My very first firearm purchase:  Remington 597

Remington 597

597 is a .22 rifle.  Officially, the caliber is called .22 Long Rifle, or just .22LR for short.  It's a rimfire.  I don't now if it's right, but I consider it the more approachable & casual of firearms for beginners.  Don't get me wrong; .I'm not at all trying to suggest that .22 should be for beginners, or take anything away from the firearms safety.  I just think .22 is easier in the way that it is less powerful.  Yes, still deadly, but not as deadly as say a hunting round, has less recoil & guns tend to be lighter for easier handling, stuff like that.

Unfortunately for moi, this thing was a jam machine.  Faulty magazine that Remington shipped this rifle with, it scarred me for life.  I was lucky to have been able to fire three shots in a row with it, before it jammed.  After this rifle, if a gun had question mark on its reliability, I would not touch it.  

597 with magazine removed.

Few years later, I finally bought few replacement magazines, like the banana style magazine in the first photo.  With these new mags, rifle was as reliable as any Ruger 10/22(most popular rimfire rifle).  Still, I wish the same friend who introduced me into shooting pushed me towards the 10/22.  He & another friend went with me when I bought the Remington, but I just liked how slick the rifle looked, and I trusted the Remington name.  This mistake ruined lot of fun I could've had going out to shoot with my friends.  For those of you looking to purchase your first firearm, go with reputable model, not the brand name.  :(