Dad, ROTC, USMC then I gave back as an LEO instructor.
Who Taught You How To Shoot?
- Thread starter SGW Gunsmith
- Start date
I grew up a poor disadvantaged child from a broken home.......so I should be excused from being some kinda weirdo with a chip on his shoulder and a whole lot of excuses for why society should be paying my way....
But! I had a grandad! One heck of a grandad!
I don't remember my first red Ryder..... But it got to where at Christmas time, they would have to hide the BB gun somewhere.... Because as soon as I found the BB gun I was done! Out the back door and shooting.
Grandad got me a single barrel monkey wards single shot 410 for my seventh birthday.....holey moley. Then for my ninth I got a Winchester semi auto .22. The eleventh birthday a Winchester model 94! We where both big fans of Lucas McCain..... But we didn't realize he used a 92.....
Then I got a stepfather, who turned out be a fantastic dad!
I still have all three of those old guns and still cherish them. One day, maybe ill have a grandson to hand em down to.
But! I had a grandad! One heck of a grandad!
I don't remember my first red Ryder..... But it got to where at Christmas time, they would have to hide the BB gun somewhere.... Because as soon as I found the BB gun I was done! Out the back door and shooting.
Grandad got me a single barrel monkey wards single shot 410 for my seventh birthday.....holey moley. Then for my ninth I got a Winchester semi auto .22. The eleventh birthday a Winchester model 94! We where both big fans of Lucas McCain..... But we didn't realize he used a 92.....
Then I got a stepfather, who turned out be a fantastic dad!
I still have all three of those old guns and still cherish them. One day, maybe ill have a grandson to hand em down to.
I have to admit , it was my Dad and he showed me how destructive a gun is as well. After that I got on the factory team at Crosman arms which was a lot of fun till my Dad put the end to that because it was too much gas too waste.I was crushed. I kept on going till I got good by myself.
KMart
Gold $$ Contributor
I guess I should give him a little more credit as he also taught me how to shoot a shotgun. Again his hand me down SS Iver Johnson 20 ga.
I had a little success throughout my life due to his teachings.
1968, platoon high at Edson Range on Qual day, shooting an M-14.
1987, ATA mens All American Team
2005, Texas Trapshooting HOF
My grandfather. I shot nothing but .22 revolvers until I was in my mid 20s. We always shot close ranges (25 paces) was his jam.
Still to this day, I shoot at least 100 .22s for every centerfire I send down range. And 99% of those rounds are through handguns.
We would set up all kinds of competitions between me, my sister and my 4 cousins. From Clay pigeons to taping an entire deck of cards to a backer and one by one shooting your poker hand. To shooting spent shotgun shells, aim small, miss small was his motto, and that has always stuck with me.
Pretty sure my old single 6 has 250k-300k rounds through it now. Someday I'll get a freedom arms .22 to replace it. But until then my single 6 will ALWAYS be in my range bag and shoots at least 250 rounds through it, every single outing.
Still to this day, I shoot at least 100 .22s for every centerfire I send down range. And 99% of those rounds are through handguns.
We would set up all kinds of competitions between me, my sister and my 4 cousins. From Clay pigeons to taping an entire deck of cards to a backer and one by one shooting your poker hand. To shooting spent shotgun shells, aim small, miss small was his motto, and that has always stuck with me.
Pretty sure my old single 6 has 250k-300k rounds through it now. Someday I'll get a freedom arms .22 to replace it. But until then my single 6 will ALWAYS be in my range bag and shoots at least 250 rounds through it, every single outing.
My father taught me to shoot relative to hunting and the tenets of safe hunting practices. I was about 12 years old at the time. My first firearm was a hand me down Mossberg 22 rifle. Later I got my grandfather's 12 gauge double barrel shotgun. Then I got a brand new 243 Winchester Model 70 with a 3 x 9 Redfield scope which was perfect for me as an all purpose rifle, i.e. deer, ground hogs, crows, and foxes. If I did my part, it never failed me. This was before that era of range finders and ballistic correction reticles.
I learned the finer points of shooting in the Army as a solider in basic training. Up to this point I hadn't done any formal competitive shooting.
