Back Into it

J

Jim567

New member
I am a child of the 50s/60s.
My next birthday will be 60.
I started my shooting career with cap guns, squirt guns ,
Dart guns, potatoe guns and pea shooters.
Then I graduated to sling shots and Bb rifles and pistols.
My instruction came from WW2 and Korean vets.
.22s
Then USA infantry with major caliber pistols and surplus
Cheap stuff during and before.
Then ten years of garands and other fun stuff including sharps rifles and reloading
Then a 20 year lay off.
I joined a shooting range and am back into it heavy.
I shocks me to see folks come to the range with an AR or Ak as their first firearm.
That said - someone with a decked out AR and a red dot asked for my help today.
No idea how to adjust a sight!
I spent 15-20 mins getting him in the black.
Remember - range going hot,cold lol.
He shot well.
Didn't know what the bolt release was -
But shot a great group.

But - he called me Sir - jeesh

It's great to be back.
I enjoy the interaction with folks almost as much as the shooting :)
Maybe as much :)
 
Although I am 7 years your senior, I can still relate. Still has not sunk in that I can still not do the things I used to be able to do. :)
 
I turn 60 in October.

I thought I was doing a pretty good job of out running old age. Seems like the last five years or so, it's hot on my tail. :(
 
I noticed a large difference in target clarity when the the sun was out or behind the clouds :)
Need orange dots !
 
My dad's 68 and a widower and he enjoys most of his time at the gun range talking to younger people and usually loves letting them shoot his guns. Kinda nice how a hobby can bridge gaps between 3 generations in the same afternoon.
 
I'm older than you and have had a major heart attack. I find shooting,especially pistols, to have a tremendous stress relief value. One of the side benefits of all the time I have to spend on the treadmill is that I am in better shape than all these young guns who spend their time playing video games so I can still show a lot of them how to get it done in IDPA and clay targets.A lot of satisfaction in that. Can't wait till my granddaughters are old enough to start-That will be my job.
 
Pop is 65, retired from the Air Force (he left with his beloved MH-53s), has had a couple of hip replacements, is your stereotypical old fat white guy, and drives a Harley when he doesn't have to chauffeur Mom around.

He took first place last week at the local gun club's IDPA match in the revolver category with his Model 15.

Last Sunday, he made me look stupid at five stand with an Iver Johnson single shot that was his Dad's while I was using a Beretta 686.

All that being said, Pop's favorite thing is when the Grandkid, nieces, and nephews come to the farm for the weekend, and the Mk II, .410 and Mini-14 get drug out for an afternoon of can chasing or a possible rabbit/squirrel hunt depending on the season.
 
Sixty once seemed quite old, now it seems quite young. Hands are a bit shakey, eyes aren't quite as sharp, but the shooting seems to be more fun than ever.:)
 
I was raised to respect my elders, but at age 80 the supply is getting low. :D

Shooting is still as much fun as it ever was, though.
 
Shotgun Slim,
I always ponder!
Why is shooting so relaxing!!
Loud bangs are going off left and right.
People with loaded firearms to the left and right of you!
It hilarious when you stop and think about it :)
Going to the range always lowers my blood pressure :)
 
Different reactions to different situations for me. Trapshooting was something I would rather do than eat when I was hungry and I would always be more wound up mentally afterwards.It really was exciting to me to crush clay targets and I could never wait to do more. I can tell you that I have been on the line at some really big tournaments with lots of 12 gauges going off on both sides of me and was not aware of any noise. That's being in the zone(as an aside I could never figure out how a pro golfer who is locked in over a putt could even hear,much less be bothered by a camera clicking from 50 feet away.) So now later in life I decide to try IDPA to see if I am reasonably capable with my EDC and I find there is room for improvement so I start regular practice/fun sessions with others and we all find that the focus and effort required to really shoot a pistol well under pressure just absolutely drains the stress of the day right out of you. When I'm done I'm tired,I've had enough for a while and there is more happiness and inner peace than when I started. The noise is not a factor with the modern electronic muffs. I shoot with a wide range of age groups and they all agree that there is a mental benefit to what we are doing. Plus it's always good to smell powder burn.Hope you are enjoying your shooting as much as I do mine. One more thing-I have had some memorable good times shooting,but I know the best is still ahead because it will fall to me to teach my two granddaughters what I know when they get a little older. Knowing that helps me get out of bed every day.I can't wait.
 
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