Do you help promote shooting sports?

R

RedNeckWino

New member
As I was looking around the fire arms area in the local Gander Mountain today, I over hear a conversation about rifles. Go figure. The 1st guy, loud and over bearing, is all dressed in his over priced shooting clothes with all the name brand labels and patches showing. Talking about his $2000.00+ AR variant he is currently purchasing. At the same time BASHING another shopper that is wanting a lower cost rifle of the same design. "If that is what you are getting to hunt with... Stay out of the woods. That is known as a black rifle that gives hunters a bad name." (Guy #1 was buying a camo color rifle) The first guy went on about how the lower end should be out-lawed because of design.

What the hell is with people? If you are going to wear all the NRA clothes (advertising against anti hunters) , especially in a public gun store, try NOT to do the anti-hunters a favor and discourage the purchase of a fire arm because its not what you would buy. The worst thing we can do as hunters and fire arm owners is argue among our selves as to why some one on a tight budget should not be allowed in the woods.

Last fall in the same store the archery salesman was telling some one that cross bows should be banned. They are not a traditional bow, therefore should not be used in archery season. This is EXACTLY the argument the local anti-hunters have been making. Wow, hunters against hunters.

What have you done to PROMOTE field sports lately?
Yes, I confronted him with some polite food for thought.
 
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Some folks are just idiots. Sometimes they deserve to be ignored; other times you just have to be prepared to put them in their place. I try not to confront gun-store know-it-all's unless they directly confront me.

The Gander Mountain I go to seems to attract older retired guys that just want to go on and on and on with the counter clerk about some gun of theirs or hunting stories. Some folks are just lonely I guess.
 
I make an effort to promote and encourage guns and shooting in a positive manner. I don't butt in where not appropraite. Try to set a good example.

I think that tact and reasonableness is the way to go.

A highly opinionated blowhard that sticks his nose where it doesn't belong is a big turn off.
 
Your title is a bit misleading as you are refering to Gun-Snobs. They always have the best, do the best and never let you forget it. They bore me and even though they may have something good to say, I tune them out. I am long on putting up with attitude but when I can no longer tolerate it, I take action. ...... ;)

I have a friend who is very dedicated to rifle shooting, builds his own rifles and always brags or complains about all lthe money he has in them. Don't get me wrong, he is very good, just very opinionated. The last time he put down my M/L shooting, I cut him off short and now refuse to get into any conversation about anything remotely related to firearms. Just not worth it. ... :barf:

As far as promoting shooting sports, I do, especially M/L shooting. I am a Hunter Safety instructor and during my range-time, I try to hook folks into shooting them. I don't wait for their inquiries but for if I catch them looking, I offer to let them shoot mine. Whenever we get parents tagging along with any young students, I allow them to shoot. Most reply, no and that they are not part of the class. I respond that they have heard the instructions and no reason not to shoot. They most always accept. ...... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
I've got seventeen grandkids. I teach each about gun safety and marksmanship. I get each their first gun. I promote the heck out of shooting sports. It's driving me to the poor house!
 
I'm NRA, USAA, and BSA certified, and teach about 350 boy scouts and cub scouts how to shoot BB guns, .22s, Shotguns, and archery each year.
 
While I don't actively promote it, I will go out of my way to take new shooters with me to the range. I've heard too many horror stories from people whose first impressions of shooting were painful (the boyfriend of a 110 lb woman having her shoot slugs from a 12ga shotgun), unsafe ('it was just a bunch of drunk guys shooting cans!) and everything in between. My friends know I'm a 'gun guy', and every now and then they'll ask when I'm hitting the range next. If they're truly interested, I'll bring out everything I have and show them as much as I possibly can about safe handling procedures, how to load and unload, and what to expect from each firearm in terms of recoil. It's a very satisfying thing to see the look on new shooters' faces after they've shot the eighth round from a M1 Garand, and its even more satisfying to know that I gave a great first impression to shooting.
 
donate ammo to our local gun range for the 4H club... (brooksville,fl.) last donation was there oct. shoot...3,000 rds ..22lr
 
Today, 02:39 PM #3
Eagle0711
Senior Member


Join Date: August 25, 2010
Posts: 669 I make an effort to promote and encourage guns and shooting in a positive manner. I don't butt in where not appropraite. Try to set a good example.

