Quote:
Originally Posted by Two Bills
As I said in my earlier in what has become a rather contentious statement, I am not against hunting, and before the UK government banned guns I used them regularly.
I had a .410 I used for vermin (rats) control around the farm.
I had a .22 to pop off the occasional rabbit for the pot, and did quite a bit of clay and skeet shooting on the range.
I used to course my old greyhounds over the winter stubble.
They were not the dogs they were in their prime, and most times the hare got away, but they enjoyed the chase, and I just loved to see them stretch out.
Then the government banned that as well.
My old dogs were livid!
PS. Didn't realize you were a ballistics expert as well!  |
How well did the people in the UK take to having guns banned? I understand the reason(s) of course, but not in my wildest imaginings could I see the rationale for taking guns from people who used a .410 for vermin control and a .22 to hunt small game.
Americans are largely born and raised according to a different ethic. People of my generation (which of course includes most of the folks who post in this site) were often born and raised with guns, and saw them as no different than any other tool. Using myself as an example: my dad was a collector and at the time of his death had over 50 guns, some quite rare and valuable. He was also an amateur gunsmith and could turn a dilapidated old farm gun into something nearly new in appearance. In fact he built my first deer rifle, a .38-55, from an old Marlin lever-action receiver to which he attached a brand new barrel, as well as carving and fitting the stock and forearm himself, out of walnut. I got it when I was fourteen and shot my first deer with it, a 10-point whitetail, the year after. I gave it to my son on his 18th birthday. I have no doubt my grandson will inherit it one day as well.
Yes. Most of us understand ballistics. Are we experts? Maybe some of us are. I'm not, but I understand enough to know the capabilities of any gun I shoot on a regular basis: things like muzzle velocity, bullet weight and construction, measured drop over a certain range (my rifles are sighted in at 100 yards which means I can hit the bulls-eye at that range, but also know how much the bullet will be over or under that point of aim at varying distances). For example, my 30-30 is sighted in at precisely 100 yards, but not all game (or targets) are precisely 100 yards away. As an example, the rifle might therefore hit four inches high at 50 yards, and four inches low at 150 yards, depending on bullet weight, powder load, etc. We also understand things like what gun and caliber is best for hunting in thick woods growth vs. open-field hunting, types of bullets and their uses (JHP, - jacketed hollow point, FMJ - full metal jacket, some others), expansion of the bullet at various ranges, effect of wind on bullet flight, how much to lead a running (or flying) target, etc. etc.
It all goes back to the gun being a tool. No one of us would attempt to buy, say, a table saw or electric arc welder and try to use it without completely familiarizing ourselves with it, and that includes not only reading the manual but also practicing with it over and over so that we're proficient in its use. To do otherwise is not only totally stupid but also dangerous both to the user and other people who may be present at the time.
There is nothing wrong with knowing and understanding guns.