How old were you when you started shooting?

[FirearmFan]

How old were you when you started shooting? And how did you become interested in it?

My dad started me on shooting when I was 6 yrs old. We went to a gun show and picked up a Savage Mark II left handed bolt action .22lr and I learned on that. I still have that rifle. My dad taught me gun safety, how to shoot, and how to hunt. From about 6 until 17 I stuck mostly to hunting and target practice with hunting rifles and shotguns. At 17 I started getting into pistols and "sporting" rifles. Not that I wasn't into them before I just hadn't had much exposure to them since my dad is mostly just into hunting. At 21 I started buying pistols of my own and got my permit to carry. I'll be turning 23 in a couple weeks and in the past few years my collection has really grown.

So how about you? I suspect many people got exposed to it from their parents like I did, but my guess is not everyone did.

[MisterOblivious]

How old were you when you started shooting? And how did you become interested in it?

My dad started me on shooting when I was 6 yrs old. We went to a gun show and picked up a Savage Mark II left handed bolt action .22lr and I learned on that. I still have that rifle. My dad taught me gun safety, how to shoot, and how to hunt. From about 6 until 17 I stuck mostly to hunting and target practice with hunting rifles and shotguns. At 17 I started getting into pistols and "sporting" rifles. Not that I wasn't into them before I just hadn't had much exposure to them since my dad is mostly just into hunting. At 21 I started buying pistols of my own and got my permit to carry. I'll be turning 23 in a couple weeks and in the past few years my collection has really grown.

So how about you? I suspect many people got exposed to it from their parents like I did, but my guess is not everyone did.

Can't say... young enough that all I remember is shooting with both grandfather's BB guns. I'd gone goose and pheasant "hunting" with the paternal grandfather a few times before that. Spent quite a bit of time in the basement after I got my own learning to shoot.... I still have problems trying anything other than 6 o'clock hold

Pretty standard story in the early years I guess... BB guns in the early years, then .22 for a while, tried trap shooting with a .410, been shooting remington 1100's since I could hold 'em up. I was 6' before age 12, guessing it was around then I started shooting the 1100 and reloading. Itchy trigger finger caused me to take bad shots and loose a bunch of deer, it soured me on hunting for a long time. Took a decade off from shooting to "party". Got back into target shooting after hearing about the Appleseed program and all the tinkering a guy can do with a 10/22. Bought a 10/22 @ 28 and the wallet has been empty every since. Made "rifleman" at the first Appleseed, one of the 4 out of 28. Think I'm #3 of 13 in Mn

My family was a "shotgun family". My father owned 2 rifles (.22 and the .270 1903a3 we weren't allowed to touch) and a .22 pistol he only let me shoot once (shoot slower!!). I've been trying to make up for the lack of pistol training as fast as the ammo budget allows

[sochr000]

I started with a hand-me-down bb/pellet rifle at about 6-8yrs old, then some misc shooting of .22lr and .410 until, on my 12th birthday, I got a Winchester 1300 youth model.

Learned firearms safety from many places, my dad, the firearms training instructors, experience around others, and the Army.
I've always enjoyed firearms, shooting, the outdoors, etc. In fact, one of the reasons I joined the Army was to be able to shoot firearms that most others only see in movies.

I've always liked non-traditional firearms, especially AR15s, and the look of almost anything H&K (although I've yet to buy anything H&K), and started buying pistols and less conventional firearms after I got out of the army, as my dad believes you need 3-4 guns (30-06 bolt-action, 12ga pump, .22lr, and maybe a pistol, but he'd probably discourage any pistol ownership).

[diskdoctr]

I started shooting with a 22LR at 9. That was family ritual. at 10 I shot my first "Real" rifle, a Model 1892 Winchester in 38-40. Family heirloom. At 12 I shot my first shotgun, 10 guage side by side. Shot my first deer at 14 with the 38-40. That 10 guage almost killed on both ends.

[Stradawhovious]

I was 26 when I started. I didn't come from a Firearms Family.

[Grifter]

I didnt come from a firearms family either, but my dad took me to the back yard when I was about 10 or so, and we shot his S&W 22 revolver, and i got to fire the shotgun. I really took an interest in shooting rifles in Boy Scouts where they had a shooting badge that led to me being in a shooting league that I did very well in. Won a couple tourneys even.
Now I shoot every chance I can get.

[ex-LT]

I come from a gun family. I don't know how old I was when my dad first took me out shooting with his .22, but I know I was younger than 8. Got my first shotgun - Ithaca model 37 20 gauge - at age 12 (I still have it). My first rifle was a Winchester model 100 that I bought when I was 16 - traded that in a couple years later for model 88, which I still have. Bought my first handgun when I was in the Navy. My current inventory contains three shotguns, five rifles, and six handguns.

[Grandpa Rex]

Quite young...I had an "air rifle" at age 5-6. It was unable to load or fire BB's but looked like a basic Daisy. Small hole in the end that puffed a burst of air when cocked and fired.

The McGiver in me soon surfaced and I found that if I unscrewed the cap over the end of the barrel, stuck it in the mud, and fired it at my sister, I could group shots about the size of a 4 year old's head...

I believe mother soon implimented an assault weapon ban...

[EJSG19]

I was allowed a Daisy red rider at about age 8 or 9 I'd guess. Was not allowed a .22 until after I could complete a hunter safety course, which at the time was limited to being 12 years old or older. I did shoot clays a few times before that, under supervision of my father, but that was not often. My parents were relatively protective compared to my friends.

Once Hunter's Safety was passed, I could take the .22 LR out on my own around the farm.

Probably worked to save them money as anything. I went through brick after brick with that Remington Fieldmaster.

[Joecool]

A few months ago.

A couple guys from work got me into it. Enjoying it quite a bit when I can find the time and place. I have found trying to locate a place to shoot to be very frustrating.

[Paul]

I don't remember how old I was when I started shooting, but I received my first real gun, a Chinese made SKS for Christmas when I was 8.

[Stradawhovious]

I think that is the coolest christmas present for an 8 year old I have ever heard of. Ever.

[Paul]

Yeah... How many eight year olds do you know that had a bayonet?

[Rev. Dead Corpse]

7. My dad was an Anoka Co. Sheriff's Deputy. Used to head up to Wisconsin (Gordon) to my Grandparents 40 acres of prime forest wilderness. Taught me the basics on Grandpaw's .22 semi-auto and his S&W 19 service pistol.

Went on my first hunts up there as well with my cousin from Duluth and my Grandfather. Used to fish the St. Croix Flowage up there for Crappies and Sunfish. We even ran a trapline for beaver on the Sheosh Creek that ran along the back side of the property for a season.

Good memories. Ones I'm afraid I may not be able to share with my kids unless the Wife and I can find a good piece of vacation property or a house farther out in the Toolies...

[EAJuggalo]

I was 22. After the MCPPA passed I started researching handguns and carry stats. I had a couple friends who grew up around guns and asked a lot of questions before making my decisions. I purchased my first firearm in Dec. 2003 and received my carry permit in Feb 2004.