"What is your experience with firearms?" Topic

It occurs to me that many TMPers live in America (where firearms are extraordinarily common) or the UK (where firearms are quite rare) and yet many of us play games where firearms are central to the conflicts involved.

So, what is your experience with firearms?
A) none
B) I held a replica (once)
C) I held a replica (frequently)
D) I held a real one (once)
E) I have held a real one (frequently)
F) I have held and fired a real one (once)
G) I used one in the military/police/gendarme, but seldom or ever after basic training
H) I used on in the military/police/gendarme, but never as civilian
I) I have used one frequently in the military/police/gendarme
J) I have used one with the intent to harm or kill an animal but never actually did
K) I have used one and successfully killed an animal
L) I have used one with the intent to harm or kill a person but never actually did
M) I have used one with the intent to harm or kill a person and did so
N) I have used one with the intent to harm or kill another person while they were doing the same to me
O) Someone else has attempted to use (or actually used) one on me, but I did not or could not return fire

Other answers?

K, used to go Pheasant hunting with my dad and friends many years ago. Also did a little trap shooting.

E, F, and then some…
I notice there is no choice for holding and firing one on multiple occasions. That would describe my experience and -I suspect- many folks here in the US, even among folks who don't personally own firearms. Shooting with family and friends, going to the range, etc, are quite accessible here, all which can be done without ever purchasing a gun. Which brings me to this…

Very well done in not asking for information about possession and carry. Despite some folks inclination to shout it from the rooftops, that's the kind of info that's not generally wise to share online, especially on a forum where enough info might have been shared to pinpoint a user's identity and location.

Very wise.

I guess F. I was in the Army. I have live fired my Enfield.Ihave fired my repro 1873 Colt.Never killed anything.

K but it could be O. I was once shoot at by a hunter when I was in a paintball tournament in the fall.

I notice there is no choice for holding and firing one on multiple occasions.

You are quite right and if this poll does run that should certainly be an option…

Actually it occurs to me that there ought to be separate polls for pistols, long arms, and fully automatic weapons

K – I go hunting every year.
I regularly use a handgun, a shotgun, and a rifle.

A

G if that includes cadets

E, I and K

Pronghorn and Mule deer can be quite tasty

These are some strange poll options.

L. It was related to military service.

I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
But that was just once.

H) I used on in the military/police/gendarme, but never as civilian

Edit: And O

N) I have used one with the intent to harm or kill another person while they were doing the same to me

Iraq and Afghanistan

O) Someone else has attempted to use (or actually used) one on me, but I did not or could not return fire

Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia

I & O – there should probably be a choice of "I shoot frequently for recreation as a civilian," assuming I didn't miss that in the list . . .

Shawn.

F. I have bad depth perception, I couldn't hit a target unless I was close enough to hit them by throwing the weapon.

I and O.

J.

I'll assume matchlocks don't count.

F.

G. I was in an artillery unit-do the big guns count? If so, then 'I', I guess.

I agree with Ambush Alley -- you need options for recreational and competitive shooters.

Fired a number of weapons, both pistols and long arms, but only ever killed anything once – a hapless duck many years ago

N

H, was on the range team, using FN's.

I'm standing on the north bank of the Kaw below a ten foot bluff where my girlfriend is standing with red slacks on when some psycho on the south bank shoots at us. The bullet smacks the mud of the bluff and then I hear "bang". I do some serious shouting but the shooter keeps shooting either into the bank or overhead because I would hear a "whiz" or "crack". I was carrying a 12 gauge riot gun so I marched all nine rounds across the river trying to get the idiot to cease and desist. But he or they keep shooting. I finally yell at Miss Red Slacks to get down and get myself up on top. She had my .32 Winchester Special. The riot gun only reached mid-river but the rifle was good for the distance so, since rounds are still coming across from that side, I shoot from mid-river to the far bank and that ended the insanity. I was strangely calm throughout but very angry. This was winter time, everything is brown and she is wearing bright red. They had to see her and certainly knew I was there since I sent a line of water spouts from my position to where I was pretty sure they were at, first with the riot gun and then the rifle. Just plain insane.

Target shooting and clay pigeons, .22, 12 gauge shotgun, light shotgun (can't recall gauge), black powder .69 rifle and black powder pistol. I can hit it if it doesn't move.

Used to be better with bow and arrow, don't practice enough any more.

I, K, N, O

Yes.

Rifle club in junior and senior high school – so F on multiple occasions…

Also K. Latest was last year when my brother and I were on the way out to hunt and came up on an injured doe in the road. Hit by a van and had a broken leg (at the least). Took a minute or so to determine my point of aim as the scope was sighted for 200 yds and not 5 (she tried to move if anyone got closer). Would have salvaged the meat, but DOW was on the way and presumed they would do so. When we passed through the next day it was too late.

