On a sleep deprived whim I have decided to try something new here at GFE. I am going to try to interview YouTube Gun vlogger channel owner dudes (and dudettes, if they will talk to me). I sent out some requests and believe it or not, some people actually responded. I want to ask the hard hitting questions, leave no stone unturned. I realize that might make me unpopular with the establisment, but I’m just that kind of internet warrior.

The first victim was TNOUTDOORS9. You may know him for his epic shooting compilations, ballistic tests and nerdy haircut.

Here’s a taste of what he offers to the Youtube gun community.

I sat down in cyberspace with TNOUTDOORS9 yesterday and pressed him on the important issues. Here is what we talked about.

First, let’s get introductions out of the way. Can you please let our readers know a little something about yourself, how you picked your Youtube channel name, how long you’ve been on Youtube, and who was your favorite member of the A Team (the original A Team, not the shitty remake).

I am a Tennessee native and have lived in the Nashville area my entire life. The YouTube name came from an alter-ego that I used a few years ago for the local newspaper blog section, but I no longer spend any time there. I was on the blog primarily to counterbalance the misinformed and retrocranial-inverted anti-gunners who have permeated the metro-Nashville area in recent years. The name is simply a combination of the abbreviation for Tennessee, my favorite pastime, and one of my favorite calibers. I opened the YouTube account in 2008 but didn’t post any videos until 2009. In addition to shooting videos, my early offerings included footage of trains, plains, live music, etc. In January 2010 I decided to make it a shooting-only channel, with some relevant deviation every so often. All the non-shooting videos were deleted. My favorite member of the A-Team was George Peppard as Hannibal Smith.

Your viewers will agree with me that you do a lot of math and science on your channel. Where did you go to elementary school and what was your major?

Elementary school in Nashville, then moved to the suburbs. I failed 4th grade, twice. Skipped 5th grade out of fear and went straight into junior high, which is when I met my first and second wife, at a family reunion of course. I flunked Algebra once in high school, passed with a D on the second attempt. Flunked Algebra again in college. Started out as an Accounting major but was blown away by the advanced classes. Graduated with my BMI degree (Barely Made It), major in Business Management and minor (almost a major) in Computer Science. I enjoy analyzing things and thinking out of the box. I also want to be different, outside the norm. I enjoy challenges and working toward a solution, a tactic that I need for survival in my day job.

You shoot quite a bit at dusk. Do your neighbors get annoyed at you for shooting when Honey Boo Boo is on?

I shoot in three locations, but quite a bit in the backyard, and 99% of the ammo tests. Yes, I shoot at dusk because, during the week, that is typically the only time I can get setup in the backyard. I live in a very rural area, with several shooters on my street. However, I have the safest setup due to nobody living directly behind me for nearly two miles. Everyone else, they just take potshots into each other’s garage or living room. We all get along great. Couple of the guys are aware of the channel, however, most of my neighbors are obsessed with cutting the grass three times a week and do not realize the Internet exists. But, they do seem to enjoy recording Honey Boo Boo’s flatulating antics on TIVO and having a Saturday morning discussion about it over coffee and biscuits at the local Hardees.

I saw that you visited Hickock45 at his compound. Did you take his secret blood oath to gain his trust? How do you intend to doublecross him during the Zombie apocalypse?

I’ve known Hickok45 since 1985, we used to work together. For some reason, one of our watercooler discussions turned to guns; imagine that. Must have been the Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum potruding from Hickock’s suit jacket. Following some very expensive bribes and non-tax deductable contributions to his pumpkin fund, he invited me out to his place for shooting; this was a few years before John was even born. I was hooked. Bought my first gun on his front porch, private sale. No background check, a fact that I’m proud to say has been hidden from Michael Bloomberg for over 25 years. For several years I was at his house every weekend and used to keep track of all the firearms and calibers I had an opportunity to shoot. I’ve been out there only ten times or so over the past three years due to my job, his job, YouTube, etc. Everyone is just too busy. Plus, he doesn’t like it when I sneak up on him while filming a video.

Doublecross Hickok45? Have you seen him shoot? As long as I stay beyond 230 yards, I probably have a chance. I might be a better shooter with rifles beyond 230 yards because I practice it all the time, just don’t tell him that.

Who has more Glocks, you or him?

More Glocks? Really? I have fewer than 10 last time I checked the secret bunker under that little house in the backyard. I really don’t know how many he has, but in reality, I’m betting there are alot of people out there who have more Glocks than Hickok45. That having said, there was a period several years ago where I had multiples of the Glock 26, 19, 17, and 34; plus, Glocks in .45 ACP and 10mm. During that period I MAY have had more Glocks than Hickok45.

You do a lot of POV shooting videos which are a lot of fun to watch. What black magic do you use to levitate the camera between your eyes to get those amazing shots?

First, it’s essential to insure that I don’t have a sinus problem that day; Sony camcorders do not have a warranty for mucous. Second, I use a variety of common household products that you can buy at any hardware store. For handguns, I just wrap myself around the tripod. For rifles and shotguns, I have a variety of mounting methods. I want to provide the viewer with the most realistic real-life shooter’s view as possible…..feel the recoil, enjoy the success of an accurate shot. I realize that, unfortunately, way too many enthusiasts around the world have their rights restricted and may never have the opportunity to actually participate in sport shooting, target shooting, etc.. I try to convey for them that enjoyment.

You must be making fat stacks off your Youtube account. What brands of booze would you say you have blown most of those profits on?

