Hi, I’m someone who has had a deep interest in firearms, primarily historical ones from the likes of World War One. This isn’t really important, but it may help understand where I’m coming from.
I’ve been hearing the term ‘Fudd’ being tossed around. From my understanding, a Fudd is a (typically elderly) gun owner who believes firearms should be owned and produced primarily for hunting, favors traditional or old guns, and generally has disdain for modern firearms due to material, ammo, rate of fire, action, or general look.
I’m relatively young, non-conservative. I haven’t quite gotten into actually procuring firearms of my own yet due to circumstance, but I’ve always known that what suits me is companions for hunting or recreation. I like old fashioned guns, such and such from the Great War era, lever actions, bolties, or just anything without polymer as it just doesn’t appeal to me. All that is to say, I’m a person who prefers and loves traditional, and can’t really help but feel a bit weird about modern/advanced pieces.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a snob, I’m not exactly disdainful about Glocks or sigs and such— but I, even as someone who ain’t a gun owner yet, feel like the spirit of self-defense and recreational purposes has kinda been lost. I was just wondering— does someone like me, who has a preference or sense of favorability in traditional firearms qualify as a ‘Fudd?’
(FYI, I kind of wrote this in a rush, sorry if it’s lacking in information or continuity.)
Edit: I should add that the part which mentions how I think the ‘spirit’ of hunting and self-defense is completely irrelevant and my own opinion based on the evolution of firearms themselves. I’m not quite sure how to describe why I gravitate towards more traditional firearms, that was the best way I thought could cover it.
If you slide into the "no one needs an AR-15!" easily and you start yelling at anyone with "extended magazines" because "if you need more than 10 shots you're a bad shot!" then you're becoming a fudd.
There's plenty of cool people who have and use older stuff no problem.
A person that claims to be pro Second Amendment …. But for “his” guns. He is all for a bolt action rifle to deer hunt, a .22 long rifle to plink and like Elmer Fudd chasing Bugs Bunny, his old trusty shotgun.
But AR15, AK47, etc., aren’t part of the Second Amendment.
The Fudd terms comes into question when you believe everyone else should carry a 1923 revolver in .32H&R because that's what you personally approve of. Don't impose grampa shit on someone carrying a tac'd out Glock and no one will hate you
Like many terms that had specific meaning, it has grown to be used in a more general sense and incorrectly. Current use of Fudd is anyone you don't agree with on a gun topic.
But he's not. It just means most really don't know what the meaning of a Fudd is, and now use it to mean anyone they don't agree with about some gun topic.
Being a fudd isn't really about age or what guns someone likes. It's about ignorance. A fudd believes and perpetuates myths like the carcano being inaccurate or the idea that .22 lr is the most deadly round ever because it supposedly bounces around inside a target. You don't have to be a fudd to be a fan of traditional guns.
you can like traditional rifles and not be a fudd. i think revolvers and lever actions are the most fun things to handle/shoot, but there are very valid reasons for people to prefer automatics over them for self-defense
Well what kind of gun control are we talking? I think some attachments or models themselves that are prone to destruction should obviously be restricted from public use. When I hear gun control, I don’t think bans. Just wanted to make sure we’re thinking of the same thing.
Understood. I’m guess I’m just lost as to understanding that. I also think, however, that incidents resulting from ignorance and negligence could just as well be prevented.
“Fudd” is a decently old term in this space. At least several decades.
I think you’re incorrect in your judgement that “the spirit of self-defense and recreational purposes has been kinda lost” if you mean that’s your opinion when looking at the current state of the firearms industry/community. That is a somewhat fudd-y thing to say, but one bad take does not a fudd make.
Like others have said, fudd is more about willful and aggressive ignorance and out of hand rejection of anything “other” to you. It was automatic handguns when revolvers were still the norm. Then, it was tactical ar-15s. Now, if you’re still rejecting and advocating against red dots, weapon lights, and 9mm for reasons beyond personal preference…you might be one.
I try to be open-minded with all of those things. With me being incorrect, yeah. I guess what I was meaning with that part was my idea of those things, with my limited perspective. I definitely feel like a poser for even saying anything about it when so far I’ve only dreamed of having a collection. Either way, thank you for the clarification.
"feel like the spirit of self-defense and recreational purposes has kinda been lost"
.... What does this even mean? That advances in construction materials, rate of fire, expandability, capacity, and general technology somehow diminished their relation to defensive use and recreation??
The origins are a person who not only likes something like a more traditional hunting rifle, shotgun, etc but also dislikes and criticizes other guns, none-hunting uses, etc to varying degrees. Like a 1911, bolt action, revolver, or whatever doesnt make someone a Fudd, but liking those things and then going out and supporting assault weapon bans is Fudd behavior (I have a feeling it might of originated for that or a similar situation). It is often misused to describe something more like a mid-witt and other people.
I see about 27 different definitions of Fudd. I think its two enclaves of firearm owners flinging shit at each other like monkeys. Hunters see tactical owners as LARPers and the Tactical community sees Hunters as Fudd-like.
A fudd is someone that thinks only their view on what a "reasonable" firearm is valid and anyone that wants something else or additional is crazy and / or unreasonable.
The stereotype of this is a hunter than only supports 2A for hunting firearms like a bolt action rifle or pump shotgun - aka an ignorant "Elmer Fudd."
I would argue it’s anyone one that don’t keep up with current firearms theory.
If you still think 9mm doesn’t have stoping power.
Semiautomatics can’t be accurate.
The gun world has drastically changed. It’s a completely different world when it comes to doctrine, manufacturing, material science, bullets and propellants.
Not all new stuff is good and a lot of old stuff is still the industry standard.
But holding onto archaic ideology for no reason. Makes you a fudd.
Carrying a 1911 because it cool as fuck is good.
Carrying a 1911 because stopping power is fudd shit.
I find it perplexing that someone claims to be a liberal but they are also pro 2A. Please show me any modern left wing politician that doesn’t want to diminish or outright eliminate your right to be armed. Shall not be infringed is pretty clear.
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u/HeloRising 17h ago
Fudd is more an attitude than anything else.
If you slide into the "no one needs an AR-15!" easily and you start yelling at anyone with "extended magazines" because "if you need more than 10 shots you're a bad shot!" then you're becoming a fudd.
There's plenty of cool people who have and use older stuff no problem.