Ageism in Firearms/Sporting Activities

[OtterbatHellcat]

They're too busy looking down your blouse.

Damn, that was funny.

Ray had a really good post back there too.

[Not_A_Llama]

Referring to the AGE thing. At current Gun Shows, the vast majority of vendors and those walking the aisles have white/gray hair. Don?t know if younger guys just have little interest in the shooting sports or perhaps prices have elevated to where they lose all interest in spending their wad on such a hobby. Yes, I am one of the old ?white hair farts?.

I think this is more an online shopping thing. Anonymous reviews mean more to the young crowd than testimonials of friends and handling in-store. I spend an ungodly amount on the sport, but have walked out empty handed from the last 5 gunshows I?ve attended, in as many years.

[00tec]

Open eyes
Observe how millenials act.

Fair or not, you are lumped in with them in some people's eyes.

[wctriumph]

I myself have never experienced the issues that the OP and others have had. In my early 60's now I was able to buy .22LR ammo at age 14 and was on my high school rifle team.

Where I am experiencing age discrimination is in the job market. I am trying to make a career change and although not to my face, I am being turned away as perhaps too experienced for the position. I'll keep trying.

[20X11]

Nelson,

I agree about enjoying solitary range time, I've enjoyed shooting alone since my teens (now 58). I've shot at a lot of private ranges, public ranges, private property, and public property. I tend to go back to where I get left alone to do MY thing. I prefer privately owned outdoor ranges that are run by 1 individual or a family rather than by a committee of old codgers. I like private berms that allow ME to control the firing line rather than having to get a concensus to change targets. I also do a lot of chronograph work. Yes, I can and do take guests sometimes... but those times I get the least enjoyment out of my time.

[Will1776]

20 years old here. Somewhat similar experiences. We need more young people on our side. Doing my part to bring friends to the range in a responsible, but still fun way. I remember buying a 15-22 back in CT when I was 18 or 19 after getting my long gun purchase permit and it felt like all the old guys were looking at me, but this could be placebo if thats the right term.

[sroz]

Foxtrot - I'm not following your statement from your above post:

"I've had the pleasure of meeting the engineer of the 1911 and the F-14 Tomcat (same person)..."

Not sure what you mean by "the engineer of the 1911 and Tomcat"

[Dlesh123]

Heck, I must be old ! I can recall buying .22s at Sears and Western Auto stores before I was in High School. All I had to have was the cash, no parent required.

Likewise, saved up my lunch money and went to the local hardware store and bought .22, seems like shorts were about 50-60cents a box, long rifle were like .75 -80 cents.

As far as the OP perception, I can get nervous around any age at a range until you get to know them. I think there is a natural tendency for older to wonder if the younger people have the education,maturity and experience to be doing what they are doing. Your best defense is to know what you are doing and talking about. If you still get the cold shoulder, then it’s their loss.
It happens in all industries. I have worked with and for people half my age. But luckily, they knew what they were doing, but if they needed help, they weren’t afraid to listen to the older folks either.
I still remember the time the customer asked me if I was old enough to be flying the airplane ( as Captain ) I was in my late 20s. We have all been there in some form.

[Mazin]

Lest anyone here think I am calling members of this board out...

What do you mean by that

Sorry hard too

[RobertJordan]

Referring to the AGE thing. At current Gun Shows, the vast majority of vendors and those walking the aisles have white/gray hair. Don?t know if younger guys just have little interest in the shooting sports or perhaps prices have elevated to where they lose all interest in spending their wad on such a hobby. Yes, I am one of the old ?white hair farts?.

I'm on the younger end of the spectrum, and my take is that most younger folks are buying mostly from online vendors. It's a selection issue and a cost issue.