GF gave me a M70 30.06 in 1977. Married her the next year. The first center fire I bought was a used 444 Marlin in 1982. Still have both, killed a lot of moose with that 06.
My first was a nice condition Winchester M1 carbine with a pile of surplus ammo I bought while in high school from a guy leaving town for $75. Shot the ammo up blasting jack rabbits out in the desert.
Ran out of ammo and sold it for $75 and went back to shooting my 10-22. Didn't have another center fire until I was 35 and bought a boat paddle Ruger 30-06.
Mossberg 472 in 30-30. Hated that gun but daddy bought it for me to hunt deer with. That was back in the late seventies. Traded it for a scope at a gun show last year. I got the better end of that deal.
I could wish a lot of things on my worst enemy but neuropathy ain't one of them.
Ruger M77 MkII chambered in 260 Rem. Given to me by dad Christmas of 2003. Have taken plenty of deer with it. It is just as effective as the Creed....who would have thought??
Last edited by Jevyod; 11/23/20.
......the occasional hunter wielding a hopelessly inaccurate rifle, living by the fantastical rule that this cartridge can deliver the goods, regardless of shot placement or rifle accuracy. The correct term for this is minute of ego.
i was home on leave in 82 and telling an old farmer friend of my dads i always wanted a pump 270. he said "you want to buy mine?". 130 bucks. he said thats what he paid for it in 1960 so thats what he wanted out of it. was my only deer gun for many years has shot a truck load of drt deer and still sits in the safe today. i keep meaning to replace the super hi-rise mounts with some talley lightweights and take it out for a spin again one of these days.
Used Remington model 722 in 1957. caliber 257 Roberts, saved more money and the next year put a Weaver 3x scope on it. Sold it in 1964 to buy Mom a Christmas present. Old Cuss
Dad gave me his pre 64 94 in .30 WCF when he left home in ‘68 to go live with his other family.
Really liked it and still have it. But I’ve never killed a deer with it.
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
I failed to mention, why my choice of rifles @age 14. Even then, I was aware of potential gun control issues (I did a lot of reading) and I guess was a bit of a prepper. I had narrowed my rifle choices down to a Remington, Model 600 in 350 Mag., or the Win. Model 88 in .308 Win. The Model 88 won out on a pure practicality standpoint. My hunting consisted of the thick woods of Central Louisiana, the lever action Model 88 provided fast follow-up shots. The 308 Win., being a recent military cartridge, ammo, both military and factory was readily available, was my choice!
I don’t regret buying the Model 88, but, still have a “want” for the Remington! memtb
Last edited by memtb; 11/23/20.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
Someday I hope to be the person my dogs think I am . . . The only true cost of having a dog is its death. Someone once said "a nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." Shiloh Sharps . . . there is no substitute. NRA Endowment Member
I killed my first deer ( in 1966) with my Dad's '94 in 30-30, manufactured in 1927. When he died, my oldest brother as executer glomed ALL the guns in the house, including my .JC Higgins .single shot .22. Excellent gun! Never got that one back, but after 25 years, when my brother died, I got the '94. It is now well and truely mine, so I'm going to claim it as well as the 336 claimed earlier....
The 94 is my walkabout carry rifle up here. I need to kill something with it again. 54 years is a helluva dry spell for the poor thing.
My first was a Universal 30 Carbine,Killed my first deer a doe with it. I was About 9 years old when I killed her. Somewere around 1969
Back then Almost everyone ran dogs when Hunting deer in Arkansas and the dogs had stirred her up and she ran up on me at about 10 Yards ,I shot her twice in the front of the chest then when she whirled to run I shot her 3 more times in the Butt..
