Monday, September 28, 2009

First Born, First Rifle

A little over 25 years ago, my father and I walked out of a Gemco in California with a brand new Ruger 10/22. My first rifle. Over the next couple years, my dad and I would go to the range together and enjoy shooting, and enjoy the talking about the shooting.

A couple weeks ago, I handed my first rifle to my son.

7 comments:

Dr. Dirt said...

First comment. Cool.

Path Walker said...

wicked cool. I like it.

Jim Tantillo said...

make? model? inquiring minds need to know.

:-)

KGT (aka Cagey) said...

Glad to see him getting in to a rifle that fits him. I've always felt bad about the frustration my little .22 brought poor Jonah here in Canoga Land.

Very nice.

Yeoman said...

The first rifle I owned (rather than used) was also a Ruger 10/22. My son now enjoys shooting that rifle as well.

Anonymous said...

Jim,

It's Ruger 10/22 carbine, circa 1983. At the time I think Ruger only had one model. Many years ago I installed a quick-release scope mount with a peep sight. To prep it for the next generation, I bought a youth stock from Brownells. The new stock trimmed some weight off the rifle, and fits the kids perfectly.

I also bought a .22 spinning target that is WAYYYY more fun than paper target (though not as fun as cans of Spam, or well-shaken cans of soda).

KGT - that foray into your woods was awesome, and any frustration resulting from your .22 was vastly outweighed by the thrill of the hunt experienced by my boy.

Yeoman - I hope your son, like mine, has many wonderful years shooting the Ruger.

Yeoman said...

"Yeoman - I hope your son, like mine, has many wonderful years shooting the Ruger."

And I share that wish for your son as well.

In thinking on it, I think my 10/22 must be from around 1975 or so. I really wanted it, but my father wanted to get me a bolt action. He relented in the end. Prior to that, I"d been shooting his Winchester shooting gallery special.

What a fine rifle it's been. I still use it to shoot rabbits. Unlike me, my son did start off with single shot bolt actions, and has done very well with them. But he really likes the 10/22, and now prefers it for rabbits.

I'd like to pick up a CZ .22 now myself, as a full sized .22 would be nice.