As I approach 70, I think back to the hunting rifles/shotguns I owned when a teen and young adult.
My first was a Stevens 87A Semi-Auto 22LR. It wasn't extremely accurate, but killed a lot of small game, mostly squirrels and rabbits. Next was a Marlin 39A Mountie with a receiver sight that was unbelievably accurate and fun to shoot. It took lots of squirrels, mostly reds around the camp.
My first centerfire was a Savage 110, first model with the straight stock. I got a Bishop semi-inletted blank and carved/rasped/sanded it into a stock that looked like a Weatherby, then epoxy-bedded it and mounted a 2.5X Weaver on it. I only shot one deer with it, but killed numerous woodchucks, even one at 500 yards (second shot)!
Next up was a Rem 700, .22-250 that won my heart. It was extremely accurate and won me many turkeys. I shot several deer with it too, using Nosler 55 grain solid-based Zipedo bullets. It was lousy as a deer caliber though.
My first shotgun was a Beretta single, 20 Gauge, that kinda folded. It was very light and kicked like a 12. Next one was a 16 gauge Savage, 311 double. Couldn't hit anything with that thing. Then, bought a Sears/Ted Williams/High Standard pump, with adjustable choke and vent rib. That one worked well for me and killed quite a few birds and shot many rounds of skeet.
Anybody else have stories of their first hunting guns?
My first was a Stevens 87A Semi-Auto 22LR. It wasn't extremely accurate, but killed a lot of small game, mostly squirrels and rabbits. Next was a Marlin 39A Mountie with a receiver sight that was unbelievably accurate and fun to shoot. It took lots of squirrels, mostly reds around the camp.
My first centerfire was a Savage 110, first model with the straight stock. I got a Bishop semi-inletted blank and carved/rasped/sanded it into a stock that looked like a Weatherby, then epoxy-bedded it and mounted a 2.5X Weaver on it. I only shot one deer with it, but killed numerous woodchucks, even one at 500 yards (second shot)!
Next up was a Rem 700, .22-250 that won my heart. It was extremely accurate and won me many turkeys. I shot several deer with it too, using Nosler 55 grain solid-based Zipedo bullets. It was lousy as a deer caliber though.
My first shotgun was a Beretta single, 20 Gauge, that kinda folded. It was very light and kicked like a 12. Next one was a 16 gauge Savage, 311 double. Couldn't hit anything with that thing. Then, bought a Sears/Ted Williams/High Standard pump, with adjustable choke and vent rib. That one worked well for me and killed quite a few birds and shot many rounds of skeet.
Anybody else have stories of their first hunting guns?
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