What is the first gun you owned?

[calm like a bomb]

The first gun I ever owned was a .410 I recieved from my father when I was about 11 or 12 years old. I always used it for squirrel and rabbit hunting and got pretty decent at hitting a clay pigeon with it. Now, I still have the .410, a 12 guage, 20 guage, a 16 round .22, and a .357 magnum which I have been to scared to shoot lol. What was your first gun and how many do you have now?

[Deimos]

Same gun, around the same age, but I got mine from my uncle. Lost it in a house fire only a few years after getting it, never owned another gun.

[Guest Bluto]

M1911 A1

 

.45 ACP

 

WWII issue. Bought it as a shooter, and because of the historical nature of it.

 

 

My 2nd was like it: an M1 Garand; 30-06; also WWII issue.

[Ram]

My first gun was a Revelation 410 bought from Western Auto, Revelation was a Mossberg produced for Western Auto and renamed. This same gun was also my sons first gun.

 

I now have: Remington 870 12ga, Remington 600 6mm, Knight Muzzleloader 45 cal, Ruger Mini 14 223, SKS 7.62, Glock model 22 .40 cal, custom 1911 45, several .22's, 38's and 9mm's.

 

My son has: the Revelation 410, Mossberg 410, Mossberg 835 20ga, Remington 597 22.

 

My next gun will be a Remington 700 SPS in 30-06, coming this July (when I get my uniform allowance from work).

[cvillecat]

My first gun was a Deluxe Topper H&R 410ga. 3" chamber chrome & black. My father bought it for me when I was 8 years old. I still use the gun for squirrel hunting. My son also took his first squirrel with the same gun.

[BigBlueFreak]

When I was 8 I got a New England single shot 20 Gauge shotgun.

[The Professor]

My first gun was a 16 gauge single-shot Winchester. My father gave it to me, along with a 20 gauge Springfield. Both were stolen from my house about 8 years ago when a thief caught me gone golfing and broke my bedroom window out and stole my guns. It was a big loss to me for sentimental reasons.:cry:

[Hearsay]

I grew up in the big city in California. My dad had his federal-issue .357 Magnum and his M-16 he got in the military. I have fired both of those. However, I have never owned a firearm and I do not own one now. Since we lived in the city, we did not do any hunting, and I never learned how.

 

Since I have moved to Kentucky and have young sons, I have really wanted to learn how to shoot and hunt. I do not know where to start. These boys need to learn, and I see fathers and sons going out to hunt together and it is a connection between them that I envy. So I have some questions:

 

1. What is the best way to get started learning to shoot and to hunt??

2. If I were going to purchase a firearm to begin target practice, what do you all recommend?

3. At what age do you recommend a young boy start learning to shoot?

4. What is a good beginner firearm for a young boy?

 

Any help is appreciated in advance.

[cvillecat]

I grew up in the big city in California. My dad had his federal-issue .357 Magnum and his M-16 he got in the military. I have fired both of those. However, I have never owned a firearm and I do not own one now. Since we lived in the city, we did not do any hunting, and I never learned how.

 

Since I have moved to Kentucky and have young sons, I have really wanted to learn how to shoot and hunt. I do not know where to start. These boys need to learn, and I see fathers and sons going out to hunt together and it is a connection between them that I envy. So I have some questions:

 

1. What is the best way to get started learning to shoot and to hunt??

2. If I were going to purchase a firearm to begin target practice, what do you all recommend?

3. At what age do you recommend a young boy start learning to shoot?

4. What is a good beginner firearm for a young boy?

 

Any help is appreciated in advance.

The best way to get started is to take a hunter safety course. Contact the KY Dept. Of Fish & Wildlife for info. for dates and times of the course being held in your area.

Visit your local gun shop. Most have gun safety & shooting instruction classes that qualify you for a concealed to carry permit upon completion of the class.

I think starting a young boy at an early age stokes his interest in the outdoors. Again have them take the Hunter Safety Class.You can take it together, you will enjoy it as much as he will. It is a requirement for hunting if your birthdate is on or after 1974.

A 20 guage is a great gun to begin with. It has light recoil and is very accurate and easy to learn to shoot with.

This is just a little info, I hope it is helpful in getting you and your sons started in the great sport of hunting and shooting and enjoying the work of our great creator.

[firebird]

Browning "Sweet 16" shotgun.

[crimedoc]

My duty weapon. I love my weapon.

[Ram]

I grew up in the big city in California. My dad had his federal-issue .357 Magnum and his M-16 he got in the military. I have fired both of those. However, I have never owned a firearm and I do not own one now. Since we lived in the city, we did not do any hunting, and I never learned how.

 

Since I have moved to Kentucky and have young sons, I have really wanted to learn how to shoot and hunt. I do not know where to start. These boys need to learn, and I see fathers and sons going out to hunt together and it is a connection between them that I envy. So I have some questions:

 

1. What is the best way to get started learning to shoot and to hunt??

2. If I were going to purchase a firearm to begin target practice, what do you all recommend?

3. At what age do you recommend a young boy start learning to shoot?

4. What is a good beginner firearm for a young boy?

 

Any help is appreciated in advance.

 

Hunting together is a great way to spend time with your sons. I have many great memories of hunting with my dad and other family members, and none of them are about what we killed they are about the time we spent together and the experience. I am now teaching my son about the out doors and about hunting.

