My father was a shotgunner and never owned a rifle. He bought me my
first rifle when I was 13, in 1953. It was a Winchester 32-20 w/oct. barrel.
He also gave me his Winchester Mod 12-20ga when I was 16. The 32-20
was loaned to my cousin when I went to the military and when I came back
he had sold it for $50. The Win. 20ga I still have and many, many more.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
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My grandfather ran a small country store and got a Marlin Crown Prince Single Shot .22 as a premium for some product he sold (flour, I think). He gave me that rifle, new when I was 11 years old. I still have it and it shoots great. I refinished the stock myself several years ago. It has a finger ring on the end of the bolt which must be pulled back to cock the rifle. I would not ever part with it. I visited the NRA National Firearms Museum about a year ago and was pleased to see a similar rifle on display there.
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My 700 ADL .30-06 came first. My dad and grandpa had stopped hunting by the time I was born, so I grew up with guns but had to bring myself into the sport. I like power, simplicity, and Americana, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with a classic cartridge like the '06. That I just like shooting it.
My first real hunting rifle was a Remington model 700 in a 7mm Rem. Mag. that I had to buy because my dad never hunted. I purchased that rifle brand new in 1977 and I still have it. I was going to sell it but I think I should hang on to it.
First gun I owned outright I bought with lawn-cutting $$ for $70 in1967. It was a 1903 Steyr Mannlicher in 7 x 57, and I still have it today. Iron express sights, rotary magazine, the smothest bolt action I have ever felt and decent groups.....I will never sell it.
First hunting rifle was an M700 ADL in 243 caliber. Never liked the caliber even at that young age..lol. First 2 years I hunted I used a 357 levergun and then graduated to a 742 30-06. After that one got stolen its been bolt city.
whitecloudhunter,
My first hunting rifle was a surplus/sporterized 8mm Mauser. I thought it was the finest weapon around. Nice memories, I ended up trading it for an Eddystone arsenal P-17 sporterized. Wish I still had the Eddystone.
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Youth, Enthusiasm, and Athletic Abilty are absolutely no match for Old Age and Treachery!