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What constitutes being a "Gun Nut"?

5K views 35 replies 31 participants last post by  TommyGun4169 
#1 ·
My recent AR build project that I am undertaking pushed my wife over the edge a bit, and stated "You have turned into one of those Gun Nuts"

This I took offense at. My definition of "Gun Nut" is the stereotype gun show freaks that show up in camo jumpsuits, a slightly off center look to them, own a minimum of 15 assault rifles of various makes and models, a large assortment of handguns, a minimum of 3k rounds on hand for each weapon, along with a vast collection of paramilitary gear that is not a collection. The same people go out to the BLM ranges and smoke a couple thousand rounds a couple times a month and for the most part, are just spraying lead at whatever garbage is available. Not quite Gecko45, but past Rambo.

I tried to explain to her that her definition is a bit off, and should attend one of the local gun shows, I however will not go with her because a majority of those people scare me.

"Sweetheart, I lived in Texas. I know what a "Gun Nut" is, Texas is full of them, and now you are one of them."

I own 5 handguns (oddly 4 of them are the same make and model), 1 pistol caliber carbine, 1 semi auto DMR, a 1932 Russian bolt action rifle, my grandfathers 20 ga, and .22 (both of which were passed on to me) and by the end of the month, an AR. I only have ammo for the pistols and 1 set of rifles (same caliber), and those are only 500 rounds each caliber. Much to my disgust, I only get to go shooting 7-8 times a year, and those are my IDPA matches. I have only shot my DMR once in the last 2 years, the rest, 4 to 15 years.

I consider myself to be an above average gun owner, still a far cry from "enthusiast".

So let's hear it, What's your definition of "Gun Nut"?
 
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#2 ·
Your here, right..Your a gun nut. :image035: Nothing wrong with it. Just accept it and move forward....:tongue:
 
#3 ·
"Gun Nut" depends on one's perspective. If you're a Nancy Pelosi or Michael Blumenthal, a subscription to the Double Gun Journal or Gray's Sporting Journal would make you a gun nut (= wacko). In the eyes of a compassionate spouse (as Mrs. Sticks appears to be), "gun nut" is a term of affection. To a staunch Second Amendment defender and political activist, "gun nut" might sound perjorative.

BTW, since you brought up Texas, much was made about the number of guns the Branch Davidians had at their "compound" in Waco (150 or more, per the ATF). Various sources estimate the average number of guns in Texas per man, woman or child at around 10 each, so by Texas standards, the 70 or 80 people at that "compound" were undergunned by about a factor of 5.
 
#4 ·
When you have to buy a third safe, you might be a gun nut.
When 2/3rds of your will is dedicated to your safe contents, you might be a gun nut.
When you inventory ammo by the thousands, you might be a gun nut.
When you own weapons you can't find anymore, you might be a gun nut.
When a review of a new forged AR bolt excites you, you might be a gun nut.
When you have your dress clothes customized to include mag pockets, you might be a gun nut.
When you might forget your wallet, your watch, your keys, your pants, or your phone, but NEVER your gun, you might be a gun nut.
When you've figured out how to successfully CC four pieces, you might be a gun nut.
When you spend more time on the web looking at gun porn rather than actual porn, you might be a gun nut.
When your vanity plate says "762X39", you might be a gun nut.
 
#5 ·
So
let's hear it, What's your definition of "Gun Nut"?
That term dependes entirely upon where you are located.

I've have a friend in Texas that owns over 300 guns. Most people would call him a gun nut. There are few questions about guns that you can ask him that he wont know the answer too. He reloads, he casts, he even has built some for himself. He is also worth several million, so having the ability to buy anything that catches his eye does help.

I've got relatives all over the U.S. Their perception of what a gun nut is, is interesting. I have kin up in the northeast, MA.,Ri, NY,NJ, think thats owning a Ruger semi auto .22 makes you not only a gun nut, but a dangerous person. A a couple of Thanksgivings ago, one of my great uncles from New Joisey that prides himself as a great hunter because he kills a single deer every year, told me that they dont allow the use of semi-autos, in their club. I have killed a bunch with my Rem.7400 30.06 and he thought that was a terrible thing, because a "real" hunter uses only a bolt action. I didnt say much, because, well, whats the point? Since he already knew everything there was to know, I didnt waste my time trying to convince him otherwise.

He came over to my house,saw the 10 deer racks I have on the wall, and freaked out. Just to mess with him,when I found he was coming over, I set a couple of AR's, AK's and a few other wicked looking guns in various corners around the house. That was the only time that I have ever heard him not be loud and boisterous about something.