I think that tact and reasonableness is the way to go.

A highly opinionated blowhard that sticks his nose where it doesn't belong is a big turn off.
Click to expand...

I like that Eagle. And I agree with you.
 
By looking around here, I get the feeling I'm single handedly keeping both Ruger & Midway in business :D I guess that's promoting isn't it?

Seriously though, no matter what endeavor one chooses in life we will inevitably cross paths with someone much more impressed with themselves than they should be. As for direct promotion of the sport I would have to say at every opportunity. Problem is the lack of opportunity around here. Helping out a new shooter a bit or answering a few simple questions is about the extent of it.
 
One great time I recall,I took a bunch of ammo and firearms to a gathering with a family my brother married in to.I also took a bunch of balloons and clothespins.I had a couple of lady schoolteachers really like popping balloons behind my STG 58.They liked my SKS,too.Kids shot 22's,M1-carbine,etc.Boys,girls,8 to 18.One woman insisted on shooting my .375.I steered her toward my 257,but she wanted the .375.She shot it twice.It went on for hours.
My .22 was a Remington 513 S Matchmaster with an old steel Weaver K-4.I gave it to my new son in law,and said the deal is this,you raise the kids in the tradition of the 2nd ammendment.To younger people,I have given an Ithaca 37 20 ga,an Ithaca Flues 12 sxs,a Rem 31 .22,that 513S,a 30-06 mauser,and an AR inspired by the SDMR rifles.I have 2 chipmunks for grandkids.I also set son in law up to reload.
I enjoy passing on what I know.A whole lot have folks have learned how to hit something small a far piece off with some of my help,and they buy AR's and scopes and rangefinders,etc.Now some have moved on to PDA;s and 50 BMG's and 338 Lapuas.I have fun .
In general,I recognize I am an ambassador for firearms when I am in public.That means I try to be a gentleman,safe and responsible.It also means,once in a while,I stand my ground.
 
I'm new to shooting/hunting but I tell everyone and anyone (who's willing to listen) about the sport. Of course, I try to be respectful of other people's opinions and try to give them a positive outlook rather feed their insecurities. I remember talking to my wife's 17 yo cousin last year and she went on and on about how she loathes poachers, and with good reason, but when I saw her last week she told me shooting a firearm is on her bucket list. Her grandpa is a lifelong hunter and firearms enthusiast and he was pleasantly surprised when I told him his grand-daughter was interested in going to the shooting range. So now I think we're gonna make it a family outing this summer :).
 
Of course, I'm training my boys (14 and 11) to shoot. I'm a classroom teacher and openly discuss shooting and hunting. The Masonic lodge I belong to has a shooting get together each year and I will sometimes display the awards that I win along with my military stuff. This sparks good conversations and healthy attitudes.
 
Pay it Forward

I have been a Hunter Education Instructor for over 10 years and have mentored young people for my whole Adult life ! I also give younsters a real good deal (cost) if they buy their first Gun from me . :)
 
I agree with Eagle, I do my part to encourage and support but not to butt in where not wanted. If someone has questions or seems to need help at the gun counter, I'll offer my 2 cents (with the disclaimer that they are my 2 cents, take it for what it's worth). As far as support, my friends all know I'm an avid shooter and I always welcome others to come with and give it a try. I take my cousins with me to the range all of the time (even though their Mom hates guns and their Father is not terribly supportive), and have a membership at the local gun club and shoot on their pistol leagues (where I also work to recruit new members for the sport). The big one is about twice a year myself and another leader plan an outing to the range for our Boy Scout troop. For the winter one we invite 2nd year Webelos as well (those about to become Boy Scouts). It's a great way to introduce the gun sports safely and it goes a long ways towards helping ease the minds of apprehensive parents. We work hard to set examples of responsible gun ownership and show all the positive sides of the sport.
 
