I must be poor

[MadDrugman]

You have a good point about guys at the range with lots of expensive toys. I love the old walnut and blued patina of the old stuff but the synthetic stocks are more durable (mostly). I have a good friend (army vet,vietnam,82nd airborne) who says "let the boys have their toys it's how you shoot that counts"
On another idea there is a gunsmith in Winston-Salem,NC. Ricky Lee Evans who is still in business after some health issues. He is at 815 Wrights Farm Rd, Winston-Salem,NC. He has been doing this for over 40 years. He is in Clemmons,NC but has Winston address.

[Skans]

I love going to the range with rich guys... they usually don't mind if you go through a magazine or three of THEIR AMMO because they love showing off their stuff!

True! I got to shoot one guy's full-auto Bren machine gun. Another time I got to shoot an M16. I let folks shoot my AC556.

[Dufus]

I started out poor. But time and good decisions changed that.

I used to have a gun in the beginning. It was a Czechoslovakian Model 98 that was purchased at Monkey Wards in 1963 for a grand total of $14.95 USD.

I was a teenage kid and my dad bought it for my birthday that year.

I was proud of it and still am some 50 years later.

I bagged a lot of deer with it and one Elk.

A I stated earlier about the good decisions, I have many more in the safe beside that Mauser.

The last time I was at the range, this guy was next to me with the fanciest tactical gun that I have seen in a while chambered in 7.62 with maybe 1000 rounds sitting on the shooting bench with him. All I had that day was a Rem 788 chambered 222 Rem. that was made in 1974 (a 41 year old gun).

I could not shoot until he had to reload his 20 round magazine because the brake on his fancy gun rattled by inerds so much that I was lacking concentration.

When he was completed with his range session, with gobs of new 7.62 brass laying on the ground, he packed up and left. He was supposed to clean up after himself, but did not. One of the range rules.

When he was gone, I glanced at his target and I could tell why he left in disgust. His target looked as though it was shot at the shotgun portion of the range with approximate grouping of 22" x 22".

I smiled and completed my task of two 10 shot groups of 3/8" C to C.

Fancy does not buy happiness.

[gwpercle]

What I have noticed is most of these guys are young, well funded , have all the techno-gadgets money can buy attached to their tactical guns , they shoot lots and lots of ammo , most of it just sprayed downrange .
None of them can shoot a 10 shot group into a 1 1/2 or 2 inch group if their lives depended on it. They are not proper marksmen...just shooters , ammo burners.
I was taught to shoot with a single shot, given one round and cautioned not to miss. You made each shot count ... good marksmanship and accuracy was paramount !
Gary

[zukiphile]

I was taught to shoot with a single shot, given one round and cautioned not to miss.

Of course, back then the rifles only held one round. Badum ching.

[Old Bill Dibble]

Of course, back then the rifles only held one round. Badum ching.

And took forever to reload what with pouring the powder, putting the patches, setting the ball, placing the primer....

[50 shooter]

You have some nice guns, I wouldn't worry about what others think.

I was at the range about a week ago, was shooting my 1903 Springfield at the 400 yard gong. In between shots I hear one of the guys next to me tell his buddy "did you see that guy hit the 400 yard gong"? I thought it was funny because my .50 was on the bench right behind me.

[Lohman446]

And this is why I shoot on my own property

I'm never outgunned.

More importantly to my ego I am not out skilled either

[GLI45]

Several years ago I was at my local range getting some trigger time with a couple of my STIs and in walk two guys all in black. Black tactical pants and black t-shirts. One was wearing a tacticoool vest with pockets and plenty of Velcro straps as well as a thigh holster. They unloaded an AR15 with every possible add-on and a pair of pistols. One a Sig and the other looked like an HK. All the weapons were solid black. I was 5 or 6 lanes over and really didn't pay attention to their shooting until I noticed one of them easing over my way. (I had been cutting out holes in my targets you could cover with a playing card with my STI Edge.) As I glanced across the range their pistol targets looked like someone was shooting a shotgun with a spread that went from edge to edge. I just smiled to myself and remembered that the gun doesn't make the shooter, the shooter makes the gun.

[rpseraph]

Originally Posted by g.willikers

No one is drooling over what I bring to the range, either.
Even worse, my offer to share is rarely even accepted.

Isn't that the worst? LOL ...

"oh did you build that AR yourself?"

"Yeah I did! Do you want to try it?"

"Nah... not really..."

[K_Mac]

There are a lot of folks who are enthusiasts. For many of them the joy of ownership is having high-end stuff. For others having the latest and greatest is important. Some just want to be able to make a lot of noise very quickly. Others just want to be able to tell you how much they have spent. None of that bothers me a bit as long as they don't endanger me or anyone else. Whether they can shoot tight groups or loose patterns is not my concern. I make a point of avoiding these folks, although I am happy they enjoy and own firearms.

Then there are the enthusiasts who love guns, and shooting well. I think that describes many of us. I have a couple of friends who may show up at a range with an enviable collection, the value of which approaches the cost of my house. Anyone dismissing them as unknowing, mall ninjas will quickly learn they are not.

My collection is modest by enthusiast standards. I have what meets my needs and budget. How that compares to others really makes no difference to me.

And yes, unless I know you and your self "built" AR I will thank you for the offer and pass.

[g.willikers]

There is a danger in accepting an offer to try someone else's gun.
You might suddenly discover you really need one of those.

