retired. High School ROTC, I made the rifle team and he was the coach.
My father taught me the skill of shooting. The Sergeant Major taught me the art.
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Old 02-18-2010, 10:24 PM
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My Grandpa taught me the basics, he was an avid outdoorsman in every sense of the word. Thanks to him I learned about fishing, camping, woodlore, hunting and developed tremendous appreciation of natural world. Lessons learned in my youth continue to serve me well to this day, thanks Gramps...
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Old 02-18-2010, 10:28 PM
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Default Yep, Boy Scout Camp in Virginia.

Though my Dad was career military, (Navy A-6 Pilot) he did not care much about guns until, (later in his career) he was out of the cockpit and er, on the street in the mideast where he was required to be armed. He carried an issue Beretta 92, and a backup Sig .380 (p-230 is it)?
Anyhow, I loved the Scouts, and fondly recall the single shot
.22 Remington, and the drilled block of wood with 10 cartridges they would give you. Summer of '78. I served in the mess hall where I made lots of scrambled eggs, and some scrambled pancakes too.
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Old 04-23-2013, 11:23 AM
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My Grandpa taught me gun safety and he did let me shoot his two shotguns with dummy rounds, but I had to teach myself how to shoot. But my dad who is technically my stepdad is not a gun guy if I may quote him "Son guns are not my thing". But he does take me to gun shows and gun stores and to the range because he loves me .

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Old 04-23-2013, 11:38 AM
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My Dad is a WW2 vet who saw some real bad stuff and was seriously wounded during his time in France. He has never fired a gun since he got out and won't. I've asked him to go shooting with me. It's ok. He has good reason. He never discouraged me. He's now 88 yo.

My uncle Ed gave me a dbl brl 12 ga when I was 12 in 1958 and taught me safety but nothing else. I never fired anythng else but that gun until 1967 when Uncle Sam said I needed to learn more. I learned about marksmanship and everything else from SFC Angel Sanchez in 1967.

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Old 04-23-2013, 11:41 AM
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Both Grampas knew how to shoot a shotgun well and they taught me not to aim (when shooting shot) but to point and do it with both eyes open.
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Old 04-23-2013, 11:42 AM
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I learned to shoot a 22 rifle in summer camp in 1962.Ten years later I bought my first gun,read everything I could find and started hunting.
My father left Europe after the war,he told me very little about it except on a few occasions when he'd had a couple.
He had a rifle and a few boxes of ammo in his closet,but I only remember him shooting it one time.

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Old 04-23-2013, 11:45 AM
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The internet and youtube......
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Old 04-23-2013, 11:51 AM
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In 1990, my squadron commander told us we had to qualify on the range. They handed me a .38 Special told me where the target was and to shoot it. At that time, no one knew where the bullets went but I didn't qualify. My supervisor was a competition shooter who had won a number of titles and was a member of the President's 100. He taught me how to use my eyes and how to aim. He taught me how to squeeze a trigger and not pull the gun all over the place. I practiced for 3 weeks on a non firing 1911 just holding and squeezing the trigger until I could do it without the gun moving. Then I went back to the range, not only qualified but I shot expert. The next time I shot was Sept. 2012 when I qualified for my CCDW permit. It really was like riding a bike.
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Old 04-23-2013, 11:52 AM
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Thugs and gangsters (no I don't hold my gun sideways).
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Old 04-23-2013, 12:16 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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Basically taught myself.
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Old 04-23-2013, 12:18 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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When I was about 8 or 9 years old I had an Uncle that let me shoot his double barrel 12ga shotgun. Knocked me down. Mother was mad and got after my Uncle pretty good. My Dad never did have anything to do with guns much as Mother didn't want them around. As I grew up I purchased some guns and taught myself to shoot and reload and such as that. I guess you can say I taught myself because I never had a mentor to learn from.

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Old 04-23-2013, 12:20 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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Dad was a bow hunter and only taught me that. I shot 22s in summer camp in the sixties and later took my Dad's old Savage single shot shotgun and learned how to hunt pheasants on my own.
I shot M-16 and S&W Model 15s in the service and got hooked on guns.
I've been buying, shooting and hunting ever since.
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Old 04-23-2013, 12:22 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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Similar to the OP, I had an AWOL dad. He hunts. He's always had guns. (My younger half brother hunts with him.) I remember hunting with my dad once when I was about 6-7 ('79-'80 or so). Shot a .22 rifle. And that was it.

