Feeling Nostalgic

Here is another great article from Bryan Lynch, author of Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Camping & Outdoor Survival Guide. Enjoy, JMc

I think most gun owners have at least one firearm that makes them feel nostalgic from time to time. The reason of its importance varies from person to person. Perhaps it was the first one you ever shot, or it was a gift. Maybe it was the one used on a successful hunting trip or it had been passed down through the family.

Whatever your reason, I thought I would take a moment to briefly share a few firearms that have been bouncing around my head lately.

Ruger Single Six Revolver

I grow up in house of hunters and a shotgun was the primary firearm we used. But stuffed away behind the long guns was a Ruger Single Six sitting neatly in its leather holster and belt. For quite a while it fascinated me because it was the only handgun around and received little attention.

Then one day, when I was old enough, we took it out to the range, and I was allowed to fire it. I was in awe as the revolver was handed over and I shot my first handgun. It was a simple and beautiful gun. Smooth wood grips and an immaculate black metal frame. From that day forward that little .22 got quite a workout whenever we went to the range.

Savage Arms Stevens 301

For the life of me I cannot recall the brand of the first shotgun I was trained on. But it was a single shot, break action like the Savage Arms Stevens 301.

It was the first real firearm that allowed me to join the hunting ranks of those around me. The one round capacity forced me to become hyper focused on every shot I took. This in turn increased my accuracy and I soon became the best shot in the group. Plus, there was just something about the break open action I thought was so cool. After a shot I would push the button, the barrel would snap downward, and the empty shotgun shell would pop out where I would catch it in midair.

Henry Lever Action .22

Maybe it was because there were a lot of westerns watched in my house but at some point, I became obsessed with lever action rifles. It became the topic of most of my conversations for months and months and months until somebody finally caved in

A week later a Henry Lever Action showed up at the house. From my reaction you would have thought I had just received ten years’ worth of birthday presents.

We took that rifle out to the range every weekend, weather permitting. It was the first firearm I had experience with that could hold more than six rounds of ammunition and I savored every one of them. One would have thought I was practicing for 1000 yard matches as I dug in and became laser focused on precision.

However, it was also the first time at the range that I threw caution to the wind and sent many rounds down range in rapid succession. Flipping the lever over and over, watching soda cans dance around on the dirt was some of the most fun I ever had at the range.

As much as I loved those firearms, maybe it was not all about them. Maybe it was more about the experiences they provided, and the fun times shared by those involved.

Bryan Lynch is an outdoor and emergency preparedness enthusiast. Additionally, he is the author of Swiss Army Knife Camping and Outdoor Survival Guide as well as a content creator for various websites including www.guncritic.com

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By Published On: June 13, 2020Categories: Guest Authors, Weapons8 Comments on Feeling Nostalgic

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About the Author: johnyMac

8 Comments

  1. Anonymous June 13, 2020 at 09:46

    5

  2. Badlands Rifleman June 13, 2020 at 12:52

    I was just looking at a single six at the local farm and fleet store. Having a small, relatively lightweight firearm with lots of cheap and versatile ammunition is never a bad thing. Between the snake shot, hollow points and subsonic rounds it would be a useful tool for critter control.

    • johnyMac June 13, 2020 at 13:01

      Badlands Rifleman,

      2-legged as well as four-legged critters.

      Take care Brother

  3. SemperFido June 13, 2020 at 15:08

    My love affair was with top break revolvers. I remember them being used by the depression era adults when I was a kid. I picked up an H&R sportsman 9 shot .22 with a 6 inch barrel for a song and after a good cleaning it is an atomic bomb on small game.

  4. enn ess June 13, 2020 at 16:09

    I have always loved my Ruger revolver over any others I’ve owned. Wore out a Ruger single six .22 and have more faith in my Ruger Blackhawk in .45/.45colt than others I’ve owned. More accurate than the rest of them by far even though slower to reload. Brings new meaning to the term patience and accuracy count.

  5. Coyyote June 13, 2020 at 21:59

    I am a real sixgun fan and have several. A sweet shooting 3rd gen Colt in 44 spl that was worked over by John Linebaugh (check his website) is a favorite as it was for Skeeter Skelton who had a lot to do with popularizing that caliber. Another Linebaugh 45 Colt pushes 260 grain Elmer Keith style bullets at 1080 fps, and is not only ready for bear, but is a bear to shoot. I also have a Ruger in 44 spl which I have not shot as much.

    My wife has a Custom Ruger Blackhawk converted to .475 Linebaugh and uses it to take deer. Great handgun for hunting but not something you would take to the range with a couple of boxes of cartridges for fun.

    Lastly I like to shoot a Cimmaron (Uberti) Colt clone in 45 Long Colt. The replicas shoot well and also handle those hot loads cooked up by Keith, Linebaugh et al. Those replicas are priced right if you want to try getting into the Sixgun world.

  6. Matt June 14, 2020 at 13:13

    Rifle wise it would be one of my first, a 1898 Springfield rifle, more simply known as the Krag. It had a long 30″ barrel, a smooth action, was fun to shoot, and unique in its’ appearance. Even with its’ barrel sights it could be surprising accurate.

    Pistol wise it would be a Colt Single Action in .45 Colt. I carried it for many a hunting season and then later overseas. Old school, but dependable

  7. anonymous June 15, 2020 at 07:40

    My Dad’s Single-Six was also the 1st handgun I ever fired too. Not a flat gate like the one pictured, but it was an early 50’s model, 5 1/2″ model. Less expensive Winchester Wildcat for plinking, yellow ‘Super-X’ for hunting.

    Revolvers are great handguns. I know the ‘Modern Shooter’ is crazy for ‘Plastic Fantastics’, but an older blued steel revolver is fun to shoot.

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