Hate is a strong word. Can't say there was ever a gun I hated. However, I didn't get mad or tell Dad to call the police when my very first center fire rifle was stolen. Someone stole it from my parents garage while I away for basic training. I got it when I was 15yrs old in Lewisville Texas grocery shopping with Mom at the Minyards Grocery. I saw an oak barrel full of beat-up WWII surplus K98 Mausers at the end of the produce isle. The sign said $20ea. I asked Mom if I could have one, she said no of course. When Christmas rolled around, I found it under the Christmas tree. I rode my motorcycle to the gas station and they had a box of 8mm ammo. So Me and a couple buddies took it behind the Lewisville lake dam, and set up a big cardboard box and drew a bullseye on it. I sat cross legged and carefully aimed from about 100 yards away. I missed and no one saw where the round went so we moved up to 40 yards. My next round hit the dirt about 2 foot right and a bit low. My third shot sailed high and way left, I saw the splash in the Trinity River. I pulled the bolt and saw it was badly shot out. We left without firing another round and I leaned it up in the corner of the garage where it sat for 3 years. I'm pretty sure the local neighborhood pot head stole it. He was well known to do that kind of thing. He definitely deserved that rifle.
