Even though we may get a great deal of enjoyment out of shooting, we don’t usually think of “fun” as being the main reason we own guns.
But I think every shooting enthusiast should own at least one gun that’s universally fun — the kind of gun that puts smiles on people’s faces at the range.
It doesn’t have to be expensive or novel, but it should be something you can get excited about and get others excited about.
My “fun gun” is the Marlin 1894 .357 magnum lever action. Sure, I have other guns that are enjoyable to shoot, but that’s more of a side benefit than a primary reason for owning them.
The sole reason I have the 1894 is for its entertainment value. To be perfectly honest, I originally bought the 1894 for my own entertainment, but I quickly found that my guests at the range were just as enamored with it. I made a quick video this week with some details on this rifle…
Video: Suppressed Marlin 1894 .357 Magnum Lever Action
Years ago, somewhere online I saw a picture of a lever action rifle with a suppressor and decided I needed to have one. That may sound like a novel idea, but Teddy Roosevelt was hunting with a suppressed Winchester 1894 over 100 years ago, so the concept is not as anachronistic as it may seem.
My Marlin 1894 has been worked over by Grizzly Custom Guns with, among other things, a threaded barrel so I can mount my AAC Tirant 9 suppressor.
The report of .38 special subsonic ammo with this setup is quieter than the sound of cycling the action. I can’t put my finger on why, exactly, but shooting this Marlin is about as much fun as I’ve ever had pulling a trigger.
What’s Your Fun Gun?
Most people who are nervous or apprehensive about firearms just haven’t had a good experience shooting before — they are often completely unaware of the recreational and social value of an afternoon at the range.
Having that experience is sometimes that’s all it takes to catalyze a transformation of their attitude toward guns and gun owners.
If you — the responsible and safe gun owner — invite someone to the range and make sure that them having a good time is your number one priority, that’s progress. They don’t have to catch the shooting bug, but if they enjoy the experience, we’re one step closer to winning over an ally.
So even if you primarily shoot for competition or for self-defense or whatever else, it’s wise to have a gun in your collection that can be easy and fun to shoot, even for a complete novice.
Whether you mean for it to happen or not, there’s a good chance you’re going to end up being an “ambassador of shooting” for someone in your life, and it never hurts to be prepared