My Dad got me a Dasiy BB gun at 5, and I grew up with his Winchester 22 pump rifle (which I own now) and a 300 Savage M99. My own 1st gun which I bought with my own money was a used Winchester M70 in 270 and my 2nd gun with an Ithica M66 20 gauge. My first handgun was an original Colt 1851 Navy that I learned to rebuild.
Between the ages of 12 and 18 I got only 3 more long arms, a Berretta BL3 O/U 12 gauge, a Mauser barreled action I made my first bolt action on in 270 Winchester so I could use the same ammo as my Winchester M70 (I also still have that rifle too, but on it's 3rd barrel) and a handmade Hawken copy in 58 cal. With Dad's help I got 4 more handguns, a 1st Gen Colt SAA in 45 Colt (which I also had to rebuild,) a Ruger 44 Super Black Hawk, a Colt New Frontier 22 with mag convertible 22 mag cylinder and 8-3/8" S&W M29.
Funny thing............I never owned a 22 rifle of my own until I was about 24 years old. I got that rifle when I was a Marine, A Winchester 94/22 purchased in Jacksonville N.C. . Dad gave me the Winchester 62A when I was in my mid 40s
