Have you ever fired a gun?
Discussion
My Grandfather took my education in hand as soon as I was old enough with airguns. I was fairly safe since I was too small to cock them myself. This is a very good idea. I could possess airguns and get over the novelty. By the time I could cock it without supervision the temptation to abuse it had past.
As soon as I could manage it I was moved onto a .22 High Standard with an integral moderated barrel. Granddad had quite a collection and I was moved onto different types as soon as possible. He was very much the stereotypical Victorian Gentleman and a very experienced shot and a great teacher. Riding to hounds, stalking, game shoots, big game, Cavalry Officer in the Great War. We never got a straight answer to exactly what he did in WW2 but it was something to do with PWE. Some of the teaching was pretty unconventional.
I have no idea how many different types I have fired. Granddad came up with all sorts. I got my own firearms license ASAP and shot for many years.
I participated in quite a few different shooting disciplines in rifle, pistol and shotgun both practical and precision over the years. I was sometimes runner up in the county pistol league but quite never managed to win it.
I think the most powerful was probably a .577 Nitro Express double rifle by Woodward that belonged to Granddad. Other unusual stuff included a Sten and a Bren, MAC10, some black powder, Broomhandle Mauser.
People at ranges are very friendly and if someone has something new or different they are usually willing to let friends have a turn.
As soon as I could manage it I was moved onto a .22 High Standard with an integral moderated barrel. Granddad had quite a collection and I was moved onto different types as soon as possible. He was very much the stereotypical Victorian Gentleman and a very experienced shot and a great teacher. Riding to hounds, stalking, game shoots, big game, Cavalry Officer in the Great War. We never got a straight answer to exactly what he did in WW2 but it was something to do with PWE. Some of the teaching was pretty unconventional.
I have no idea how many different types I have fired. Granddad came up with all sorts. I got my own firearms license ASAP and shot for many years.
I participated in quite a few different shooting disciplines in rifle, pistol and shotgun both practical and precision over the years. I was sometimes runner up in the county pistol league but quite never managed to win it.
I think the most powerful was probably a .577 Nitro Express double rifle by Woodward that belonged to Granddad. Other unusual stuff included a Sten and a Bren, MAC10, some black powder, Broomhandle Mauser.
People at ranges are very friendly and if someone has something new or different they are usually willing to let friends have a turn.
In my last year at school, we went to Faslane on a Navy recruitment day. We each got to fire 10 rounds, prone, from an SA80. All thought we were complete hot shots, then one of the Marines supervising demonstrated his service pistol - same range, but from standing. Put us in our place! 
Again with school, we spent a week at HMS Collingwood. This doesn't count at all in the context of the thread, but we were given an indoor demonstration of a Phalanx training unit, and they let me press the button to spin it up. Felt good.
Again with school, we spent a week at HMS Collingwood. This doesn't count at all in the context of the thread, but we were given an indoor demonstration of a Phalanx training unit, and they let me press the button to spin it up. Felt good.
Getragdogleg said:
I am annoyed that i cannot be in a gun club here and shoot hand guns, Properly licenced and monitored is safe, the old adage "outlaw guns and only outlaws have guns" has come home to roost with the ban here, gun crime is up.
It is not the owning of handguns or guns in general that is considered the problem by those who think they control us, it's also the knowledge of how to use them.Plod at all levels have remarked that the public gaining firearms skills is highly undesirable.
Saddle bum said:
Getragdogleg said:
I am annoyed that i cannot be in a gun club here and shoot hand guns, Properly licenced and monitored is safe, the old adage "outlaw guns and only outlaws have guns" has come home to roost with the ban here, gun crime is up.
It is not the owning of handguns or guns in general that is considered the problem by those who think they control us, it's also the knowledge of how to use them.Plod at all levels have remarked that the public gaining firearms skills is highly undesirable.
From a pushy control freak Govt. point of view I agree, any kind of arming of the populace is not desirable but I would like the Govt. to be largely controlled by the will of its people, to be representitive of the people.
Banning guns has sent them underground, at least when we were allowed to be in clubs and use them recreationally the Police mostly knew where the guns were.
