Hunting Rifles/Guns When We Were Younger

My dad was a gun nut, which pretty much made me one too. I didn't start with the old single shots.

My first was a Remington 552 Speedmaster that I still have today, its in like new condition still.

My first shotgun was a Remington model 11 that I quickly parlayed into a Winchester 101, then a Citori Hunter, then a Citori Lightening that I still shoot today.

My first centerfire rifle was a Marlin 336 in 30/30 but I quickly moved into daddy's BSA Monarch in 30'06 with an old Weaver K4, still have it and use it from time to time, though mostly these days its to look at and remind me of my father.

My first collector gun was and Ithaca .410 SXS, still have it.

I have a lot of guns dad and I found together or dreamed of owning. Lots of them were special to him, those may never be shot by me but they will be cherished. Something about the smell of one of those old shotguns brings back lots of good memories.
 
Well Picher. The restaurant is long gone now as its owner. The evidence was eaten by those Highway Patrol Officers & Sheriff Deputy's and all those other civilians traveling along that old county blacktop road. But the restaurants owner was indeed caught eventually with his fingers in every neighbors hay fields for miles around. {according to one of my sweethearts letters} Of the many I received while stationed overseas. I can't say for sure but I believe the following event took place within the local law establishment:__At the behest of a few LE officials who were fortunate enough to sample that restaurants cuisine. Obviously the word spread to their brethren about that fabulous little (six stool) roadside diners menu. One day two LE plain clothes gentleman simply decided to stop by that restaurant one afternoon anticipating a decent dinner. No doubt those two fellows enjoyed their meal as did so many folks before them. But as luck would have it. It turns out both were Game Wardens simply passing by in one unmarked car. By the time I got back to that area 4 years latter. It sure brought back memories the first time I stood out front in its graveled parking area. Just looking at that old building imagining how it use to be. But by then all boarded up and left to weather away. So if I get pinched telling of these events that took place 50 years ago. First thing I'll ask for is a jury trial with media present. Then I'll fall on the mercy of the court and blame some other for my past behavior. Perhaps I'll get a book deal out of it. Get rich and move to your town/city to live out my life in luxury.

S/S
 
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first gun

Great looking back.

Mine was a JC Higgins (Marlin) single shot rifle in 22 cal that needed to be manually cocked before pulling the trigger. Saved an entire summer to be able to buy a Weaver 4x scope and mounts.

I would hike to town and buy 4 boxes of .22LR ammo at $0.80 a box and shoot all week.

Lots of crows, skunks and raccoons fell to that little gun.
 
The first handgun I ever shot was owned by my sister's boyfriend, who became her husband. It was a Sheridan Knockabout, single-shot break-open. I hit a can at about 20 feet, or so after a few shots. I now own it, but haven't shot it since getting it when my B-I-L passed away a few years ago.

The first CF handgun was a 4" Blackhawk flat-top, .357 mag. I accidentally fired it first time, when checking out the handling. I pointed it out the open window at a piece of paper on my aunt's lawn and BLAM!!!! I swear that room expanded in all directions from the blast! It took a few days for my hearing to get back to normal. LOL

BTW: Sure-Shot - I think you're safe. I'll never tell a soul. LOL
 
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Save money, and at 14 years old, in Europe I purchase a side by side 16 gauge. the right barrel came with removable full length insert so I could also shoot 36 gauge. with the right barrel.
It was a good looking shoot-gun, external hammer, Anson and Deely box lock with Greener cross bolt and with some engravings. Shell where expensive, with friend few years older, we undid one commercial shell, put the powder on a scoop cut to measure, one other one for the pellets, papers for bore ..... it work till one day the right barrel blow up !!! luckily I came out without a scratch, a pce of barrel about six inch long was missing, from the action till few inch in front of my hand on the forehand.!!! Youth, ignorance and self confidence terrible combination.....!!!!
After I learn that the barrel was of Damascus construction and made for light pressure load....too late!!!
Here in Canada the first rifle was a .22 Cooey,, followed by 110LH savage 06, and Franchi AL48 12 ga. .....and many others after that.
20 yrs a go as I stop smoking, I save and then spend the $$ I normally wasted on cigarette (almost 3 pack x day ) on rifles.!!!
 
