This thread is mainly for those born in the 70s or earlier, but everyone is welcome to join.

[xchecker]

Born in 1959. No real guns in the house growing up. Always had the Revolver cap guns though, but my first real exposure was when I was 10. We were living in SW Germany(no not a military brat) and I was camping at a lake with friends. The guy in the next tent was a German Bundeswehr soldier had a rifle and pistol. Let me hold them both after clearing them. I was enthralled. Couldn't tell you what they were.
The next time was Boy Scout Camp at the rifle range. Bolt-action 22LR to get shooting merit badge. First time I realized Dad had skills. Shot 10 in the 10ring @50ft standing. Turns out he was Artillery(Howitzer) and an expert with a BMG in the Army Pacific Theater WW II.
Been shooting ever since. Never been a hunter(although the rats & ground squirrels in the back yard may differ in that opinion...lol).
First gun was a 686 6", followed quickly by the addition of a 5906.

 

[robvious]

1966 Gen-X model here... both grandfathers had shotguns... dad added a 22 pump in his youth and the a Ruger Standard 22 when they first came out... by the time I showed up, dad was a competition pistol shooter.. IPSC in the 1970's.. I used to pick up brass at the range, and I would occasionally get to shoot a side match, usually a steel plate rack.. fastest time got half the pot.. used my dad's S&W 36 for one.. my first firearm was a 20ga 870 when I was 14.. paper route money.. first one I purchased on my own was a Nylon 66 at 18.. always wanted a 9422, never got one... dad shot and carried S&W revolvers & semiautomatics.. 1911's.. BHP... but mostly old Betsy.. 4 inch Model 66... so I was raised shooting Smith and Wesson Wheel guns... and I passed it on to my son..

 

[31FordA]

I was born in 1974. As far back as I can remember I was interested in guns. I can remember my grandfather taking me to Kiddie City for my first toy gun, a SAA style cap gun. In no time at all I was the most heavily armed child in the neighborhood. I read any gun mag I could find, and asked all sorts of questions about guns. I could also tell you all the guns I was going to own when I grew up. It was a long list.

No one in my family really had much to do with guns, although my Dad had shot when he was younger. When I was six I was asking him about .45's, and he told me he used to own a DCM Ithaca 1911A-1, but he traded it for a S&W revolver. This was the first I knew we had a gun. He got it from its hiding place so I could see it, a new in the box 3" 36-1 that he had never fired. I was thrilled to get to hold a real gun. When I was looking at it he told me to try as hard as I could to pull the trigger double action, wanting to see if I was able to. I was. He then gave me a lecture that I was never to touch it without his permission, but he would get it out whenever I asked. The same applied to the 6" 28-2 he left at my grandparents house. I figured out where they were hidden, but I never touched them without permission.

When I was 14 Dad brought the 28-2 home one night and gave it to me. Grandpop couldn't see well enough anymore to use it if he needed it. I asked if I could have the Chief's too, and he said yes. He had my neighbor, a State Trooper, take me shooting for the first time with the 28-2. After we went shooting my neighbor told him I knew what I was doing with a gun, so I was allowed to shoot on my own in the backyard. All the gun mags, a copy of "Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting", and asking endless questions over the years had paid off. Dad got me a K-22 to save money on ammo. I am a largely self taught handgun shooter, the USMC would teach me to shoot a rifle. I'm grateful that my Dad took my interest in shooting seriously, and supported my hobby.

All these years later I have managed to acquire all but one of the many gun's the 6 year old me was adamant I would own. The only one I don't have is a Thompson gun, and that will require winning the lottery.

 

[az-gunner]

