When did you start shooting?

wingman371 · 11-22-2006, 07:53 PM

This may have been covered (as I am too lazy to go thru all 83 pages of threads).

What age where y'all when you started shooting and learning respect for proper gun ownership?

I fired my first weapon when I was 5 years old. It was a little rigarmi brescia
.22 short. (this little pistol is still in the gun locker at my dads place)

I believe the younger you are educated about guns and the safety required to be responsible with them is a key for a child to grow up with and understand gun ownership. My daughter started when she was 6 and I have never had a problem with her curiosity getting the better of her. She is now 13.

I think this could be a lively topic.

Johnny_Revolver · 11-22-2006, 08:20 PM

25 years ago. I was 17, nearly 18 and went out west desilting dams. I`d fired guns as a youth, as was the thing in the day, but then realised I could take guns out on the job with me. So, I took my brothers shotguns he hadnt used in 10 years out with me, liked it, bought a Colombian Mauser .30-`06 for 60 bucks and just kicked on from there. Drifted away and back a few times, just like going out west

But I`m returning to my roots now. Got C&W on the in the car and computer near all the time, wishing I could be living out there.. Sigh.

.22guy · 11-22-2006, 08:35 PM

When I was about 7. Started with shooting my dad's Ruger Single six and Winchester lever action. All about the .22s.

I really got into it, after my dad passed shortly before my 19th birthday. Been going strong since then.

I'm planning to start my boy off at around 5 or 6. Bought him his first .22 for his second birthday, coming up in a month....

Pred · 11-22-2006, 08:37 PM

Lets see, one of the first guns I remember shooting was a single shot .410. I think I was about 7 or 8. My first gun was either a Ruger .22 or one of those chipmunk .22's. Can't really remember, but was around the same time period.

SPOCAHP ANAR · 11-22-2006, 08:42 PM

A bb gun around 7 or 8 and a shotgun around 12-13. Then my own when I got married.

Mr.Wolf · 11-22-2006, 09:12 PM

Started shooting real rifles when I was around 12 using a 303 rifle. Was a member of the Cadet Corps at the time. However I always had a love for guns. Now I am a proud Glock owner.

Pumpkinheaver · 11-22-2006, 09:47 PM

My mom has pictures of me shooting .22s with my father at age 5. I got my own first gun at 14 a marlin model 60, about 2 months later I aquired a H&R topper single shot 20 gauge. I guess my gramps was the one to teach me about gun safety. He showed mewhat my 20 gauge would do to a jug of water and told me to imaging if it was someone and I was being careless with my shotgun. That lesson sunk in!!

Oxford · 11-22-2006, 10:04 PM

In around 1947 my brother and I both got BB rifles. Birds in my neighborhood weren't safe when we were around. Dad emphasized gun safety to us as he was a recently discharged naval officer. He was very strict that we follow his "orders."

Then when we moved to a Kansas farm in 1948 we were taught to use his .22 semiautomatic rifle and 3-4 years later we inherited our grandfathers single barrel antique 16 gage shotgun. He continually emphasized gun safety. No slack was given from an old military man. Hey...he must have been at least 35 years old by that time.

Shaun · 11-22-2006, 10:06 PM

I was 7 when I started

Rookie_Rover · 11-22-2006, 10:07 PM

Age 4 with a .22 rifle, and at age 10 with a 12 gauge single which I have since taken ownership of.

toolman · 11-22-2006, 10:13 PM

I started a bit late as the first gun I ever shot was the Marlin 39A that my dad got me when I was 10-still have it. Two of my grandkids (5 yr old grandson and 6 yr old granddaughter) have already shot my Star Super and have absolute respect for all guns. I'm thinking of building a short stock for the old Marlin to get them used to shooting rifles.

missharpshooter · 11-23-2006, 01:33 PM

Got my first rifle a 22 with a scope for Christmas when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Got a fishing pole and tackle box and my Mom got me a doll....don't know what happened to the doll, but I still have my rifle! Lady Di

Apollyon67 · 11-23-2006, 02:27 PM

I started with my father and a .22lr revolver, when I joined 4-H I got into single shot .22lr rifles. I was 10 when I started

Big Dog · 11-23-2006, 04:39 PM

I still have the old Stevens Model 15 single-shot bolt-action .22 my uncle gave me when I was very young. Didn't shoot it too often then. Really began shooting for fun in my USAF days. I had been squirrel and duck hunting with Dad before that though. Drifted away from shooting for several years. Then about '94, I went to my first gun show - I've been addicted ever since!

