My 15-year-old son started deer hunting this year. I don’t hunt, so he did not grow up hunting, but a friend invited him a couple of times this season and he had fun. When my brother-in-law, who lives to hunt, found out he had an interest, he and my nephews took my boy out with them on their land the last few weeks of the season. Although the only thing he killed was a couple of boars, my son absolutely fell in love with it. He is already looking forward to next season and has been wanting to get his own deer rifle. Well, my wife and he were at our family farm last weekend and his Papaw (my father-in-law) gifted him his 1964 Marlin 336 30-30 with a Weaver Pivot Mount scope. The rifle has obviously spent a lot of time in the woods, but my father-in-law has maintained it very well. My son is thrilled, and I was just thinking how cool it would be next season if he got his first deer with is Papaw’s gun.

An absolutely wonderful gift that he will cherish all his life! I always wanted one of those as my two uncles that took me hunting, each had one. Best I could come up with was the Winchester 30-30.

My dad won a Remington model 550-1 (I think)auto loading .22 rifle by selling gas way back in the late 50's. I talked him out of it on my 13th birthday in 1967. I will never get rid of that except to my son or grandson.

The rifle itself is worth prob $200, but hey, it'll shoot shorts, longs and long rifle, and I could out shoot all my cousins and the city boys (grown men) that my uncles would bring to the country to hunt squirrel and deer. Great memories, thanks for jogging them!! LOL

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Weaver Pivot Mount scope.

?

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Weaver Pivot Mount scope.

I had one on a Winchester M88 in 308.

https://www.google.com/search?...er+Pivot+Mount+scope.

That'll be his most valuable gun!

My first was a 32-20, now obsolete i think.

Harvested a spike buck in West Texas in the 1950’s.

Outstanding!

This is awesome. I'm sure your BIL and FIL have given him the basic safety lecture. It wouldn't hurt to enroll him in a basic hunter safety course.

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Originally posted by Russ59:
This is awesome. I'm sure your BIL and FIL have given him the basic safety lecture. It wouldn't hurt to enroll him in a basic hunter safety course.

As a firearms instructor, I have taught him the basics already. That being said, next season he has to have his state hunting license, which includes passing a basic hunters safety class. Never a bad idea.

That's an excellent rifle, and an awesome choice for a first gun. Some day he'll be able to handle that one down to his kids!

Very nice! My first real hunting rifle was a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington back in 1985 IIRC, age 12.

Great story about your sons Marlin 336, very nice deer rifle.

That would be a great gift. A 30-30 is a pleasant shooting deer rifle.

Double check the hunting regulations in your state and area.

I must use what they call a straight wall cartridge. I use a 350 legend cartridge.
Until now a shotgun slug had to be used

That is wonderful. Can I ask why you don't hunt..or maybe even tag along? Good times could be had...

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Originally posted by coloradohunter44:
That is wonderful. Can I ask why you don't hunt..or maybe even tag along? Good times could be had...

I was not raised in a hunting household. I’ve hunted coyotes, but that is it. I do love deer meat! I’ve just never had any interest in hunting them.

Great choice- I don’t think any centerfire cartridge has taken more deer than the 30-30.

That's awesome. My Dad was an avid bird hunter but never hunted deer. When I got interested his dad gave me a Remington 742 in 30-06 that he had elk hunted with for years.

I killed my first half dozen deer with it. Haven't shot it in 15 years but will forever cherish it and the memories of my grandad it holds.

It will eventually go my son and hopefully a grandchild some day.

Tommy

The beauty of well-made guns is the multi-generational memories they collect. I make sure to reach for one of my father's or grandfather's guns often, over some new one in my safe, and impart some of my memories, as well.

Make sure he practices letting the hammer down... a lot. Ask me how I know.

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My dad won a Remington model 550-1 (I think)auto loading .22 rifle by selling gas way back in the late 50's. I talked him out of it on my 13th birthday in 1967. I will never get rid of that except to my son or grandson.

BigWhup- I have a Remington 550 that my mom's dad bought my dad. I was at a gun show and was considering buying one and was in the middle of negotiating when my dad calls me and says he'll give me his. It was kind of my gun anyway as a kid. It is missing the rear sight elevator, but the last time I shot it, it grouped very well. I was shopping for a replacement sight elevator yesterday. A possible reason for the accuracy of these may be barrel quality, I was surprised how nice it looked through a bore scope.

A lever 30-30 is a perfect first deer rifle.

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BigWhup- I have a Remington 550 that my mom's dad bought my dad. I was at a gun show and was considering buying one and was in the middle of negotiating when my dad calls me and says he'll give me his. It was kind of my gun anyway as a kid. It is missing the rear sight elevator, but the last time I shot it, it grouped very well. I was shopping for a replacement sight elevator yesterday. A possible reason for the accuracy of these may be barrel quality, I was surprised how nice it looked through a bore scope.

Yep that old rifle will still drive tacks. I would think a rear site elevator would be easy to find as there has to be a gazillion of these out there!