In 2007 or 2008, the pistol bug bit me when I wasn't even looking. A friend is trained in "executive protection" and carries a Glock 90% of the time. His shooting skills are incredible. I had seen an ad for a gun show, so I told him, "let's go to the gun show this weekend. Help me pick out a pistol." His face lit up.

I handled a ton of pistols and none felt better than the SW99s. The same day I found another SW99 with the QA trigger at a gun store and bought it. A year later I got my HCP. And a few thousand rounds and a few more pistols later, here I am.
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Old 04-23-2013, 12:24 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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My mother made sure I could safely fire the pump pellet gun, .22 revolver, .22 rifle, the shotgun and the kick my butt 308 deer rifle. I liked the pellet gun and the .22s but the other 2 I hated until I inherited them and added padding to the stocks. Now much better but I still don't like the 308 much.
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Old 04-23-2013, 12:43 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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My parents were city people who did not want anything to do with firearms. I had an uncle who was a hunter and fisherman who taught me how to fish but died before he could teach me to shoot or hunt.
I did not learn to shoot a firearm until the age of 18 years old, Uncle Sam provided the instructions at Parris Island, SC in 1970.
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Old 04-23-2013, 12:43 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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My dad got me off the ground with a .22 rifle at the age of 11. I fine-tuned my rifle marksmanship skills in Army ROTC in high school, and learned to shoot the 1911A1 pistol. I was pretty much self-taught from then on as an avid reader of firearms books and periodicals. I think Jeff Cooper had the most influence on my development. He made good points based on solid logic and considerable experience. I had to read up on how to trap shoot with a shotgun, and following basic instructions on technique, I got to be pretty good. I taught myself reloading from books.

As a father and grandfather, I was proud to start my descendents along the path of shooting, and actually taught my dad the fine points of handgun shooting, in a nice role reversal.

John
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Old 04-23-2013, 12:47 PM
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My dad was an avid fisherman but not into guns. My "girlfriend" in Jr high had a Dad who was an avid hunter. He showed me how to shoot and hunt as well. I hunted with him until he died at the age of 86. He was like a 2nd family. Funny thing is he didn't like to fish.. my Dad didn't like to hunt. But between the 2 of them I learned both sports well.
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Old 04-23-2013, 12:58 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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Same as others...learned in the Army, then built on that teaching...

I can still hear SSGT Forbes saying "keep your booger hook off the bang switch until I yell at ya!!!!"
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Old 04-23-2013, 01:32 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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My Dad had no interest in guns, but neither did he have anything against them. The father of a friend first taught me to shoot a .22 rifle when I was ten or eleven. A few years later, I spent a week at another friend's cabin. We spent most of our days roaming the woods with a .22, taking turns shooting anything that moved.

A few times over the years, I got invited to go bird hunting, under the supervision of a parent until I was older, and always with a borrowed shotgun. I always enjoyed hunting, but had other interests (motorcycles, auto racing) that took priority.

The first handguns I shot belonged to a friend. He had inherited a 1911 and a BHP from his grandfather. I liked them both, but any money I might have spent on guns went first to motorcycles, tires, chains and touring gear.

A BIL had a Model 29 and a 1911, both of which I shot a bit. I got a little bit of a bug for a 1911, but once again, motorcycles used up all my discretionary income.

Finally I acquired some guns of my own when a friend decided that his CZs deserved to be in the hands of somebody who was already keen on the CZ bikes. Or maybe he just wanted to clear his deck so he could buy some Smiths. Either way, the price was right.
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Old 04-23-2013, 01:34 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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My grandfather taught me with a bolt action .22 rifle and then when I was in high school I took a gun safety class and learned how to shoot and handle a shotgun (my one and only time to ever fire a shotgun, 30 some years ago). My dad was an avid hunter and trap shooter but never ever showed me how to handle or shoot a gun of any kind. He never took me hunting or even talked about guns. His cousin was a reloader but I never got to learn that either. I used to listen with great joy as my dad's uncle (Otto) would talk about fox hunting. His stories were awesome about how he and the fox would have a battle of wits. It was like the fox knew he was being hunted and could read Uncle Otto's mind. Great memories/