While stationed at Fort Belvoir in VA, I joined the post pistol team and received outstanding target shooting instructions. The Army Marksmanship Manual is the best I ever read and along with expert instruction enabled me to attain the classification of Distinguished Expert (285x300) in precision pistol shooting. I would continued competitive pistol shooting for the next 30 years as a civilian.
In my mid 50's I got serious about varmint hunting. At the time I was using a Harris Bipod. Then I encountered an old varmint hunter one beautiful spring day and he introduced me the the use of shooting cross stick, like the old time buffalo hunters used. This style of shooting appealed to me because it gave a relatively stable rest, was highly mobile and gave me a better field of view for more shot opportunities. In those days I did a lot of roaming the fields. I soon started using a light weight portable shooting chair which significantly increased my performance. It took some practice and experimenting with different techniques but soon I was connecting with most shots under 250 yards. As my skill improved I extended my range to 300 yards or so which met 99% of my shooting opportunities at the farms were I hunted.
Now, as an old man, my skills have diminished somewhat but I'm still at it, i.e. deer, predator, varmint hunting.
I learned the finer points of shooting in the Army as a solider in basic training. Up to this point I hadn't done any formal competitive shooting.
While stationed at Fort Belvoir in VA, I joined the post pistol team and received outstanding target shooting instructions. The Army Marksmanship Manual is the best I ever read and along with expert instruction enabled me to attain the classification of Distinguished Expert (285x300) in precision pistol shooting. I would continued competitive pistol shooting for the next 30 years as a civilian.
In my mid 50's I got serious about varmint hunting. At the time I was using a Harris Bipod. Then I encountered an old varmint hunter one beautiful spring day and he introduced me the the use of shooting cross stick, like the old time buffalo hunters used. This style of shooting appealed to me because it gave a relatively stable rest, was highly mobile and gave me a better field of view for more shot opportunities. In those days I did a lot of roaming the fields. I soon started using a light weight portable shooting chair which significantly increased my performance. It took some practice and experimenting with different techniques but soon I was connecting with most shots under 250 yards. As my skill improved I extended my range to 300 yards or so which met 99% of my shooting opportunities at the farms were I hunted.
Now, as an old man, my skills have diminished somewhat but I'm still at it, i.e. deer, predator, varmint hunting.
For rifle and shotgun it was my Father and Grandfather. Grandfather was in WW I, infantry, wounded 3 times. Father in WW II, Paratrooper. What they taught me was solid fundamentals. In addition to the fundamentals, their words were burned into my brain "treat every bullet as if it is the only one you will ever get to shoot"
Handgun was a relative, he was on the Air National Guard Pistol Team. Once again, solid fundamentals, plus exposure to some very talented shooters that were kind enough to take the time to help me build my pistol skills at the age of 15.
I will never forget the time and patience these people had with me. Over many years I have returned their kindness by teaching those that truly had the desire and dedication to become outstanding shooters.
Handgun was a relative, he was on the Air National Guard Pistol Team. Once again, solid fundamentals, plus exposure to some very talented shooters that were kind enough to take the time to help me build my pistol skills at the age of 15.
I will never forget the time and patience these people had with me. Over many years I have returned their kindness by teaching those that truly had the desire and dedication to become outstanding shooters.
skeeljc
Gold $$ Contributor
My Dad. He build a backstop in the back field and he had a Stevens 84C bolt action rifle. I was already familiar with the rifle because I had discovered it in the back of Dad's closet and spent lots of time handling it when nobody was around. When I finally persuaded Dad to let me shoot it he could not find the magazine or ammunition because Mom had hidden them in a kitchen cabinet. I spent a lot of time with that rifle shooting targets and plinking tin cans in the back field. It was upgraded to a Lyman receiver sight and Globe front aperture sight and then to a Weaver B4 scope. I killed my first woodchuck with that .22.
Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Field and Stream and a Daisy Model 25.
A kid can learn a lot about external ballistics with a Daisy 25 and a few thousand BB's. It shot them with enough velocity to kill a chipmunk at reasonable distances but slow enough that a kids eyes can see the trajectory and the effect of a stiff breeze.