How did you get into shooting?
Were guns always around in your home?
Did your fathers or grandfathers own or carry
What was your first gun, and what was the first you really wanted (even if you never got it)?
.............
I'm a story teller so either move on the the next one, or grab a beer, bourbon or whatevere you like and read on...
Grew up in a small agricultural town... produce and dairy farms as far aw the eye can see...
No gunners/shooters/hunters in the family but lots of men that have served. We lost several uncles in Nam.
.....
Granpa fought in Korean and didnt like to talk about it. All I got from him was Korea/Artillary/Army. ....
I'm the first born of the grandkids. So I got all of the dicipline and responsibility for the rest of the cousins. BUT..
I was one of FEW kids allowed in the GI forum and VFW.
...
Every once in a while granpa would be looking for something and come across a gun case. He would whisper "look at this" and me a random gun that he had. He was clearly a "savage" fan. One time it was a pearl handled nickel or stainless 22 lr that was gorgeous, but I only saw once.
...
My first "gun" was a old BB gun that my uncle's friend gave me.
He said "you NEVER tell your mom you got this frome me." If you ever get caught with it, you found it in an alley".
It was old and worn. It leaked air. So I had to learn to pump it hard and fast + shoot immediatly. Its a F()@#d up curve but it was good motivation. I was quick and I was a ghood shot.
...
Ace hardware... I love you....
I would go to Ace Hardware and see the Ruger 10/22. That was my "Daisey Red Rider". When I was 17 I convinced my mom and the shop owner to let me lay away the Rger 10/22. I made all of the payments. When it was paid off, mom did the paperwork to pick it up.
I Shot the HELL out of that poor thing. I had 4-5 other friends on the ranch. We would meet at the riverbed and pick off anything that moved. When we got into high school, we upgraded to 12 ga. CHP used winchester defender 1300's So I got me one of them. Still my Fav to this day.
...
I wanted the big boy... ruger mini 14
I never got one but I did get the mini 30 = mini 14 that runs 7.62x39

My imputus was the viet nam movies.. my step dad had a special edition Colt SP1. It was called the Colt Guard. Its a colt sp1 with the colt Nicholguard finish AKA as coltguard. as others stated, the gun left with him.
I found one around 2002 but it was pawn shop and when I push to buy it, they pushed to get the own to recover it. = loss for me.
I was around when Glock came out and ALL of the 1911 guys were raging, plastic bullshit.
I bought a para ordinance to see what the 1911 hype was. Not sold I did not like the 1911. I traded it for a G19 and never looked back.
...
Fast FWD to 2009 sig sauer blackwater 1911and I had to have the full set.

 

[44MOshooter]

My Dad was an avid quail/bird hunter, had bird dogs before me.
So I grew up with firearms all around me, and started quail hunting when I was 7 years old w/ a Stevens model 94 410 with tenite stock.
9 years old my parents bought me a Remington 1100 20 ga. for quail hunting and other small game hunting.
The first firearm I purchased was a West Point Savage 487T 22lr. semi-auto rifle. I was 9 or 10? and bought it with my paper route money. I also bought my first deer rifle, a Remington 742 woodmaster 30-06, I was 10 or 11years old?
My Mom had to sign for both guns back then.
And when I was 10 years old my parents had a H&R Sportsman model 999 under the Christmas tree. I also had and still have a Universal 30 carbine that I acquired in 1974.
So yes I grew up around firearms and couldn't imagine not having them around.
I managed to hang on to all the above firearms, except the Remington 742

Born 1964 last year of the Boomer generation

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Part of our national mythos is that we are a "nation of riflemen." I'd say, shooters, yes, I suspect back in the day the shotgun/smoothbore was the most commonly owned type of firearm, a musket, load it with birdshot for small game, waterfowl, buckshot for bigger game. Didn't really have to be a good shot with the linear tactics of the day, military drill emphasized volley fire, firing on command, speed of loading more important than accuracy. An eye exam ? Make sure you have two of them and they both work.

 

[old tanker]

I was born in 1949. My father did not have much use for guns. He did not hunt, but I had uncles and cousins who did. At 11 I was allowed to join the school rifle team and to buy a used Mossberg 44US-D. A couple of years later an uncle helped with buying an M1911 through DCM sales. My junior year in high school I got a secondhand Winchester 94 because I figured I needed a deer rifle.

1968 I reported to Fort Jackson and within a year shooting was no longer only recreational. Along the way I met others who liked to shoot with varied interests. Tried almost all the games one time or another. Mostly handgun and rifle. Camp Perry to Quigley with a side of Knob Creek or Victorian riflemen. My shotgun shooting is pretty much just upland game.

 

[rwsmith]

This thread is mainly for those born in the 70s or earlier, but everyone is welcome to join.

• How did you get into shooting?

I watched all the westerns and cop shows. I was 'into' shooting since I had pop guns and air rifles (I had some toys that actually shot ) I graduated to BB guns and .22s, then went centerfire about 1980.

