What was your first shotgun?

15957 Views 89 Replies 81 Participants Last post by rsr1950, Feb 26, 2022

shotgunworld

Discussion Starter · Jan 30, 2003

We've had a lot of discussions on which gun to buy for kids. I'm curious as to what was the first shotgun everyone owned, as a kid. Did you like it? Why or why not? -Jay Gentry Shotgunworld.com

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BigDMan

· #2 · Jan 30, 2003

I started out with the Winchester model 12 12gauge. The gun has been very dependable and I still use it over any other gun out there. I began shooting it at age 8. It was easy to use and the safety is a push button which works well for bringing in the habit of using the safety. I noticed that this was brought up in an earlier post. I feel that this gun provides a great place for the safety due to it's easy accessability while in the field. LOL...sorry there shotgunworld...:b Edited by: BigDMan at: 1/29/03 10:34:36 pm

shotgunworld

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 30, 2003

I'll go second (BigDMan beat me LOL).Mine was a K-Mart (Boito I think) single barrel 16ga with external hammer. I was 10 I think. It wasn't much to look at, but I didn't really care. It meant that I was now a hunter and not a 'retriever'. Plus it would eject the empty shell 20 yards behind me, which I thought was really cool for some reason. Since it was a break-open I could also carry it over my shoulder, with it open, like my Dad did his double barrel. That was neat too.Jay GentryShotgunworld.com Shotgunworld.comEdited by: Shotgunworld at: 1/29/03 10:27:46 pm

RemingtonII

· #4 · Jan 30, 2003

My first gun, in my early teens was a Mossberg, bolt-action, 20 ***** with a POLY CHOKE. I loved that poly choke.I wanted something more repeatable, and the bolt action wasn't cool so my dad got me a Remington 870 Wingmaster, when I was about 15.

Tuffcity

· #5 · Jan 30, 2003

A Stevens Savage 12g pump, the one with the savage "super choke" on the end. Gun age-? (pre-serial number required era), shooter age-14. Kicked this kid like a stung mule but it was a "real" shotgun- my buddies were all shooting .410's. Put a lot of ducks, grouse, a few pheasants and quail in the pot. Still have it. RC-brings back a lot of fond memories of wandering the hills before I could even drive. Back then you could still hitch-hike with a cased shotgun and get rides from people other than the police.

MarlandS

· #6 · Jan 30, 2003

My first "using" shotgun was a Harrington and Richardson Topper in .410, still have it, that little gun put down a lot of rabbits, squirrels , and birds of all types.

bustabuck

· #7 · Jan 30, 2003

My first shotgun was an H&R single shot .410 as well. My grandfather gave it to me when I was 7. It was great for squirrels and rabbits. When I turned 11, my father gave me his Remington 1100 12 gauge.I've still got both of these shotguns and use them a great deal. I don't think that I could part with them...no matter how much money I was offered!

TheWingshooter

· #8 · Jan 30, 2003

My first shotgun was my Ithaca Model 37 16 *****. I recieved it for my 14th birthday, and many a dove has died due to it.The gun is very light, and therefor it kicks like a mule. Something I disliked about it when I recieved it was the fixed full choke. My skills with a shotgun were lacking then and I was unable to hit much with it.However now that I'm a little more seasoned with a shotgun, it's undoubtably one of my favorite guns. The action is smooth as silk. I can cycle shells through it with little to no effort.I only wish I could find more shells for it. --Wing"Believe me, Delmar, Woman is the most fiendish instrument of torture ever devised to bedevil the days of man!" -- Ulysses Everett McGill, to his friend, Delmar O'Donnell, in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

GordonSetter

· #9 · Jan 30, 2003

My first gun was a Savage 67 pump. I like it so much I still deer hunt with it. I got it when I was 12 for Christmas from my dad. He had shot a deer with it and handed it to me (I had a 20ga of his) and told me to wait while he got the truck. He came back 20 min later and I had shot my first deer with that gun while he was gone. That December it was wraped under the tree for me. I plan on my kids using it when they can handle it. Let the dog hunt the birds, ... you hunt the dog.

mtaylor

· #10 · Jan 30, 2003

Mine was a WesternField .410 single shot bolt. Dad work for Wards at the time so he surely got a good deal. Probably about $25 at the time. I still have it although the safety is not good so I will not be passing it down to my son.

ghfjfnjnj

· #11 · Jan 30, 2003

my first gun was a 410 rossi it was perfict for me

DeadeyeBull

· #12 · Jan 31, 2003

My first shotgun was the Ithaca model 37 Deerslayer. I purchased it new for $99.00 in 1965. Still have it. I don't think you can find a pump of that quality today.

Howie1049

· #13 · Jan 31, 2003

My first was a Iver Johnson single shot 12ga. where you could shot with your head erect yet. Lots of drop at the heel. M37's are still made that way Deadeyebull. Edited by: Howie1049 at: 1/30/03 7:32:14 pm

Bird Hunter

· #14 · Jan 31, 2003

the first gun i ever had was a 12 gauge wingmaster. still have it and still hunt with it.

OldHubcap

· #15 · Jan 31, 2003

If you are refering to kids of all ages, then my first shotgun was a Remington 870 Express, 20 Ga. Got it when I was a wee lad of 47:lol

MTRoss

· #16 · Jan 31, 2003

I don't remember the actual model, but it was a Stevens single shot 20 *****. My Dad believed (as I do) that a single shot is the best gun to teach a kid to hunt with for a few reasons.#1) One shot - make it count. Rather than emty a magazine full of shells at a pheasant or duck, it teaches the discipline to make one shot count, and I believe that I am a better shot because of this (not I said "better", not "good"!)#2) Safety - Carrying a single shot hammer gun is a safe practice. Carrying an uncocked gun in the field is a safe way to hunt with someone who may not yet be comfortable handling a gun in rough terrain such a s heavy pheasant, grouse or rabbit cover.#3) Lightweight - Easy for a youngster to get used to carry a gun for an entire day in the field. A 7 1/2 lb shotgun gets heavy for a boy to carry all day.My brother now has that gun that I learned to hunt with, so I bought a Winchester Model 370 20 gauge for my boy to learn with when he comes of age. Mike RossLife Member, NAHCMember, National Rifle AssociationMember, Meeker Co. Historical Society

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nicolisd

· #17 · Jan 31, 2003

Mine was a Revelation 12ga Model R310AC. Edited by: nicolisd at: 1/31/03 5:48:57 pm

Guardian

· #18 · Feb 1, 2003

My first was a Single Shot 20ga Youth Model by New England Firearms. I have never found a shotgun that has kicked that hard since. I got that gun when I was 15.I still have that gun... It now sits in my closet, waiting for the next generation to come along.

G

· #19 · Oct 25, 2003

First gun was Ithaca M37, 20 gauge, improved cylinder vent rib barrel...yes....I still have it! About 30 years old now!!!

soreshoulder

· #20 · Oct 25, 2003

Mine was a Fox BST 20 gauge SXS, nice gun, didn't fit, couldn't hit very well in sporting clays, and kicked the daylights out of me.

Hence the moniker, soreshoulder.

I owned it for nearly 40 years, sold it to my buddy Ed for a quarter of a grand.

And now you know, the rest of the story...

Mike

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