Guns are not my favorite hobby, as they are with you, they are my hobby and much more. I have been around guns since I was 14. I have shot more different calibers than I care to write down, and I have owned over the years more than 70 different firearms, and I have reloaded for some 25 different calibers over the years. Yet I find there are always more things to learn and interesting people who know things about guns that I never had known; I am always learning! Lots of great folks here at NGF that I have gleaned a lot of truth and info from in the three short years I have been here. When I read your post(s) I get a sense that you already know all that is worthwhile knowing and I suspect the people you refer to as ‘fudds’ get the same sense from you, almost like you got a chip on your shoulder and out to prove how good/smart you are. Experienced shooters enjoy talking about their guns and experiences they have had, and there are many who revere to a degree the old battle rifles and steel semi auto handguns such as the time proven 1911 and the CZ75. Some folks are enamored with Glocks and the likes of striker fired guns and yet others are AR lovers. And some love their revolvers! I happen to like most all, but to a much less degree poly striker fired guns. These seasoned shooters enjoy helping newer shooters and sharing their experiences, and often will share all they know and let newer shooters experience some of their firearms too, if that newer shooter is at least reasonably respectful and mindful of basic firearms safety.
A couple years ago I helped a young man learn to reload so as to have superior ammunition for his rifle to go on a prairie dog hunt with his dad. He was younger than you. By the time we were done, he was shooting 1/2” groups at 100 yards fairly proficiently with a Savage Axis II and his own ammo. With a few tips, that he gladly received, he went from being a 2moa shooter to a 1/2 moa shooter. When we started out I explained to him that he needed to respect my rules and methods with reloading on my equipment and respect the basic firearms safety. He had no problem at all with that.
If you met me you would probably consider me one of your “fudds,” and i don’t really care too much. But my point is that this “fudd“ has invested a lot of time in young shooters to help them get better at what they do and hopefully enjoy shooting sports like I do, and know the value of a gun for protection and hunting, and to value our 2nd amendment as the treasure it is.
One last thought for you; the only people I am hard on at the range are people who are careless and thus dangerous; people who disregard basic gun safety. People want to do Mag dumps? Go for it! I have on occasion done likewise, especially testing out a new firearm. Besides, most folks who do a lot of mag dumps leave brass behind for me...
BTW, the young man I taught to reload outshot his Dad while they were out on the prairie dog hunt...Dad was exceedingly pleased!
