Remembering Your First Handgun: Do You Still Have It?
- Thread starter Alan
- Start date
Ruger .22 Mark Standard. Purchased by my uncle at the Naval PX in Portland, ME in 1956. I bought it from him along with the .308 match rifle built on a Mauser 98 action in 1993. I shot a 197 at 600 yards with it (sadly, in practice). My buddy asked to shoot it. Beat me with my own rifle and my ammo! The rifle now is in the possession of my Marine son.
Sawyer Rob
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- Jun 30, 2025
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My first handgun was a Ruger 22, it should have been named "jam-a-matic" and that's why I got rid of it.
I'd rather talk about the second one that was/is one of the nicest handguns I've owned. It is a S&W M-19 and I used to buy 500 packs of Hornandy lead bullets and load/shoot them up pretty fast. I have no idea how many 500 packs I put through that gun but "eventually" It could have used a "tune/tighten" up.
Very long story short, I ended up having a custom smith built/turn it into a 44 spl. and I still have it today.
I love the thing!
SR
I'd rather talk about the second one that was/is one of the nicest handguns I've owned. It is a S&W M-19 and I used to buy 500 packs of Hornandy lead bullets and load/shoot them up pretty fast. I have no idea how many 500 packs I put through that gun but "eventually" It could have used a "tune/tighten" up.
Very long story short, I ended up having a custom smith built/turn it into a 44 spl. and I still have it today.
I love the thing!
SR
My first handgun, believe it or not, was a S&W Performance Center 629 V-comp back in the 90s. I spent way too much time researching what to get and got lost in the weeds. It was one of several similarly silly handguns I was considering, when I came across it at a shop. Held it, and quickly became enamored with it and started jumping hoops to get it.
Still have it. Shoot it pretty decent now. Put a picatinny rail and an aimpoint red dot on it, cuz the front sight and I did not get along. Probably going to get some of those rugged irons for it and keep it basic. Changed the grips to Hogue rubber without finger groves. Wood would be nicer, but finding nice grips without finger grooves is pretty limiting. The original grips were terrible.
I remember my father was surprised that I bought it. We went out to shoot it, and after a few rounds he took another more appraising look, grinned big, and declared he really liked it. We spent the afternoon with my brother shooting up all the ammo I had. It was a really good time.
Very long story short, I ended up having a custom smith built/turn it into a 44 spl. and I still have it today.
That looks sweet. I bet it's fun to shoot. How involved was the conversion?
Sawyer Rob
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- Jun 30, 2025
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VERY, it's no easy project, especially for the level of workmanship mines at, it was built by a true Mastersmith.
SR
Nice. That sounds like a privilege to own kind of thing. Sounds super cool. I love the idea of a .44 in a smaller frame. Been looking at the varaitions of the 69 for awhile. I imagine the conversion involves a re-barrel and a new cylinder, at least, and probably some timing stuff. Sounds like a bear to get exactly right. Congrats on having it.
Sawyer Rob
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- Jun 30, 2025
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- 7
I had the same smith build this "K" frame for me,
It's chambered 25/20 Winchester. It's also been a great gun to own.
SR
ELD Pilot
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- Aug 1, 2025
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Live and learn. A statement that needs no explanation. First pistol was a S&W .44 magnum. It taught me all the worst ways to shoot a pistol. If I had to do it all over again, it would have been buying a .22 rf pistol. Learn proper shooting till perfected then move up to a real pistol for various uses. Currently mostly own Glock pistols but still own my model 29 and also some Buck Mark .22 pistols. They snapped me back into proper pistol handling.