Everything I know about handguns I learned here from the great people on the S&W Forum. Guess I spend too much time here.
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Old 04-23-2013, 01:41 PM
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If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did? If your dad didn't teach you to shoot , who did?  
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"Uncle Sam"..
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Old 04-23-2013, 01:52 PM
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My dad had very little interest in firearms but my mothers father has been a hunter all his life. My grandpa taught me how to shoot in the field with ground-hogs, red fox, squirrels and whitetail providing most of targets.

I remember when I was five and deer hunting with my grandpa, I didn't have a hunting license but when we saw anything he handed the shotgun to me. A five year old shooting an antique Remington pump 12 ga... great start. I did kill two deer before the age of 8 and HAD to field dress both of them, his rule.

My grandfather is 93 now and isn't doing great but he still spends up to 8 hours a day on a tractor. He has more hunting/shooting stories than I have time to hear. Every time I see him I enjoy asking him to tell me about his hunting trips in Canada, Montana, Colorado and everyday else he has gone though out his life.

It makes me sad to think about life without my grandfather, but he has 23 great-grand kids and a loving family. So I hope everyone is as lucky to live that rich of a life. I find my self more recently getting back into firearms more. I have recently purchased a few extra handguns and hope to find a good MSR in the near future. Any new firearm will not be nearly as precious though as the ones he has given me.
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Old 04-23-2013, 02:22 PM
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Man I must be a late bloomer. Didn't fire a gun till I was about 26, not counting pellet guns. Can't remember what it was but it was a bullet jamming 9mm. Then my army buddies came back home and showed me the proper way to take apart, clean, hold, shoot, store, and well everything. Now I'm 29 and a S&W 40 owner Pretty good shot now too
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Old 04-23-2013, 02:29 PM
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My Father was not a hunter or fisherman and wanted nothing to do with firearms, the result of having a friend, as a youngster, who was killed by his own firearm while hunting. My Grandfather, on the other hand, was an avid hunter and gun collector. During the early 1950’s he taught me the necessities of safety, gun handling, maintenance, and the appreciation of fine metal and wood, but we never went shooting together. Marksmanship was learned as part of a high school rifle team in competition with .22 cal. rifles. I purchased my first gun at age 16, an Iver Johnson 16 ga. single shotgun, and learned to hunt pheasants with my high school buddies. I have had the opportunity to hunt and compete with firearms ever since, guns are just a part of my life. When my Grandfather passed away many, many years ago, I inherited a large portion of his firearm collection. I sit here in my office today surrounded by my Grandfather’s collection of Winchester and Smith & Wesson firearms. The appreciation of fine metal and wood is deeply ingrained.
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Old 04-23-2013, 02:32 PM
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My Dad never had any interest in guns. The "gun gene" may have skipped him but it hit me full force. As A teen, I bought a H&R 22 revolver, unbeknownst to my parents. I fiddled around with it some & actually went to a range with it. I knew nothing about "eyes & ears", & apparently the range didn't care if you had them or not;it was on you. The headache from the noise concussion lasted about a week. I later sold the H&R & bought a Browning 380, which I wish I'd never sold. Years later my interest in guns was rekindled, & I bought my first S&W, a Model 686. Still have it. I then got into semi's. I go to the range a lot more these days & have taken a few classes besides the CCW class. The classes have helped me to move from "broad side of a barn status" to more of a pie plate size in my groupings. The main thing is it gets me out of the house & I have Big fun doing it.
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Old 04-23-2013, 02:34 PM
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first gun i fired was an M1, basic training, usaf, 1963. in, 2008, my son had a few firearms and enjoyed shooting and encouraged me to take up the sport.

went to the range with him, rented a few different handguns, and then purchased a used S&W model 686-4PP off the internet. well, you all know how the story goes from here....once you touch a S&W revolver , your addicted for life.

since then, several more S&W revolvers have joined that first .357 magnum. the "wanted" list is still incomplete and I thoroughly enjoy going to the range with my son and my self taught shooting ability.
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