Since then became insanely avid gun enthusiasts. Growing up visiting grandpa he taught me gun safety and how to disassemble, clean and reassemble his rifles and handguns. It was always first order of business every visit until his passing. During that time period no such thing as internet as I became interested in all the proof marks stamped everywhere, lol 

So my dad and I visited local gun shops so I could ask 1000 questions I normally aggravate my old man with, lol On my 18th birthday registered for the draft and to vote followed by purchasing used AR15 A1 from long time established Gun shop and new Winchester 1300 Defender shotgun from local town drug store for my own after two years saving money priming tobacco every summer.

Started into competitive IPSC pistol matches borrowing my fathers handgun. I was big kid matured for my age so ROs never questioned my age at the time, lol Back then mostly law enforcement shot pistol matches and I learned invaluable skills from them. 

Then I moved into action rifle matches, 3 gun, long range rifle, you name it I wanted do it on blue collar guy budget. It was huge high for me score top ten and especially beat other competitors spent 10x on their firearms and gear. Their I was running around with military surplus rigs like a homeless gunnut, lol

Ventured into NFA registered subgun matches 1990 until 2004 as competitive shooter eventually achieving RO and match director certification. It wasn’t until early 90s at Knob Creek National subgun match I discovered they offered military bolt rifle class matches and that brought me back home. 

Naturally my first thought was my grandfather’s SSA SMLE Mk3* covered in dust back at home as fastest bolt action rifle ever made but I definitely needed update my ammo inventory, lol 

Currently spend my range time instructing new competitors and ones trying improve their skill sets as I’ve mostly aged out of top rankings competitively. However my devotion and admiration for everything goes bang only increased over the decades, lol

Thanks for having me here, I’m expecting learn a lot more than I thought I knew! 

There are a few members here that shoot the LE in vintage military service rifle matches, myself included.  In the US, the WWI and II era service rifle matches run by the Civilian Marksmanship Program have become quite popular over the last 10+ years.  The 2021 recorded high score across the US in the 30 round and 50 round CMP Games Matches (M1, 1903 Springfield and Vintage Military Bolt Rifle matches) was done with a No. 4 Lee Enfield