I was born to it. My family, working class folks, all shot sxs. Dad had a Meriden, Grandpa shot a Fox 16, Uncle Ed a Winchester Model 24 and my brother a tenite stocked Stevens. My first gun was the family "starter", an H&R Topper .410 single. For my 11th birthday, allegedly because of my slight build, I got a Stevens 311 .410 double. Truth be told, Dad always wanted a .410 double. The early '60's were good for Dad's business, he and my brother bought new Mercury 12 ga. magnums. The little 311 was evidently a growth tonic, I graduated to Dad's Mercury and he was back to the Meriden. I bought my first gun, an AYA Matador, when I was about 15. In the following 50 plus years I went to no doubles, to one O/U to my current dozen or so sxs. I think I need just one more!
Steve
