Hello from Arlington

[joe817]

Hi folks, Joe here from Arlington. This is my first post, even though I signed up last week and have been lurking since then.

I've been a gun enthusiast all my life(or as far back as 7 years old). But have been out of it for the past 20 years, but the desire has come on strong lately, due to certain events.

I feel like never before that I need a CHL. That need has turned into a commitment to get one. But before I take the class, I need to assure myself that my proficiency in shooting is as good as it was when I was in my 20's. So I've been practicing and training. I do my range practice at the Winchester Gallery in Fort Worth(the nearest one to me), and I've improved significantly. But my goal is to score 250 on the range proficiency test, so I'm holding off until I'm assured of reaching that goal. The guys behind the counter at the range say I am.....I think I have a little further to go on improvement. And I've been reading on the TCHA website for the past 3 weeks, educating myself as much as I can on the classroom part of the class. I guess I should say that I'm joining TCHA in the next 2 weeks also! (got to stay in good graces, don't you know) :)

I haven't sent off to DPS for my packet yet, but will do so in the next 2 weeks. I'm 61 and I take this venture very seriously.

I'm pretty long winded(as you can see), so I'll say bye for now. I sure enjoy reading the post here. Be good, be safe and God bless!

[GeekwithaGun]

Hi Joe and welcome.

[USA1]

Hi Joe, its very nice to have you join the forum
i hope you do well on your test . please join in with your thoughts and comments, we look forward to hearing from you.

[cowboymd]

Welcome Joe. If you have been lurking for a week, you probably already know there is some good stuff here. You'll find lots of useful information, and sometimes some good ole intertainment.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

WELCOME

[USA1]

and sometimes some good ole intertainment.

thats for sure

[joe817]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I feel like I've found a forum home.

A little background info.....my real love of guns is in collecting. I've had some wonderful collections over my lifetime. My first collection consisted of arms of the 19th century, mainly guns that helped settle the States. I also had a dandy collection of WWII military side arms. My last collection I was the proudest of. They were U.S. military marked trench and riot shotguns used in WWII. Some said I had the best collection in the Southwest(I wish I had them now). I had every one except the Ithaca 37, and the Remington Model 10.

I also have an extensive collection of escape and evasion maps used in WWII, that I've lost interest in. I need to trade/sell those so I can get more guns! lol I'm also a ham radio operator, I'm into metal detecting, and long time amateur photographer.

[USA1]

long time amateur photographer.

we love pictures !!

[AggieC05]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I feel like I've found a forum home.

A little background info.....my real love of guns is in collecting. I've had some wonderful collections over my lifetime. My first collection consisted of arms of the 19th century, mainly guns that helped settle the States. I also had a dandy collection of WWII military side arms. My last collection I was the proudest of. They were U.S. military marked trench and riot shotguns used in WWII. Some said I had the best collection in the Southwest(I wish I had them now). I had every one except the Ithaca 37, and the Remington Model 10.

I also have an extensive collection of escape and evasion maps used in WWII, that I've lost interest in. I need to trade/sell those so I can get more guns! lol I'm also a ham radio operator, I'm into metal detecting, and long time amateur photographer.

wow you have had and traded away more history pieces than a young man like myself will probably ever see!

HOWDY! Hope to see you around. I need to get back over to Winchester myself it is right down the road. My roommates bachelor party is this weekend the afternoon plan is 3-4 hours at Alpine for some AR/5stand/Trap and lots of good times.

[C-dub]

Hi Joe.

I hope none of these colletions were stolen. How many have you had?

[joe817]

Hi c-dub. Good Lord, what a question. Ya know, I've never really added them up.

A rough off the top of my head estimate: about 13 of my first collection(guns of the old west as I call it); about 18 or 19 WWII military pistols, and about 10 or 12 shotguns of trench or riot configuration of WWII. Not to mention the odds and ends, like commercial riot and trench guns that have come and gone.

It would take me a day to try to remember everything I've had in my lifetime. I might do that sometime, just for grins. I just wish I had them now. But ya gotta move forward, and not look back.

But you have to remember, that those collections came and went over a period of 45 years or so.

And through all of that I've never ever, ever, had a gun stolen.

[dicion]

Joe,

Welcome!

A note about waiting to take the class, you may want to take it sooner, rather then later, due to the extremely long processing times for CHLs now.

I admit, scoring a perfect 250 on the range test is great to do (I did on mine), but it is not necessary to pass, and as of right now, getting your paperwork in in a timely manner is key, if you want to see plastic before the next Holiday season :)

You do not need to send off to DPS for a packet, the CHL Instructor will have them for you to complete.

Also, be sure to look into any discounts you are eligible for. There is a senior discount, I do not know the exact requirements off the top of my head, and there is also a veteran's discount, which is 1/2 off the $140 fee. There are also others, but those are the 2 I know of off the top of my head.

When you send your packet in, be sure to send it certified mail, or delivery confirmation or something, so you have proof that they received it, and the date on which they did. It has been rumored that packets that do not come in with any way of verifying receipt date may be occasionally shuffled to the end of the pile to give DPS a few extra days to meet their legal requirements on the timeline. No proof of this has ever been presented, however, why take the chance

This forum is a great group of people, and you can get answers (or educated guesses ) to questions at all hours of the day or night.

See ya around!

[C-dub]

Wow!

I should have been clearer. I meant to ask how many different collections. You mentioned a first a last collection and that made me wonder how many you'd had. That's all.

I haven't been that interested in guns as collectors items in the past. Until recently, I viewed them as a tool. My wife has a thing for 19th century Navy revolvers. One of these days when we've got some spare change I'll have to get her a set. There was a numbered set at The Bullet Trap a few years ago, but couldn't afford them.

Personally, what I've listed below is all I have ever owned. The Henry was a birthday present from my wife.

[USA1]

A note about waiting to take the class, you may want to take it sooner, rather then later, due to the extremely long processing times for CHLs now.

[mikeintexas]

Welcome to the forum, Joe!

There is a lot of great information and entertainment here!