Model 37 Winchester 12ga my father bought me when I was 14. I hunted all kinds of birds with it in Nebraska. Unfortunately I always bought the 2 3/4 inch magnum ammo and it always kicked the holy crap out of me.
 
First Rimfire - Marlin M25. I can't remember if I actually killed anything with it or just plinked. Mostly shotgun hunted in those days.

First shotgun - Winchester 1300 Ranger. Killed lots of stuff with this gun and while it now wears a shorter 22" barrel than the original 28" tube it's still my go-to gun.

First Centerfire - Savage 110 in .22-250. Still have the Savage although it's far from it's original form. Now a .243 and the only factory parts left are the bolt and receiver.
 
Funny, I too had a .22-250 and had it re-barreled to .243 Win. Now it's more useful for larger varmints and deer (grandkids).
 
First rifle I hunted with (rabbits and squirrels), was a Rossi 62SA pump action .22 LR............started shooting it when I was about 2 (I had help).

First centerfire hunting rifle was a Winchester Model 70 Supergrade in .270 Win, received for Christmas when I was 12.

I still have both.
 
My firsts were hand me downs... like some of you.

First .22 was a Remington 41-P bolt action single shot. My father carved his initials on it and that peep site made it a real accurate rimfire.

First shotgun was a Stevens 16ga. Model 105 that father had bought for $3.00 when he was a kid. I think they went for $11 new back then! I shot a lot of quail and pigeons with that old single shot.

First rifle was fathers Savage 99 250-3000 that had a bore that was shot out. He and I drove up to San Jose after I missed my first buck and he paid $125 for a used Remington Model 721 30-06 with a Weaver 4k scope that has shot true ever since.

Still have them all but the 99... wish I had that one also.
 
Cranky Love: A Winnie mod 70 Super Grade at 12 years old? You were spoiled rotten! I hope you still cherish it.
 
It wasn't so very long ago in the scheme of things, but my first .22 was a Henry lever action given to me by my father. I still have it today more than a decade later, and will have it until I have a child to give it to, or until I am dead.

It is deadly accurate on squirrels, by now I am sure that number is in the hundreds. The occasional nuisance opossum or raccoon on the porch has experienced some .22 ratshot.

Other than that, I shot a number of my parent's guns. I learned to shoot with a Ruger 10/22. First deer was taken with a Marlin 336 .35 Remington and done some shooting of the Marlin 336 in .30-30.

First rifle I ever bought for myself was a Savage .17 HMR, then a Marlin .17 HMR and traded the Savage for a Taurus Tracker .17 HMR revolver. I have taken squirrel with all of them. When rabbit season rolls around I will probably take a rabbit with the tracker, these rabbits that we see in the yard nearly daily let us get closer than I target shoot with it.
 
Well time for the old folks to chime in:D. Where are the real first guns/. Mine was a daisy red ryder BB gun. Many a gopher fell to this as did mice and sparrows, then moved to a Brand New Marlin 22, the old drop 18 down the tube ones. Gophers now had a serious problem;). Then came the trusty old 410. Not a rino killer for sure,but lots of Pheasants and grouse fell.Went to a odd 6 for many years for deer and finally about 12 years ago gave up the hunting and started killing paper. I remember being able to walk down Main Street holding a rifle loose,no gun case and the police would just wave when they drove by. The world was wide open. 3 blocks from the house was open field and open shooting.
 
A Winnie mod 70 Super Grade at 12 years old? You were spoiled rotten! I hope you still cherish it.
Click to expand...

I do like that rifle, we've spent a lot of time together in the 20+ years I've had it. It's one that will never be sold, and hopefully my kids will enjoy as much as I do when they get old enough to shoot it.
 
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