Reeder Custom Guns - My first centerfire rifle .....

was an old British .303 that we bought at the Yellowfront Store in North Phoenix. They had a barrel full of them for about $15 each and Dad went through them and picked one that had a nice looking bore.

I was about 14 then and he took all the wood off it, whacked the barrel back to 16" (I come by that trait honestly)and cut off a lot of the metal on top of the receiver. He made a "peep" sight for it and loaded 130 gr. .308 bullets for me 'cuz they didn't kick so hard.

That was my first Deer Rifle.

My Second centerfire rifle was a Model 92 El Tigre leveraction in .44-40. I bought that just before I turned 16 if I remember correctly. I know I got it at the Jewel Box Pawn Shop in Phoenix. They had a HUGE Selection of guns and I picked this one out.

I cast the Keith .44 SWC and loaded them with heavy loads of 2400. I shot targets with it out to 400 yards or so. That was a fun gun and I carried it for many years. I packed it into the Superstition Mountains during the years Dad and I went prospecting there.

I don't miss the .303 but I do wish I had not traded off the El Tigre. But I had a girlfriend and she was griping 'cuz my hot rod wasn't running and I needed a dual carb setup for it so .......

Somewhere along the way I traded her off also.

.
.
.
.
.
or else it was her that traded me off .... the history there is sorta blurry and vague these days.

In August 1979. It was a long time before I scoped it. But, at 15 eyesight is great.

- No text -

is the Ruger American in .22 Magnum. It bothers me, shooting that rifle, because I can see the target clearly and the bullet goes where the crosshairs are at the moment I touch it off. Sometimes I actually have the crosshairs in the correct place!

[image]

[image]

[image]

I will always lean towards the M77s, but the Americans shoot great.

I bought Brady the 450 Bushmaster and he has already taken deer and hogs with it.

First center fire rifle was a 30/30 model 94 still have it, awesome old gun. My dad shot mule deer,bear and elk with it. I shot my first WT with it and my son shot his first hog with it. Awesome rifle better memories

With Lyman receiver sight. Killed first deer with 180gr factory load.

1903 surplus 03A3

He had a post-64 M94 Winchester in .30-30 with blonde maybe Maple wood. The receiver was anodized or painted perhaps a sort of black/blue. It had a steel flat buttplate. It was a nice gun but I had a plan. My grandfather was an instigator in the plot. He liked to trade around and liked guns too. Although he didn't know much about them. He just knew what he liked. I was 17 I think. We worked a deal and traded Dad's .30-30 for a new Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum Carbine with 4X Glenfield scope. I did have to pay some boot but it matched my .44 Mag. Super Blackhawk ammo that I had begun to reload.

It also shot .44 Specials! Dad was more perturbed than pleased. But I got off since HIS father was involved. Grandpa thought it was a hoot. It did start me off with serious trading and bartering. The rest is history. My first bolt rifle was a Remington M788 in .308 Winchester. I could hit a pop bottle at over 200 yds! Next was a H&R single shot Manlicher in .22 Hornet. (learned about loose primer pockets and pierced primers there) Then a .30 Carbine... I'm fuzzy after that.

at the Yellowfront store at Thomas and Scottsdale Rd. They were $10.

- No text -

Bought brand new at k-mart sale. It is a tang safety red pad Ruger M77. In 7mm mag.

An M1 carbine. It was a fantastic little shooter. Luckily my brother still has it.

and a pair of bring back German 8mm Mausers

The 6 mm was my first deer rifle at age 10. It is a Remington mod 7. We have killed a lot of deer. All my rifles have had a scope until I was about 35 when I got into the marlin 1894s and Rossi 92s!

- No text -

- No text -

- No text -

Marlin 336 Texan in 30-30, complete with a saddle ring...and it is still in use. Dad bought it for me at a Fed Mart store in 1969. I would love to get another in .35 Remington.

father taught me firearm safety and how to shoot properly. My first centerfire rifle was an M1 Garand issued in bootcamp. I learned to love that rifle (sort of a love/hate relationship). It was a baby for me and it took care of me. After a couple of times on the range I fired expert with it. I nearly cried when they took it away and gave me an M14. After firing that for the first time on the range I fell in love again..... My high school days, whenever I needed a center fire, I had to borrow one and buy the ammo for it. My parents did not have much money and they would not allow me to work because they wanted me to make straight A's in school. They gave up on that as all I ever did was just enough to pass and get out of school and the house. I have to say, the Navy made me the person I am today and gave me a lifelong love of firearms.

powered by my little forum