started about 71 with a TC Hawkens .45, took me about 3 of those to find onethat shot great and I kept that one - serial number 11111 - for about 15 years or so. Can't remember why I got rid of it - might have just been an idiot attack. Guess the oldest one I have now is a White 98 in .451that's about5 years old. Me and iron sights do not get alongthese days so it's scopes for me. Inlines make scoping a lot easier but I think ol' 11111 would have shot just as well as anyof theinlines I own now (and the ones I own are quite accurate).