gun stories

[LITTLE BUCK]

i started this thread because i like to here good gun stories,let me share one with you.
mossberg model 183df 3inch .410
my dad bought me a gun identical to this gun when i was 10 years old, he would carry me with him squirrel and quail hunting, what wonderful memories, dad been gone for 5 years now ,sure miss him. i am 76 now so this story goes way back.
when squirrel season would open i would be in woods after school, we lived in country had small farm and could hunt on any of our neighbors places,killed lots of squirrel ,rabbits, and quail with that old gun.when i was about 16 i had a opportunity to trade my mossberg for a stevens double barrel, as i got older i regretted that i ever traded .
well last year i ran across a identical gun on gun brokers it was in real good condition, i had been looking for one for years,it was going to be hard for someone to out bid me,i stayed by the computer everyday until i purchased it 165.00. i get those wonderful memories every time i pick it up, like dad moving around to other side of our favorite hickory tree when squirrels were cutting in so the they would move around to my side so i could get a shot.well those days are gone but i think i will have them hide it in my casket so when i get to heaven dad and i can go hunting.
i purchased some browning tss and tried it in my gun, it has the full chock screwed on it shoots a real good pattern, hope to take a turkey with it this spring.
P.S- i would like to here some of your stories

 

[tark]

Wonderful story, and welcome to the Forum. Be sure to check the game laws in your state. In Illinois I believe turkeys can only be hunted with a 20 gauge or larger.

 

[Archie]

Here's my memorial guns:
This Marlin 39 (no "A") belonged to my late father. He said he bought the rifle '...when it first came out...' After his death, I checked the serial number for date of manufacture. It was between 1922 and 1925; being a four digit number - and 12,000 made by the end of 1925 - I suspect it is pretty much when it first came out. At the least, when it was first available in his area. I spoke with my sons and they both agree it will go to my oldest grandson, my late father's oldest great grandson bearing the family name.

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This rifle is a Stevens semiautomatic rifle .22 rimfire, Model 85. It belonged to my late brother and will be presented to his oldest grandchild when possible.

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This is the Marlin-Glenfield rifle I bought for my boys when they were around eleven and seven respectively. The first picture with the chip marks on the butt are where I cut the stock shorter - and so it could be re-lengthened at need - when they both had arms too short to hold the rifle. I think this may go to my older son. My younger son will not be forgotten.

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[Pivot Dr]

I have a Model 42 Winchester that my mom bought used, for my dad in ‘ 45 as a Christmas gift the first year they were married. Dad used it a lot, best wing shot I’ve ever seen. Once I got big enough to hunt, dad let me carry it “empty” the first year. Next year he gave me a shell now and then, long story shorter, I eventually grew frustrated with the .410, wanted a 12 ga! We didn’t have any extra money but dad knew I was loaded, I had $50 in my paper route bag, he’d checked. Offered to sell me his Model 12, 12 ga for $50. That was a real dilemma for me! I finally bought the Model 12 and he sold the 42 to an old friend who had a couple sons getting big enough to hunt too. For $50! It gets better!
Our local appliance store had traded for a like new Browning A-5 Light 12, sat in the front window for months. (That’s a tragic story itself) Tony wanted $100 for it, dad had $100! Dad being a car dealer was used to negotiating. He bought the Browning for $80! $20 left over! ‘42s skyrocketed in price and Dad kept trying to buy another one, but...... Many times we would poke Clarence, the friend who bought the ‘42, and try to buy it back. He’d just chuckle and politely say no.