CinciGunGuy · 11-23-2006, 07:19 PM

My dad gave me a 10/22 when i was about 10 and I really liked shooting it. Then i lost intrest for awhile till i moved to the cincinnati area and all my friends were into it. I bought a Walther P22 last winter, then an 870 this summer and looking at a mosin nagant this saturday. I guess i'm picking up speed!

BattleRifleG3 · 11-28-2006, 03:31 PM

First fired a cartridge firearm at about age 9 with Gungeek. Outshot him on his own range. This was due to him growing through various stages of vision and me being young and gifted; 15 years later he typically outshoots me due to to better practice and discipline.

Shot a few friends' guns in my mid teens, but got serious starting with revolutionary war re-enacting. My first real firearm was a flintlock. When adulthood came I took on the responsibility of owning and being proficient with guns as part of being an American true to the rights and duties under the constitution.

billy · 12-14-2006, 06:01 AM

i cant really remember maybe 4 or 5 with my dad .guns were always around so it wasnt something to get excited about. then i got old and at age 43 started collecting and shooting in earnest. 2nd. childhood? uh oh...

whirlwind · 12-17-2006, 02:26 AM

i was two when i first fired one,and my daughters were three when they both fired my 41 magnum.

Dallas · 12-17-2006, 11:00 AM

I got a BB gun when I was about 11. About age 12 my Dad let me put a couple rounds through his .357. At age 13 I received a .22 Ruger. Went to the range at Quantico about six times a year and when when drove to Texas to see the family the rifle went to. Spent several fun summers shooting the heck out of my granddads timber land.

NRAJOE · 12-18-2006, 12:25 PM

1967...age of 8

Remington Nylon Apache....

11-22-2006, 07:53 PM	#1
wingman371 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Currently of Balad Iraq Posts: 106 Images: 21	When did you start shooting? This may have been covered (as I am too lazy to go thru all 83 pages of threads). What age where y'all when you started shooting and learning respect for proper gun ownership? I fired my first weapon when I was 5 years old. It was a little rigarmi brescia .22 short. (this little pistol is still in the gun locker at my dads place) I believe the younger you are educated about guns and the safety required to be responsible with them is a key for a child to grow up with and understand gun ownership. My daughter started when she was 6 and I have never had a problem with her curiosity getting the better of her. She is now 13. I think this could be a lively topic. __________________ NEVER FORGET THOSE THAT DIED FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM

11-22-2006, 08:42 PM	#5
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,096 Images: 3 Blog Entries: 4	A bb gun around 7 or 8 and a shotgun around 12-13. Then my own when I got married. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

11-22-2006, 09:47 PM	#7
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,340	My mom has pictures of me shooting .22s with my father at age 5. I got my own first gun at 14 a marlin model 60, about 2 months later I aquired a H&R topper single shot 20 gauge. I guess my gramps was the one to teach me about gun safety. He showed mewhat my 20 gauge would do to a jug of water and told me to imaging if it was someone and I was being careless with my shotgun. That lesson sunk in!! __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

11-22-2006, 10:04 PM	#8
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,023 Blog Entries: 4	In around 1947 my brother and I both got BB rifles. Birds in my neighborhood weren't safe when we were around. Dad emphasized gun safety to us as he was a recently discharged naval officer. He was very strict that we follow his "orders." Then when we moved to a Kansas farm in 1948 we were taught to use his .22 semiautomatic rifle and 3-4 years later we inherited our grandfathers single barrel antique 16 gage shotgun. He continually emphasized gun safety. No slack was given from an old military man. Hey...he must have been at least 35 years old by that time. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

11-22-2006, 10:06 PM	#9
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	I was 7 when I started __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

11-22-2006, 08:20 PM	#2
Johnny_Revolver Gun Liker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,209 Blog Entries: 6	25 years ago. I was 17, nearly 18 and went out west desilting dams. I`d fired guns as a youth, as was the thing in the day, but then realised I could take guns out on the job with me. So, I took my brothers shotguns he hadnt used in 10 years out with me, liked it, bought a Colombian Mauser .30-`06 for 60 bucks and just kicked on from there. Drifted away and back a few times, just like going out west But I`m returning to my roots now. Got C&W on the in the car and computer near all the time, wishing I could be living out there.. Sigh.