I've got an Uncle in Idaho that is the elk killingest man I have ever met. He only owns a dozen or so guns, but every time I have seen him he is wearing camo of some sort.He shoots something just about every day and if nothing is in season, he'll shoot targets a long,long ways off. Some classify him as a gun nut, but to me, he isnt, he isnt interested in the guns, so much as he is interested in how to use them.

To me, its not the number of guns that you own, but the interest that you show in them. Some people get excited when the handle a tricked out back rifle, others when they see a classic handgun. They are aware of the political issues that surround guns, they are aware of the yahoos in Government that dont want us to own them. They have a bit more knowledge than average, might have a liscence to carry and can carry on an intelligent conversation about several things and its not age,gender,race or even political specific.Some love to hunt, some have no use for it, others do it strictly for the investment and others just like to tinker with things.

To me, what classes as a gun nut in one area might not even be close to the definition here and vice versa.

Calling someone a gun nut, might actually be a pretty broad definition.
 
#6 ·
As gasmitty pointed it out, it's all about perspective. That being said, to me a "gun nut" is someone who allows guns to rule their lives in a way that becomes self-destructive. There's nothing wrong with owning 300 guns and thousands of rounds of ammo for them, as long as you can afford it. If, however, you sacrifice relationships with your family/spouse/children, spend money on guns that should be going to other things like the mortgage, car payments, Christmas presents for the kids, or start spending more time at the range/gun shows than you do with your family, then from my perspective, you're a "gun nut".

That being said, if your spouse is anything like mine, she has about 60 pairs of shoes in her closet. Tell her she's a "shoe nut" and that you'll trim down your gun collection when she goes down to 4 or 5 pairs of shoes, like a normal person. Also, try some jewelry. Shiny rocks always seem to shut them up (said with an affectionate tone).
 
#8 ·
There are various types of "nuts". Peanuts for example are small. Would you be a Pea-gun-nut? One who has the penchant to have multiple small handguns, ie Wather PPK's, Ruger LCP's, and others?

Walnuts. Sometimes hard shelled, tough to crack. Come in varous types Black Walnuts, English Walnuts etc. Are you the Wal-gun-nut type?

How about Macadamia nuts, kind of exotic, found in the Hawaiian Islands so....a Macadamia-gun-nut, one who has exotic type weapons at hand?

Hazel nut. Name often associated with the female pesuasion. So a woman who likes guns could be a Hazel-gun-nut.

I am sure I left out a few other "nuts" but you get the picture.
 
#9 ·
I'm a gun nut. A gun nut is someone who likes firearms. The degree of enjoyment varies from person to person as with any hobby. I love guns, and I love shooting them.

I own several firearms now. Knowing how to use them, and get my job done with them matters to me. Guns to me are like shoes to many women. I just cant buy one gun per one pair of shoes is all.

I have an affinity for revolvers and bolt action hunting rifles. I care more about the various calibers than the guns themselves for the rifles. When it comes to rifles especially, the fit of the stock for you matters more than pretty much anything else. Well, sort of, some rifle manufacturers make a product too cheap for me to risk my hunts on. My X-Bolt purchased two years ago has served me well. Three bucks down, and no problems whatsoever. I chose a good 3-9x scope (I hunt the hardwoods of northern Wisconsin so my longest shot typically is only 120 yards), a gun that fits me, and a good round to kill deer with.

Bolt action rifles are like my revolvers. Simple and effective. It's the way I like to live. I'm not glamorous, I don't need attention, but I do need reliable equipment to get the job done.

I pay attention to the various bolt action rifles and revolvers that come out. I get excited reading about the new offerings.

I don't pay a lot of attention to AR style weapons and shotguns because they don't interest me.

I do try to keep up with your semi-auto pistols though. There are many of them, and they have advantages/disadvantages compared to revolvers. I may want to get a higher capacity handgun at some point when I travel to more populated areas like Phoenix where I have family that I see once every year.
 
#10 ·
What I see in a mirror!:yup:

I do not view it as a derogatory term...simply one who enjoy firearms.
 
#12 ·
My folks knew there was something wrong with me at an early age. I used to watch Roy Rogers on TV and complain to my folks about the six shooters holding more than six shots. Roy never seemed to reload.
I also would notice when a trapdoor Springfield was being used on the skirmish line in a Civil War battle.
They knew I was a lost cause.

