How did you get introduced to firearms?

My father started taking me hunting when I was about 6. He bought me my first gun, a Marlin semi-auto .22, when I was 7 and a Marlin 336C in 30-30 when I was about 14. We shared guns and hunting until his death. Both are very precious memories for me. I've been hooked on shooting ever since.
 
My father was very into guns of all types so it was natural for me to be into them. He worked for a time at Numrich Arms as a salesman and became friends with the head gunsmith so there were always lots of guns in the house. My favorite picture from my childhood is of me in my walker with Dad's Winchester Model 12 Skeet laid across the tray (Wish I could find that picture right now). My first shooting experience was when I was 6 or 7 Dad took me and my older sister to the local sand pit when we lived in Belfast, Me for a bit and we spent the afternoon plinking away with his 10/22 and an old Remington bolt action .22 that had been cut down to kid size. I was hooked after that, I have several of my father's guns here that that were left to me when he died in 2006 and they all hold special memories for me but my favorites by far are the one's that he passed down to me while he was still alive.

Stu
 
Was born into a house with firearms in closets and draws. Don't touch or daddy will beat your arss. When I was 5 shouting lessons began.
 
I grew up with firearms. My grandfathers both were into firearms too. One was an old west sheriff and passed away when I was very young. The other was younger and grew up in Utah. He had a few friends that were REALLY into firearms. So my father was raised up with firearms too.

My first recollection of firing firearms was shooting grandpa's cap and ball. I was about 5 at the time. Since then, a lot of powder and lead have gone downrange.
 
BB Guns and Air rifle for my earliest experiences. Too young to remember how young.

Ruger 10/22 was my first real rifle, I might of been 6 or 7. I grew up in a house full of guns.
 
My first rifle was a gift from my grandfather, the day I was born. I have shot, honestly, since I was big enough to hold rifles and pistols. My parents used to buy me a brick of .22's and hand me an old Winchester bolt action rifle, this was what my summer breaks from school consisted of.
 
Up until the pivotal moment, I'd had no interest whatsoever in guns. Then, one day, while still in Junior High School, I wandered down to the library during my Study Hall. Happened upon a book that looked to have been made in the late '50s or early '60s about the FBI. I sat down and began reading; and I made it to the chapter dealing with firearms training. It was at this point that the key was inserted into the lock, the hand slipped into the glove. I walked out of that library a forever-changed kid. From there, I began devouring every issue of Guns & Ammo I could find, learning the basics from Jan Libourel, Dave Arnold, and others. A few years later, when I finally got my first real firearm, thanks to all I'd learned from those gents, I was ready.
 
In my case my sons and I did it backwards. They gave me an air rifle as a Fathers Day gift years ago which I really enjoyed shooting. Then, due to circumstances we were estranged for eleven years. About the time we reunited 2-1/2 years ago I saw an ad in a national publication from Henry Repeating Arms Company and got interested in their lever-action .22 rifle which I subsequently bought. As it turned out both my sons are avid shooters and gun collectors, one of them is in law-enforcement, and I caught the shooting "bug" from them. These days shooting and running drills is our main father-son bonding and socializing activity. Since our homes are two hours apart we have "range days" in which we meet at the range to practice and play with our various firearms then go out for a hearty restaurant meal afterwards. So, my sons got me all fired up about firearms and I'm a relative late bloomer.
 
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I don't really remember being introduced. Hunting in my family was just like going to school or church. Everyone did it and the whole family was involved. We had pointers for quail, hounds for deer and we had to tend to all of them. My earliest hunting memory was being carried out of my uncles dove field on my dad's shoulder because I was to tired to walk.I was maybe 5 years old.
The guns, especially shotguns, were prized possessions. The shotgun was the main tool used for all types of hunting. My dad had a double barrel for birds and a Ithaca pump for deer. He finally wore the pump out and got a Remmy 1100 from the Otasco store in town when I was around 9. I remember going with him to pick it up about 40 years ago.
Good memories!!!
 
Grew up in the 1950s watching cowboy programs, had my shar of cap pistols-even had one that was a copy of the Broomhandle Mauser. First fired an actual firearm-22 rifle-at Boy Scout Camp, summer of 1963.
 
I too had cap-guns, cowboy boots and a horse on springs that I would ride out to Indian country. What can I say my father looked at the Lone Ranger, Big Valley, Bonanza and every western known to man.
 
Grew up in the north woods and with the exception of my maternal grandmother I cannot think of a single adult in my family, ie anyone over 14 years old who did not have a gun and a lot of us started out with a bow.
 
I'm jealous of all you guys that grew up with guns in your hands. We had a cheap BB gun when I was a kid but Dad never taught me how to shoot it (despite having been an expert marksman in junior ROTC). As a Boy Scout I got to shoot a .38 Special once. Not long after I got married a younger brother left his 9mm Jennings and an SKS (and his motorcycle :) ) with me one summer. I shot a couple of rounds out of each. It wasn't until I was past 40 that I got the bug and taught myself. I read a ton of info off the internet until I knew how to be safe and how to line up the sights and how to breathe and ... Then I bought a .22 pistol and started practicing. Now I really need another safe! I taught my younger son how to shoot with that .22 pistol and when he's older I'll hand it down to him. I wish I could go back in time and teach the older one. He learned from a church youth group leader who apparently didn't spend much time on safety. The younger one had to repeat the 4 rules to me before I handed him a gun. For years Dad has changed the subject whenever me or my gun-nut brother brought up guns. But a year ago something changed. Recently we got him his very own .22 rifle for his birthday and he loves it! He even joined a gun club so he'd have a place to shoot. So I guess the story took a good turn despite the long, slow start. :)
 
Came our of the womb carrying my first rifle---hence the C-section delivery. ;) One of the benefits on being Montana born and bred.
 
My father was a hunter, and an NRA rifle & pistol safety instructor. Mom plinked, and shot pests. She was a crack shot with her JC Higgins .22, and pretty good with her Ruger Bearcat.

Learning began about the time I was big enough to hold one up. My 14th birthday present was my very own Winchester .22. At 16, Dad gave me a Remington model 600 .308 and at an auction, bought me a Winchester Model 12, 12ga.

That particular .22 is long gone, but the deer rifle and the shotgun I still have, and they have lots, and lots of relatives keeping them company these days.
 
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