I don’t drink or smoke, but I will indulge in copious amounts of Mountain Dew, McDonalds coffee, and Hershey chocolate. Or a caramel pie from O’Charley’s, which is imminent. YouTube has been good to me, but I have to maintain a balance between that and my real job, which offers insurance and the semblance of a 401K. As much as I enjoy being creative and making videos, providing (hopefully) useful information for other enthusiasts, it gets more difficult every month to keep all of this in perspective. I could never foresee anything like what has transpired. To add, I truly believe there are many, many people who could pick up a camera and do very well. I hope they step up and contribute to this wonderful platform and knowledge base that is probably one of the best tools available for promoting the 2nd Amendment; and providing a counterbalance to “old media”. I also feel that a very small portion of gun owners have any comprehension this information is available from thousands of gun channels. That crosses my mind at every gun show….I look around thinking….most of these good folks don’t realize the vast amount of entertaining and informative videos asking only for their time. There could be a solution to their firearms-related question only a few clicks away.

You shoot remarkably well for a guy with glasses. What would you say has been your most important tool for overcoming this disability? Have you ever considered participating in the paralympics?

Probably the fact that I have secret government software encrypted in my lenses. I volunteered as a “lab rat” when I skipped those later years of elementary school, which at that time involved reading 6 hours a day in total darkness. I’ve been getting semi-annual software updates the past few decades. An Al Gore presidency in 2000 would have probably ended those updates, with government funding for the lense enhancement project likely reallocated to global warming research, or Presidential debate-related altitude studies in Colorado. Couple of years ago I assisted with what you could call an “olympics” that we held in a local backyard, hidden from Google Maps street view, but I’m not supposed to tell my neighbors about the pool event involving their wives.

Let’s get a little personal for a moment. Viewers of your channel will remember that there was a scandal in July when TMZ used your sextape without your permission. You made a response video about it, discussing Fair Use. Despite the embarrassment, has this controversy helped boost your Youtube career?

Yes, that was embarrassing, but that was actually footage in which I was not wearing pants; so what can I say? It was hot that day, but I used mosquito repellant; the rash went away in just a few days. Otherwise, I hope it made people aware of the fact that the mainstream media is really full of crap. I cannot fully convey my disdain for their antics. They may be realizing that new media is taking over and old media will soon no longer be relevant. I think it’s interesting…..the media portrays gun ownership and the 2nd Amendment as outdated, a vision of the Founding Fathers that should have been dissolved once the country was fully established and free from any outside oppression. The irony is, does the media feel the same about the 1st Amendment? In other words, shouldn’t freedom of speech and the media be limited to someone wearing a wig and triangular hat, standing on a soapbox in a public market and ranting to anyone within earshot?

Have you ever considered helping the Youtube gun community by testing different types of ammo in ballistic gel and posting the results?

Briefly, but I consulted with Yogi Berra and he told me that too many people were already doing it.

What kind of camera tricks do you use to fake your long range shots?

Primarily keeping the field of view within a paradox of positive reflectivity, balancing the equation of theorative color interpretation and sunspot wavelength, coordinated with the programming elements of COBOL and the iPhone, plus a dose of quantum physics. It goes downhill from there.

I notice a lot of your videos have absolutely zero talking in them. Are you trying to send Nutnfancy a message?

LOL. As I responded earlier, I try to be out of the norm. There are alot of talking videos on YouTube. I’m a visual guy. I’m blessed to have places to shoot, and a little bit of time to do so. If I can tell a story with just the camera, I’m all for it, and in less than 3 minutes if possible. I’m not the reason people watch the channel, at least that is how I try to think. It’s all about the guns and the amazing things you can do with them; with an assist from the camcorder.

How did you and Santa Claus first meet? Has he ever admitted to you that he’s not real? If so, how did you take it?

I believe it was at a coed bathhouse in Puerto Rico. Wait, that’s another story.

Your videos have a high quality professionalism to them. Have you ever considered switching to a webcam and doing shitty gun reviews from your mom’s basement to fit in with the rest of the Youtube gun community?

I have honestly thought about posting a really crappy video, just to see how badly viewers break my balls. As noted earlier, I’ve already deleted my early crappy videos. I was never formally taught anything pertaining to photography or videography; everything was absorbed through years of success and failure. I will confess that experimentation with Playboy model and Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader rejects during the middle 90′s was probably the highlight of my photography exploratory efforts. Photography has always been a primary hobby of mine. Once I started making videos in 2009, I completely stopping using my Canon EOS SLR. I’m now obsessed with HD camcorders and editing software. I enjoy the aspect of producing videos as much as shooting. BTW, my parents have a really nice, full-sized basement that is temperature controlled year round, so it is tempting to go rogue.

Thanks so much for your time. Do you have any questions for me? Is there anything you wish to apologize for to your viewers, specifically about your sextape?

Your preferences: Mountain Dew vs. Mello Yello? Krispy Kreme vs. Dunkin Donuts? 9mm vs. 40 S&W vs. .357 SIG? And I do promise to wear nothing less than a thong in future videos.

I drink my own piss when I’m stranded in hostile desert climates or when I’m stuck in traffic. I prefer Dunkin Donuts because I became well aquainted with them living on the East Coast for a few years. Krispy Kreme tastes too much like warm baby food. My daily carry varies between .500 S&W and .32 ACP, depending on the season. The ballistics of the .500 gives me confidence when facing possible alien invasion, but the .32 is just so convenient.

Your threats of wearing a thong have frightened and shocked me. Please PM me all videos showing you in a thong so I can approve them for public viewing.

Thank you very much for giving me your time. I hope the community has learned something useful about you. I think I speak for the entire Holy Trinity when I say we wish you continued 1080 HD success. My you enjoy many more hellishly humid summers of ballistic testing and redneck science.

You can find more of TNOUTDOORS9 videos on his Youtube channel.