What was your first rifle?

[Cross-X]

Mine was one that I purchased from the Natick Outdoor Store that had, and still has, a tiny gun counter tucked into the back.

My first rifle was a Ruger 10/22. I shot her for many years, bone stock, till one day I got the customizing bug.

Now she sports a Volquartzen trigger group a titanium extractor, an oversized match barrel, and a Hogue overmolded stock. Optics are comprised of a cheap, but amazingly accurate Bushnell scope.

It'll be quite some time before I sell her.

So, what was your first rifle?

 

[jhrosier]

1889 Marlin lever action, cal. .44WCF (.44-40)
Don't think it ever fired a shot at paper.
Still remember how it looked and felt and shot, a thousand guns and forty years later.

 

[Len-2A Training]

My first rifle was also my first gun, Win 190 that I bought at Lechmere Sales in Dedham in October 1976.

I shortly realized that it was a mistake for target shooting and sold it in March 1977 and bought a Mossberg LS144 as a "cheap target gun" from Herman's World of Sports in April 1977. Still have it, don't shoot it any more but it's still an excellent rifle for cheap target shooting.

 

[FPrice]

My first rifle was a 1957-vintage Marlin 39A I bought from one of the Air Force Academy rifle team coaches just after graduation in 1971. I still have it and will be passing it on to my son.

His first rifle was a Mossberg 142K which I picked up locally a few years ago.

 

[tele_mark]

My first rifle was also my first gun -- some sort of Savage .22 semi I bought when I was 18 at a gun store in Framingham on Rt. 135, I can't recall the name of. I bought it shortly after a Vietnam vet that I worked with at my first job out of High School walked me through getting my FID in Marlboro. It got me interested in shooting, and I remember hanging out at the store of the then president (??) of GOAL's gun shop, which he maintained in his house in Southboro, contemplating all the handguns I wanted to buy when I got my pistol permit. I ended up trading the Savage for an AR-7, and got out of shooting a few years later, until I just got back into it last December.

 

[DR]

My first rifle was a CZ 452. So far, I've replaced the rear sight, added a sling, and learned how to pronounce Česká Zbrojovka.

 

[Martlet]

My first gun that was actually my own, I received on my 10th birthday. It was a featherweight Baretta single shot folding 20 gauge. I loved that gun. A few years later I passed it down to my brother when I got an old 12 gauge Johnson single shot with a hammer and the break inside the trigger guard from my grandfather.

I still have that one at my father's house. Boy I loved that gun.

 

[JuergenG]

My first was a Heckler & Koch SL7, .308 semi auto.
Love this rifle !

 

[Patriot]

My first rifle (and first gun) was a Remington 514 single shot, bolt action, .22
that C-pher now owns. I purchased this at Jordan Marsh in downtown Boston
right after I turned 18 and I brought it home in the original box on the MTA (that
is what it was called then) from the Winter-Summer station (that's what the
Downtown Crossing station was called then) to Forest Hills (orange line) and
then on the bus to Roslindale. Nobody batted an eyelash. Try that now.

TBP

 

[Jose]

Howa 1500 Lightning Stainless, 30-06.

 

[Len-2A Training]

My first rifle was also my first gun -- some sort of Savage .22 semi I bought when I was 18 at a gun store in Framingham on Rt. 135, I can't recall the name of. I bought it shortly after a Vietnam vet that I worked with at my first job out of High School walked me through getting my FID in Marlboro. It got me interested in shooting, and I remember hanging out at the store of the then president (??) of GOAL's gun shop, which he maintained in his house in Southboro, contemplating all the handguns I wanted to buy when I got my pistol permit. I ended up trading the Savage for an AR-7, and got out of shooting a few years later, until I just got back into it last December.

Rte 135 across from the Train Station = Lew Horton's. That was quite the place for a gun shop. Later he moved out to Rte. 9 and then into oblivion! They are also one of the largest wholesalers out there and have been for at least the 30 years I have been shooting, that operation still exists. They have never recognized the C&R FFL at their wholesale operation, but they also specialize in new guns, so it might be irrelevant anyway.

GOAL's 1st President. IIRC that was Bob <can't recall last name> and the gun shop originally had a range beside it. It was the most cluttered place that I've ever stepped foot in. He was a real nice guy and could chat guns for hours.

 

[dwarven1]

Like you, Darius, my first rifle was (and is) a Ruger 10-22. Still bone stock. I bought it at Service Merchandise in Paramus, NJ, with my freshly minted FID card back in 1981. It will probably be left to my nephew some day. (The niece I'll have to buy an AR... if I can afford it!)

