CdnInAz
CGN Regular
hi there; I read about this site on rugerfoum.net and after reading some threads here decided to join and introduce myself.
Bit about me - as you might gather from my Username and can read in my sig lines I am an "ex-pat" Canadian in Arizona. Born and raised in Nova Scotia, signed up to serve straight out of high school, actually started with Reserve Army before that. Air Force put me through a Mechanical Eng degree, served 8 years after degree and commissioning as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Spent some time in every province, main postings were in Victoria, Kingston, Cold Lake Alberta, Toronto and Ottawa. Took early retirement as a Captain in 94 during the massive cutbacks by Liberals. Been working as a Tech Manager or Engineer since. Flipped around Ontario and western Quebec from 94 to 2000 trying to decide what to do when I grow up
Joined a Toronto based company in 2000, lived up in Newmarket until 2007 when accepted a corporate relocation to Arizona with my wife, son, horse and dog We love it here - good thing because would not want to sell house now
I shot long guns as a kid living in a farm area, but did not touch a handgun until serving. Always enjoyed shooting during service time, volunteered for anything extra, eventually qualified as an RSO, and participated in clubs where/when possible. Missed that after leaving the service, but all the bureaucracy to own and transport turned me away. Move to Arizona relit that old flame, once had Green card I could buy and own so I got back into it and have even done a lot more - Trap&Skeet Shooting, monthly USPSA matches, monthly Steel Challenge, occasional multi-gun, and weekly fun USPSA style matches whenever I can attend on Thursday nights - all outdoors of course Also volunteered to help out at my son's Scout Troop by taking NRA certifications for Shotgun Instructor and latter as RSO - very rewarding and a bit ironic for this Canadian guy to instruct a bunch of American boys how to safely and properly handle firearms.
After reading threads on here I'll bet that many of you would love it down here - shoot outdoors year round, although can be a bit warm toward end of a morning match at this time of year Pretty simple for transit from home to range - strap on, grab range bag, load gear and go.
Since I am signing up for a website called GunNutz, you might wonder how much of a nut I have become in a gun free zone My first handgun purchase down here was a Springfield XD - a great purchase. A little while latter had an opportunity to buy a slightly used Browning Hi-Power (standard - link) - trained with and carried the old Canadian Inglis HP, always admired that classic, so jumped at owning a modern more stylish version. Later got into Magnum revolvers - first a S&W Model 629 Classic (heck I always liked Clint as Dirty Harry) and latter a Ruger Blackhawk - gotta have a classic cowboy style when living in the southwest Taught my son to shoot first with a Ruger 10/22, and early last year graduated him to pistol with a Ruger 22/45 (I now use that at Steel Challenge, tons of fun). You might see a pattern here with Rugers, I like them, especially since several were built just 90 miles from home in Prescott AZ. So guess what came home on 3 May? - the new Ruger SR1911 - awesome. My early exposure to HiPower set an admiration for the genius of John Browning, so decided last year that I would acquire a new 1911 in 2011 as my little recognition of history - Ruger's introduction fit that wish perfectly, 100% made in USA where the 1911 started. Oh I should add that I got into reloading since moving here - started because I was shooting more and Canadian taxpayer no longer paying for me to shoot Reloading has grown as a hobby, nice calm time in garage, enjoy almost as much as shooting. I actually no longer save with reloading, just shoot more
Anyway, that's me, thanks for reading if you made it this far. I look forward to "meeting" fellow Canadians on here (don't meet many Canadian shooters down here), and look forward to sharing a common interest in shooting.
Bit about me - as you might gather from my Username and can read in my sig lines I am an "ex-pat" Canadian in Arizona. Born and raised in Nova Scotia, signed up to serve straight out of high school, actually started with Reserve Army before that. Air Force put me through a Mechanical Eng degree, served 8 years after degree and commissioning as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Spent some time in every province, main postings were in Victoria, Kingston, Cold Lake Alberta, Toronto and Ottawa. Took early retirement as a Captain in 94 during the massive cutbacks by Liberals. Been working as a Tech Manager or Engineer since. Flipped around Ontario and western Quebec from 94 to 2000 trying to decide what to do when I grow up
Joined a Toronto based company in 2000, lived up in Newmarket until 2007 when accepted a corporate relocation to Arizona with my wife, son, horse and dog We love it here - good thing because would not want to sell house now I shot long guns as a kid living in a farm area, but did not touch a handgun until serving. Always enjoyed shooting during service time, volunteered for anything extra, eventually qualified as an RSO, and participated in clubs where/when possible. Missed that after leaving the service, but all the bureaucracy to own and transport turned me away. Move to Arizona relit that old flame, once had Green card I could buy and own so I got back into it and have even done a lot more - Trap&Skeet Shooting, monthly USPSA matches, monthly Steel Challenge, occasional multi-gun, and weekly fun USPSA style matches whenever I can attend on Thursday nights - all outdoors of course
Also volunteered to help out at my son's Scout Troop by taking NRA certifications for Shotgun Instructor and latter as RSO - very rewarding and a bit ironic for this Canadian guy to instruct a bunch of American boys how to safely and properly handle firearms.After reading threads on here I'll bet that many of you would love it down here - shoot outdoors year round, although can be a bit warm toward end of a morning match at this time of year
Pretty simple for transit from home to range - strap on, grab range bag, load gear and go.Since I am signing up for a website called GunNutz, you might wonder how much of a nut I have become in a gun free zone
My first handgun purchase down here was a Springfield XD - a great purchase. A little while latter had an opportunity to buy a slightly used Browning Hi-Power (standard - link) - trained with and carried the old Canadian Inglis HP, always admired that classic, so jumped at owning a modern more stylish version. Later got into Magnum revolvers - first a S&W Model 629 Classic (heck I always liked Clint as Dirty Harry) and latter a Ruger Blackhawk - gotta have a classic cowboy style when living in the southwest Taught my son to shoot first with a Ruger 10/22, and early last year graduated him to pistol with a Ruger 22/45 (I now use that at Steel Challenge, tons of fun). You might see a pattern here with Rugers, I like them, especially since several were built just 90 miles from home in Prescott AZ. So guess what came home on 3 May? - the new Ruger SR1911 - awesome. My early exposure to HiPower set an admiration for the genius of John Browning, so decided last year that I would acquire a new 1911 in 2011 as my little recognition of history - Ruger's introduction fit that wish perfectly, 100% made in USA where the 1911 started. Oh I should add that I got into reloading since moving here - started because I was shooting more and Canadian taxpayer no longer paying for me to shoot Reloading has grown as a hobby, nice calm time in garage, enjoy almost as much as shooting. I actually no longer save with reloading, just shoot more Anyway, that's me, thanks for reading if you made it this far. I look forward to "meeting" fellow Canadians on here (don't meet many Canadian shooters down here), and look forward to sharing a common interest in shooting.
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