My First Gun: The Marlin Model 25

Who can forget their first firearm? That sense of personal ownership and responsibility. It’s empowering, and it’s a shared journey familiar to millions of American gun owners.

Michael calls his first rifle “Ol’ Reliable” because, even after 35+ years, his budget-priced .22 caliber Marlin 25 still shoots true and has provided decades of affordable enjoyment. It’s one of those few guns that he just can’t part with no matter how old it gets.

He bought his first gun back in 1985 after he turned 18 years old. Fresh out of high school, Michael didn’t have a lot of money on hand. All he really wanted was an affordable, reliable, well-built, and accurate gun. Without the near-infinite wealth of knowledge provided by today’s internet, Michael and his friends turned to the firearms magazines of the day to read reviews.