Any one else a Late Bloomer

[Gman75]

I started at age 35 with a glock 19 gen 4. Now at age 38 I have a ruger 10-22, weatherby 12 gauge over under, smith & wesson m&p 15-22, smith & wesson m&p 15 sport, sks, and this past christmas my wife bought me a ruger gp100 wiley clapp. The way it all started was when my dad finally took me shooting at age 35. I guess you could say I am hooked.

 

[gregkl]

I was into guns 15+ years ago. Hunter Ed regional coordinator, Personal Protection training for CW permit and a hunter all while I lived in Virginia.

Just got back into shooting last Spring. No more hunting, but I would like to get into more shooting sports. I spectated a lot last year to see what I might like to try.

I still need to buy some equipment to be able to shoot any event at this point.

I am 53.

 

[88E30M50]

I was pretty late to the game. I did a lot of shooting back in the late '70s, but in '81, my family moved to California. The only gun I had out there was a Marlin 25 I've owned since '75 and I shot it a bit while there. I was there 14 years before coming to Indiana and by then had gotten out of the hobby completely. That old Marlin sat in the corner of a closet back here untouched for another 10 years. A friend made a good case for getting a LTCH back in 2006 so I got mine, but still only had that old Marlin .22lr. It took two more years before I bought my first handgun at the age of 45 years old. It was a Springfield MilSpec 1911. That was followed by a Heritage Rough Rider to keep the cost of shooting down. In the years since, I've gone through a bunch of guns buying, then selling to fund something I liked better. My sons and I were putting upwards of 5000 rounds through whatever we had for the first couple of years, but that's slowed a bit in the last couple. I started carrying most of the time in 2009 and by 2010, I was carrying whenever possible.

I was definitely late to the game, but I've tried to make up for it to some degree. We're now down to a couple of range trips a month and probably shoot only 100 to 200 rounds per month now. Shooting and carrying has been one of the most fulfilling activities I've ever done and it's brought my sons and I much closer together.

 

[Redtbird]

In January 2012, I saw an ad for a Knife & Gun show in Martinsville and realized I had never been to one. So, on a cold and windy day, I drove up to M'ville, paid my $5 and went in.

A couple of hours later, I left with a .380 Bersa Model 97 and 50 rounds of ammunition...My very first gun purchase!

Since then, I've added a Marlin 336W (since sold), a Springfield Armory
M-1A, a .380 Bersa Thunder Duo-Tone, an Armscor M-1600 (.22LR), and in November I took possession of a B.S.T. AR-15. Also I bought three different air guns, two rifles and a pistol during this period.

I discovered a whole new hobby!

Oh! I almost forgot! Last October, I turned 66...

Late bloomer... Yup! And love it!

Redtbird

 

[Lecaia713]

I guess I'm not quite the late bloomer I thought I was gonna be. I'm 29 and got my first gun in October. I was basically raised a liberal, and lived in Condition White for a long time, but a couple of years ago on Thanksgiving my 98 year old Grandpa had his house broken into, and that was the alarm clock that eventually woke me up. I started really looking around and started realizing that this country was not doing so well, and that the only one I could rely on to protect my family and me was me. So, we started with a Remington 1100, and are now up to three firearms. Now I just need for my LTCH to actually get here and I'll be all set.

 

[Colinb913]

Alot like "Sandwich" for me. Started out at work, bunch of guys talking guns, so I bought my first .22 when I was 18, a year later, and ten.. no eleven, no no no, twelve other guns later, here I am.

It's been a ball. As for carrying, I told the fiance it was due to work. Working at night, in a smoke shop, the sorts of unwanted crowds we attract, but now, after what all has happened, she's all the way on board! Now she is waiting on her LTCH.

 

[Viking Queen]

2 Years ago, at age 62, I bought my first gun for self protection. I had an attempted break in at my house (middle of the night) and a few weeks later a "successful" break in at my house (middle of the night). Drunken female college student.

As an unarmed, living alone with my dog, female I decided it was time to protect myself and my critter. Now own 3 guns, practice religiously and often, and have my concealed carry permit. I'm not going to be a scared, defenseless little old lady! I am prepared.

Blessings, Viking Queen

 

[.452browning]

Not a late bloomer here. I am 25 and have owned/used/shot guns regularly since I was 11-12. I own 21 now and have carried everywhere legally possible since I was 18 and acquired my LTCH.

 

[reesez]

Had always lived in sleepy towns and only owned long guns. Here lately the past few years it seems things are getting pretty bad. Soooooo I started arming up, and decided to carry and talked the wife into it too.

 

[cobber]

Didn't really start until my late 40's.

 

[10Forward]

I'd grown up around long guns, and I had fired handguns as well - but, the last time was around 1990 or so.

There has been an increase in my area of breaking and entering, theft, and even a murder about a mile from my house as the crow flies. A lot of this is related to 'bath salts' from what I can tell. After my father-in-law had his house broken into a second time, that was that and I decided to arm myself. At 46 I bought my first handgun last August, a S&W .38 Bodyguard. I joined the NRA shortly after that. For a Christmas present to myself, I bought my SIG 9mm. Next purchase, I'd like to get a Mossberg 500 Cruiser shotgun.

As the saying goes, when seconds count, the police are minutes away. I'm not about to be a defenseless victim; I'll do what is necessary to protect my home and family.

 

[Birds Away]

I didn't own a handgun until the middle of 2011. Since that time I have owned over 60 different ones. I spent a lot of time (and money) searching for the perfect gun for me. I have found mine, hope you guys have the same good fortune.