Fast forward about 25 years and my first son was about 11 years old. Clarence comes into dad’s shop: “You still want that Model ‘42?” Dad says: “SURE!” Dad knows what ‘42s are bringing then so kind of cautiously he asks: “What do you want for it?” Clarence says: You ought to have a have a grandson about big enough to hunt, my boys outgrew the .410, I’d like to get my $50 back”. You know what happened! Forward a few months and on opening day my son is carrying an empty Model 42 when the Game Warden is waiting at the end of the field. He’s checking licenses and wants to see my son’s hunter safety course card. You need one here at 12 years old. Of course son doesn’t have one. We get a bit of hassle from the warden until he is convinced son is only barely 11 years old. Warden notices the Model 42, and says: “Don’t see many of those around any more, may I look at it?” Son looks at grandpa and grandpa says it’s ok. Son hands it to the warden and he noticed it is empty, no shells in it. He smiles, looks it over, hands it back and says: “Looks like you are in good hands son, have a nice day!” Later son did get a shell, wish I could say he got a pheasant that day, but........

Yes, the Model 42 and Model 12 have a permanent position of honor among many other guns in the safe.
Side note: last time the 42 was fired (many years ago) I got two quail on the fly with one shot! I decided to quit while I was ahead!

 

[Steve S.]

You had your father for 71 years, that is quite a long gift - good for you and your father, especially the field memories!

 

[AK Hunter]

I bought one just like it when I was a child & still use it for squirrels.

 

[Pivot Dr]

You had your father for 71 years, that is quite a long gift - good for you and your father, especially the field memories!

Didn’t do the math, was off about 7 years.

 

[Pivot Dr]

I bought one just like it when I was a child & still use it for squirrels.
View attachment 973444

Can’t load the attachment, I assume it’s a Model 42. Some years back I found a Browning Model 42 at a gun show. I was just strolling along evaluating tables when I came to a screeching halt and did an about face. The guy behind the table said: “Yup, it is!” It sits fight beside my 20 and 28 ga today. Sweet little small gauge 5- stand and Sporting Clays course gun.

 

[Bartojc]

I have a 16 Ga Mossberg sitting in the corner and haven't used it in years. As the story goes my father when I was really small was pheasant hunting with my uncle who was quite the sportsman. My dad supposedly never liked the Mossberg, and was questioning why he brought it that day. After a few misses he supposedly threw it in a nearby ditch and proclaimed it useless. My uncle picked it up and told my dad you don't treat a firearm that way. He took it with permission and exclaimed that when I was old enough to hunt he would give it to me as a first shotgun. Fast forward a dozen or more years and he did give it to me an a Saturday morning before a hunt. It was the shotgun I used for small game for a number of years until I was able to buy my first shotgun.

At one time I refinished the stock, and did a cold blue on the barrel. It's not pretty, but I can't seem to part with it.

My uncle and my father are gone, but the shotgun leans in the corner of my reloading room.

-Jeff

 

[Redruff]

I don't have much of a story but it's good to see other Mossberg 183's. I have a KE with the C-Lect choke that's had a 10" suppressor attached.

 

[Pivot Dr]

BTW, I have the A-5 Browning too, though it’s on permanent loan to the son that was carrying the empty 42. He’ll get the 42 one day too! Other son gets the Model 12 and my ‘53 vintage Model 70 .270.

When I look in the safe and other jam packed gun lockers there’s hardly a gun in there that doesn’t carry some kind of story or other. Probably only interesting to me though.

 

[NorthBorder]

Like the OP, I have an old 410 bolt gun, a Stevens 39B. I don't know the history of it but I remember it being at my Grandad's farm in Chappell Hill, TX. When we moved to Rome, GA in 1964 the gun came with us. There is where I shot it for the first time. There were times when the starlings would fly over and blacken the sky and fill the trees in the woods behind our house. Me with my BB gun and my brother with the 410 would just shoot up into the sky or trees as the starlings flew by. They were so loud the blast for the 410 wouldn't even disturb them as their buddies were blown out of the trees.
Somehow, I ended up with it. It is a tube fed style however the spring is so weak after 70 or more years that it won't push a round into the chamber..
And another thing, I always loved the smell of the smoke or burnt powder from that gun. It isn't like any other firearm residual smoke that I have ever fired.