Are we all just "gun geeks"?

[SimonKenton]

I was taking an online "Geek Test" and I noted that traditional archers and muzzleloaders have a lot in common with other "generic geeks". We eschew the mainstream and buck trends to the amusement of our trendoid brethren. Where we could just buy a .270 Weatherby off the rack with a Zeiss scope, spend a few weekends sighting it in and keep it in a climate controlled safe we prefer to either haunt the 'Net for good repros for sale at TOTW, order one and wait forever or totally lose it altogether and BUILD them ourselves. The guy with the .270 can, after sight in his gun and keeping it carefully cased, can buy 2 boxes of ammo which will last years. Five shots to verify the zero of the scope and one or two fired while hunting can lead to two boxes lasting over FIVE years.

WE have to spend many weekends with a new rifle working up the "perfect" load, sighting it in and PRACTICING regularly to make a 75-100 yard shot while the modern guy can pull his Weatherby out of his safe, load it and shoot a deer from ridgetop to ridgetop from 400 yards away if he's taken the time to learn long range shooting techniques.

Then there are the clothes, shooting accessories and other acoutrement. Who else BUT a geek would stress over the color of a "hunting frock" or the consistency of the wax in his "authentic candles"? They call some fans of Star Trek geeks because they learn artificial languages like Klingon and Vulcan, but we speak an arcane language all our own. Just bring a flinter to a modern gunsmith and ask if the frizzen needs hardening? That is if he can FIND the frizzen!

Even the basic quality of our guns is geeky. We gleefully set ourselves up for spectacular failure (and the occasional equally spectacular successes) by choosing to shoot guns so primitive that they invite Murphy's Law (and I don't mean Old Tim either). Is this just our common quirks or should we embrace our inner geek?

-Ray :imo:

 

[bob1961]

we aren't finding falt in this addicting hobbie that we have r we :shake:....i myself find going to the range and shooting as often as i can very soothing and the smell of black powder does it get any better ::....now ya take them two boxes of ammo at bout 12.00 a box not sure what they cost nowdays but fer ex; thats 24.00 bucks fer ur ammo....i shoot a .50 right now and a box of balls from hornady is 7.00 and i paid 18.00 fer a pound o powder = 25.00 fer a hunerd rounds compaired to 40 in them two boxes of .270's fer 24.00 bucks :hmm:....i think i seen at one time in here some where that some one said there's bout 4000 grains o powder in a pound or was that 7000??....even if was 4000 thats still 57 rounds of powder fer my .50 at 70 grains a shot compaired to 40 rounds of the .270 :thumbsup:....and i know no one that only shoots 40 rounds in 5 years :huh:....i have over 500 empty cases of .35 rem when i owned my marlin 336 to reload and that was only in 2 years of having the rifle :shocking:....maybe it's just me but i can't see only shooting 40 rounds in 5 years what fun would it be to own a gun and do this :youcrazy:....i'm sure i'm not the only one thats see's it this way :imo:....so off to the range i go and see ya later eace:....................bob

 

[Stumpkiller]

Yes, but I have my glasses held together with rawhide and my pocket-protector is smoked buckskin with lead wire pencils.

Luckily, my neck size is 18-1/2", so I seldom get called "Ye Olde Pencil Necked Geek."

Fanatic. Enthusiast. Wacko. I like them better than "geek" if you please.

Besides, I never knew a Star Trek Geek to kill and eat a Klingon and make leggins from his hide or fishing lures from his hair. I put my "technology" to use in the field.

 

NO. We are not "geeks". We are NUTS! [now, where did I put that case of powder...]

 

[Bob J]

Gun geeks is to broad a classification. Lots of modern "gun nuts". Purists might be too narrow (some muzzleloaders are purist, but if we get too serious or self-righteous it can take the fun out of it). How about Muzzleloader Maniacs? :haha: I prefer simply "primitive".

 

[bezoar]

not a gun geek, just a gun enthusiast. but i prefer the old mik-mac term "gun collector" meaning, well armed

 

[BLAHMAN]

I don't know, the word "geek" just doesn't seem to fit the mold...sounds like "NERD", but a bit more educated? I always thought of people like us as "Folk", down to earth, not overly pretentious (hope I spelled that right), simple, but not simple-minded. Truthfull, honest and sincere is where I would catagorize us. :m2c:

 

gawd almighty, I think I'm a geek....

 

[RussB]

ROTFL :crackup:

I never really cared much for the term "geek"....But now that I've found out there's a good chance I are one, I like it much better.
Seems those geek fellers, are neat fellers afterall.

Move over SB...make room on that couch for both of us to talk to that man in the white coat.


Russ, da Geek.

 

[CrackStock]

Simon,

What do you call a guy who has guns ranging from flintlocks to Glocks? Smoothbores, rifles and pistols from the same range of times? Outfits, ammo and accoutrements to go with them all? Makes most of the needed items as needed. Makes projectiles and loads for all.

Whatever you care to call it is what I am.
Just say it with a smile, so I know that we are still friends. <G>

YMHS,
CrackStock

 

[jaybeach]

What's in a name, anyway? People who have lived counter to the norm have always been called something (usually not too kindly). How about "Firearm Aficianado"? (A devoted follower of some sport). That has a sophisticated ring to it, dontcha think?

ps - Bob - it's 7000 grains per pound - it's even cheaper than you thought!

:thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

And, if you're as big a kook as me you get a used metal detector so you can comb the dirt behind your 25 year running range and re-shoot the same scrap lead dozens of times over. ::

I used to be a gun knut. Now, I am sensible and own few but visit them often. The nut sprouted.

 

[Hota]

I work with computers all day, I am used to being called a geek. Nice to have the word applied to me in a different way if someone wants to!

 

[bob1961]

your right it's even better................bob

 

[horkeye]

I'm a BP Greek.
I'm a model building Greek.
I'm a computer Greek.
I'm a Star Trek Greek.
I'm a DVD Greek.
I'm a family Greek.
I'm a Harley Greek.
I'm a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep Greek.
I used to be a rendy Greek (no time these days).

But who cares!!!!!! as long as I/you/we are having a good time!!! :imo:

Jim :thumbsup:

PS Greek could or should be Geek (in this case)! :crackup:

 

[brushbuster]

i prefer firearm enthusiast,i am enthusiastic about all of my firearms...for that matter..anything that goes BOOOM. :: :: :: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :youcrazy:

 

[Gary]

I be no "geek" but me be college educated systems analyst for missile launchers. :what:

 

[vradin]

I be no "geek" but me be college educated systems analyst for missile launchers.

I guess it does take a rocket scientist to shoot one of these things. :crackup: :crackup:

Don't blame me.... yer all just upset cause I thought of it first :blah:

vic

 

[Keith]

Thanks, I never thought of myself that way before. :redface:
Damn, now I have to stop making fun of Trekkies. I am as weird as they are. :cry:

 

[SimonKenton]

Keith,

In some magazine there was a column by a diehard buckskinner relating an imaginary conversation between a shooter and a black powder retailer on the "800" order line. The upshot was after ordering all this "period correct" stuff the shooter was told to wait 3 months for the mule string to arrive and to send in a written order in octopus ink on aged parchment. Then he told the shocked buyer "You want authentic? We ARE authentic!"

-Ray :crackup: