Generational differences in gun owners

[Roach_Infinity]

How dare you!

Consider the source - Field & Stream?!?! Does anybody other than 60+ year old barbers subscribe to it? Does anyone OTHER, than 60+ year old customers of barber shops READ it?!?!

Take that back!

My dad took me fishing too much when I was little, and further insisted on forcing me to go when I was growing up, one time we were on a vacation in Mammoth, CA. and went to one or other of the lakes, I can't remember which, and I wandered off by myself and did something really stupid. I had my favorite lure of all time, which I never actually cast for fear of losing it, and I decided to side cast and forgot to flip the bail on my spinning reel. Lure zings out, and zings right back and hooks me in the lower lip. Unfortunately for me, this lure was a 1oz silver Kastmaster with a huge, uncrimped trebel hook on it. Needless to say I was an unhappy 11 year old.

My Dad took pity on me and we packed up and went back into town and found an open "Sports medicine clinic." The on staff Doc, after he got done laughing at me, pulled an old copy of Field & Stream out of his enormous collection of back-issues, and found an article with a technique from removing a barbed hook from oneself.

The 11 year old me is quite offended that you would disparage such a fine example of responsible sports journalism!

-Eric

[golfrj]

I think its like older people that want nothing to do with computers. They didn't grow up with them so they figure they don't need them if they've got along just fine all this time without one. My uncle still doesn't have a cell phone. And although my grandma has a cell phone now she absolutely will have nothing to do with computers. She won't even touch one.

Same thing with guns. A lot of older guys don't want to embrace the newer stuff because they didn't grow up with it and got along just fine without them.

What He Said, BUT, how is it that I (as an Really older guy) is Responding to this Post? You cannot group OUR (Gun) people by Generation, you Can in fact group them by Preference and Use of weapon.. How many times have you seen folks at the Trap Range Struggling with Tactical type shotguns (Not designed for that use, But if you want to try, Have Fun).. Same applies to Rifles and Pistols as long as you Love the weapons and Have Fun with them, Who Cares How Old you are or what your Preferences are? We are All alike, Only some are Older or Younger.. Stay Safe..

[r3dn3ck]

Hey I'm in my mid 20s and like O/Us more than semis lol. It's not always the 65 year old grumpy geezer. I'm an grumpy old geezer and I'm 24. Damn kids these days, with their generalizations and their pants hanging off their a**

well I'm a helluva lot older but I'm not "old" and that pretty well sums it up. I didn't like kids when I was one. I like them less now.

Simply enough though, ergonomics is a science just like kinematics and anyone that denies the benefits uncovered by rigorous scientific development is not only acting old but they're acting kinda ignorant too.

1) Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
2) Anything that's invented between when you're 15 and 35 is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
3) Anything invented after you're 35 is against the natural order of things

Realizing that those rules are there (credit to Douglas Adams) we should realize as we get older that we also get progressively more and more ignorant and it's up to us to adopt any new technique or technology that will enhance our chances of success or at least survival.

[rojocorsa]

Great thing to point out, there are gun owners and there a shooters!


I like all kinds of guns, and despite being on the younger side of the forum--I find the old school C&R guns to be more enjoyable. At the square range, it is more enjoyable to shoot an old M-1 than an AR.

However, guns like the AR are invaluable useful and practical tools. I personally want to buy an AK like the one in my sig pic this year, even.

All I'm saying is that as a pleasure thing, the old school stuff tends to be more interesting and fun. And I find it amusing how some of those guns can be so old and still work OK.

[rojocorsa]

Oh, I used to read Field and Stream since around the time I was in 7th grade because my mom would not let me subscribe to any normal gun rag at the time, lol.

I actually learned a few things about hunting guns and cartridges, so it's not all bad. I consider myself fairly well-informed when it comes to the subject of guns as a whole because of this. Also, I like fishing, so yeah.

[g_conway]

I don't think the issue is generational, I think it is personal.

Some people look at guns as an investment, others as tools, others as showpieces.

[stormvet]

Allot also depends on were your initial gun experience comes from, those who did not serve in the military but grow up hunting are more likely to be interested in bolt action, lever and shotguns. If you spend a good amount of time in the military(as a trigger puller, not a computer repair man) it only makes since you would lean to military type weapons. But todays gen. it dont matter because they got PS3 and XBOX. They are all experts in all types of firearms without ever leaving their house.

[stormvet]

my 89 year old grand father went from "what the heck do you need an AK for" to "what! They banned an M1 carbine with a folding stock?" after exlaining the CA AWB.

Your grandfather was only 24 when the AK was invented, its only a few years newer then his beloved M1 carbine.

Allot of the new cool tactical stuff is actually pretty old. AK,AR, UZI etc, etc have been around a very long time, people where being tacticool way before it was called tacticool.

[Striker]

If by generational you're implying more experienced than yes. As you get older and more experience with different firearms you learn what works for you and what doesn't. You don't really care about the newest thing unless it's something that's revolutionary, which by the way, most things aren't. You learn that, generally, the latest wonder pistol doesn't do anything any better than your Glock 17, 1911 or Sig P226 does. If it works for you, it does. Trying is fun, buying and carrying is a totally different subject. I know a gentleman who likes revolvers and lever action rifles and can pretty much hit anything he aims at with them. I would try and persuade him on the virtues of my AR and Glock, but why when he hits everything he aims at. And as I've heard some "A" level shooters say, I'd take a guy that can hit what he aims at all day long over the as*clown with the newest tacticool weapon.

Finally, I once read where an active duty SEAL was asked why they don't switch to brand X pistol over the P226. He said, and I'm paraphrasing, that the P226 is accurate, reliable, durable and does everything the teams ask of it, so why would they want to change. He went on to say that the perception that SEALs change weapons a lot is untrue and that the P226 and HK MP 5 were two of the most durable weapons they have ever used and the guys loved them. Now, I'm sure you can find SEALs that prefer other weapons and, of course, mission dictates weapon selection, but the point is until something revolutionary comes along you stick with what works. It's a defense tool, not party favor. Shiny and new is not always better.

[philobeddoe]

older folks get set in their ways, it's got nothing to do with generations

I remember slapping headers and duals on my CJ back in the day and my pop getting all irate ... "what the heck'd you do that for?!"

"you kids and your stupid headers"

he went out and got a 550hp commuter car; to each their own

older folks, they don't always make sense, and they're a little reactionary/judgmental sometimes, and I think complaining is the American Way, for every generation, it's what we do best