I was about five or six when I got to shoot my first "real" gun. My family used to visit Santa Cruz, CA fairly often. We lived in Oakland and had friends and relatives living down there.
At the time, there was a large Penny Arcade and "Midway" located on a pier there. Included in the mix was a shooting gallery. I was fascinated by it, to say the least!
One momentous day, my father and my Uncle Bill finally let me fire a few rounds from one of the well-worn Winchester 1890/M-62 .22 pumps there. They laid-out The Rules for me, and patiently explained how the action worked and how to align the sights. I'll never forget the thrill of accomplishment I experienced when my second shot shattered that white clay pipe!
I've been a .22 Rimfire Junky ever since. I never managed to pick up a "real" Winchester M-62 of my own, but there've been two of the little Rossi copies in my safe for nearly twenty years now. My several nephews and nieces have enjoyed shooting them nearly as much as I have. They're most all teenagers now, but those old pump .22's are still the ones they ask for when they come to visit and we go out to the club!
At the time, there was a large Penny Arcade and "Midway" located on a pier there. Included in the mix was a shooting gallery. I was fascinated by it, to say the least!
One momentous day, my father and my Uncle Bill finally let me fire a few rounds from one of the well-worn Winchester 1890/M-62 .22 pumps there. They laid-out The Rules for me, and patiently explained how the action worked and how to align the sights. I'll never forget the thrill of accomplishment I experienced when my second shot shattered that white clay pipe!
I've been a .22 Rimfire Junky ever since. I never managed to pick up a "real" Winchester M-62 of my own, but there've been two of the little Rossi copies in my safe for nearly twenty years now. My several nephews and nieces have enjoyed shooting them nearly as much as I have. They're most all teenagers now, but those old pump .22's are still the ones they ask for when they come to visit and we go out to the club!