A wonderful reunion with my first gun - got it when I was 11 & it's still fantastic!

A Marlin/Glenfield bolt action single-shot (purchased for me from Western Auro) was my first .22, and I, too, remember shooting many, many boxes of ammo through it as a lad. It was, and still is, a very accurate little rifle.

I passed it along toy youngest daughter. Shortly after she married her husband took her hunting, and when she took her first squirrel with my little rifle she texted me a photo of her holding her trophy. I don’t know which of us was more proud.
 
Chief, I think the suggestion above to take your daughter-in-law shooting is a good one. Your son, his wife, your wife (if she enjoys it) and a few hours at the range might help your daughter learn that shooting is a hobby, a pastime, a skill, a sport rather than something too often depicted as antisocial and violent. Might turn out that she would find she enjoys it, as so many of us do.

(There are "lefties" who are shooters, by the way. Sometimes we can paint with too broad a brush.)
 
A Marlin/Glenfield bolt action single-shot (purchased for me from Western Auro) was my first .22, and I, too, remember shooting many, many boxes of ammo through it as a lad. It was, and still is, a very accurate little rifle.

I passed it along toy youngest daughter. Shortly after she married her husband took her hunting, and when she took her first squirrel with my little rifle she texted me a photo of her holding her trophy. I don’t know which of us was more proud.

I have one of those Western Auto 22s. I think mine is a Marlin/Glenfield too. Mine is branded "Revelation", Western Auto's trademark for many of their items. I have a cheap BSA scope on it and it's sighted for CB caps at 75 feet. Great for armadillos and makes very little noise.
 
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I LIKE that Bald1

So you guys with the 22/410 OU. Is that your first gun or your first two guns ? Technically it’s your first rifle and your first shotgun.


I really like that thought Bald1...I never gave that a thought but you are right...2 guns in 1...Dad made a great choice for my 1st (2) guns...Roger
 
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The Marlin 25 is proof that you don't have to spend a small fortune to get an insanely accurate .22 rifle. They are still a great choice as a first rifle for a new young shooter, and can be had for well under $200, quite a bit more than the $29.99 that you dad paid. And while the detachable magazines will now cost close to that, they can still be found.

John

Thankfully I actually 4 or 5 extra magazines. My Dad thought ahead! :)
 
Chief, I think the suggestion above to take your daughter-in-law shooting is a good one. Your son, his wife, your wife (if she enjoys it) and a few hours at the range might help your daughter learn that shooting is a hobby, a pastime, a skill, a sport rather than something too often depicted as antisocial and violent. Might turn out that she would find she enjoys it, as so many of us do.

(There are "lefties" who are shooters, by the way. Sometimes we can paint with too broad a brush.)

Been trying to get her to the range for 10 years. Still trying! :rolleyes:
 
They made over 11 mil of those 22's. Marlin 60 & cheaper Glenfield 30, ect.

Used to see em at yard sales for like $40.
 
From what I have experienced over my lifetime in this hobby, Marlin used the exact same designs and barrels in their lower end Glenfield's, Sears, Ted Williams and JC Higgins contracted production guns. Where they saved money was in the stock woods used, blueing and finish.

Although my Marlin / Glenfield model 25 has a plain Birch stock and a less expensive chrome job on the bolt, it will outshoot all the other 22 rifles I own with one exception. That exception is my coveted CZ 453 American with a single set trigger, which is IMHO one of the very best 22 RF rifles ever produced! I have competed with the CZ 453 against Anschutz, Cooper, Kimber America and other high end rimfire rifles with no handicaps!

Marlin used mostly "micro-grooving" in their rimfire barrels back then and at least for rimfire calibers, they really had something there I think. So when guys at the range look down their noses at the Pain Jane Marlin's and Glenfield's, they should beware they just might be a diamond in the ruff!

BTW, one of my friends has a very inexpensive single shot Harrington & Richardson (his first childhood 22 rifle) and it is also a fantastic shooter! He happened to have it on Friday as well - we both had a blast reminiscing!
 
The power of a relative's gun...

