First experience with a firearm?

[The_Next_Generation]

Hey guys (and gals, wherever you are!),

Here is my first experience with a firearm:

I turned 17 over this past summer. On this day, my grandmother presented me with my grandfather's only rifle (he passed March of this year). I was honored. My parents, however, were extremely reluctant. After some discussion, they decided to allow it into our home (I was surprised because they are extremely pro-gun control, not surprising here in Western WA).

My grandma knew absolutely nothing about the rifle, except that it was her husband's one and only. Sadly, by the time I was around 7, my grandfather's mental health was deteriorating, and could not take his grandson (me) shooting.

Later that evening, I pulled up some serial number lookup sights for Remington (barely legible on the rifle's receiver) and punched in the serial number. Turns out I had just received a 1957 Remington 740ADL in .30-06! The scope is a standard 3-9x40 (possibly 45) from the '70s, but gets the job done. I also received a box of cleaning and maintenance supplies, and a VERY old half-box of 180gr "Kleanbore" soft points (circa 1970's I believe).

That weekend, my neighbor drove me to the range. I say "drove" because that's all he did. No pointers, no advice. We showed up and he went and did his own thing. Thankfully, I had done a lot of reading on how to operate and hold the rifle. Practice loading/unloading some snap-caps the same neighbor had lent me helped as well. I had also taken it apart and cleaned it as thoroughly as possible (Side note: the jar of Hoppe's 9 cleaning fluid looks as old as the rifle!)

Finally, I sat down at a shooting bench for the first time in my life. I had no idea what range the scope was sighted for, but I loaded it up anyway and took aim at the target a mere 50 yards away. To say the least, it certainly went "bang"!

I have gone shooting once a weekend since and have greatly improved my marksmanship. I have heard many people say that the 740ADL is, at best, a 3 MOA rifle. This past weekend I shot the best groupings so far, averaging at 1-1.5 MOA @ 100 yards. I believe in the adage, "Fear the man with only one rifle.." I like to think my grandfather did as well. I'm really looking forward to taking this rifle to longer ranges.

This winter I hope to purchase either a Savage 10FP (maybe FCP) or a Remington 700 (PSS or SPS Tactical) in .308 along with some decent glass so I can push my long-range abilities. Also looking into some basic reloading equipment


What was your first experience with a firearm? I know there are many more unique stories out there, and I'd like to read them!

- The Next Generation

 

[ExTank]

I was about 5 or 6, and my Dad and some of his friends were plinking out in the woods.

My Dad laid a blanket across the hood/fender of his car, and was shooting a Garand from a kneeling/rest position.

He let me have a go with the Garand.

My shoulder still hurts.

 

[bergmen]

This is a great story! May I recommend either taking a local Hunter Safety Course or checking in with your local range for any NRA gun handling course.

The HSC is a great introduction to firearms safety and handling. They are geared towards new shooters and hunters and they are packed with excellent information on gun handling, safety, firearms types, how they work, what to do and not do, etc. These courses are valuable even though you may, or may not, plan to hunt.

I took mine when I was in the eighth grade back in 1963 and it set me on a course for a wonderful activity of hunting and shooting I still very much enjoy today (at age 62).

Dan

 

[Sky]

That is a well written and presented thread. Hope you continue to enjoy. There is a thread that asked who taught you how to shoot.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=552356

 

[cooldude14]

My uncle took me to the range after teaching me on bb guns then let me shoot his marlin model 60. Then the next christmas he bought me a new crickett rifle

 

[Inebriated]

I was at my uncle's and shot his Marlin 60 (I think it was), and I may have been 7 or 8? I remember a couple times later, he let me shoot the .410, and then the 30-30... no bench, just a big rifle and a big bullet in front of a child. It was the first "Wow... this is a RIFLE!" experience. I hit my target, too!

 

[JellyJar]

When I was about eight the ROTC at the local college had an open house. In the basement of the old building they used was a shooting range for .22 rifles. They let me shoot one round through some sort of .22 bolt action rifle with a scope on it at a target. The scope was out of focus and I barely was able to see anything. I did hit the paper but no where near the round bull on it.

I was very unimpressed and did not have any more interest in firearms again until I was grown up and had moved away from home.

 

[jonn5335]

when I was 12 years old my dad came home from the mill after work and told me we were going for a ride and we drove out to a nice little fishing creek and my dad pulled out a 30/30 and a 22 from behind the seat and said they're yours handed me a box of shells and said have fun I was pickin off salmon in a creek about 1ft deep from a old wood bridge not very smart looking back I'll never forget that day as long as I live and will never sell the guns they have so much more meaning to me now that my father has passed on

 

[ChCx2744]

When I was 15 I shot my buddy's blued S&W 457. Being the first time shooting and the gun being a short-barreled .45ACP, I didn't really hit much, except the ground below the target stand. HAHAHA

 

[mgmorden]

Absolute first experience? I was 5 years old. I had went turkey hunting with my dad (had been hunting with him a few times) and after a non-productive day, before we left the field he asked if I wanted to shoot his gun. He let me shoot an old tree stump. First gun I shot was a Browning A5 12ga shooting turkey loads. It just about knocked me down .

