Your first rifle. Where is it now?

[badgererickson]

1979 Dad gave it to me; Remington Speedmaster ADL, lent it out to Mom's #3 husband to train his boy to shoot, I should go track that rifle down.

 

[r2cook]

When I was 11 I went to a SCI local event and my dad bought me one ticket and I bought one ticket for The Browning Raffle - ten guns - I had my eye on a .338 Win Mag. I actually won it! When I went up to get claim my prize they made my dad come with me. The next week we took it to my great-uncle's gun shop and traded it for a .308 A-Bolt II that is in my safe today and I've taken a bunch of deer with it. Great gun. Took a couple years off from using it, but next year it's making a comeback.

 

[mattdenmoore22]

First rifle I bought with my own money as a kid was the Rossi M2022 .22LR/20gauge. Single Shot Break Action. The barrels are interchangeable and super easy to switch out. I hunted snowshoe hares, grouse and ptarmigan.

I must have passed the test because my dad then gifted me my Ruger 10/22 later on.

I still have both rifles and am planning to teach my kids how to use them soon!

 

[boulderchild]

When I was 7 or 8 my grandpa gave me an ithica m-49 single shot lever action .22. I am 43 and it is still in my safe. I wanted to get it rebuilt for a long time but it still works fine and its scars give it character.

I thought i would teach my daughter to shoot with it but it was a little big for her so we got her a cricket .22 and the m-49 is still waiting on her to grow some.

 

[jcupdrew]

My first rifle was a Marlin 25 in 22LR I got for my birthday as a kid. Working the bolt made it feel like a real sniper rifle and I envisioned someday carrying a scaled up version, I’d pursue all sorts of big game with around the world. I only used it for targets and squirrels, but took a lot of pride in it and maintained it meticulously. I eventually sold it and have gotten a suitable, I’ll say better, replacement with a Springfield 2020.

For big game, due to regulations I only used shotguns and muzzleloaders. The single shot HR Pardner slug gun with lightfeilds would shoot an inch at 100 yards which I found spectacular. Stretching a 50 Cal TC Omega out to 200 yards felt like cheating.

When centerfires were permitted, I did my research and got the quintessential deer and rifleman’s rifle. None other than a Model 70 featherweight chambered in Americas cartridge, the 30-06. I was also inspired by the history, versatility and world renowned performance of the gun and cartridge from the likes of Hemingway, Rosevelt and Jack O’Conner (despite 270 being his gun of choice). It’s a newer model produced in Portugal. It’s a beauty with a Burris scope and the FE sling fits it perfectly. The action is as smooth as glass and I’ve found a couple loads that shoot well under an inch. Terminal Ascent 175s and Norma Bondstrike 180s. It’s light and handles superbly, but kicks like a mule due to its light weight.

 

[fast510]

First firearm that I ever owned, my dad gave to me for my 18th birthday, R1A1 Imbel FAL with some cheap scope he put on it, still have it and it's hanging in my gun closet; used it for deer hunting last year. (Photo is mid gun closet assembly and not finished.)