Your Mentor, who were/are they?

[Goldstar225]

My dad, Ervin Mayberry, gone now for 36 years. All of our guns were working guns. Dad owned four, A Browning Auto 5 12 gauge, a home customized 98 Mauser in 30.-06, a Springfield .22 and a S&W model 15. What he lacked in variety he made up for in ability. He taught me to be safe, to provide for and protect your family, and live my life with unwavering integrity and honesty.

A close friend of his showed me the joys of having guns for fun. John T. lived in a shack that on today's market would sell for $5,000.00. Inside the shack, in the living room, all four walls were literally covered with guns. Rifles, shotguns, pistols, muzzle loader (some home made). In the corner was his bullet casting/reloading area. If you could get the huntin' dogs off of the couch you could dig a couple of pistols from under the cushions. These weren't cheap guns either, the most expensive being a German drilling that he paid $800.00 for (in 1972).

Both my dad and John T. are long gone now, but neither they or their lessons are forgotten.

 

[Jellybean]

Firearms were common on my Dads side of the family, mostly shotguns and .22 rifles with a high power rifle here and there.

The only handgun that was visible was a S&W .38spl M&P that hung on Grandpas bedroom wall. He had won it in a raffle and kept it for home protection. It fascinated me.

Grandma was a local legend with a .22 and taught me there was a higher level of shooting beyond just putting food on the table. I took that and applied it to handguns when I got old enough to shoot one.

I would have to say Grandma was the biggest influence. And I would have to add Ed McGivern too, or at least his book since I never met him.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Getting kind of sentimental tonight. Thought I would bump this thread to the top.

Good reading here folks. Take a minute to give some flowers to folks while they are still alive to enjoy them!

If they have passed on, take the time to give them a word of praise here anyhow!

BTT

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

My old man turned his back on me when I was 6, nobody else in the family was into guns or hunting or any outdoor sports. My mentors were the older Scouts who ran the ranges at Scout Camp, then the cadre and instructors in BCT, then Skeeter Skelton, Charles Askins, Bill Jordan, Elmer Keith, etc.

 

[novalty]

My father was the one that got my brother and myself into shooting, with our first BB guns when I was 7--boy did our mailbox take heck, shooting cans beside it and off from it. Remember when we went to get the BB guns, my brother got the last Red Ryder they had, and I got a daisy both single pumps--shot many a squirrel and chipmunk with that gun. Eventually my brother got a Rossi 62SAC with short barrel, what a fun gun to shoot. Then I got a Marlin 882 .22 Mag bolt. Shot quite a bit until parent's divorced, and by then was in the car frame of mind as a teenager, and spent almost every earned dime on my first car. Was until my maternal Grandfather passed away a couple years ago, that I got back into shooting. Received a Ruger Ranch Rifle (mini-14) that my Grandfather shot his last deer with, and purchased a Winchester 290 semi-auto .22 for my son to have when he gets old enough. Also purchased a S&W 459 which was basically NIB, because I don't think my Grandfather ever shot it. Ended up selling that for my 5906, which I am much more accurate with, and serves as my HD weapon. Currently, my father-in-law is acting as my mentor for getting into reloading. With these Maine winters, and no in-door ranges, need to do something to pass the time.

 

[acl864]

My Dad is my mentor. He has Alzheimer's disease now and it has progressed to the point that he chose for me to remove all of the firearms from his home. I was grateful he had the wisdom and foresight to make the decision. I was really dreading having to make the choice for him. There is no way I could reconcile taking his firearms after the sacrifices he made to buy me my first guns and taught me to use and care for them. But as always he showed me the correct path and made the choice before anyone had to deal with an unpleasant situation. I'm very fortunate to have him as my Father and mentor.

 

["JJ"]

My father gave me my 1st guns, several BB guns followed by a breakover 410 at the age of 10. Next was a single .22 rifle passed down from maternal grandpa. Then a Browning A5 from maternal step grandpa. MY Dad & I went hunting once or twice, but he wasn't much for the outdoors. I had a litle bit of hunting with my Uncle & some friends. My love of guns was exposed when a co-worker & friend took me out to shoot his S&W collection. I shot a .22 auto, 2 snub nose .38s, 2 9mms, 2 .357s, a .40S&W, & a 1911. That is all it took!! I was hooked!! A month later I purchased my 1st gun at my 1st gun show. A month later my 2nd, a month later my 3rd, & yep, a month later my 4th! Then, after counsling, I slowed down. I recently inherited a SxS 12ga frm my Uncle after he passed. It had belonged to my paternal grandfather. My mentor taught me gun safety & maintenance! He also introduced me to reloading! He went out of his way to teach me the right way to enjoy guns! Which could also lead to my divorce!! J/K For all that you did, even though you didn't have to, thank you David Grigg!(AKA BigBoy) Now if I can convince him to help support my habit!

 

[Andy Griffith]

Same here.

Me too. Also collect, farm, preserve food...well, everything!
He was a gun nut, and so were his veteran friends.

 

[Smee78]

My Dad taught me to shoot and I have been teaching my sons to shoot.

 

[Paul5388]

Skip,

I'm still trying to figure out how to get my sergeant stripes to show up in the signature line. So, this will have to do until I get it figured out.

I also have to mention Jon Campbell (chunkum on this forum). We spent quite a bit of time hashing over gun related subjects prior to his passing. I still use quite a few of his tips on casting and reloading. I also made sure I got in on the group buy for this bullet that was a favorite of Jon's.