[sig226]

FR Gun Club ping

[wastedyears]

Isn’t it a little early?

[wendy1946]

If some body didn’t know better, he’d look at bolt and lever action rifles and figure that the lever action was more complex and that the bolt action had to come first, which is wrong. Most interesting 22 rimfire I’ve seen in recent years however is the little Henry lever action.

[Tainan]

1st long gun was a single shot, bolt action, open sighted .22. Next was a single shot Topper .410. Both put a heck of a lot of squirrels, rabbits, quail and assorted other animals on the table. Not to mention a heck of a lot of .22 rounds down range and down field.

I really couldn't think of a better way to start a shooting life than the combination of those 2 guns.
1 shot, see the results and reload.

Of course a lot of folks who started with pistols probably have other opinions. But thats mine.

[P8riot]

I still have my first rifle. It is a Marlin Glenfield 10 bolt action .22 (will shoot shorts, longs, and LRs) that I went to the corner hardware store with my father to buy during the summer of 1963. I was six yrs old at the time, and had saved up lawn mowing and car washing money specifically for it. I think it was around $25, but am not sure. I still remember walking home, with my Dad reminding me of the responsibility I now had. I was carrying the rifle at "shoulder arms" the whole six blocks. We lived in Orange, California at the time (how times have changed).

In the intervening 45 yrs it has taken about 1,000 tin cans, more than 300 squirrels, about that many rabbits, dozens of pigeons, one turkey, and numerous other varmints including a Boy Scout merit badge.

With the exception of some scratches, and my initials carved into the stock with a Boy Scout pocket knife (which I also still have), it looks and functions as good as the day I bought it. I estimate that it probably has anywhere from 50 to 70,000 rounds through it.

I am proud to pass it down to my son, who is now the same age I was when I got it. If I successfully instill the same respect, and sense of responsibility in him that my father did in me, he may be able to pass it on to his son.

[R. Scott]

Russia and Germany were usung a bolt action in the 1840s, and we were still humping muzzle loaders.

[caver]

I’ve got a number of .22 rifles and have for years. Last weekend CMP send out a notice that they have about 2000 Mossberg M44 Army trainer rifles. I had to order one. They were made starting 1943 I think to 1949. They look like a sweet rifle. I can hardly wait.

[Shooter 2.5]

I believe it was the American company of Smith and Wesson who developed the modern self contained metalic cartridge which was a rimfire. The calibers went all the way to .44 with 28 grains of powder. The self contained cartridge is what made modern arms possible.

I have an example of an internally primed centerfire cartridge. It’s a .45 Colt. I don’t know the manufacturer.

The military is trying to develop a cartridge that either has a all consuming cartridge or cases that aren’t made from the expense brass materials.

[Joe Brower]

FR Gun Club ping!

For the FreeRepublic "banglist", please click HERE .

[longhorn too]

I got my first gun for Christmas in 1960. It was a model 67 single shot .22, still have it.

[Deaf Smith]

I didn't *own* my first firearm until 16 yrs of age...Winchester 1300 and then a Marlin 60 a year or so latter.

The introduction to firearms (after BB guns) was around age 8 with an old 16 gauge and the first rifle fired at 10 was a sporterized SMLE.

[BenLurkin]

bolt action .22 Long Rifle. They were single shots with peep sights

First firearm I ever shot. It was at Boy Scout Camp.

[JDoutrider]

BUMP!

[RepRivFarm]

The “gun club” articles have been fascinating. Thanks for running these. Please add me to the ping list!

[El Gato]

Of course, they didn't fall down when they were shot with the .30 - 40 Krag rifle cartridge, either, but no one can claim that the firearms business makes any sense.

Krag

Hence the clamor for something more in the class of the 8 mm Mauser or .303 Brit. That lead to adoption of the 30-06 in the Springfield

and a little later the M1917 Enfield

and much later the Garand.

[SIDENET]

Here are a couple bolt action military rifles with a design that has seen action in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Its 7.62x54R cartridge is still used today (in different rifles) in Iraq by both sides.