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First Gun, Favorite Gun, Next Gun?
The Ricochet community includes many responsible gun owners, from hunters to law enforcement, military personnel to weekend target shooters, Second Amendment enthusiasts to those just wanting personal protection. Borrowing from Jon Gabriel, what was your first gun, your favorite gun, and your next gun?
By “favorite,” I mean in terms of sentimental value, i.e., the gun that shows up the most in the lies stories that you tell.
Me:
The first gun that I owned, the first one that I bought with my own money, was a 9mm pre-B CZ75. I’d shot a lot of guns before that, but they were always somebody else’s. I bought the CZ as a home defense gun, but then found out they were excellent race guns and converted it for use in USPSA Production. I’ve since bought three more CZ’s, including a P-07 Duty as my CCW gun, another pre-B to back up the first one and a Czech army surplus CZ-82 to replace the first pre-B as a dedicated home defense.
My favorite gun is the .22lr Smith&Wesson K22 in the picture up there which used to belong to my father-in-law. I love this gun. I love its history. I love its wear. I love how it shoots. There is nothing about it I don’t like.
My next gun will probably be a pistol-caliber AR pistol. I’ve been a big proponent of pistol-caliber carbines for fun and self-defense for quite some time now, and I’m glad to see that’s there more and more options available now that cost less than an AR-15 in .223.
Ok, your first gun, your favorite gun, your next gun?
Published in Culture, Guns, Sports
First Gun: Cooey Model 75 single shot bolt action 22
Favorite Gun: Lee Enfield No.4 Mk1* made in Canada, I even had a blade bayonet for it. I used it for deer hunting for many years. Heavy and rugged, as a battle rifle needs to be, loud too, but mine was never issued so it was almost brand new when I got it, shot great, very accurate.
Now living in Japan, well no more guns in my future here.
Domo
Stu,
What are the laws regarding firearms in Japan? My understanding is that you can own them for hunting and I’m sure the choices are limited, but some Japanese do.
First: .22 rifle I used for hunting with my father in Texas long ago, exact make and model long forgotten.
Current Favorite: Ruger GP100 .357 magnum with 4 inch barrel
Least Favorite: 5″/54 on my first ship when I was the first lieutenant (division officer in charge of the deck apes) standing port and starboard watches on top of the ship in the director (part of the fire control system for the gun) on the Gun Line in Vietnam. Broke down so often the ship got banished to Yankee Station to do plane guard duty (following aircraft carriers around all day). I was glad I wasn’t the gunnery officer.
Next: 1911
First – Stevens model 67 20 gauge shotgun. Still use it once in a while.
Favorite – Currently refurbishing a very old (1880’s)Parkhurst 16 gauge SxS hammer shotgun. The thing is a mess so it’s gonna take a few months. This will be a black powder (Brass shells) gun because of it’s age.
Next – Who knows…some old, neglected gun that needs repair and a good home.
First: New England Firearms .410 my maternal grandfather gave me
Favorite: The 1918 DMW P08 Luger my paternal grandfather brought home in 1945
Next: Probably a side-by-side 20 gauge, or maybe a .455 Webley MkIV or VI