That old .22 that started it all

[Daddymac]

I don't know if he realized it or not, but, my dad set me on this almost insane course of shooting, reloading, and gun ownership, by teaching me to shoot with an old Remington 511 Scoremaster, it was second handed when he got it. I lost my dad this past December and now that 511 resides with me, shot it in the state games .22 competition a few weeks ago and damn if it didn't take the gold in that class. I am not an accomplished shooter, but I have had several podium finishes in local archery, pistol, shotgun, and rifle shoots, but this win, with this .22 is by far the most satisfying I have ever experienced.

I knew I was going to miss him, I had no idea how much.

 

[hunter67]

Great story! Sorry for your loss.

 

[centershot]

There is something about an old .22. They make you feel young again.

 

[johnfred1965]

The 22 I started with was a hand me down Marlin model 60. From my two older brothers down to me, we shot it together until we worn the ejector out of it! From my own experience, remembering your favorite times with your Father is the best way to always keep him close to you. Rather than a tear, I get a smile or a laugh when my favorite memories hit me.

 

[Ken]

Yes,my dad has been gone 45 years and I still miss him and think of the rabbit hunts we did with an Old Remington tube fed bolt action.

 

[wa11abee]

Going on four years without dad. Still pull up to the house forgetting he isn't with us anymore. I still remember my first time I finally got to shoot the old 22 rifle and his advice * son pretend there is a robin egg between your finger and the trigger and you are trying to shoot it without breaking the egg. lol
Mark

 

[Rsadams]

Lost my grandfather who raised me about 5 years ago , he tought me to shoot with an old Winchester tube feed when I was about 6.... That started a life long hobby for myself.... Lost dad a year ago also... Still have all of grandpa's guns including the old Winchester and his deer rifles most of them older than me.... All still in perfect working condition , I have kept them up over the last 40 years some are not even scratched.... About 10 years ago I bought myself the pistols and rifles I shoot now and just leave grandfathers in the safe.... Once every year I pull them all out for a very good clean and inspection.... I am the last male in my family and don't have kids , not sure what will happen to them after I am gone.... Guess at that point it doesn't matter.... Someone will get some very nice old Remingtons one day.... None of them have more than a few boxes of ammo through them , he deer hunted with them and that's about it.... I put a new Leupold scope on the 600 6mm and it shot three shoots touching at 100 with factory ammo last year and back in the safe it went.... Guess I really should take them out every once in awhile and enjoy them...

 

[jackson1]

My Grand father started my addiction 55 years ago, with a Marlin 39A. Have plenty of guns, but that one is still one of my favorites. Taught my sons to shoot with it and now my Grand daughters. Shooting it always takes me back to one of the best times of my life.

 

[snert]

Dad started me on a model 67 Winchester. Years later he horse traded it to a cousin for a Stevens 414. In a way I wish I had the old 67 back. But knowing my cousin, the 67 is a rusty heap now. I bought a 68 for my daughter to start on. She loves it.

Dad been gone 10 years one month. I remember him best now as I mow the lawn...his...since I inherited the house. i often think hard on him as I mow for an hour every week. It is a good thing.

 

[topclass2017]

I'm the proud owner of a Winchester model 60 that my Dad gave me when I was 9 or 10. His Uncle gave it to him when he was about the same age - it was purchased (new) for my Dad's cousin's 16th birthday, but the cousin died before his birthday. My Dad's Uncle did not want the reminder, so gave it to my Dad. So technically I'm the second owner of the rifle purchased new in 1932. I wouldn't even want to guess how many 1,000's of rounds I've put through it. Or three of my grandsons who have learned firearm safety with it. As a kid I remember collecting soda bottles, taking them to the neighborhood Mom-n-Pop grocery store for the deposit, going across the parking lot to the hardware store and buying ammo for $0.50 a box, then heading up into the hills to plink. And taking my rifle into the store(s) so it wouldn't be stolen from my bicycle parked outside. In fact I took it with me one summer (flying from SoCal to NY) to my Grandparent's farm out on Long Island to plink there. My grandpa gave me a quarter for each crow I killed, alot of money in the mid-60's. If I was careful, a couple dead crows bought me another box of ammo. Took it on the plane as "carry on", putting it in the overhead rack. And not an eyebrow was raised. All they wanted to know was that it was unloaded.

Different times...

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Model 63 win.
We all growed up shooting it.
Finally wore a trigger spring into and
my brother took it apart and it never got
put back together...