11-22-2006, 08:35 PM	#3
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,158	When I was about 7. Started with shooting my dad's Ruger Single six and Winchester lever action. All about the .22s. I really got into it, after my dad passed shortly before my 19th birthday. Been going strong since then. I'm planning to start my boy off at around 5 or 6. Bought him his first .22 for his second birthday, coming up in a month....

11-22-2006, 08:37 PM	#4
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3	Lets see, one of the first guns I remember shooting was a single shot .410. I think I was about 7 or 8. My first gun was either a Ruger .22 or one of those chipmunk .22's. Can't really remember, but was around the same time period.

11-22-2006, 09:12 PM	#6
Mr.Wolf Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: A Caribbean island Posts: 48	Started shooting real rifles when I was around 12 using a 303 rifle. Was a member of the Cadet Corps at the time. However I always had a love for guns. Now I am a proud Glock owner.

11-22-2006, 10:07 PM	#10
Rookie_Rover Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Western Tennessee. Posts: 300	Age 4 with a .22 rifle, and at age 10 with a 12 gauge single which I have since taken ownership of. __________________ Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself – Twain.

11-22-2006, 10:13 PM	#11
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	I started a bit late as the first gun I ever shot was the Marlin 39A that my dad got me when I was 10-still have it. Two of my grandkids (5 yr old grandson and 6 yr old granddaughter) have already shot my Star Super and have absolute respect for all guns. I'm thinking of building a short stock for the old Marlin to get them used to shooting rifles. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

11-23-2006, 01:33 PM	#12
missharpshooter Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 979 Images: 2	Got my first rifle a 22 with a scope for Christmas when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Got a fishing pole and tackle box and my Mom got me a doll....don't know what happened to the doll, but I still have my rifle! Lady Di __________________ IF IT DOESN'T GET HOT..IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH FIREPOWER....DBL TAPP IS NOT DANCING..

11-23-2006, 02:27 PM	#13
Apollyon67 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 2,235 Images: 17	I started with my father and a .22lr revolver, when I joined 4-H I got into single shot .22lr rifles. I was 10 when I started __________________ "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish." Ben Franklin

11-23-2006, 04:39 PM	#14
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,219	I still have the old Stevens Model 15 single-shot bolt-action .22 my uncle gave me when I was very young. Didn't shoot it too often then. Really began shooting for fun in my USAF days. I had been squirrel and duck hunting with Dad before that though. Drifted away from shooting for several years. Then about '94, I went to my first gun show - I've been addicted ever since! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

11-23-2006, 07:19 PM	#15
CinciGunGuy Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cincinnati Ohio Posts: 18	My dad gave me a 10/22 when i was about 10 and I really liked shooting it. Then i lost intrest for awhile till i moved to the cincinnati area and all my friends were into it. I bought a Walther P22 last winter, then an 870 this summer and looking at a mosin nagant this saturday. I guess i'm picking up speed!

12-18-2006, 12:25 PM	#20
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,052 Images: 3	1967...age of 8 Remington Nylon Apache.... __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

11-28-2006, 03:31 PM	#16
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Images: 13	First fired a cartridge firearm at about age 9 with Gungeek. Outshot him on his own range. This was due to him growing through various stages of vision and me being young and gifted; 15 years later he typically outshoots me due to to better practice and discipline. Shot a few friends' guns in my mid teens, but got serious starting with revolutionary war re-enacting. My first real firearm was a flintlock. When adulthood came I took on the responsibility of owning and being proficient with guns as part of being an American true to the rights and duties under the constitution. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

12-14-2006, 06:01 AM	#17
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,193 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	i cant really remember maybe 4 or 5 with my dad .guns were always around so it wasnt something to get excited about. then i got old and at age 43 started collecting and shooting in earnest. 2nd. childhood? uh oh... Last edited by billy; 12-16-2006 at 01:23 PM.

12-17-2006, 02:26 AM	#18
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,739 Images: 1	i was two when i first fired one,and my daughters were three when they both fired my 41 magnum. __________________ De oppresso liber !

12-17-2006, 11:00 AM	#19
Dallas PUKHA DAWG Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C. Posts: 3,596	I got a BB gun when I was about 11. About age 12 my Dad let me put a couple rounds through his .357. At age 13 I received a .22 Ruger. Went to the range at Quantico about six times a year and when when drove to Texas to see the family the rifle went to. Spent several fun summers shooting the heck out of my granddads timber land.