Women love to shoot !!

A couple of years back, I was asked to teach the M/L portion of a shooting program for women. The name of the program was "The Outdoor Woman". Guess they were hard pressed or hard up, to find a local instructor so I had to travel some to get to the camp. Just felt that it was important to be there. ... ;)

There were about 20 women participating and there were probably the best class that I have ever taught. Many had never shot anything in their lives. The class started out shy and apprehensive. Well, that didn't last too long when we got to the shooting portion. When asked; who want to shoot first, three stepped right up without any hesitation. After they shot their first round, many asked to shoot again. Asked them if they were confortable enough to load, then shoot. Again, mostly all did and they were fairly good shots at that.... ;)

Asked the group proceeded to their next station, a few remarked that they were going to tell other women about this program. .... :D

Be Safe !!!
 
I promote the shooting sports by:

If there is a rfle match I will loan a rifle, brass if you don't have enough, bullets, primers and powder if needed. I will pay a match fee if a guy can't afford it. I have several service grade M-1's which I loan to shooters ar John C. Garand matches if they don't have a rifle. You will have to be a good friend to use the rifles I shoot in matches.
 
I have been a Hunter Education instructor for 8 years. I also have been involved with Boy Scouts of America, assisting at scout camp shotgun merit badge. I have also organized informal lessons and range days for youngsters that wanted to learn more. I hope I can continue this for many more years. I know I have influenced hundreds of youth and a few adults to the safe, fun ways to shoot and hunt. I also encourage everyone that reads this to find some way, no matter how small, to promote the sport. Our sport is fading away. Hunting license sales are down more every year. The anti hunters are slowly winning by attrition.
 
I do everything I can to get people to shoot. and I don't give a crap what you hunt with if it's legal. heck I wouldn't mind one bit if they opened up a grenade season. the only time I tell people not to buy something is if I think it won't serve their needs.

I especially target the women I know. most guys I know are gun guys anyway but in general women don't think is as interesting as men do, until they try it. even if they don't run out and buy their own guns at least it educates them about guns and they're less likely to support stricter gun control.

A friend of mine is having some people over memorial day weekend who've never gone shooting before but want to try it out. so I'm dropping some serious coin to stock up on ammo and let them try some of my toys out at the range. $100 or so in ammo is a small price to pay to bring two more into the fold.:)
 
Promoting Shooting Sports

There's a regular shooter at my practice range, retired, probably around 67 - 68YO. Every piece of clothing and range gear (bags, prone mat, water bottle, cartridge boxes, towel) he brings or wears is either black or camo, including boonie hat. If there is a gadget, widget, clothing, or accoutrement made that he doesn't have, it's only because he hasn't found it yet. He makes a very big deal of placing his HUGE human silhouette targets way out at 300 yards (the longest available), and his rifles always have a HUGE bazooka-sized scope. Next to him one day, I was shooting from a bench, iron sights on my 8mm Mauser K98k, surplus ammo (WW2 German), also at 300 yards.

When he asked if I was getting anything on paper, I said yes, not bad for this old ammo. He responded, "If you want to shot that crap ammo and old gun, and not the good stuff like I use, you're just wasting your time."

I responded, "My thinking is that the test of a good rifleman is how well he can do, with whatever tools he has to work with. So I like to have some idea of how one ammo will perform, because someday that might be all I have when I need to use it."

No more conversation.

PS: Certified NRA Rifle Instructor, I teach rifle safety and marksmanship at local 4H. Always offer to take a friend or co-worker to the range if they show the slightest interest. Coach my sons in smallbore and high-power. Help maintain our club range so the local 4H rifle team and state junior smallbore team can practice there.
 
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