 

1. As Cville stated, if you are unfamiliar with firearms I would suggest taking a state mandated hunter safety course. This will give you piece of mind, teach you and your sons about gun safety, and you will have a good experience with your sons as well.

As far as learning to shoot. Use the Internet and the best way to become a good shot is to practice, practice, practice, and after your done practice some more.

If there is a gun club or an outdoor club with a range in your area that would be a good place to go to shoot with out worrying about safety issues and they usually offer youth and adult shooting competitions with will give you good practice and will allow you to get pointers from experienced hunters and shooters.

 

2. Types of guns can be complex. If you ask ten people what to buy, you will get ten different answers. And this can be expensive. For an adult, the caliber I would choose is 30-06. The reason for this caliber is many. First, it is an old caliber with means ammunition can be purchased about any where, and it is a very accurate round. Second, you can hunt any big game in the United States with this caliber; deer, moose, elk, black bear, mountain goat, the list goes on. As for manufacturer, I personally like Remington. Remington are known to be very accurate out of the box without alteration - I have found this to be true. Remington is also cost effective as far as rifles go. Next you have to choose what kind of action you want. I personally recommend a bolt action. This action is the most accurate of all rifle actions, and has less malfunction due to its simplicity. The Remington 700 action is the action on which almost all custom rifles are built, the 700 action is widely excepted as the best bolt action made. So after all that, the rifle I would recommend would be a Remington 700 in 30-06.

For a shot gun for birds and squirrels I would recommend a 12ga, very versatile. Something like a Remington 870. With the Remington 700 30-06 and the Remington 870 you can hunt anything in North America.

 

3. I began hunting when I was 10. I have started teaching my son how to hunt when he was 10. I don't think there is a magic number but, more the maturity of the child. You would have to decide if you thought your sons were mature enough. My son did not start hunting until he was 10, but I started teaching him to shoot at 8. Taking him to the range and teaching the mechanics of shooting.

 

4. For a child a 410 shotgun or a 20 gauge would be appropiate. Advantages of the 20 gauge would include he could use it for turkeys, squire, and game birds, and can shoot slugs for deer hunting also all in one gun. Then when he gets older and wants a rifle a small caliber such as 243 would be a good choose. Some of the gun clubs offer .22 compititions as well, so a .22 would be a good gun for a child to learn to shoot with because of no recoil so they will look forward to shooting it.

 

I did not mean to go on so long, but wanted to give you good and complete information. If you have any further questions, please ask and I will try to help.

[owsleyking]

A single shot 410...I still have it and still hunt with it!!! Great small game gun!!!

[BigBlueFreak]

I grew up in the big city in California. My dad had his federal-issue .357 Magnum and his M-16 he got in the military. I have fired both of those. However, I have never owned a firearm and I do not own one now. Since we lived in the city, we did not do any hunting, and I never learned how.

 

Since I have moved to Kentucky and have young sons, I have really wanted to learn how to shoot and hunt. I do not know where to start. These boys need to learn, and I see fathers and sons going out to hunt together and it is a connection between them that I envy. So I have some questions:

 

1. What is the best way to get started learning to shoot and to hunt??

2. If I were going to purchase a firearm to begin target practice, what do you all recommend?

3. At what age do you recommend a young boy start learning to shoot?

4. What is a good beginner firearm for a young boy?

 

Any help is appreciated in advance.

 

 

I couldn't give you better advice on the gun part of it but the hunting part I could help you with. The best way to start hunting is go with a friend that does hunt. None of my parents hunted, I had a friend and him and his grandpa took me and got me in turkey hunting. After that I pretty much just taught myself what I know, right or wrong at that. I don't know where you are from but if you are close to me I'd be more than happy to introduce you to hunting. I ain't the greatest in the world but I'd at least get you started in the right direction and get you the general idea of how it works. Then you could tweak it to what you liked best. I would think several other members on here would be willing to teach you the ropes as well. I also am a big grouse hunter.

 

Hunting is similar to coaching. Everyone has their own ideas and logic they like best and if you see something someone else does that you like you steal it from them. If you see someone do something you don't like you'll remember not to do it yourself.

[owsleyking]

I couldn't give you better advice on the gun part of it but the hunting part I could help you with. The best way to start hunting is go with a friend that does hunt. None of my parents hunted, I had a friend and him and his grandpa took me and got me in turkey hunting. After that I pretty much just taught myself what I know, right or wrong at that. I don't know where you are from but if you are close to me I'd be more than happy to introduce you to hunting. I ain't the greatest in the world but I'd at least get you started in the right direction and get you the general idea of how it works. Then you could tweak it to what you liked best. I would think several other members on here would be willing to teach you the ropes as well. I also am a big grouse hunter.

 

Hunting is similar to coaching. Everyone has their own ideas and logic they like best and if you see something someone else does that you like you steal it from them. If you see someone do something you don't like you'll remember not to do it yourself.

Good Advise!!!! Learn the basics from someone who hunts..take their advise and then....make your own mistakes. You'll learn from those quicker than anything..and two rules I got from my grandfather!!

1:"Don't shoot it if you don't plan on eating it!!"

2:"I'll teach you how to clean it ONCE...then,if you bring it in..YOU clean it!!!"

Have fun..even if you come home empty handed,you have had a day out in the woods away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life!! And really..what more could you ask for..(except maybe a few morel mushrooms!!)