Grew up on a farm and hunted from the time I was old enough to lug the old Iver Johnson single-shot .410 to the pasture. Developed quite an interest in firearms, working with various ballistic facts specific to different weapons. Ended up in the early 70's getting my own Federal Firearms License and had a large collection of firearms. Reloaded for most all of them. Had an RCBS Rock Chucker press for the center fire rounds. A Pacific turret style reloader handle my shotshell ammo.
Iver Johnson single-shot .410
Marlin .22 lever action
S&W K15 Combat Masterpiece .38 Special
.257 Weatherby Magnum, handpicked from Roy Weatherby's stock
.25-06 Sako
.243 BLR
Winchester Model 94 chambered for .44 Magnum
S&W Model 29 chambered for .44 Magnum
Winchester Model 94 chambered for 30/30
S&W Model 19 .357 Magnum
S&W Model 66 .357 Magnum
Multiple Ithaca Model 37 shotguns in both 12 gauge and 20 gauge
Multiple Remington Model 870 shotguns in both 12 gauge and 20 gauge
Winchester Model 97 12 gauge... the most dangerous shotgun ever made for the shooter!
Winchester Model 12 12 gauge
Browning Auto 5 in both 12 gauge and 20 gauge
Browning "Sweet 16"
Those are the most memorable ones.. except for...
I had a Belgian made Browning Auto 5 in a Browning hard case with all three barrels... 30 full, 28 modified, and 26 IC. Came with all the original instructions books, etc. Had never been fired. I bought this just a few months after Browning ceased manufacture in Belgium and moved it to Japan. Kept it for about 10 years and finally sold it for a pittance compared to what I could get for it today.
Took a job in working out on the road in the early 80's. Didn't have time to reload, hunt, or shoot. If I would have come home on weekends and told the wife I was going hunting, she probably would have told me to find another place to live. So, I began divesting myself of all the firearms and reloading supplies. I did keep the K15 Combat Masterpiece for a few years. Ended up trading it at a pawn shop for my first set of golf clubs. Have never owned another firearm.
When I do see shotguns and rifles in stores, today, they all seem to have evolved to synthetic stocks. All mine were back when stocks were made of "real wood". The Weatherby was so beautiful. Could almost see yourself in the finish. The Belgian Auto 5 was beautiful walnut with gold trigger and gold inlay for the stamping.
Had so many Ithaca Model 37's due to the bottom ejection. I am ambidextrous. Hunting, I would carry a while right handed and carry a while left handed. Shooting left handed, I didn't have to worry about the empty hulls flying by my nose. I also liked the Raybar front sight on the 37's and installed them on a number of the 870's I owned.