[gd357]

Hmm... The gun I'll never beat was the first one I "owned". Dad got me a Crosman model 66 when I was 9 years old. That thing shot better than I could - which is weird for an air rifle. Killed countless birds, chipmunks, and even a few squirrels. Longest shot I made with that thing was... well, you wouldn't believe what the rangefinder said when I ranged it years later (rest and target position being stationary...). Long story short, I could hunt big game for the rest of my life, and not come close to the kill tally that thing owned (I was heartbroken when it finally wore out). Had a few .22LRs that were readily available shortly thereafter - much to the distress of the local groundhog population. When I finally bought my first "real gun" it was a Winchester pump 12 gauge. Killed my first whitetail buck with that shotgun (as well as my first tom turkey), and I'll never part with it. I may have better firearms in my arsenal, but none will hold as much intrinsic value.

gd