 

[426nut]

When i was about four, I remember walking with my dad to the neighbors garage sale at which he purchased me my Remington 514. Forty-five years later, and it is still my favorite rifle.
My wife and daughter both have 514s of their own.
Leisurely Plinking with a single shot 22 is truly a great way to spend an afternoon. E.

 

[CT10ring]

I don't know if he realized it or not, but, my dad set me on this almost insane course of shooting, reloading, and gun ownership, by teaching me to shoot with an old Remington 511 Scoremaster, it was second handed when he got it. I lost my dad this past December and now that 511 resides with me, shot it in the state games .22 competition a few weeks ago and damn if it didn't take the gold in that class. I am not an accomplished shooter, but I have had several podium finishes in local archery, pistol, shotgun, and rifle shoots, but this win, with this .22 is by far the most satisfying I have ever experienced.

I knew I was going to miss him, I had no idea how much.

Well, you are blessed with good memories. Maybe you'd want to think of times enjoyed? Just a thought. My father was a heckuva .22 shot. Win Mod. 67. It's the memories, really. My cousin - got the Win 67 .22 after the farm was sold, etc. I found this one- in Connecticut - there were alot of firearms made there. Winchester, Rugers, Colts. My son is a killer shot w a 12 ga Rem 1187. It's about time together.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

I have my Father's Mossberg 84B. It almost cost him his life. He and my Mother got married, and she saved her Farm Wife's butter and egg money for a year to buy him a Fox 20 gauge SxS for their first anniversary. Her younger brother was taking flying lessons, and paid for them by cleaning hangars and odd jobs there at the airport. He would occasionally fly over my Folks farm, and take my Dad for a ride. In season they hunted squirrels and rabbits together. My Uncle had the 84B. If squirrels ran, my Father shot them with the Fox. If the dog held them going around the tree, my Uncle would use the 22. It turned out he was doing most of the shooting. He offered to trade my Father, and Dad foolishly agreed. My Dad got two turkeys with that 22 before Thanksgiving. The entire family was over for Turkey Day dinner, and my Mother was so proud of the turkeys not being shot up. She kept after my Father to get the Fox out of the closet and show it off. My Father obviously could not produce the shotgun; and my Mother finally went to the closet and brought out the case. Zip, and no shotgun; just this fine 22 bolt action rifle. Dad confessed, and my Mom told me, twenty years later, the story. Thanksgiving time in the Midwest is the onset of winter; but when I asked him a bit later, he told me that he did not have to have a fire for about ten days in the house.

 

[br1111]

I don't know if he realized it or not, but, my dad set me on this almost insane course of shooting, reloading, and gun ownership, by teaching me to shoot with an old Remington 511 Scoremaster, it was second handed when he got it. I lost my dad this past December and now that 511 resides with me, shot it in the state games .22 competition a few weeks ago and damn if it didn't take the gold in that class. I am not an accomplished shooter, but I have had several podium finishes in local archery, pistol, shotgun, and rifle shoots, but this win, with this .22 is by far the most satisfying I have ever experienced.

I knew I was going to miss him, I had no idea how much.

my dad has been gone this august will be 4 years. he brought me up in the woods and on the water. I often think back of all the hunting and fishing memories and will cherish them forever. I have an old Ithaca 20 gauge pump he gave me when I was 16 and now I am 66. I also have his browning 3 inch auto. I miss him dearly and think of him often. I look forward thanks to Jesus, to seeing him on the other side.

 

[jbarnwell]

Mine started with an Ithaca model 49. I would love to have a penny for every bullet that went down that barrel!

 

[1K6BRA]

Here’s my first 22,my father bought it for me in 1975.A marlin model 780 with a maverick brand 4x scope on it. It still sits in the corner by my back door in my house and I still use it occasionally to dispatch a red squirrel or a crow. And I occasionally take it to a local 22 meat shoot and still bring home a prize or two. I used to hike the hills in my younger years with this 22 strapped to my back. Kind of made me feel like Jack O’Connor hiking the hills for sheep. I probably never will get a chance to hike hills for sheep but the memories that 22 provided for me thanks to my father is priceless. It’s certainly set in motion for me things that I could not have imagined back when I was a teenager in the early 70s. I have been on numerous hunting trips, different shooting competitions and I’m now involved in thousand yard benchrest shooting.I tried doing the same thing for my son but he is not overly interested in shooting other than deer season. My dad has been gone now for six years I think of him every day and when I see that 22 in the corner it brings back a simpler time in life and has absolutely helped me to become the man that I am today. Thanks Dad,that small investment has provided for me richly in ways untold!