It was before the turn of the century I am sure.

It might have been this thread, but mine was an Iver Johnson Single shot hammer fired 20ga. I was 9 or 10. I couldn't even kock it, had to use both hands. I'd put the stock between my legs and grab the hammer with both thumbs on it and could kock it.

Mine was a remington 870 then a s&w15-22 MOE

"You'll shoocher eye out, kid!"

When I was growing up I lived in a very rural area in an arid climate. When we went shooting we just loaded up the truck and headed for the boonies (about a mile down a dirt road). There was a natural wash that was dry 99% of the time, so we just got in the bottom and did our shooting. Good times.

We don't have that where I live now, so I'm going to get on the two year long waiting list for the local gun club. My son will be a little closer to shooting age by then, and if 2 years turns into 4 then that's perfect. He'll probably get his first rifle before he gets his RMD I bought him when he was born.

Adam, when I was growing up and was up at Grandma and Grandpa's all I had to do was walk across the dirt road, or go the other direction and climb over an old woven wire fence.

We could've gotten away with doing the same, but my dad was adamant about being at least 1 mile away from the nearest house.

When I was a kid I was almost shot with a .22 from a neighbors house about aquarter mile away. An accident, but still. Me and my dad were sitting in the barn drinking some tea and a coffee can full of miscellaneous nuts and bolts that I was sitting right next to made a "pop" sound, then we heard the crack in the distance. They were shooting rabbits. From that distance it probably wouldn't have hurt me unless it hit me in the eye or something.

My first gun was a 20 gauge single shot FIE that Dad won on a punch board and gave to me for my 10th birthday. I've had a lot of guns come and go since then, but that old 20 gauge is still in the closet, and will be until I kick off. Then it'll go to my grandson.

Adam, the nearest house to Grandma and Grandpa's WAS a mile away, through the woods.

Just catching up on this thread.

I prefer .40S&W right now (because it's all I own.) During 2013 it was still easy to find ammo while everyone was struggling to find 9mm or .45ACP.

First gun.. .177 break barrel air pistol at age 10

I tossed it around for a while now and I'm pretty sure that 7.62x39 is my "go to" rifle round.

I admit I really wanted to be a .308 semi auto guy but I think in my hands a something like a decked out SCAR17 will in the end just be a $4K deer rifle slash range toy. And that's pretty much the role I have decided my M1A will play in my collection. I plan to scope it with a 3-9x40 and shoot it primarily with hunting in mind. At some point I think I will put a walnut stock and I'm thinking a SWFA fixed power scope will do nicely on it. Other than that I will probably never invest in multiple thousands of rounds of ammo. I may not even take my other 20 round makes out of the wrappers.

Now the Arsenal AKs I have are a different story. I will probably shoot the snot of those rifles. I can see investing a little money into these rifles ans setting them up for most things I could want a rifle for. I'm thinking a Hi-Lux CMR on a MI mount is going on my 101 in the near future. And I'm thinking I may put some kind of tactically rail system on my 107 and eventually mount a decent red dot sight on it. I also have my CZ527 in 7.62x39 and I'm about to go pick up the scope I have been wanting for this rifle from the PO right now. So I'm well on my way to being a x39 guy. I was eyeballing a Vepr with a 23" barrel the other day and the cheap VZ2008 rifles look like good trunk/truck rifles. Plus I can actually afford the cost of a couple thousand rounds of 7.62x39 ammo. That along with picking up a box here or there when I see it will keep me shooting well after the prices get crazy or the shelves go bare from another panic buying spree.

I hope to get a CZ550 in .308 at some point but I may just be done with .308 and go for the UHR instead.

I've gone back and forth on 9mm vs. 40S&W. I hate that 9mm is one of the first to leave the shelves during these stupid panics but pretty much any and all calibers are subject to run dry these days. At least with 9mm I can afford a couple extra boxes that I may not have in the budget with 40 or 45.

I think 9mm and .357 will be my "go to" pistol calibers over the next few years. 9mm for everything and .357 for everything else. I have others but I can't see any reasons to make a significant investment in them. I doubt I will miss them other than the trips to the range if the shelves empty out again. I think a compac and full size 9mm and a nice hefty S&W 627 will cover everything I could want to do.