Your First Gun?

[Stuttz]

Since millions of Americans are responsible gun owners and enthusiasts, I thought it'd be interesting to hear some people's stories and experiences concerning the first gun they ever fired/owned. I was around 7 when my dad took me out to shoot my great granddaddy's .22 Marlin. I still have it today, wouldn't trade it for the world.

I'd like to hear from the rest of the community and hear about the assorted experiences and memories.

 

[Skribs]

My first gun was a Springfield XDm .40 3.8". I got it a month before they came out with Compact...when I got it, I was thinking "I wish it had a shorter grip, with grip extensions for full size." So I was a little upset when that one came out.

Now, my friend has my first, and I have the Compact. So we're both happy!

 

[steveno]

my first rifle was an unissued British 303 jungle carbine picked out of a barrel of them by my uncle for $32. I was 14 at the time. I wish I still had it. that was almost 50 years ago

 

[txgunsuscg]

First rifle was my dad's Winchester .22 bolt gun. I will never sell that gun.

First pistol was either a S&W .38 Special or a Glock 10mm, I can't remember which one I shot first.

 

[captain awesome]

first I ever fired; 22LR(of unknown make)
First center fire fired; 7mm08
First purchase; Ruger 10/22
First center fire purchase; 40 S&W Springfield XD

 

[Kingofthehill]

My dad bought this the day of my birth to give to me as a gift. Its my first gun shot and will never let it go.

Ruger Single Six .22lr/.22 Mag

 

[fallout mike]

Some type of. 410 single shot when I was 5 or 6.

 

[Teachu2]

My first gun was a 870 Wingmaster 12ga, bought with my paper route money.

First handgun was a Ruger RST 6".

First centerfire handgun (and first my Dad didn't have to sign for) was a S&W Model 28 6".

 

[Stuttz]

A Wingmaster with paper route money? I wish it was still that simple

I also learned a very important shooting rule my first time out...freshly ejected casings hurt when you pick them up, despite your father telling you not to. That summed up my dad's philosophy towards us kids: "Oh, it hurt like hell? I told you." He'd probably be jailed for that today...

 

[Aaryq]

My first gun is 2 answers. My first gun my dad gave me was a J.C. Higgins single shot .22. When I was about 13 or 14, I bought a Mossberg 185KC bolt action 20 gauge from my dad's friend who was getting a divorce. They both have served me faitfhully for many years to date.

 

[JR24]

My grandpa gave me a .410 side by side (dont' even know what brand) on the day of my birth, first I've shot and owned. Many, many squirrels have learned how awesome that particular shotgun was.

 

[kimberkid]

First gun I ever shot was my dads Beretta M70 in 32 ...

 

[longstandingletdown]

Well my childhood's a bit fuzzy

^Kimber, that is a Be-A-Utiful weapon ya got there

But I have a picture of myself posing with a .30 carbine over a deer, and I seem to remember that I hit it in the leg and another, more experienced hunter finished it off. That was before the diagnosis, must have been 7 or so. First and last hunting trip for me.

First purchase was a S&W 22a in realtree, promptly sold to fund a Walther P22.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

A Springfield (forget model) made by Stevens Arms Co. single shot bolt action, given to my dad for his 12th birthday in 1939. Grandpa bought it used.

I still have it. Replaced the firing pin and it's still teaching young boys to shoot. Accurate little rifle too.

Thanks, dad, for teaching me to shoot with that little rifle.

RIP.

 

[chevyman097]

First gun I ever fired was a single shot 20 gauge shotgun. Me and my brothers all started out on it. My father later bought me a 12 pump for hunting. First gun I ever bought myself was a Makarov and then it progressed rapidly from there. lol

 

[Kiln]

My first pistol was a Raven MP25. I still have it and it still works fine.