As a side story regarding a Marlin Model 60 22 LR...about 10 years ago I was at a farm auction in Monroeville, Ohio...one of the rifles they were selling was a Marlin Model 60 which at that time were selling for $49 plus tax...the bidding started on this Model 60 and was quickly overtaken by 2 young boys...they literally went crazy bidding this rifle up...I mean way up...it ended up selling for $750 and even the auctioneer was flabbergasted...I went up to the young man that had won the auction and asked him what was so special about this Model 60 that you bid it up so high? He made one statement to me: IT WAS GRANDPA's GUN!
 
This thread has me thinking about pulling out my old Stevens Favorite. There is one problem to address. I had a retinal hemorrhage in my right eye a few years ago, and that has made it difficult to focus on a front sight. However, on a whim I looked through the peep sight on my AR-15 and found that the front sight came into focus well enough to shoot passably. But I don't want to drill and tap a vintage antique. Is there some kind of aftermarket peep sight I could duct tape to my old Stevens Favorite and remove at will?
 
Excellent gun Max...just like the one I got from my Dad in 1960...see post #15 above...Roger

My first firearm was an Ithaca Model 49 .22 LR, given to me on my 15th birthday. My SECOND gun was my granddaddy's Stevens .22/.410 & was also given to me on my 15th birthday.

Granddaddy bought the Stevens at the beginning of WW II, to keep the bunny rabbits out of his garden. It has the side button and the Tenite (plastic) stock and forend.
 
Excellent gun Max...just like the one I got from my Dad in 1960...see post #15 above...Roger

Same here! That gun fed me and my roommates during college at our off-campus apartment. Many rabbits, squirrels, quail, doves, woodcocks etc. found their way to the pot by way of that o/u.
I used to roll it up in a tablecloth until the game warden told me to buy a proper case.
 
Thanks for posting your "first gun" story OP.
I really enjoyed reading it. It brought back memories of my grandfather's Winchester pump .22 - that was my 1st rifle and now resides with my younger son.
I wish you luck in introducing your DIL to shooting. As you know, it really can be a lot of fun. As I'm sure you're aware - shooting/plinking with a .22 is a most enjoyable way to spend an afternoon or morning.

WYT-P
Skyhunter
 
My first gun was a Remington 512 that my father bought in rough shape and refinished for me. An excellent firearm that I still have. The sights were never "dead on". Sometime before it got to me, the elevator for the rear sight had gone missing. Shoved a piece of juniper twig under it. That worked for about 15 years until I cut up a nickel to make one. It always shot just a tad low and to the right. But since I knew where it was gonna hit, I could adjust. I could hit just about anything out to 100 yds. And most things out another 50-100. Nobody else could with my gun.
Went to school with a guy who had a 10/22 with a folding stock and a 3-9X40 on it. Claimed it was the most accurate gun ever. Shooting 12GA hulls at 50 yards he was hitting about 30%. I was at 95% or better. He wanted to try my gun and didn't like it when I told him he wouldn't be able to shoot it like me. He was hitting about the same with mine as he was with his.
He didn't understand it until I told him the hold point. Even then he was hitting about half. What can I say? It was MY gun.:D
 
I just gave the great grandson a squirrel stock marlin for Christmas. The gun is 71 yrs old and he is 10. I would love to know in 50 yrs he post the same as the OP about taking it out of the safe and shooting it again.
 
My Dad bought me a Remington Model 33 when I was 11 in 1987. It's still my go to .22 rifle to this day, leaning in the corner of the master bedroom, ready to handle the rouge squirrels and other pests that frequent our family's foothills compound. A single-shot bolt action with manual cocking, there is not much to have gone wrong over the 90 decades it's been in use.

The situation with your son and DIL is really unacceptable. That wouldn't be tolerated in my family. Sometimes you have to put your foot down on what is appropriate and what is not.
 
Power master 760 for 12th birthday, Marlin 15y at 13, H&R Topper in 20ga at 14, H&R 649 at 15, .36 caliber pepperbox (kit gun) at 16, Winchester 140 at 17….doomed to be a gun accumulator from an early age.
 
The only thing I wanted for Christmas when I was 11 was a .22 rifle. It was obvious on Christmas morning that there was no rifle shaped gift under the tree. My formerly not evil dad waited until all the presents had been opened by my brother, sister and me before asking what was that standing up beside the tv ? That was a Winchester model 67A boy’s rifle. He had to convince mom that I would act responsibly with it, I still do. It’s my son’s rifle now.
My wife is a lefty, I try to sit on her right side when we’re dining out with friends.
Regards,
 
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