Michael
 
#15 ·
#16 ·
My definition of a "gun nut" is far different than the mainstream 'stereotype' or the media portrayal. I tend to go way deep in my thinking. Not only involving historical facts, but my personal observations as well as my personal life. "Nuts" belong in hospitals. Fanatics can sometimes be confused with nuts, but truth is they are way different. If you are avidly involved in something and psychologically sound...then you're an avid fan or supporter. If you adamantly accept the 2nd amendment then you're a supporter and theoretically politically incorrect. In the grand scheme of things...nuts are healthy......almonds, walnuts, etc. What's not healthy is thinking of yourself as a nut. The day you do this is the day you're not sure, and this leads to other things that compromise you in ways you don't realize up front.
 
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#18 ·
If you've spent more money on guns than on training with them, you are a gun nut.

If you've spent more money on training with guns than you have on the guns themselves, you are a reasonable person.

Who needs to buy another gun.
 
#22 ·
The other night there was a commercial on television as my girlfriend walked passed the couch. She had on a pink babydoll nightie that showcased her long legs. I caught the whiff of her perfume. I noticed that she had a new hairdo.

"Hi, handsome...wanna join me?" she smiled.

"Sure honey Sons of Guns will be over in just a minute."

She slammed the bedroom door and locked me out.

I never will understand women. :frown:
 
#25 ·
Nor I. I will refer to them openly as extremists or fanatics - both of which frighten me. Just a little too involved in whatever they are "all about" and not quite right in the head.
 
#28 ·
You've been a member on a gun forum since November, 2007 and have made over 2,000 posts accordingly. As if this wasn't enough, you are currently building an AR, AKA an "assault rifle" as mentioned in all news casts about shooter incidents. It doesn't even matter if your gun is only used to shoot prairie dogs, in the mind of the public, the AR15 & AK47 are burned into the iconic lexicon of the general public at large whenever they think of an "assault rifle". Everyone knows, or atleast as how it goes, that any non-military agent that has an AR is a "gun nut" by default.

I agree with others in that the meaning of the term is contingent upon the person using it. Often times the term is reserved for the extremists but in the minds of Pelosi as well as members in her base, just simply owning a gun makes you a gun nut. At the same time, however, some people may affectionately refer to themselves as a gun nut because they love guns and in their minds, there's not a negative connotation associated with gun ownership.

Another thing you may want to consider;

You've been studying the make-up of ARs and have been researching this subject matter so that you'll have something that meets the objectives and goals that you have accordingly. The gun world and especially the AR sub-culture have a unique jargon. Without even being aware you're doing this, your wife is probably hearing you talk about ARs and using this jargon that is complete gibberish to her and in her mind, only a gun nut would talk like this, etc. My suspicion is if you start to include her with the concepts and terms you're learning about (if she's interested), you'll become less of a "nut", in her mind....IMO.

Best of wishes for you and your family,
DCG
 
#30 · (Edited)
You've been a member on a gun forum since November, 2007 and have made over 2,000 posts accordingly.
I do consider myself to be a diesel enthusiast. I am also a member of a Dodge Diesel owners/performance forum since 2002, and made an equal amount of posts in the same amount of time. I did talk a lot about diesels for the first 4 years, performance upgrades, did the same to my truck (500hp/1200tq), went to 4 or 5 dyno days a year, and now am a ASE certified Diesel mechanic, 1 test away from my masters in engine and fuel injection.

... Without even being aware you're doing this, your wife is probably hearing you talk about ARs and using this jargon that is complete gibberish to her and in her mind, only a gun nut would talk like this, etc. My suspicion is if you start to include her with the concepts and terms you're learning about (if she's interested), you'll become less of a "nut", in her mind....IMO.

Best of wishes for you and your family,
DCG
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Uhhh, no.

It was not until two nights ago that I finally showed her a picture of what the final product would be. All she knew was that I ordered a bunch of expensive parts. Up until then, my Christmas gift was a rifle and some accessories to go with it, that were top of the line. I knew her head would explode if I tried to explain that the base part of the rifle is composed of three different manufacturers let alone another 5 in components and fluff. She knows what an AR looks like, she was also under the impression that the parts between manufactures were not interchangeable, nor could you build one from parts.

I swear to the DC gods, one of you calls me a "Closet Gun Nut" I'll have you banned from the boards.
 
#29 ·
I think it's the person who owns the guns that garners the term, not the amount of guns they own. I know plenty of folks who possess an amazing amount of guns, but they don't broadcast it, and they don't make a big deal about it, and guess what? No one else does either. Then there's the opposite spectrum.......
 
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