I got my own gun (a single shot NEF Pardner 20ga) 2 years later, and killed my first deer (with that single shot) the year after that.

First gun I bought with my own money was many years later - a Savage 110 in .30-06 when I was 21.

 

[Powerglide]

My grandpa bought a bunch of stuff auctioned at the old Burns Flat airbase here in sw Oklahoma. Among those things were ammo cans of green box rem 22's still in the wrappers.Many other calibers also.This was in the 60's I think.Anyhow, I had "army stuff" all over the bedroom.Never looked back and been hooked.I already had lots of guns by the 8th grade or so. Lol, kinda makes me puke what I have traded off since then.

 

[Powerglide]

I never bought a box of 22 shells till the late 80's and we shot alot of those issue 22 shells.

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

SWEET! I am also from the "next generation" and I have been into shooting for around 2 years now. I hope to purchase a Ruger LCP soon (legally, of course) and I think shooting is great fun as well!

 

[mdauben]

I guess I was around 9-10, and was attending a week long BSA summer camp. Along with rope tying, leather craft, canoeing and swimming we had classes in shooting (both bulls eye and skeet) with single-shot .22 rifles (used .22 shot shells for the skeet).

Prior to that I had only had experience with BB and Pellet guns under my Dad's supervision.

Good times... Good times.

 

[BlackMagic308]

I grew up in an anti-gun family, so I was 22 when I shot my first gun. I had taken a job with an armored car company and we were required to go through a training class and state qualification in order to carry the issued gun. The first time I ever actually fired a gun was when I stood at the firing line for that qualification. Somehow I passed. 83% accuracy. I've gotten better. But that was my proudest target.

 

[Dr_B]

I can't remember if the first gun I fired was my dad's Ruger 10-22 (which is now mine), his duty gun (a 1980 stainless S & W 686), or a single-shot .410 my uncle bought for me to hunt rabbits. It was one of those three. I know I was around 8 years old.

 

[quietman]

TNG, get or borrow a 22 semi auto and go to an "Appleseed shoot" (Google the term). You'll learn marksmanship, safety, and some history that will make you want to learn more.

At 17 you'd need your parents permission, but since you're less than 18, the whole weekend would be free for you.

Too bad you're in WA, I'd take you with me if you lived in my area.

 

[ballisticsoup]

When I was about 10 years old my father bought me a Romanian ak47 in 223 rem. cause I told him I wanted a paintball gun..His theory was I would shoot people with the paintball gun( he was probably right) and by the age of 5 I had gotten the gun safety speech from him and my grand father.My grandpa lent me his walther p38 and we went out to a local clay pit industrial garbage dump in NW Florida set a bunch of coke bottles on an old washing machine and loaded the magazines with wolf 223 and federal 9mm. I didn't do so well with the p38 but I quickly learned the art of the AK. I eventually got good enough to shoot the caps off of 20oz bottles with the Walther, I will never forget the lesson learned from seeing coke bottles explode and fmj's pass right through metal. I developed a great respect for the power that I don't think paper targets would have given me.

 

[gaweidert]

My father or grandfather had no guns that I was ever aware of. My father had no guns in the house at all. He was however a gun captain off a 16" gun on the battleship USS Washington (BB56). I guess after shooting a 16" 45 caliber gun all else pales in comparison.

Must have been 20 0r 21 before I shot anything other than a BB gun.

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

Oh, by the way, I live in WA too....

 

[The Sarge]

I truly do not remember. My earliest memories were with my Dad and a .22. I have no clue when he really started with me. I know I was skinning squirrels when I was about 5....and I do not remember any of them dying from old age

I started reloading with my GrandPa on his old workbench in the barn when I was about 7 or 8. I loaded all my own shotgun shells by myself from there on out. My GrandPa watched everything I did and encouraged me and was very patient.

So I have done the same thing. My 8 year old Grandson loaded his own this past summer for the first time. I wish many of the older guys I get started in reloading paid attention to detail like that lil guy does. He swears his .410 is more accurate "with my loads" than any other shells on the planet

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I was 3 or 4 (I remember it like it was yesterday). My Dad took me to shoot his .22 rifle. I took one shot and thought it was the loudest thing I'd ever heard, cried for an hour, and didn't shoot again for 2 or 3 years. LOL

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

13 years old, Boy Scout Camp, Summer of 1963.

 

[GBExpat]

I was ~6, so ~1958, when Dad bought a single shot bolt .22 from Sears (it is in one of my gunsafes downstairs).

That summer, when we came up here to the farm to visit Mom's family (for the past 20+ years I have lived in a house on the west side of that farm), he took me out and started teaching me to shoot.

 

[rodensouth]

Singe shot 410 shooting cans in the pasture until dad thought I was ready to squirrel hunt. That took two weekends, think I was 9.

Great OP!