What was the first cartridge/gun you ever fired?

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38-45 Special

38-45 Special

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We all started somewhere. Interested to see where you all started. My very first was a Harrington & Richardson 929 "Sidekick" .22lr with a 4" barrel. My grandfather had it for years after having it given to him by a shop owner who's store had been flooded and the gun had been found in the store, the box saturated with the gun inside (I guess the owner assumed the gun was completely useless given the water damage). About 10 years ago, my grandfather gave it to my family. Considering the amount of exposure to water, the rust on the gun isn't half bad and it still shoots perfect to this day.
 
I rented a 12 gauge Browning Citori from a shooting range near me to shoot trap with my dad. He shot frequently as youngster but hadn't shot in probably 20 years at that point. That was when I was probably 20 or 21, and I've been hooked ever since.
 
The first I can remember was a .22LR rifle of some kind that belonged to my dad. I was probably 6 or 7, and dad, mom, uncle Audie, aunt Amanda and I were on a fishing trip somewhere. One afternoon, my dad and uncle were taking turns leaning across the hood of the truck and shooting at tin cans up on the hillside. Dad let me shoot his rifle a couple of times. I think it was a Winchester semi-auto, but I'm not sure. C'mon, it's been 65 years for crying out loud!:p
 
First gun I remember shooting was a friend's single-shot .22 rifle. We visited them in the country. I must have been 10 or so. I have no idea what it was, other than a .22 bolt action.
 
First was a pump action .22. I think it was a Winchester, and it was definitely .22LR, though I recall it being said that it could shoot .22 shorts as well. At age 5-6, that kept me pretty happy, but when I was 7, I wanted to shoot the big guns. My dad's .45, a Remington Rand, was next, with my dad's hand wrapped around mine, and the pistol rested on a strand of Barb Wire, later, a few rounds without dad's hand over mine. I believe that first weekend was also when I was allowed to shoot my uncle's 03 Springfield from the CMP, just like the one he carried in the Pacific. Prone, again using the fence wire as a support, and amazed and excited by the recoil.

My uncle still has that rifle, and still makes a respectable showing with it at 90. Dad's passed, and my brother has his 1911. No one can agree what happened to the .22.
 
One of my cousins .22 rifles on the farm , first rifle by myself was great aunts single shot .22 have no idea what model .
 
Bolt action single shot .22. Not sure sure what make, but it had a manual cocking knob you pulled back after chambering a round. Was with my uncle and cousins, not exactly sure how old I was.
 
My great grandfathers 20ga SXS. He was a small child during the Civil war and as near as I can figure this gun was made in 1897 and cost about $15 when he would have been 40. But he most likely bought it used at some point later. He died in the 1950's just short of his 100th birthday. My dad gave me the gun and I took quite a few squirrel along with a handful of rabbit and quail until I was in high school and could afford to buy my own shotgun.

It was at about that same time when I figured out the Damascus barrels probably weren't safe with modern shells. It still locks up tight and everything functions, but it's not been fired since about 1975. I'd love for my son and grand kids to shoot it just once each just to say they had. Somehow I managed to survive firing hundreds of rounds through it the early 1970's I don't handload for shotguns and have thought about having some really low pressure loads made up for it by someone who does. But I just don't want to risk it.

IMG_1552.JPG
 
I can't remember but it was probably my Grandfathers single shot Winchester 22. I still have it. It is a Model 60A and has had a rough life. It survived a bicycle wreck but has a deep gouge in the stock. I got the bright idea that I could refinish the stock and cold blue the metal when I was in my teens. Bad idea. It is butt ugly but it will be with me when die. Wouldn't take a zillion dollars for it.
 
jmr40 said:
My great grandfathers 20ga SXS. He was a small child during the Civil war and as near as I can figure this gun was made in 1897 and cost about $15 when he would have been 40. But he most likely bought it used at some point later. He died in the 1950's just short of his 100th birthday. My dad gave me the gun and I took quite a few squirrel along with a handful of rabbit and quail until I was in high school and could afford to buy my own shotgun.

It was at about that same time when I figured out the Damascus barrels probably weren't safe with modern shells. It still locks up tight and everything functions, but it's not been fired since about 1975. I'd love for my son and grand kids to shoot it just once each just to say they had. Somehow I managed to survive firing hundreds of rounds through it the early 1970's I don't handload for shotguns and have thought about having some really low pressure loads made up for it by someone who does. But I just don't want to risk it.

View attachment 909827
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You can buy "Vintager " loads from RST - they are designed for older lower-pressure proofed guns. That said, something that old, regardless of initial appearance, needs to be gone over by a good gunsmith who knows these guns and knows what to look for from a safety/mechanical standpoint.
It sure looks to be in great condition from that one photo.................
 
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