Grew up hunting the thick swamps of southern NH.
Dad bought me a Harrington and Richardson model 88 single shot 20 gauge when I completed hunters ed in 1976 - that little shotgun kicks like a mule but still have it.
First rifle was a used 1971 Remington 788 in 308, still have it and it still shoots very true after several thousand rounds down the pipe. The stock was beat to crap when I bought it so I spent better than half a school year building a new one in wood shop.
Try doing that today.