My boys first real gun

[pith43]

We have a Christmas tradition in our family that when a boy reaches 9 years old, he gets a singleshot .410 shotgun for Christmas. I got one when I was 9, and it is probably the most memorable Christmas I've ever had, except for maybe this year when my 9 year old gets his (He has no idea that's what he'll get, he thinks he's getting an airsoft gun). He's been a gun guy from the time he could chew his peanut butter sandwiches into a gun shape.

I would love to hear other peoples traditons, or about their first gun. I would love to hear from the women too, as I have two daughters, one who could care less about shooting but the other one is going to be as gung ho as my son.

 

[dxtspawn]

My first gun was actually about 6 months ago. It is a Tikka 7mm-08. Getting a new gun is always great! But for Christmas, we tend to stay home and wake up EARLY for our presents.

 

[Gunsafe]

I wish I was 9 when I got my first gun! Lucky kid! I bought my first gun on my 18th birthday. I didn't have much money, or a clue for that matter, but knew I needed to have something. I stopped by my local Wal-mart and bought a Pardner single-shot 20 guage youth model and a box of shells. I think it was $89 new. I still have that little gun. I'll never get rid of it. It spawned my current collection

 

[sturmgewehr667]

i hope he likes his new gun, i got a single 410 as my first gun too, its been in the family for a long time. btw, i still chew my peanut butter sandwiches into gun shapes.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Lucky kid, both of you. I was 15 when I got my first gun, I paid for it too. I've bought every piece of shooting stuff except for 1 case of shells my dad bought me when I got my first gun and a box of pheasant loads. I guess I got ammo/ ammo money for Christmas and birthdays but it wasn't ever very much.

 

[MeanGreenZ71]

I inherited a Winchester Lever Action .22 from my dad when I was probably 10 or so. My first gun was a Red Ryder bb gun when I was 7. When I was 14, my dad got me a Stoeger 20 guage over-under and that was the first shotgun I got.

Good times. Last year my dad gave me a scoped Savage .22 semi auto to plink with. I love practicing with my .22's, I can shoot all day for $15!

 

[QuietEarp]

After a summer or 2 with a Daisy BB gun then a pellet gun I got my first real gun. A youth model Marlin single shot bolt action .22. I was probably 9 or 10. Good gun skills are developed when you have to put every round in one at a time between shots. Also it was quite a safe gun being a single shot. If I ever have a kid their first gun will be something similar. Thanks Dad.

 

[paintballdude902]

its not really a tradition but for 3 generations of gun people (2 of which lost their interests later in life due to war experiences) my grandfather(lost interest after WWII) got his first gun at 16, then my dad(lost it after vietnam) did when he turned 16, and 2 years ago i got my first gun

 

[Hardtarget]

The first gun that I was allowed to roam with was a Savage .22/410. I carried it so much the color case hardening is almost gone from the frame. Squirrel, rabbit, lord knows how many tin cans fell to that little gun. As stated, you make shots count with a single shot. At family get-togethers we would form a line and do "shooter rotation". Shooter ready moved left to right, one gun loaded at a time. We killed a lot of cans.

Mark.

 

[scrat]

lol i have a NEF .410 its the best ever. I started off on a .22lr Ithaca. That was actually my dads gun. Single shot lever. He then gave it to me a few years back and now my boys have learned how to shoot using the same gun.

 

[yocan]

Better late than never.

I grew up shooting a .410 breach that weighed more than my father's (bought because I wanted to go hunting) rem1100

It didn't kick at all, started when I was 7.5 or so

When I was twelve we had more guns than we "needed" between 3 shotguns and 2 rifles, 1 pistol so I didn't own one until I was 18, but I had the only safe key when I was 15.

 

[Davek1977]

"Chritmas guns" are a tradition in my family as well. My two most memorable gifts have been my first .22 at 12 or so, followed by an O/U 12 gauge the next. I have a wife who has recently taken to the ntopn of becoming more involved with my gun hobby. This year, she got her first gun from me. It was nothing special in the way of make and model (Glenfield/Marlin Model 60). However, the rifle orignally belonged to my grandfather, and while I certainly appreciated the gesture, I have more rimfires than I can shoot already. I thought nothing was more appropriate than passing it on the the wife...after all, I figured a gift from someone special should be passed on to someone equally as special, and she was tickled pink when she opened her gift, wehich included not only the rifle, but some ammo, ear/eye protection, a basic cleaning kit and a padded case. Hopefully I planted the seed of a lifelong hobby...and if not, and interest wanes, I have a nephew or two who would be just as happy to get it someday!

 

[sharpshooterz98]

"I" got a .22 when I was one - heh.

I've also gotten: a Franchi 12 ga, Winchester .308, Weatherby .338, CZ P-06.

Biggest surprise had to be the shotgun (Franchi) when I was 14. My sister was getting a ton of presents and I was opening stuff mainly from my grandparents, aunts, etc. There was like one or two shirts from my parents, and I feigned gratefulness (clothes, again?!). Then my dad pulled the 'hey whats that behind the tree" - great memory.

The last couple haven't been as special, since I've usually picked them out/gone half in or at least bought all the shells and stuff. That said, guns make awesome Christmas gifts.

Actually, now that I think about it, the 308 was a birthday present. To make up for that: I got my first and only bow for Christmas as well. After age 12 or so, almost all my gifts have been firearms/hunting related.