Like the
Stages of a Hunter I think in some cases the same applies to firearm ownership.
When I was 18 I owned exactly ONE weapon: a Remington 870. That gun shot every animal that moved, paddled a boat more than once, dug a 1984 Nissan pickup out of the mud, possibly whacked a dumb Labrador or two, and was spray painted on a weekly basis.
If you'd asked me then about safe queens I'd have laughed and told you I'd never own a gun I wouldn't be willing to use. And by use, I mean, abuse. I didn't have the money to buy a nice firearm, and I didn't fully contemplate the eventual reality of owning family history.
But over the years, I've matured, and things change. These days I have firearms that serve many purposes. Some are precision long range builds, and others are important family hand me downs and other firearms that are more rewarding to me to clean, handle, and reminisce over, rather than shoot.
Times change. Tastes change. Priorities change.
But that 870 is still my go to during bird season....