Will probably be out in the next couple of weeks at least once (hopefully) with my niece as she tries to fill her antlerless elk tag.

F) Lots of competitive and target shooting.
K) Elk,deer and quail whenever permitted.
L) 3 attempted burglaries. Edit: Against me. :)

G) (the USAF taught me) and occasional bouts of (bad) target shooting. I can't hit the broad side of a barn.

F
Missed a tree with a 12g Bolt Action Mossberg, 3" magnum shell, fired bolt action .22 and fired 5 rounds from a AR-15.

The show Mail Call helps my players and I understand the non-Hollywood aspects of firearms.

I am fascinated by firearms but as soon as I have one in my hands, the magic goes away.

P. Had a father who collected thousands of them, which I saw rust away over decades in his lock up?

@Skippy, that's been my experience as well. During a trip to the US I got the chance to fire a wide range of pistols and a couple of smg's in Nevada. An incredibly sobering experience for a 19yr old Aussie to have. I respect firearms, I have no problems with firearms, but they don't float my boat.

Should I have the misfortune to back my car over the neighbours cat, the police will be pulling rifles and ammo out of my basement for weeks.

K and L

LOL troopwo! Reminds me when my father surrendered his collection during the 90s buy back here in Australia. Finally got to see the entirety of my father's collection. My mother nearly killed him when he banked six figures in govt compensation! Just wished the hadn't disposed of rifles that had been in the family for generations.

Talking about this brings back some fun memories though. He used to team up with a retired Police gunsmith to make replica Luger snail drums and the loaders. Was amazed to find US collectors would pay a pretty penny for those loaders. Far more in demand than the actual snail drums too, guess there's plenty of those floating around.

E,K.

.22, .38,.380,9mm, 10mm, .40, .45, .50, 7.62mm, .308, .30-30, 105mm, plus some other more unusual stuff.

I,K – M16A2 in basic and annual quals, M14 as part of an honor guard. I had more time with the M14 than the M16!
I don't hunt much now, but I used to hunt in the Everglades with my dad growing up. Deer and hogs, not gators.

M,N Vietnam 1969, 1971-72

I don't hunt.

LT

E and K mostly apply… Although I practice at a firing range far more than I actually hunt. Another facet, I own, use, and practice with both modern firearms, and black powder ones (mostly flintlocks, although I do own a caplock as well).

B) I held a replica (once or maybe twice)
E) I have held a real one (frequently); inspections
G) I used one in the military/police/gendarme, but seldom (well, at least not frequently) or ever after basic training
J) I have used one with the intent to harm or kill an animal but never actually did (if never counts per excursion)
K) I have used one and successfully killed an animal
N) I have used one with the intent to harm or kill another person while they were doing the same to me
O) Someone else has attempted to use (or actually used) one on me, but I did not or could not return fire

Recreationally per Ambush Alley Games, mostly skeet.

F & K

Grew up surrounded by varying hardware (I was an Air Force brat) and later spent several years working in Atlanta – during which time I enjoyed various types of target shooting and hunting.
Now I'm back in the UK, I really miss the occasional day at the range.

I've also seen & treated a handful of GSW's while working Accident & Emergency in London.

non, and I hope it will stay with that

Before the bug struck, I was going to say I,K and M.

I'm personally not a great fan of guns & there's little or no reason to own one here in OZ.

I have been an Army, private security and police firearms instructor for 40 years, rifle, shotgun, handgun. I have carried firearms as a security guard and police officer and have pulled them on people but never had to fire. I have been shot at twice, but the other guy was not even close and I did not return fire.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
SGT Says blog

I guess I fit the fired various guns badly, and been shot at. ( of course I was shot at when I didn't have a gun, here in the UK)

I couldn't hit the barn, (and once had the pleasure of target shooting a machine gun…. I didn't realise I was meant to share the belt amongst all the targets, and basically pretty much shredded the first target.)

My mother was quite a deadeye with the air rifles in the younger days, (blind in one eye … strange shooting posture)

Father ex Service, got marksmanship and better badges, became a RTO, expecting to get a cushy job standing next to an officer or manning a switchboard. Ended up doing Fwd Obs, and patrols against Communists in Malaya emergency (and at least one confirmed kill, with an owen gun, at about a dozen yards)

Grandfather… shot a cow/bull/calf thinking it was a german in the north Africa campaign. (it was dark, and it didn't respond to challenge when he was on sentry duty)

(I suppose I am a bit of a letdown after all that)

E – F and then some for me as well

Shot guns when I did my mandatory service in Denmark. (G3 and MG3)

Terrible at it too.

G. (in the Marines, but that was long ago), but I target shoot and am an instructor (teaching mostly Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Venture Crew, and such).

I am confident I could bag an animal if I had to, but am glad I don't have to.

If the zombie apocalypse were to occur, I'm sure I would be zombie food because I'd get too confident and end up running out of ammo…

Rob