For my tenth birthday my uncle (fathers brother) bought me a JC Higgins 22 complete with matching scope and one box of 22 LR ammo. The three of us went out to the porch, my father put a Crisco can on a fence post about 50 feet away and with much cussing and adjusting the two of them shot all of my ammo offhand while the can escaped unharmed. A lot of very unkind words about Sears and their products. That was the first week of December and by the time I got more ammo for Christmas I had managed to find a couple articles on scopes, bore sighting, etc. in my stash of magazines. My Father always worked on Christmas day (triple pay on the railroad for taking a nap) so with no one else there to blast away with my precious ammo it was shooting reasonably well pretty quickly despite the bitter cold.
A kid can learn a lot about external ballistics with a Daisy 25 and a few thousand BB's. It shot them with enough velocity to kill a chipmunk at reasonable distances but slow enough that a kids eyes can see the trajectory and the effect of a stiff breeze.
For my tenth birthday my uncle (fathers brother) bought me a JC Higgins 22 complete with matching scope and one box of 22 LR ammo. The three of us went out to the porch, my father put a Crisco can on a fence post about 50 feet away and with much cussing and adjusting the two of them shot all of my ammo offhand while the can escaped unharmed. A lot of very unkind words about Sears and their products. That was the first week of December and by the time I got more ammo for Christmas I had managed to find a couple articles on scopes, bore sighting, etc. in my stash of magazines. My Father always worked on Christmas day (triple pay on the railroad for taking a nap) so with no one else there to blast away with my precious ammo it was shooting reasonably well pretty quickly despite the bitter cold.
64 years old and still learning.
When I was 10 or 11, I was at a recreational facility that was owned by the company my dad worked for. While grabbing a bite to eat, I heard the shooting going on in an adjoining area. I peeked in and watched the state police practicing. At that moment, I decided that I too, wanted to shoot. Well, I was too young, and it was suggested I get into a junior program. I did so at age 12, and haven't looked back. I've since been involved in the shooting sports for 55 years.
I didn't grow up shooting much. My dad would take me dove hunting on my great grandparents farm but gripe about how much the shells cost. I used to always want to be on a deer lease or go deer hunting. He would just say it was all a waist of money. I bought a Marlin .22 when I was in high school and was he pissed that I just waisted the money. My best friend and his dad shot, hunted, and fished like crazy. I was so jealous. They had a Bass boat, fished bass tournaments. His dad is the one who taught me to hand load after I came home from the Marines. I went into the Marines after High School and didn't have a clue how to shoot a rifle and damn sure not a pistol. I only shot Sharp Shooter out of boot camp. I was sent to the Rock (Okinawa) and became friends with a Sergeant that was a swamp rat from Florida and He could shoot and had already been a PMI (Primary Marksmanship Instructor). We both ended up at the same Battalion at Camp Pendleton and we hunted the hell out of Camp Pendleton, .22's and shotguns. He talked me into shooting Division Matches. While shooting Division Matches, a Warrant Officer spent some time with me and it was then that it all came together. That was where trigger control and all the fundamentals clicked. It was like the light switched on and my shooting went from a sharpshooter to high Expert. Some of you might have heard of the Warrant Officer, his name is Dennis Demille. He wouldn't know me from Adam today, but he is the one that made everything really click and then I took it from there. I went to PMI school and the other PMI's in my Battalion all pushed and helped each other to be better Marksman Instructors and Marksman. I have never been more dedicated to a job and a team than I was then. I shot a 57 out of 60 on the rifle range and a 391 out of 400 on the pistol range my last year as a Corporal in 1998. Now, I hand load, have shot matches and me and my son hunt, fish, and shoot all the time. He is completely ate up with baseball also, he is going to be a HS Junior this coming year. During baseball season everything else gets put on hold. I don't mind. I like watching him play as much as shooting. I have taught him to shoot and I think I taught him pretty well. He is really hell on deer, pigs, coyotes, and bobcats.
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My dad, who was taught in the Marines. He loved his M-1 Garand. I also learned in the Marines.
PopCharlie
PopCharlie
thekriebles
Gold $$ Contributor
My father taught me gun safety and how to shoot. Started with an old Remington pump 22LR; loved that rifle and he still has it. Enrolled in a junior hunter education program when 12 at our rod & gun local club. And my grandfather taught me how to hunt... great memories and times shared.
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