Did you start out on a .22lr?

[22-rimfire]

Started out with a BB gun in the 2nd grade. But my Dad's 22 was the first 22 I ever shot, and got my own in 9th grade. I answered "Yes". It started as my favorite caliber and it remains my favorite caliber.

 

[Walkalong]

BB gun, .22 Lr, .45 ACP......... In that order.

 

[Der Stro]

First real gun I ever purchased and shot was a 91/30. Real men start with 7.62x54r

Just kidding, I thought I got hit by a misplaced train first time I pulled the trigger on that rifle.

 

[mortablunt]

The first gun I got to shoot was a 12 gauge shotgun. I later learned how to shoot on a 7.62x39 AK.

 

[HOWARD J]

60 some years ago I took a streetcar downtown ( 9 miles ) & purchased a Savage model 22/410 over under ( this was before they changed the model to 24V) My brother with a bottle of Old Grandad lost this gun in the woods.
He gave me his Marlin 39A golden ( under protest) I was a happy camper ! ! !

 

[Carl N. Brown]

First gun: Savage Springfield 120A. Christmas early 1960s.

 

[Big Bad Bob]

Sure did, A Mossberg 142A at 4 years old and I still own it today. My kids will learn to shoot on it.

 

[BothellBob]

The Stevens single shot that GreatGrandpa bought for Grandpa when he came back from Nome after the gold rush. I'm trying to have enough guns that all my gggrandchildren can have one that I passed down to them.
-BothellBob

 

[Kiln]

Started off with a Raven MP25. I learned how to shoot it pretty well and then switched to a Kel Tec P40. The little compact KT taught me how to flinch and close my eyes before shots. After going back to a .22 I actually learned how to shoot a pistol because of the affordable ammo and light recoil.

 

[mavracer]

if you don't count BB/pellet guns then yes started with a 22(dad's winchester 63) followed pretty shortly by the 410 shotgun (a marlin model 90 IIRC which my brother still has) got my own 10/22 about the same time frame.

 

[Skribs]

I started out with a BB gun, but as far as firearms go I started out at the range shooting 9mm and .40. Went back a few years later and tried 9mm, .40, and .45, and settled on the .40. I'd shot .38s, .357s, and the Judge (in addition to 9mm and .40 carbines and a 12-gague long gun) across several range trips before I tried a .22.

My reaction to the .22 is this: it doesn't kick at all (made it kind of boring), it blew more hot gasses in my face than a .357 or a Judge, my Dad says it's been a pain to keep clean, and I have more fun shooting cans at home with an airsoft gun than I do shooting a .22 at paper at the range.

My philosophy now is if I'm teaching a youngling how to shoot, I'll start with airsoft, then a pellet gun, and then move on to the fun stuff - 9mms and up.

 

[brnmuenchow]

Winchester Model 67 single shot rifle.
High Std. "Sent. Deluxe" 9-shot revolver.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The first gun I ever shot was a .44 mag. Ful power loads (My friends are jerks but this hooked me on big bore handguns.)

The first gun I owned and bought was an AR15
Then I was given a .22 as a gift
The first handgun I owned, and still own is a .357

 

[Odd Job]

First fired: .22LR (rifle)
First carried: .22LR (revolver, belonged to my father)
First owned: .25ACP Baby Browning (bought second hand in 1992)

 

[Dnaltrop]

Antique BB guns, a spring operated Pellet gun (with similar FPS as most .22's )

THEN came the Marlin 101, the AR-7 Explorer, pump action Remingtons rescued from old carnival shooting booths...

 

[BeerSleeper]

My first shooting experience was with dad's 22, but my first personally owned firearm was a 9mm pistol. I guess on that, I'm gonna vote with the 22.

 

[MD_Willington]

No.
.177 Air rifle followed by Enfield in .303

 

[firemanstrickland]

I started on a .177 and a 20 ga

 

[Bonesinium]

No, well not really.

Prior to joining the military, the only firearm I had ever fired (sans BB guns and paintball guns) was a .22lr rifle. That was one time at a dude ranch, and possibly once in the cub scouts maybe? Either way, I was young, it was only once or maybe twice, and I don't really consider it to have been any sort of start.

I shot both the M-16 and M9, but don't consider that a start either.

I started actually shooting about 2 years after I enlisted. My first firearms were a .45 caliber handgun and .308 caliber rifle. That was my start, and they are far from a .22lr.

However, I quickly realized I need a .22. Shortly after I purchased a Marlin 60, and then later, a Ruger MK III. I've shot these .22's about twice as much as my 5 center fires combine.

 

[Psa1m144]

I didn't, but I wish I had.

 

[shooter_from_show-me]

No, .380ACP here about 18 years ago. Very first pistol then sold it about a year or two later and bought a Glock 21.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Voted other with explanation.

BB gun as soon as I could walk, talk and hold a rifle.

.12 ga. at about six (Dad thought that was a riot!)

Then came a .30-30 Win., still six, that I held against Dad's shoulder but I sighted and squeezed the trigger on (don't know if it counts as shooting but does count for brains 'cuz I learned from the .12 ga. that Dear ole' Dad would let you shoot things that would hurt!)

Dear ole' Dad learned something too since the next thing I know all we were shooting was .22LR which is my favorite caliber to this day.

(Maybe 'cuz Dad didn't like the .30-30 recoil without holding it firmly himself!)

Come to think of it the .22LR is his favorite too.

Imagine that.

 

[Mr.Blue]

My first two pistols were a S&W 686 4 inch and a Springfield XD45 Tactical. I'm not sure which one I fired first. It definitely wasn't .357 magnum though, as I was warned not to start out with it. I only started shooting handguns when I moved to WI about 3 years ago.

In rifles, it was 30-06. I was young and tricked into thinking it was a mild round.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

The first trigger I pulled other than on a cap gun was on a 22LR. However, the first gun I ever bought was a Ruger Security Six, 357 Mag. with a six inch barrel. So, I'd have to say I started out on .357 Magnum.

[Who really gives a crap] That was the first handgun I'd ever fired as well, but being accustomed to firing my Dad's 12 gage and his Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 was education enough to know what to expect when I pulled that trigger on the Security Six for the first time. [/Who really gives a crap]

Woody

 

[mgmorden]

Nope.

I started out with guns in general with a 20ga shotgun.

First rifle was a .30-06. First handgun was a 9mm.

I did eventually get two .22lr rifles and a .22lr handgun though. While I didn't start out on them, I find them invaluable for economical practice.