• Were guns always around in your home?
My Dad had a shotgun, I never saw it used. He also had his father's .38 S&W Colt, but we never saw it. No, guns were not visible around our house.

• Did your fathers or grandfathers own or carry?

The only 'carrier' was my grandfather as a security guard.

• What was your first gun, and what was the first you really wanted (even if you never got it)?

S&W model 10. I always wanted a Luger, but never got one. And an M1 carbine. I'm a carbine nut.

 

[Mr.Cip]

Born in 1949 in San Jose CA. We lived in what later became Fremont, CA. At that time it was a rural area between Centerville and Alvarado. Our house was on a small farm with few neighbors. At 12 years old I was able to shoot my 22 single shot bolt rifle out in the back of the house. That rifle was bought by my mom as a Christmas gift to me. It was mail ordered from the Sears catalog. That was the only gun I owned until I was an adult. But my interest in guns was high. Even at a young age I subscribed to Guns and Ammo magazine.
During middle school age, I got together with other farm boys who also had 22 rifles. We would meet up and walk out to the nearby Alameda Creek and shoot tin cans. We were out there totally unsupervised.
It wasn't until my mid twenties, when I was totally on my own and making decent money that I started buying guns. I was finally able to fulfill my interest in firearms. My early purchases were a Ruger 10/22, Ruger Mk I, Dan Wesson 357 revolver, Colt Government 1911, S&W model 10, SA M1A, and AR15. 9mm pistols weren't that popular yet and polymer pistols didn't exist.
Now at age 76 I'm not even sure exactly how many guns I own. I know my safe is full.
Fortunately my son and daughter both have an interest and own firearms. I taught them safety and marksmanship starting at a young age. I'm happy that they will inherit my collection.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm afraid I'm getting boring, but someone elses story will remind me of another slice of my youth. My grandparents lived "across the field" from us, and for a time I walked the path through the beans or corn to their house most every evening. He and I would set in the kitchen, talking, while he smoked Kool cigarettes, casually tossing the butts onto the linoleum floor, and grinding them out with his shoe. I can still see the burn marks on the floor. It's a wonder my grandmother didn't kill him.

Anyway he was the hunter. He had been one of the last of the market hunters I suppose. It was probably illegal even then. He told of catching the train out of Richmond, and putting his dogs and guns in the mail car, and setting back there with his buddies (he worked at the locomotive works, as a boilerman so he knew the railroad men) smoking and drinking coffee. When they got to where he wanted to hunt, they'd stop the train, he'd bail off with his gun and and dogs, and start hunting along the railroad track. The train was a more or less local that ran out to the town of West Point. He'd get off around Sandston, (Va). He'd hunt rabbits and such for a few hours, then head back out toward the track where the train would pick him up and he'd sell what he'd killed to passengers.

He had two guns that I admired. One was a A,H. Fox, that he got about 1919 or so. It had 30" barrels choked full/full. That was his serious gun. The one he used for deer hunting with buckshot (Number 1 always), and out on "the big water" (Chesapeake Bay) for ducks and geese. And he had a Parker 20 ga that he got a few years later. He had others but those two were the only ones I ever saw him use. I used to stare at those two in the glass front gun cabinet in his living room. I had never seen anything as pretty as that Parker. At least not until a little red haired girl broke my heart in high school.

I still fancy a "two barrel gun" as he called them. Especially a Parker. Never owned one, but I sure admire them.

 

[Dwaine]

Born in 1953. My first pistol was a Colt Govt Model $125. My father kept a .38 Rossi and a .25 cal that was a jam o magic. My grandfather carried a S&W 1917. My uncle introduced me to the S&W model 66 in the early 70's... and it's been an addiction ever since. My two children enjoy firearms and each own two or more....
4" no dash, 3"-2, and 2.5"-1

 

[Kimberpross]

I was born in "58" and grew up on a small farm. My father was an avid quail and coon hunter. Used a Win. Model 12 12 ga. for quail and a Springfield .22 for coons. I have an older brother who let me use his nylon 66 as my own. I used my dad's Browning A5 12 ga. For rabbit and quail. My first firearm was a Savage .22 RF over a .410 OU. I was about 14 when I bought that. Point of interest, that Nylon 66 was bought out of a catalog and delivered by USPS.

