"for the child within"

Mine is a late 50's Marlin Golden 39A that i've had since i was a kid. Every time i shoot that rifle i'm transported back to my youth. The 39A is my personal time machine and go figure it doesn't run on plutonium like in "Back To The Future", it just runs on bulk .22lr!
But seriously, when i go out rabbit hunting with my kids i still take the 39A even though i have many others that would accomplish the task. I can't help but remember the fun times i had rabbit hunting as a kid.
My oldest daughter has been participating in NRA Junior Rifle and as my wife says I leave the house with the biggest grin on my face and come back smiling ear to ear. What can i say, i'm just a big kid!

Chicken-Farmer

My "child within" is actually my Dad's "child within". A Remington Model 41P Target Master single shot .22LR rifle.
My Dad saved his strawberry picking money to buy this rifle new. And that was during the Depression.
This is the first gun I ever shot, and is still the most accurate .22 I have shot.
It was a funny rifle for me to look at when I was younger as, the peep sight elevation screw, had been lost and my Dad replaced it in the field with what he had on hand....a screw in cigarette lighter flint wheel. I used to spin the wheel before each and every shot. Maybe that's why it shoots so good.
I lost the wheel myself climbing over a fence. I looked for the better part of an hour on my hands and knees, but I never did find it.
I know I can get a replacement screw for it, but I'm holding out for a lighter wheel. I stop at flea markets when I can still looking for that right lighter.

I know i wish my Grandfather would have chosen something of a little higher quality! If only the wood fit a little more sloppy and the metal was machine fit instead of hand fitted! I just can't help but look at my 39A and think about the way things used to be made. Pride in craftsmanship, built to last many lifetimes, and emphasis was put on quality instead of quantity.

I do have a similar firearm to yours. Mine is a North American Arms Mini-Master 22lr/22MAG revolver. No practical reason at all for the pistol, but damn is it fun to shoot and provides me with a challenge when shooting. No reason to own it other than i just wanted one. The little NAA makes people shake their heads and wonder why, I love making people wonder why!

Chicken-Farmer

H&R 922. Didn't really want it, but the price was right and it really isn't that bad. I had to scrub the dickens out of it to get it to function, but it works pretty good now.

Mossberg Model 144LSB that I got to shoot targets with the school's rifle club. I can STILL shoot the eye out of a squirrel at the top of the tree with it...

...and whenever I pull the trigger on that rifle, yes, I am 14 again!

I've had my 39A for over 30 years and though I treasure it dearly the child within bought a Marlin 1894c in .357 a couple years ago from a member right here. Then the same dang kid bought a single action Ruger in the same caliber. I have plenty other guns for various reasons but those two take me back to Saturday morning every time I pick em up.

I got a Red Ryder Carbine BB gun for Christmas. I wanted one as a kid 60 years ago, but my Dad said when you're old enough, you'll get a real gun. I got a .22 when I was 8. I ran across the Red Ryder at Christmas time.. First time I ever gave myself a present.

oldcavsoldier said:

Mossberg Model 144LSB that I got to shoot targets with the school's rifle club

Click to expand...

Mine is a Mossberg 144LSA that my older brother gave me for the very same purpose.