 

[Liberty1776]

steveno ---

my first rifle was an unissued British 303 jungle carbine picked out of a barrel of them by my uncle for $32. I was 14 at the time. I wish I still had it. that was almost 50 years ago

my dad paid $29 for ours, at the local Army Navy surplus store. Unfired, in the cosmoline. 1966-67 I believe.

 

[19-3Ben]

I thought it'd be interesting to hear some people's stories and experiences concerning the first gun they ever fired/owned.

First gun fired was a Ruger 10/22.
First gun owned was a Winchester 1904.
First gun purchased was a bubba'ed Mosin Nagant for which I paid $90 in 2003 when I was too green/dumb to know I was getting hosed.

 

[cleardiddion]

My first was a MN 91/30 that I picked up two days after I turned 18.
That was my only gun for about a year and a half.
I learned my ropes on that gun and it certainly shows it.
And, although I have been through more guns than I care to recall that thing is still with me and probably won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[doc2rn]

My first was a Ruger Standard my dad went halves on with me from the Ace Lawn and Garden shop across from Bobo's on 10th street. I was 11 yo and it was also the only handgun in the house so it stayed in my dad's sock drawer as the HD. I remember using a LOT of money I earned mowing little old ladies grass to buy .22lr which where $0.50 /box back then.

 

[Driftertank]

First gun i ever shot was a Ruger Single Six convertible that my dad owned. I was 4 or 5 when he taught me to shoot, and started teaching me the safety rules. Me and my brother were even taught not to point TOY guns at people (squirt guns being the only exception) so muzzle discipline was ingrained early.

Got my first Daisy Red Ryder when i was 7.

On my 13th birthday i woke to find a Western Field single-shot bolt-action rifle leaning against the corner of the living room couch. I can still feel my hair stand on end when i remember the shock and elation of that moment. I'd been bugging my parents for my own gun for some time, but i knew my mom didn't like the idea. Miss that gun. My dad still has it, but lives in another state and we don't talk much these days. Haven't seen him since my grandmother's funeral in '04...

 

[Stuttz]

Love hearing these stories. Maybe it's because I associate shooting and my gun collection with my dad. He's always had this larger than life presence since I was a little boy, and I think safe shooting lessons are one of the greatest ways for a father and son to bond. If you have kids (daughters included!) I would highly encourage you to at least get them comfortable around firearms, even if they don't enjoy actually shooting. Trust me, it means a lot more than you think once you're grown...

 

[beatledog7]

First one I remember for sure was a .38 SPL revolver of some make, used as a one-chance pistol qual weapon when I was in AOCS (Navy).

The first one I ever owned I still own, and it's close by: a no-lock S&W 642.

 

[Snag]

First I ever shot was a Remington Model 12 pump 22, made sometime in the late 20's. It was my Pa's, pretty sure he got it from his dad. That and a High Standard pistol. I'm told the High Standard was bought cause Pa didn't have the kinda cash Colt wanted for a Woodsman, so he bought the High Standard instead.

First real rifle to shoot was a Savage Model 99 in 25-35. For whatever reasons that was the go to rifle for all the boys in my family to learn with. It was also the traditional rifle we all had to hunt with our first year.

My first actual gun, for real, was a Ruger M77 243. My birthday is two days before Christmas. Mom and Pa had played it out like money was tight, and this year my birthday and Christmas were going to be small. I was not to expect much they said. My 13th birthday came and went with some cake and new socks. Then came Christmas morning two days later. I can't even describe how I felt when I seen that 243 sitting there under the front of the tree. I still have that gun, I'll never get rid of it. Off the top of my head I can't think of anything I've had longer than that gun.

 

[JTHunter]

First shot? A pump-action .22 "gallery gun" I learned on as a kid (early-mid 60's). Followed shortly by my Dad's Natl. Guard M1.

First owned was a old Ruger .22LR with the round body (MK 1??) then a Marlin 39A levergun (early to mid 70's). Both gone - sigh.

Then an Astra .380 (late 70's) then a Remington 700 in .243 (late 80's) (still have them).

That was the start of my "addiction".