 

[HamBoneZ]

Grew up in the 70's, i never knew there were guns in the house. It wasn't until I left my parents house that I started to get into hunting and firearms.
My first purchase was at a flea market and bought a compound bow for 10$. It was here i found out i was a natural shot. I could sight right down the arrow no sight and hit my target up to 70 yards. This was great because i started hunting hunting because i was broke. Got my first deer at 10 feet away, walked right up too me, no camouflage on just walking the trails, when I shot the quiver fell off, then she charged me. Almost dumped a load as she turned at the last second.

First actual firearm was a new England firearm single shot 12g. I learned to shoot and reload very quickly and shoot a slug out to 100 yards easy. The county i was in did not allow rifles. This was my one and only for several years.

It wasn't until after I met my wife and moved into the country that I started expanding my firearms. My wife father had passed and I got to use several of his rifles and shotguns and I started to get into gunsmithing. My first high powered rifle was the savage lever action 99c. I turned my acreage into a shooting range outside of deer season and I started shooting long range. Nobody told me how to do it, ballistics and how bullets travel is a natural progression for me. I would set up balloons at distance on trees and shoot out to 1200 yards. I still have this rifle, I just put it away because I don't want it to wear anymore. I had several traumatic brain injuries that limited how much recoil I could take at the time so I built a 6.5 cm in a Tikka tac a1 that has almost zero recoil.

My first handgun i bought, a ruger American in 9mm. I bought this for both home and edc. I can't tell you how many holsters I went through before I found something comfortable. I still have my alien gear holsters for that pistol, and the pistol itself in long term storage. It has somewhere over 50k rounds through it and keeps on ticking.

My first ar 15, I got custom built by special ops tactical in fl. This i got for 3 gun use and despite its tight tolerances, is a beast and eats just about anything and is super accurate.

First 1911 was a colt gold cup trophy from 2008 in 45acp. Great fit, finish and accuracy to hit that 10 spot at 25 yards. Also was taught how to fit and finish internals, rails, trigger, Hammer, springs, etc. It quickly became my gun of choice not only to work on, but to collect and carry as well.

Chiappa rhino was the first revolver that i purchased, but not the first I owned. It's under barrel design controls even the 200gr magnum rounds. You would swear it shoots like a soft 9 with outstanding accuracy. I got the da/sa model and I can't say anything bad about it.

 

[CBS&WShooter64]

Born in 1960. My Dad and Grandfather were both vets, WWII and WWI, respectively. My Dad started us shooting at 4, with an Ithaca .22 from when our Granddad worked for them. But my Dad was pretty savvy about how to teach lessons. He had a K98 he captured from a German in WWII and I thought it was the coolest rifle around. I begged him non-stop to let me shoot it, and after I turned 6 he let me. What a punch! Lesson learned-temporarily.

My Dad acquired a trapdoor 45-70 from a friend and like an idiot I did the same thing. After I turned 8 he let me fire it. Nowhere near as bad as the K98, but still the lesson finally stuck: train well with the arms you are given, and graduate over time. Now I can shoot about anything, rifle or pistol, comfortably.

 

[roundels]

Well, I was born in 1969. My parents were somewhat anti-gun and didn't let me have toy guns - which, in retrospect, I think was fine. As the "forbidden fruit", naturally, I became interested in firearms and had friends whose families took me shooting .22 rifles when I became a teenager.

I started shooting on my own in the 1990s when I was in graduate school. I had been heavily influenced by the "wonder nines" of the 80s and wanted a Glock 19. My pistol instructor, however, suggested that I buy a a .22 handgun to build skills and because they were cheap to shoot. So, I bought a Ruger Mark II with a bull barrel. Somewhere along the way, I did meet my hero and rented a Glock at the range but didn't care for it. Instead, I became enamoured with a shiny Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt and bought that instead. I still have it. These days, I do have a few autoloaders, but I count myself as a revolver guy.

I did the same thing with a stainless 4 5/8" .45 Colt Vaquero. Still have it as well.

 

[smithman 10]

This thread is mainly for those born in the 70s or earlier, but everyone is welcome to join.

• How did you get into shooting?
• Were guns always around in your home?
• Did your fathers or grandfathers own or carry?
• What was your first gun, and what was the first you really wanted (even if you never got it)?

