Do you remember the first centerfire rifle you fired and do you reload for that caliber today?

[C-130 Dude]

Where I grew up was not rifle hunting country and there were no deer in the area to hunt so I did not have the opportunity to shoot a center fire until I bought my own at the age of 16, make note that this was before the Foolishness of GCA 68. It was a Marlin 336T in .35 Remington. I lived in Illinois at the time and my Dad and I migrated over the state line (about a mile from our house) to Wilmot, Wisconsin where we went to the original Gander Mountain, which was still a simple store front built into the front of the founders home. I don't exactly remember the price but I think that it was under $100 that I paid from earnings on a paper route. I did a lot of shooting with the rifle, unfortunately all target shooting for which I had to pad my shoulder. For me at that time shooting the 200 gr bullets available had a pretty hefty recoil. I didn't get a chance to go hunting with that rifle until I returned from Viet Nam and after the M-14 the Marlin kick didn't seem bad anymore. I didn't go hunting with it until 1972 around Marinette, WI. It was buck only back then and I saw about a zillion does, but no bucks. I hunted with it for a couple of years then traded even to a friend of mine who is a Wisconsin State Trooper. He got the .35 Remington and I got a Remington 600 in .243. He still has the Marlin .35 Remington, I sold the 600 to another friend in the Army and bought my first (still have it) Winchester Model 70 chambered in the .308 Winchester (7.62 mm NATO) The .308 is the first center fire rifle cartridge that I loaded on my own, using a recipe similar to the Lake City Match ammo that I was shooting in the Army. After glass bedding and floating the barrel of the Model 70 (Winchester did not do that back then) my reloads would shoot 0.5 MOA or less all day. It would shoot better than the issue Lake City Match ammo would, and the LC Match was good ammo.

Why is that you count 5 bucks the day before season and 000 the next day. Hmm..

 

[C-130 Dude]

Is that a Husqvarna, Sears sold Mauser action rifles made by Husqvarna, very good quality and not much money!

Good old Sears. RIP

 

[C-130 Dude]

First year my Dad took me and my younger brothers hunting with him I was probably 14. He hadn't hunted himself for a number of years when we were little because the $$ just weren't there. I got to carry a rifle for myself on that trip and it was Dad's old (early 50's) sporterized Japanese something or other that I'm still not able to define, chambered in 300 Savage. Somewhere over the ensuing years that rifle disappeared.

My initiation to killing my first deer was on that trip and it wasn't an initiation I would wish on anyone. I came across a doe that had been shot thru the spine and was left to die. I was horrified to see her trying to crawl away from me, pulling herself by her front legs. My first deer kill was at 5' and wasn't even legal. but to me, even at that age, it was the right thing to do.

It hurts me to hear stories of suffering. You did what had to be done.

 

[C-130 Dude]

My first rifle was a .22 bolt action at Boy Scout camp @ Woodland Trails in Ohio. First reload I did was for my 30-30 Winchester 94, made in 1959 (I was three years old when it was made. Now I load for all my riles. Most satisfying thing I have ever done......and you are so right about the 66 years......

Memories!

 

[C-130 Dude]

Great story, experiences, and memories. We earned them.

 

[sxssixteen]

My first rifle was a Springfield O3A3 in 30/06. It was heavy for a 12 year old. I finally sold it when I was eye ball to eye ball with a 6 point buck (at close range), and I couldn't find the safety with my gloves on. I didn't want to look for the safety, but when I did, the buck vanished. I sold the gun that month.
I have owned several 30/06 rifles since then, reloaded for all of them, but never missed the O3A3.

 

[unclecroc]

Mine was an H&R Handi rifle 223 that I saved up half the money for and my father covered the other half. I bought a box of ammo with it and after I shot them off my great uncle taught me how to reload that box of ammo. I still own that rifle and yes I still load for it, that rifle sparked my passion for handloading and hunting.

 

[cohunt]

Yes
Yes

 

[Window]

The first rifle I ever fired was a 375HH. I was 10 years old. It almost took my arm and shoulder off. The bruises were massive, taking weeks to heal. But the grin on my face never wore off. My buddy's dad showed me how to fire it after a lot of instruction. I already had 3 years of proficiency on a .22, but the 375HH was my first centerfire. When I turned 24, I got one of my own. I still reload for it today and will never get rid of it. 66 years passes quickly.

Winchester 30-30! Took my first deer with it when I was seven in 1978. Shot it exclusively till I got my first Weatherby (270 Lazermark) at seventeen. Still have it and still shoot it but it's the only rifle I own that I don't load for. And yes the time does pass way too fast but the memories are still as clear as yesterday!

 

[CasperTheMedic]

Aged 5, 303British, had to be able to hit a 4 inch disk at 100yards 5/5 times. Managed that by the time I was 7, was given the rifle, 10 rounds, 1 for deer and the rest for lions / hyenas. Told to come back with an impala or other deer I could drag and the empties to reload.

Still have a 303Brit, can still hit that 4" disk at 100 yards, still reload for it and take deer with it.

 

[coop2564]

30-30 win M94 top eject, still have it, 13 as Christmas present. Its worn smooth as butter. Half the varnish and half the bluing is worn off it, but still groups 2" with open sights. Never reloaded for it. It always shot Rem core loft round nose very well.

 

[Starlite]

Does at 410 with slug count?
If not, then 222.

I've got a over under with both so I'd say your 50% correct.

 

[C-130 Dude]

My first rifle was a Springfield O3A3 in 30/06. It was heavy for a 12 year old. I finally sold it when I was eye ball to eye ball with a 6 point buck (at close range), and I couldn't find the safety with my gloves on. I didn't want to look for the safety, but when I did, the buck vanished. I sold the gun that month.
I have owned several 30/06 rifles since then, reloaded for all of them, but never missed the O3A3.

Funny how you can act when face to face with a wonderful animal. Too bad you felt the need to 86 the gun.

 

[338RUM&7MMREMMAG]

Remington 700BDL LH in .308. Got it as a present from my dad when I was 12. He learned to shoot .308 in the Army, qualifying Expert, and said if it was good for the Army it was good for everyone. He owned a lot of rifles...and they were all chambered in .308. I still have it and reload for it. Thankfully I have branched out and own and load for many other calibers too.