My first gun to shoot was a low wall Winchester, made in 1887, chambered .22 Long. The first gun I owned was a Stevens .22 S,L,LR Model 15 bolt action single shot, with which I squirrel hunted & tried to find sitting rabbits, though was not overly successful at this. The first shotgun I shot was an H&R #3 lightweight single in 28ga. After that for a few yrs I hunted with a borrowed Stevens 94 20ga single. The first shotgun I actually personally owned I bought at about age 15 a J Stevens 325 12ga double. That old J Stevens was my ruination, from that day to this I have never shot another shotgun, whether mine or anothers, which I liked as well as a SxS, not even as well as that old Stevens, though it was a long way from being considered the "Cream of the Crop". With it's "Cigar Box", straight back frame, with cocking rod action, I always referred to it as my "Poor Boy" 21.
I have never owned a .410, though have shot a few. I still have absolutely no desire to do so. I realy have no desire for a 28 unless I could find one of those little 4lb #3 H&R's like that first one I shot. It would be great to carry on off season walks, just in case you were atacked by a "Rabid Rat" or something but didn't really expect to shoot anything. It weighed not much more than a hefty walking cane. I always felt if one were going to carry something which weighed even close to 6lbs it amy as well be a "Shotgun".
My Dad was not a hunter, but we lived on a farm & he bought me that .22 at a quite young age. He did instil into me safe handling & we had a neighbor boy who was a few yrs older than me, who was very responsible. Dad allowed me to take that .22 out with him or by myself to our woodlot after squirrel. I do not recall my exact age when firing that first shotgun; older than 9 but no more than 12. It belonged to an Uncle, Mom's Sister's Husband, who carried me rabit hunting one Thanksgiving. I fired it three times, first at an old pan hanging on a fence post, then went afield & killed two rabbits, was on top of the world,even though the first one he found sitting & allowed me to "Aim at it's nose". The next one he told me had to be running. I had nearly stepped on it & it took off full tilt across an open area, whereupon I managed to bring that little gun up, cock the hammer, swing & pull the trigger, & it tumbled end over end for about three flips. To this day I have no idea how I pulled off a shot like that. I can tell you for a fact though, success of ones first shot (the sitting one don't really count) instills enthusiasm.
I have no idea what type of load I shot that day, but even with a wt of only 4lbs 2oz (I weighed it in later years), I felt no "Kick". This was of course not under circumstances of continued use.
