My turn to put my head on the chopping block or What I have learned by hanging around the Gun World for 60 plus years Part One

So let me start off with the great news! Seeing as that the overwhelming number of folks that love and use guns. Are some of the kindest, friendliest and helpful folks that I have ever had the privilege to know.

As they are almost always open to having helped and encourage this old fart to become a better man and shot. To them I want to say thank you and it has been an honor to have been around you. As to those other folks, well the least said the better I guess.So where to start?

I guess that I should mention my Father and my Mom’s Dad. As they were the ones to infect me with a long slow burning love of guns and shooting. Seeing that I really did not have any hobbies besides reading. Plus my Dad was afraid that I might get into drugs or some nonsense.

So one day back in the mid 1960’s. As my folks were driving me home from school. And yes there were schools back then even in California! I noticed a long brown cardboard box in the back of our Volks Wagon Bug. With the  large printed word of Ithaca on it.

And so started my saga. Now I won’t lie about how I was able to hit the target at 300 yards with this single shot 22.

Because frankly I was a really rotten shot to tell the truth. But like all things worthwhile in life with a lot of practice, some good coaching from Dad and my Grandfather. I very slowly started to get the hang of things. But it took a very long time to get my shit together,

But let us leave that and move along smartly. My first experience with a pistol was with an Italian reproduction of a Colt Navy that fired a 36 caliber chunk of lead.

With a lot of smoke, fire thrown on for good measure. Again I was not very good at first, Seeing that I could not have hit the broad side of the Pacific Ocean on a good day.

But not let us belabor the fact. Anyways during this time was the tail end of the really Golden Age of Guns here in California. Seeing that there were a lot of gun shows and a LOT of well stocked Gun Shops. The only problem being that it seemed that I was always broke.

But I was able to get some nice toys. One that stuck in my mind was a Winchester Model 94 that my dad & I “bought” together from now get this Sears! Yes back in the bad old days of Politically Incorrect. That Sears actually sold guns!And this is what happens when you do stupid stuff!

The thing about this rifle was for a 8 year old boy was the stout recoil. Which frankly was a huge surprise to me and my Grandfather.

For him at least he was a shotgun and 22 rifle man. Which because he owned a nursery in Northern San Diego County came in mighty handy. As the place was just over running with Rabbits, hares and grey squirrels. That and it was a really rural area around the small town called Rainbow. Anyways I was dumped down there as I think my folks wanted some down time from me. So I was allowed to use Grandpa’s single shot 410 shotgun. If my mind is still  working right now as I write this weird story. It had the words New England on it and the rest had worn off.

It was also at the Nursery that I got two of the best presents that a boy like me would’ve gotten. One was a Copy of the book Mr. Rifleman by Colonel Townsend Whelen USA. From my favorite, Uncle Max and my lovely Aunt Doris during Christmas 1969.

If you do get a chance to get a copy of this book. I most highly recommend getting it, As the Colonel is a master wordsmith.That and every time I reread it I learn something new. Which might tell you it’s either a great book or that I am still mighty slow in learning things.

Now I am going to skip over College and the Army. Seeing that it was all a big blur to me. But do have to say this about the Green Machine.

I also got to meet some great folks that I never would’ve met otherwise. I also got to see what real leadership looked like. That and I go to see how the real world works.

I also found that I really liked the M-16, The Pig (The M-60). Ma Deuce (M2, HMG) and the Grease gun. All in all, my Wise Dad was right about a few things about the service. In that the more you put into it the more you get out of it. Also the Army will make a good man better and a bad man worse.

One of the first guns that I picked up was a S&W Model 29 with a 6 inch Barrel. Now like most red blooded men of my generation. I had seen all of the Dirty Harry films and was convinced that it would kick like a mule.

Which I won’t bore you with. (As I now have the World’s Greatest Wife and I am amazed that we have been married now for over 16 years. God REALLY does move in strange and mysterious ways!!) But let us move on and talk about guns!

That and I am convinced that I sent my Gunsmiths kid thru college. What with all the times that I came to see if a miracle could be produced with all the 1911’s that I turned in to be fixed.

So I was on the verge of giving up on the 45 ACP. But the Big Guy upstairs decided to cut me some slack. For some reason a brand new Sig Sauer P220 was up for sale at Lock Stock & Barrel over on Rosemead Blvd in Pasadena. Somehow & I don’t remember how but the really nasty owner was willing to do a lay a way with me.

But let us move on!

Now try cleaning in that amount of time with say, a Broomhandle Mauser or a P08 Luger. Which can be a real nightmare if the gun does not like you! Yes guns have feelings and God help you if your firearm decides that it does not like you in a firefight.

But I still think that both of these pistols are REALLY neat and very evil looking. But I also found that they are also very temperamental and not very accurate. However both are great safe queens and investments.

Thanks to the Green Machine / 1/18th US Cavalry.

I was able to fire a M-16 several times on full auto and was able to hit almost nothing with it. Big surprise huh? Since the gun was not really designed by Mr Stoner to do that.

Unless of  course a horde of barbarians are rushing your position and your claymore mines did not go off in time. Then switching your M 16 to fun mode i.e. full auto / Rock & Roll will come in mighty handy.

I was also able to fire St John of Browning’s masterpiece. The Ma Deuce, which is an awesome weapon IF you have it properly mounted on a tripod. As it is extremely heavy and if you try and do a Rambo with it.

Since in my experience you are not going to hit squat from what I learned about it at Camp Ripley. (Where the Army failed in trying to teach me on how to ski.) I give it an A++ Grade

The only problem is the barrel as one can really heat it up when you fire long bursts.  So you have to swap barrels fairly often. But if you don’t have that Asbestos Glove on your person. Then get ready for some serious burns.

In other words if God forbid I had to go into a gunfight tomorrow. I would be just delighted to be issued one of these great weapons. I would give it a grade of A++The Thompson Sub Machine Gun If one is ever in Las Vegas and have some spare time. There are several indoor ranges that rents Machine Guns to shoot. So care to guess who went to one? Yep, Where I was allowed for about $100 to fire off a full magazine of 45 A.C.P.

Also when you fire it off, I was really surprised by how much fire came out of the barrel. The other thing that was at least for me was that it shot up and to the right.