Well, my hobby isnt that old. I just turned 20.
When I was 17 my father bought his first gun ever to give us somthing to do together. We saw .22 target shooting on ESPN and thought it looked fun. We got a Ruger 10/22.
Since then, I have been hooked!
When I turned 18 I bought a Saiga 7.62x39
Later that year I bought a Mosin M38.
When my friend moved off to college and had to sell his only gun, I bought his Norinco SKS off him for $100 cash. After a few trips to the range with this I sold my Saiga for a profit, because this was before they were being imported again.
I do not regret this. I did not want to make my saiga into a "real" AK and as it was, the SKS was a better SHTF rifle. Just as accurate as the Saiga, same mag cap. I had 100 clips for it, but only 4 mags for the Saiga, as they were like $30 a pop. Don't regret it.
Last year I bought a Remington 870 police magnum for HD, as I had moved out on my own for college.
I also bought a Marlin 981t bolt .22, because my dad still goes to the range occasionaly when I am in San Antone at school, so I needed a .22 and didnt want to steal his. I like that gun. Sort of wish I would have sprung for the CZ, but I cant complain about the tube-fed Marlin.
I got a K-31 from my parents for my 19th birthday. I dont need to tell you guys about what a great rifle this is.
I am currently building my first AR-15. I have the bottom half done, and its great fun.
As for the other aspect of my hobby.
In the last 2 years, I have gone to the range every week, more or less.
I have turned at least 10 people pro-gun for sure.
I have joined the NRA.
I plan to get my CHL next year.
I am very interested in getting into competitive shooting sports. Still working on that.
So how am I doing?