BTW... that Ruger, along with my Model 19, was the reason for my sister giving me a half-hour long lecture about how I was "opening myself up to the path of violence" by owning guns. 25 years later and I haven't shot anyone yet. Put an awful lot of lead down range, though.

 

[dreppucci007]

Mine was a Marlin .22lr bolt action...Paid about $100 for it at Dick's Sporting Goods...Still got it, too.

 

[Weerd Beard]

Mine was my one Father-In-Law's guns. A Remmington 722 in .257 Roberts.

My own father is a GFW, so getting a gun for a Christmas gift was quite a moment in my life. There's nothing you can do to get me to part with this one!

-Weer'd Beard

 

[MarkM]

My first rifle was two weeks ago: a 110 year old Turkish Mauser that I have enjoyed taking apart and cleaning and am now ready to shoot at the NES meet

 

[centermass181]

M16A2
Butt # 64
SN # 6557014

first one I bought was a RWS Diana Mod 52 .177 pellet gun

 

[Twigg]

Single shot bolt action .22. I believe from Sears, via Mail Order, woulda been about 1965.

 

[TY43215]

First Rifle was a Winchester 67 passed to me by my Father. Single shot 22 short, long, long rifle. Still shoots great.

 

[rscalzo]

Remington 40-X 22cal. RF target.

 

[Bugs100]

WW2 M1 carbine made by Universal/Hialeah in Florida and a British Enfield 303 that I bought when I came home from Vietnam in 68. I couldn't hit the inside of a barn with the Enfield because it had no scope or sights. I was also afraid to shoot it because the bolt was loose.

I'm still kicking myself for selling the M1 what a great gun, Light blond stock great all around very accurate gun. I paid a 100 and sold it for a 100 to help pay for a 68 malibu. That M1 one would go for big money now.

This post is going to cost me money I'm going to look for a M1 now.

 

[SiameseRat]

I'm another 10/22. Stainless/Polymer/Iron Sights... Kind of wishing I'd gotten a bull barrel but I wanted cheap, and a scope would have been another $50-100 depending. But I still love that thing.

 

[crak]

Romanian SAR 3. Still here.

 

[BillK]

1966 Win 100 .308 that my father gave to me, and in 14 years I will pass to my son.

 

[sdavid]

The first rifle I shot was a .22 single shot in the rifle range at Gloucester High School. After that it was an M60. The first rifle I owned was the ubiquitous Wal-Mart "My First Rifle Kit" featuring a bone stock 10/22 and a value pack of Federal .22 LR.

 

[Scrivener]

Ithaca Model 49 Saddle Gun - Deluxe Edition (gold - plated hammer and trigger, sling and 6 coats of hand-rubbed varnish over a select walnut stock). Dad bought the base gun; I poneyed up the extra for the "Deluxe" grade. Not that I WANTED it; it was the only one they had. I learned to appreciate the quality of that wood later.

First rifle I bought with my own money and my own license? Ruger 10/22.

I still have the Ithaca and still have a 10/22.

 

[LORD of WAR]

like alot of you guys i got a .22 for my first rifle...ruger 10/22 with the synthetic stock and tasco pronghorn scope...got it at galyans before they were the disgrace now known as dicks sporting goods...and i still got it...accurate as all hell and i dont think ive ever cleaned it

 

[dwarven1]

The first rifle I owned was the ubiquitous Wal-Mart "My First Rifle Kit" featuring a bone stock 10/22 and a value pack of Federal .22 LR.

You mean it didn't come with a cheap Tasco 4x20 scope?? Mine did. Must be because I got it at Service Merchandise.

 

[M1911]

Enfield No. 4 Mk I that I bought at a gun show for $100. It's a pretty good shooter, too.

 

[jshooter]

First rifle was a Winchester M70 Featherweight in 30-06 bought at Colemans in Quincy center in 1989. Sold the gun to a buddy 10 or 12 years ago and he won't sell it back no matter how much I beg.

 

[Lynne]

My first was a .22 Remington. I bought it after my "X" moved out and after I met Ed (who was the gun nut back then). I was still afraid of my "X", so Ed talked me into buying a gun. I had an FID card for my mace, so we went to the gun shop in NH (which isn't there anymore I don't think) and I found my baby for $60. For those of you familiar with my story, that was the one I slept with for 3 months, loaded, in bed with me. It was the only time I felt safe. I became a gun nut myself, shortly thereafter.

Edited to add, I still have it.