For me:
No family background with firearms, but I was always drawn to anything that made noise. In the 80s I read gun magazines regularly, and I was heavily influenced by Punisher comics (especially the Weapon Specials). Sledge Hammer and Dirty Harry made me want a .44 Magnum. Later, a 10mm S&W 1076 (Sonny Bonds, Police Quest II), and then a Glock.

My first gun was a S&W PC .45 ACP – like the black one in the picture, but mine has a satin finish. Next came a 629 Classic .44 Mag with a 6" barrel. My third handgun was a Glock 17, though I've always preferred the 19.

Even my Winchester was a compromise: I wanted an 1873 in pistol caliber, but ended up with an 1894 in .30-30.

I was born in 1947. All male family members, uncles, grandfather owned firearms.

Just about every boy I knew had a .22 rifle by age 11 or 12.

I got a Stevens single shot .22 for Christmas - believe I was 11. My father, my grandfather (who was a Methodist minister but an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman) and uncles taught my brother and me the safety rules and the basics of shooting.

One of the uncles gave me a Winchester Model 37 20 gauge.

As far as I know no one owned handguns. I don't remember ever seeing one around. Did a little bit of hunting but not a lot.

I lost interest in shooting after getting out of the USAF in 1972 and didn't pull a trigger for 20 some years, until Virginia began passing some minimally restrictive gun laws.

So I bought me a used Model 64 revolver and got bit by the bug. Lord knows how many firearms I've bought, sold, or traded since then.

I'm now clearly in the reduction to only what I deem absolutely necessary mode, although I am still temped when I see an interesting firearm with a reasonable price tag (an increasingly rare occurrence I might add).

I hope to shoot a match tomorrow, modified PPC style if I can roust myself up early enough. I'll probably use my 4" 10-7.

My score will be lower than I would like but that's what age does to you.

 

[henry1089]

Born in 54, lived in the Adirondacks until my early 20's .... No handguns at all in the house, but a 30-30 and a shot gun in the basement that never came out
My dad did not hunt except on one or two occasions that I can remember
Lots of baseball.... but no shooting

My first gun he bought me when I was 11 or 12 was a Remington 22LR 581 bolt with a 5 shot mag and a 4x scope
I loved that gun and had a great time with it in the woods as a kid. We were free to roam and never had any issues with carrying a rifle around the neighborhood, which was just a bunch of old farms and farmers.
They paid us to shoot rats in their barns when we got older fond memories

then I loaned it to a "friend" and never saw it again. I still think about that gun to this day

Now I have more than my share of handguns and I still love the 22LR .... either handgun or rifle
I just bought an old High Standard 102 semi auto rifle with a Lyman scope, and it is a blast to shoot and very very accurate

 

[Johnny Ringo]

That H&R 199 in the picture is in my safe now. So long ago and far away…

View attachment 792307

Thanks for sharing your story.

For those who don't know what an H&R 199 is, here are a few photos. It's a Harrington & Richardson small-caliber revolver (most often in .22). It was mainly made for plinking, target practice, and general recreational shooting, not as a police or military gun.

 

[Johnny Ringo]

I hope to shoot a match tomorrow, modified PPC style if I can roust myself up early enough. I'll probably use my 4" 10-7.

Thanks for your post and good luck tomorrow with your match — hope the 10-7 runs well for you!

 

[LVSteve]

Born in England in the early 60s. No firearms in the home, but dad took me out one day and taught me to shoot his hotrodded BSA air rifle.

Came to the US in '97 for work. Did the usual trips to rental ranges just to see what pistol shooting was all about. Married a US citizen in 2001 (late wife#1) who was not a fan of guns. She lost a grandfather in a supposed hunting accident. Then came the time the criminal element seemed to declare open season on our part of town. Wife says, "We are going to the gun store." Fine for her, but I was still on a visa and unable to own firearms or even ammunition. After 72 hours, we came home with a Steyr M9, big easy to see sights and a bore axis close to your knees.

Then came to first range trip. Wife got spooked by a guy a couple of booths down rattling the building with a 45LC revolver. But that wasn't all. Seemed she had an issue with the slide banging back and forth in front of her face. Later found out she was OK with a 38 revolver. I was then informed that the Steyr was mine. Well, sorta kinda.

I later got a hunting license that allowed me to purchase and own firearms. First gun I bought was a Baby Desert Eagle in 9 mm. Then I developed an interest in milsurps and firearms technology, and I was off down the slippery slope of collecting.