[jimbob86]

And took forever to reload what with pouring the powder, putting the patches, setting the ball, placing the primer....

Placin' a one of those newfangled thingamajigs? BAH! Just sumthin' else to have to buy ...... knap the right rock just right, grind your own pan powder .....
......

[K_Mac]

There is a danger in accepting an offer to try someone else's gun.
You might suddenly discover you really need one of those.

Ain't that the truth. I had no idea I wanted a little SA Kimber until I shot one a few times. I really need one now even though it is considerably more money than I am willing to spend...

Placin' a one of those newfangled thingamajigs? BAH! Just sumthin' else to have to buy ...... knap the right rock just right, grind your own pan powder .....
......

You're a better man than I am! Them rock fired guns are too temperamental for me...

[jimbob86]

Them rock fired guns are too temperamental for me...

Women are temperamental, too ...... still like them.

[K_Mac]

Women are temperamental, too ...... still like them.

Amen!

[Rockrivr1]

I'm going to come at this from the other side. I'm nowhere near rich, but after many years of hard work we're comfortable. This allows me a certain expendable income that I spend on guns, equipment, ammo, etc. So I do have some high end firearms, mixed in with what I consider normal every day firearms and I enjoy all of them. Call me what you will but everyone feels good when someone compliments you on a firearm you've brought to the range and I've let several people shoot whatever I bring. The fun is having the conversation about guns that typically follows. Just because you have nice stuff doesn't mean you're a snob at the range. I still remember the day when all I could afford was one handgun and over time I bought different barrels for it to shoot multiple calibers.

Now all of this goes out the window at certain time of the year. In New England there is a gun forum for the area and several times a year a gun shoot is held. Usually cars are brought to a range and we blast the crap out of it. This time of year it's the great Pumpkin murder where hundreds of pumpkins pay the ultimate price for existence. A couple hundred shooters bring their best stuff. While the shoot is fun, seeing everyone's toys can be just as much fun.

To each there own, but anyone looking down on someone for not having the latest, greatest and most expensive just doesn't get it.

[DukeConnor]

My op was tounge in cheek. I did get to shoot one of the fellows 50 cal barrett. I was expecting a shoulder breaker,but, it wasn't bad at all. I do need some FDE guns to be cool though.

[armoredman]

We have a brand of shooter that comes out on the weekend. I call them the Tactical Tommies. Tactical Tommy wears all the latest 5.11 gear, chest pouch/plate carrier, (at the range), and has a heavily customized AR-15 with every geegaw known to man hanging off from the poor rifle. Tactical Tommy is usually accompanied by at least two like minded fellows, sometimes four or five, along with at least one to two giggly girls with pink hearing protection who never touch a firearm and shriek a little bit in mock horror at muzzle blast. Tactical Tommy then sets up his blaster, complete with 50 power scope, and lays down on his custom shooting mat, pops out the bi pod, takes a careful prone shooting position and proceeds to pepper the heck out of a target placed a dizzying 50 yards away.
The above is slightly tongue in cheek - I don't care how you dress or what you shoot, as long as you are being safe and having fun, and getting non shooters into the game is a major plus.

But sometimes the bubble has to be poked a bit.

Last time I was at the firing line with my BREN 805 and a 100 year old Spanish Mauser Guardia Civil in .308. I had a 3/4 steel IDPA target mounted at 200 yards.
Tactical Tommy was blasting away with his AR at his steel target, which was, being fair, at least 100 yards away. He hit it several times per magazine, too. Fair is fair. I took a standing position and with the Mauser, (not the BREN, that would be cheating), and with iron sights and cast bullet handloads I popped my steel at 200 yards five for five, then did it again. One shooter looked at me and complimented the rifle, (it was the rifle, of course, not me), while Tactical Tommy stood, mouth hanging slightly open. I didn't want to tell him that according to a rifleman's perspective what I did, if it were 100 years ago, would have been considered unremarkable save only if I had MISSED...then I might have caught a razzing. I still know that compared to REAL riflemen, I come in a far distant third or fourth.

That same day I did invite two of the Tommies to try out the BREN, which they took me up on, and found that it was smoother than their ARs. It ain't the price tag on the toys, it's what you do with them, and what your purpose is. If you are just going out to make noise, have a great time but please choose a different range...unless you'll let me have your brass.

[johnwilliamson062]

The only time I've really been impressed with anyone's collection at the range was a guy who had a hand-made by him wall gun he was testing. Beautiful work all around. He started with a huge round ball, 2" maybe, then loaded it with various shot, and finally finished with a bunch of cap like cut up nails.

[TXAZ]

Duke,
You've spilled the secret: The special FDE paint on every Barrett absorbs about 1/2 the recoil. All the other paint colors don't help at all, and kick like a PO'd mule.

[TXAZ]

g.willikers NAILED IT:

There is a danger in accepting an offer to try someone else's gun.
You might suddenly discover you really need one of those.

I never would have thought about buying a Barrett until I shot a co-worker's, blasting holes in 1/2" steel plate at 300 yards. Took 10 years to save up, but worth it.

[rock185]

I feel your pain. I don't have a single FDE gun either, or even an AR or AK

[pete2]

Hey, I still enjoy my Mossberg .22 and my 9mm Citadel. I guess I wouldn't fit in.

[Strafer Gott]

And don't those blue Glocks make my brown eye"s" blue.