Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Rifle Loony? Or something else?

John,
"Rifle loony" is a classic... Two thumbs up!

Regards, Matt Garrett
Chesapeake, Virginia

MD,

Please don't back up on this one.

If a very few out of your readership need to vent in this fashion, let them.

But, if we keep bending to this PC way of looking at things we will create a very sterile and boring world.

Please don't.

BTW, I really did enjoy your answer in the mag.

Bill

MOBD...

One of the great virtues of the English language is its susceptibility to nuance...the same word or term can have a wide variety of well-understood meanings depending on context and tone. Jack O'Connor once wrote a hysterical piece on the multitude of Western uses of the term "son-of-a-bitch" (can I say that here?).

I think we all understand exactly what you mean, and what we mean, with the term "rifle loonie". Just like "SOB" can be a terrific term of endearment among friends, though susceptible of some misunderstanding amongst casual listeners.

I happen to like the term a lot, as seems to be the case with most of the Campfire. T-Shirts, anyone?

John,

Borrow from O'Connor, "rifle enthusiast." I think "rifle loony" is harmless but I have never cared to so describe myself.

Mark Benenson

Sir,
The recent objection to your use of the term "rifle looney" is reasonable; at least so in the mind of the objector.
In our society today, existence is governed by a plethora of minoritys. There are more citizens, than politicians. There are more Christians - one would suppose - than Atheists. There are more criminals, than law enforcement officers (oops, almost said lawMEN) and there are certainly more firearm owners than those who would see them banned. The correlations are nearly endless. Yet we continue to be ruled by these active minorities. We are much restricted by ever-increasing laws, We have separated prayer from the schools, the quantity of crime is increasing, and firearms ownership is ever more restricted. So, one would suppose, your use of the term may soon come to an end.
To propose a subsitute term would be sheer folly. However, the use of the term "person" might find limited acceptance, as used in the form of "rifle person". It would seem to convey your intent, without offensive connotations. Alas, this terminology too might eventually fall into disfavor. At least whenever one should see your use of the term "rifle person" in print, we would be reminded what a dick this guy really is, and also be reminded that complacency eventually receives its just rewards! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Your "fan", Bug.

John

When i saw the two letters in Rifle i couldnt believe that people are still beating this dead horse, only an idiot would take offense at the phrase "rifle loony".

I also love how a couple of people have come to the conclusion that its the liberal eastern view.The first letter came from Co. and out of the two letters in the latest issue of Rifle one was from Ms.

Well, I will admit to never being called a "rifle loony", at least to my face. However, I have been called a number of different names, "gun nut", "rifle fanatic" -I rather like that one-, "the nut case with all the guns", -don't particularly like that one-, and a few that wouldn't go well in mixed company. I have also been accused of being a bit to "intense" about guns in general, rifles in particular. Now, down in my part of the South, being "intense" about something has a fairly specific meaning. It may, or may not be a good thing, depending on the context of how it's used.
So what it boils down to, I don't give a damn what I'm called, as long as I'm left alone to do my thing. Yeah, I'm a little "intense" about that...

"Rifleman" by itself is not enough. It needs an adjective.

One could anchor a term or phrase by writting an essay or poem about it. The famous one "My Rifle" comes to mind.

This is what writers get paid for.

Mark--

So far the voting is weighing heavily on the loony side, which may or may not say something about the folks who log on here. I can't recall O'Connor using "enthusiast," but could well be wrong. However, my guess is that he would use something a trifle more evocative, such as crank or "far-gone gun nut." I do know he used aficionado more than once.

Thanks for weighing in for the opposition.

The Bull Goose Loony,
JB

I like rifle loony as a descriptive term. It has a connotation of mild eccentricity, which is certainly true. Who else but an eccentric would spend money on more than one centerfire, one .22, and a 12 gauge? Or focus on spending hours slaving over a hot reloading bench trying to shave a meaningless quarter inch off a group size? I suspect we have more in common than we care to admit with the rich aunt who keeps a hundred cats, or the guy who can tell you a wine vintage by taste. "Loony" is just a matter of taste, and I think it's good taste! It doesn't make us better than the one-rifle hunter, but it does make us different. Stay with it.

Jaywalker

Loonie fits me, & most, just about right. (not all, but most.) Rifle slut is for the wife to use, the 20 yr old calls me a gun whore. My ten yr old says I am pistol whipped.......... Loonie, crank, whore, slut, whatever. None of it offends me personally, although some of the parents from the daughters softball teams think I may be just a bit "loonie" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Use the style we know & love. That is why we read what ya write anyway!!!! Be yourself man!

Pat

MD,
I had always considered myself a rifle sucker. I own a bow so I can be in the woods before deer season and I own a shotgun so I can shoot turkeys (I pretend it's a rifle, and aim it). I am enough of a rifle sucker to plan all my travels by the best used rifle racks, and I spend ghastly and unjustifiable sums on obviously superfluous and redundant pieces that I have no use for, just to stick them in dark safes and clean them a few times a year. I confess that I couldn't keep myself from being mildly put off by having found features in Rifle Magazine's Hunting Annual involving shotshells and arrows.
Speaking for myself, when I read the term "Rifle Loony", instantly I knew how Cinderella felt when she slipped her foot into the glass slipper. Angels sang. It just fit, and was much more literate than "Rifle Sucker".
So, I say, consider the source. The source of the term Rifle Loony. A thoughtful and talented wordsmith, whose work shows both classical training and natural humor.
It is worth noting that I have never, ever, felt "talked down" to in your work, as I have been by some of the well known writers. Your respect for your reader is always evident. To the author who challenged you, I say: It is better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt.
But first I gotta git me one'a them Gun Ho caps...


Sourmash
(Dutch back to the 14th century, never mind about before
that)

PS: Maybe you should just abbreviate to "RL", we know who we are...

J.B.; Before I read through your whole post I thought to myself, "Jack O'Connor would probably say aficionado". Stick with Rifle Loony. It was your choice and you must be doing something right judging by your fans, me included. I picked up a copy of "Hunting the Great Plains" a while back at a book store in Butte. Good read. Keep up the good work in Handloader and Rifle.

hey mule deer,

if o'connor were writing today, people would take exception to a lot of the things that he said and did.... same with whelen, if maybe a little less so... i don't know if he originated the term but whelen considered himself and his kind to be rifle cranks...

crank, loony,.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> ..... john w

Bingo! RIFLEMAN suits me just fine and was going to be my suggestion as well. The term has been around, nothing new here. But it implies both an affinity for rifles as well as the ability to use them.

I wouldn't change a thing. If the PC fanatics don't like the "loony" term, screw 'em, and let them read another magazine. You'll never please everyone. I'll throw in an alternative anyway. How abou Rifle Spaz?

Jeff

My wife called me a rifle nerd last night.

Chuck

" rifle Looney" is also a badge of honour!
Do you realize just how much time and money has to be invested to become accepted into the ranks of Looneyism?

Tell em to take a hike!

Any body can get up on a soap box these days and denounce something as offensive, without asking the people involved.
The gunwriters obviously can't tell somebody to " blow it out their ears" in a reply, but the rest of us sure can! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
catnthehat

Don't forget equality and gender mainstream:
Rifleman, Riflemen, Riflewoman, Riflewomen, Riflekids..

Imagine in your newspaper the following comments on the SCI convention: [Washington DC] "The Chairwoman of SCI's SABLES addressed the crowd as follows "Dear Riflesisters..."

Just joking
Roe

I'm a rifle loony.

I kill my game, I don't harvest it. Harvest is something my neighbor does with a big green machine and his wheat never outsmarts him.