 

[Bandsaw]

I have always had hunting weapons. For 55 years, I never felt the need to be armed. I still do not feel unsafe, but last summer my wife and I both purchased handguns, and I am now armed at all times that it is legal to be so. I believe it is possible our little world is going to get much more unsafe, and I intend to be ready, and accustomed to carrying a weapon. I will have to admit, spitting in Obama and company's eye is also a big part of my decision.

 

[1775usmarine]

Bought my first firearm last March at the age of 26. Never got a chance to experience shooting or hunting when i was younger so I guess I'm making up for lost time now my wife and I have 3 pistols, 3 air rifles, 1 revolver, 1 rifle, and 1 shotgun. Not too mention enough ammo to last a year, mostly bought before the panic hit.

 

[jgreiner]

I am an ex Air Force SP. It has been 18 years since I last carried or owned a firearm. December 2012,I decided it was time to get armed again. What is your story. Why now?

I bought my first rifle at 8 for $5. I bought my first shotgun at 13. My first REAL rifle at 14, my 870 wingmaster 12 gauge at 15. And 21, I bought my first pistol, my Ruger Mark l. I grew up shooting nearly weekly. We hunted all the time.

But then I got away from guns, sold all my guns to finish paying for school. thankfully, several of them went to my brothers, who i ended up buying them back from. My girlfriend was anti gun (she is now my wife) and I just lost interest in it with kids, life, etc all weighing on me.

In 2009, we had a socialist take office as President. And an economy that was in the crapper. I started to get very concerned. I got my shotgun back from my brother, for home defense. Crime started rising. More and more folks were out of jobs. I made the decision it was time to start arming myself again. So i started talking to my wife.

fortunately for me, she was more receptive to it than I thought she would be. her entire family is anti-gun. But she didn't fight me on it. So, in June of 2011, i went and purchased my S&W MP 9 mm pro. it became my first carry gun. I immediately applied for my LTCH. And received it. And I joined INGO about the same time.

Then about 6 months later, I got a S&W 66 from my brother to try out. I fell in love with the revolver. My dad had an older version, which i eventually acquired from him, and I returned the 1st 66 back to my brother. That still is my carry gun of choice when I ride my motorcycle (i like the way it carries, and I have a great thumb strap retention holster for it).

then, shock of all shocks, this past Xmas, my wife bought me a gun that I had been dreaming about for well over a year, the S&W 1911sc E series bobtail. It has quickly become my carry gun of choice for all activities other than riding my motorcycle.

Now i am hooked. And my wife has expressed pleasure in me carrying on more than one occasion (the most recent was friday night when we went out for drinks with another couple (I don't drink much, only can have one per week). We walked into a bar none of us had tried out before, and both my wife and my buddy looked at me and said, "i hope you have your little friend with you". I laughed, and of course I did.

that friend may be getting his LTCH soon. And I have anotehr one who already has, and I am taking him gun shopping this next weekend (he has no idea what he is looking for yet).

 

[Mark 1911]

Because with the feds becoming so over-reaching in so many areas of our lives, and actively trying to take our freedoms away, we must fight back to make sure that we can pass our freedoms along to future generations of Americans. We simply have to exercise the rights that are our birthright as Americans. We need to make the practice of these rights the norm again so that it is not seen as something unusual or even extreme. As the motto on the Open Carry.org website puts it, “A Right Unexercised is a Right Lost”

 

[Valor35]

Yep -- late bloomer here. Did some shotguns with Dad when I was a kid (pheasant & quail in Illinois) but nothing more. A few years ago, when I was pushing 50, a guy at work got me interested. Talked it over with the wife and thought we could make it a hobby together, but she didn't take the bait - told me to have fun, though. Now, three years later: NRA member, LCH holder, gun safe, more than several items to populate the safe, reloading equipment . . . I guess I am just doing what my wife told me to!

My biggest regret -- missing out on the time when my kids were younger and still home when I could have gotten them interested, and for the fun we missed together. For all you younger dads and moms -- they grow up fast, so don't miss out on the chance to share with them.

 

[gregkl]

Yep -- late bloomer here. Did some shotguns with Dad when I was a kid (pheasant & quail in Illinois) but nothing more. A few years ago, when I was pushing 50, a guy at work got me interested. Talked it over with the wife and thought we could make it a hobby together, but she didn't take the bait - told me to have fun, though. Now, three years later: NRA member, LCH holder, gun safe, more than several items to populate the safe, reloading equipment . . . I guess I am just doing what my wife told me to!

My biggest regret -- missing out on the time when my kids were younger and still home when I could have gotten them interested, and for the fun we missed together. For all you younger dads and moms -- they grow up fast, so don't miss out on the chance to share with them.

This is so very true. I don't have a lot of regrets raising my children but I missed the boat on getting my kids into shooting. Now I have a son in the AF who has a little interest but not much skill and a daughter who is basically afraid of guns.

 

[Sfrandolph]

One month shy of 62. Have had shotgun or 22 long rifle since my 30's. My parents hated guns and wouldn't allow any in the house. My father-in-law got me started in deer hunting with a shotgun. The about 10 years ago the house was broken into and all the long guns were stolen. Was determined that this would not happen if I was home so bought 2 glocks, one for me and one for wife. With all the 2nd amendment challenges going on, wife and I have now gotten LTCH and carry regularly. Looking to start reloading next.

 

[Smokepole]

I was raised around guns. My parents didn't own more than a couple at a time though. But my dad gave me my first BB gun at 7 and my first .22 at 12 yrs. old. I have several from .38 pistol to .50 cal. muzzleloader. Only started carrying in the last couple of years though.