I never owned the gun I learned how to shoot rifles with. My first shotgun experience was with an instructor's personally owned rifle in a hunter's safety class. The first pistol I learned to shoot was a Beretta in the army. The first pistol I owned and used to develop my skills with was a Springfield Mil-Spec. I sold it to grow my collection; I don't regret the move since it allowed me to find firearms better suited to my taste.