What was the first gun you ever bought for yourself, not given or inherited?

**zombiescometh** · 05-05-20, 01:28

Turned 21 decided to get my CPL and a ruger sr9c.

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**m1a_scoutguy** · 05-05-20, 01:34

I think I was around 14/15. My Dad asked me if I wanted a surplus rifle from one of his hunting/gun buddies. I gave him $8 bucks from my "stash" and he brought me home a Mosin–Nagant & a couple of boxes of ammo!

**titsonritz** · 05-05-20, 01:37

A Ruger Mini-14 early 1984.

**Coal Dragger** · 05-05-20, 01:51

Turned 21 and bought myself an HK USP .45, that was 20 years ago.

**Watrdawg** · 05-05-20, 08:32

1980 It was a Ted Williams 30-06 for deer hunting. I was 16 and paid $100 for it. I shot my 1st deer that weekend.

**sva01** · 05-05-20, 08:49

Must have been late 80's to early 90's that I bought a Ruger 10/22 for myself.
My brother bought a bolt action, 22lr Marlin at Kmart around the same time. He might have been 12 or so and my Mom went there with him to buy it.

**Alpha-17** · 05-05-20, 09:25

This will be a two'fer, because I cheated on my first one. My first "adult" rifle that I paid for was a Lee-Enfield No 4 Mk I. I got it when I was in High School, and saved up all summer to do it. I was only 16, so my dad actually had to be the buyer. I really wanted a WWI SMLE, but Cabela's didn't have one, and this was the consolation prize. Happy to say that I still have this particular gem.

The first rifle I personally bought fair and square was a CAI CETME. I had no real intention of buying it, but went coyote hunting with a friend while on leave. I wore some surplus German desert flecktarn camo since it was late December in KS, and everything is brown and tan. I made a joke about how I was trying to look like the Bundeswher in Afghanistan, and he mentioned he knew someone who had a rifle to match. Ended up forking over $400 for the CETME later that day. Had a blast with the gun; it was my introduction to roller-locks. I ended up selling/trading it to get an M1A, and I consider that particular transaction to be one of the biggest firearms mistakes I ever made. I've sold a lot of guns, but the only one I've ever really regret selling was that CETME. For whatever reason, I keep being drawn back to the design; had a PTR91 for a few years before trading it for a Garand, and just bought another PTR with the stimulus check. Maybe this one will say with me, who knows?

Anywho, here's about the only picture I have of them both, taken shortly after I bought the CETME in '08.