I won't list all of the ones I've fired. Suffice to say that I fired my first .22 and .303 when I was 12 and have worked with them ever since. On the whole I prefer sporting firearms - especially old British rifles - to military type weapons. However, the one that stands out is the MP40 'Schmesser'. Surprisingly nice to shoot. Top of my wish list to fire is the Thompson M1928. A friend has one in his armoury at work, so its just a matter of booking a range day. 
Current gun cabinet has in it:
.177 BSA Meteor air rifle.
.22 BSA Meteor air rifle.
.410 Mossberg bolt action shotgun. - looking to replace with a Webley or maybe a Hushpower.
12 Bore Bristol De Luxe side by side shotgun. Nothing special but small and light (good for my size). The first gun I owned, so I doubt I'll ever sell it.
.22LR BSA Supersport bolt action rifle.
.303. BSA Lee Speed bolt action rifle. My absolute favourite. Over 100 years old and handles and shoots like it was made for me. Which it wasn't. It was made for a Colonel C. Lavat, and sold by the Junior Army & Navy Stores, Regent Street, according to engraving on it. I'd love to find out about its history.
.308 BSA Monarch Featherweight bolt action rifle.. My 'working' rifle, made in the 60s. Quite rare but very affordable. Unusually, it was made with a muzzle brake, which doesn't make me popular at the range.
.375 H&H Parker Hale bolt action rifle. Just the thing for those pesky elephants we have in west London.....
Current gun cabinet has in it:
.177 BSA Meteor air rifle.
.22 BSA Meteor air rifle.
.410 Mossberg bolt action shotgun. - looking to replace with a Webley or maybe a Hushpower.
12 Bore Bristol De Luxe side by side shotgun. Nothing special but small and light (good for my size). The first gun I owned, so I doubt I'll ever sell it.
.22LR BSA Supersport bolt action rifle.
.303. BSA Lee Speed bolt action rifle. My absolute favourite. Over 100 years old and handles and shoots like it was made for me. Which it wasn't. It was made for a Colonel C. Lavat, and sold by the Junior Army & Navy Stores, Regent Street, according to engraving on it. I'd love to find out about its history.
.308 BSA Monarch Featherweight bolt action rifle.. My 'working' rifle, made in the 60s. Quite rare but very affordable. Unusually, it was made with a muzzle brake, which doesn't make me popular at the range.
.375 H&H Parker Hale bolt action rifle. Just the thing for those pesky elephants we have in west London.....
Edited by BruceV8 on Sunday 23 May 11:40
NOt as many as some it would appear, but a few hundred years ago I went to a Military Boarding School and we played a lot with guns.
SMG's, LMG' 303's, .22's and others. We were encouraged to join in and play as much as we liked, all FOC.
Never got into it aside from completing the mandatory CCF marksman stuff.
I now only have a .22 airgun, single shot .177 competition pistol and a replica .177 Barretta which I shoot at targets in the back garden (and have been this afternoon by chance!)
SMG's, LMG' 303's, .22's and others. We were encouraged to join in and play as much as we liked, all FOC.
Never got into it aside from completing the mandatory CCF marksman stuff.
I now only have a .22 airgun, single shot .177 competition pistol and a replica .177 Barretta which I shoot at targets in the back garden (and have been this afternoon by chance!)
Yup, I have a Bettinsoli Diamond mk2 12g o/u and a Berretta 686 o/u 12g.
I have also owned in the past a few cheap spanish and russian side by side 12gs and a Webley and Scott bolt action .410 (I wish I hadnt sold it as I now want another one)
I've also done some shooting with a friend's bolt action .22 rifle.
I have also owned in the past a few cheap spanish and russian side by side 12gs and a Webley and Scott bolt action .410 (I wish I hadnt sold it as I now want another one)
I've also done some shooting with a friend's bolt action .22 rifle.
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 23 May 18:20
I've fired an SA-80, Dragonov and a rifle (not sure what make it was, I was 10 years old at an army recruitment stand at Powys festival years ago!), also used a shotgun with clay pigeon shooting
Was quite good fun, but I felt a bit "scared and excited" with it, knowing I had a deadly weapon in my hands
Was quite good fun, but I felt a bit "scared and excited" with it, knowing I had a deadly weapon in my hands
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