NATCHEZ — N.D. Fuller takes a particular pride in his hunting.

While most hunters purchase their hunting rifle from a store or the internet, Fuller takes satisfaction in knowing that when he hunts, he’s using a gun he made himself.

The 83-year-old Fuller has been manufacturing his own hunting rifles as long as he can remember, and even though he doesn’t hunt as much as he used to, he is still manufacturing firearms, albeit at a slower pace.

“It’s been a hobby for a long time,” Fuller said. “I’ve always like guns ever since I was a kid.”

Fuller’s son, Rodney Fuller, said as far back as he can remember, his father has been making guns and hunting with them.

“The guns he hunts with are some of the same ones we used as kids,” he said. “He makes pretty much everything himself.”

N.D. Fuller said once he was discharged from the U.S. Army after the Korean War, he wanted to attend gunsmith school in Colorado, but didn’t have the funds. However, he has made a pretty good hobby of it on his own.

“It’s an interesting hobby,” Fuller said. “But it can get expensive.”

Fuller says all the guns he makes are bolt action. He uses different barrel makers and attaches the barrel to the action. He then makes his own stocks out of Mississippi Black Walnut.

Hunting with his own guns give him a special satisfaction, Fuller said.

“It makes it more exciting to hunt with a gun you made yourself,” he said. “I’ve made a few for other people as well.”

Fuller said he prefers the old-timey guns such as single shot rifles and muzzle loaders.

“I wish they never had come out with the newer type guns,” he said. “It’s more of a challenge (using the older guns). The newer guns shoot like a high powered rifle.”

But with his gunsmith skills, Fuller never has to worry about being stuck using a gun he doesn’t like or approve of.