With all the new gun owners out there…

[Telecaster]

…It sure doesn't seem like gun forums are any busier than before.

Just my observation, I could be wrong, but I frequent six gun forums and don't see a corresponding uptick in activity.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I, too, frequent and read other gun forums to keep my ear to the rail. In my opinion If I were a younger person who had recently entered the world of gun ownership and was excited to rub cyber elbows and learn about this exciting new journey from older, experienced shooters only to be broad-brushed and demeaned just for being young and not knowing the correct lingo by cynical boomers best suited for lawn patrol I wouldn't hang around long either.

When's the last time you saw a young shooter join here and actually stick around?

 

[TripLeader]

Interesting thought you have made.

I think its more likely that it is just a symptom of technology. Forums are declining in popularity, at least that it how it looks to me. Other internet platforms are increasing in popularity. That is where the traffic is.

 

[Walkin Horse]

They already know most everything and what they don't know they you tube

 

[ladder13]

Younger folks are not interested in all the drama. I see them on forums without a lounge.

 

[paplinker]

I randomly guess at at least 60% of new gun owners bought because of worry they would not be able to in the future.They have little to no interest in firearmsother than nightstand protection.

I also think of this 60% most have not put more than a box of ammo through it.

I am counting on the other 40% to carry on and hopefully gain more interest.

I am mostly seeing a lot of the younger generation enjoying AR 15s and the old military rifles. Gives me a lot of hope and happy to see all enjoying our second amendment.

 

[Telecaster]

Not all new gun owners are young. I was older when I started, and the forum culture (not really different from today) didn't deter me.

Don't the other social media platforms discourage guns?

 

[outta_ammo]

I wonder what ever happened with the 'young peoples committee'?

 

[Rustyt1953]

You specifically addressed gun forums and that is what I replied to.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have 4 vehicles. A Tractor and 2 boats............I have ZERO desire to be on a vehicle/tractor/boat forum...........Some gun owners probably feel the same way.

 

[sigp220.45]

I have two gun-nut sons and one gun-nut nephew. None of them, or their gun-nut friends, are on gun forums. If they need info they'll find the appropriate sub-Reddit, search out Instagram posts, or the equivalent on Twitter or whatever else is out there.

As noted, this is generally Boomer country (I am one) and younger folks, with a few exceptions, generally don't come around or stick around if they do.

I also doubt that a huge number of new gun owners exist. Some, for sure. But how would anyone know? Is that a survey call you would answer truthfully?

I bought guns streadily all through the Chicken Little panic.

 

[Kevin J.]

I have 4 vehicles. A Tractor and 2 boats............I have ZERO desire to be on a vehicle/tractor/boat forum...........Some gun owners probably feel the same way.

I have been a gun guy, gym rat, and MC rider my whole adult life. I have only been on two lifting forums, one Harley forum, here on this one gun forum, and pretty much only visit one local dive bar (unless my wife or friends insist on an "upgrade") . I believe in good company over popularity or trends. But I am also not on Facebook or other main stream social media. With that said I am sure there are a lot of other good sites I am unaware of for just that that reason. But then again there is most likely intelligent life in the universe but I just have not found it.

Message being we all enjoy hanging out where we enjoy it. New gun owners may be finding there own places.

 

[hittman77]

New buyers are just that, buyers not enthusiasts.

 

[jdlii]

if they are Millenials, as previously stated, You Tube is their forum. They also have to have a "cause" to justify many of their actions, including owning firearms.

I was informed by one, when I asked why, based on their liberal beliefs, they wanted to own a firearms. Their immediate answer was that Marx advocated the use of arms and violence to perpetuate "the cause."
They were reminded that those who fought for such causes were later disarmed and it just didn't register.

I have to constantly remind myself that not ever one has the same set of beliefs, morals, or ideals that I have and if their position is different than mine, like bing woke, then I can only wish them well and move away.

 

[waffles]

A few thoughts on this:

1: New gun owners doesn't necessarily mean new gun people/gun nuts. My grandpa had a .22, a 30-30, and a SxS 12g on his farm. We found a box of ammo for each with a few shells missing from each. My great aunt owned an M&P .38 that lived in a shoe box just in case. Neither of them would be considered gun people, and had they been in modern times, wouldn't have been on forums. Guns were just a tool they had for blasting random crop eaters or repelling theoretical burglars. Similarly, a lot of the new gun owners I know will likely not even put a full box of ammo through their pistol or rifle, shooting enough to say they've shot it and putting it away. We're seeing a lot of people returning to the idea that it's good to have a gun just in case, and that doesn't necessarily lead to them getting into it as a hobby, nor posting on message boards.

2: Forums like this are an old idea. I'm 30, and friends even a couple years younger just never got into them. Reddit, facebook groups, youtube, discords, all take the place of forums unless you started using them when you were younger or if you're into things like this where the older users tend to hold most of the knowledge.

3: Gun forums got real, real bad over the course of COVID. Lots of social media got worse, bordering on all, but man oh man try checking out the popular gun forums now. Conspiracy theories, insane politics, any negative "ism" you could want. S&W is an oasis in comparison.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

If I can remember back that far, I think I was a gun nut before I could afford one. The first one I ever bought I think I gave $15.00 for. Besides I like to hang out with this bunch of Certified Old Geezers like me.

Be blessed,

Leon

 

[Rudi]

I think a lot of the newbies would be intimidated by the combined knowledge of forum members. They are happy with their new guns and don't know what they don't know.

 

[Jon651]

I think I owned a gun at least three or four decades before I even found out about forums like this. Of course, that was long before the internet, back when it was simply called "chewing the fat with your friends"!

 

[Eagle 477]

I think most of the younger generation ave no interest in how things evolved and how beautiful a Vintage Revolver actually is. Most would prefer a Glock over a Registered Magnum.

Rob

 

[Jessie]

Many new gun buyers probably bought because they are afraid, not interested.