The great thing about this hobby is it's like a cut gemstone, lots of facets.

Yep. I'm 100% a Glock man, except for that 20% of me that's 44 Magnum Ruger Super Blackhawk I just bought for fun! Nice new facet!

I concur. One learns much about history in many aspects simply by collecting arms and just being exposed to the designers and manufacturers. Not to mention a eye full of German, French, British and other language words, names and persons.

Guns are more than a hobby. If guns were just a hobby, they wouldn't be so polarizing. If they were banned, we would just go out and find another hobby. And if guns were just a hobby, they wouldn't be mentioned in the Constitution.

It is also a sneaky but effective way to interest otherwise bored kids (and grownups) in history.

After all these years, I am gobsmacked at how schools can make learning unappealing.

Great observation. Personally their are aspects of all the things you mentioned that interest me. I have a hard time convincing the wife the interest warrants the money.

AlexanderA said:

Guns are more than a hobby. If guns were just a hobby, they wouldn't be so polarizing. If they were banned, we would just go out and find another hobby. And if guns were just a hobby, they wouldn't be mentioned in the Constitution.

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While I agree with this in general, for some people at least, guns are "just" a hobby. If guns were banned they would find another hobby. That's why so many "gun owners" do not engage in 2nd Amendment debates, write their representatives, attend rallies, train, or work to convert others.

I support gun rights organizations and write my representatives. I own guns that directly reflect my belief about why the 2A exists. I am also a hunter and a recreational shooter. I thoroughly enjoy reloading. I have friends, however, who although they own guns, are strictly hobbyists.

None of this, of course, detracts from @FlSwampRat's original observation that there are many facets to gun ownership. There is room in the tent for the politically active 2A supporter, the intentional collector, and hunter, the competitor, and the casual plinker among others.

Yes, it's great source of activity. And if you branch out to hand loading or hunting, then there's maybe a dozen or more sub-disciplines to dive into.

I enjoy many of the different facets of guns including collecting, shooting, reloading, home defense, concealed carry, and gunsmithing. I don't hunt anymore (nobody around to hunt with and no places to hunt anyways), shoot trap (again same thing as with hunting), or participate in any sort of shooting competition (mobility reasons). Other than that I also like coming here to THR just to keep up with what's going on in the gun world, find out what's new and learn about some things that are not so new, and maybe reminisce about the "good ol' days"!

FlSwampRat said:

Reading over some recent threads I'm struck by how many aspects this gun hobby has. I've met folks who collect only, never shooting their guns. Maybe they're fascinated by guns of a certain era, WWII for example. Perhaps it's a type of gun that sparks their interest, maybe percussion or flintlocks for those folks.

Others love seeking the smallest group at X number of yards/meters from a benchrest.

Cowboy action shooting is popular, as is three gun and even plinking at tin cans on the back 40.

Whatever tingles your jingles about the hobby that brings y'all to THR, it's also interesting to see the variety of folks who post on here. Always good to stop by.

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I agree..I was a fairly recent returnee to owning and shooting a gun..last one I owned was in 1978..then really nothing till 2015. BUT great fun, shoot a lot with 2 grown sons(40yo and 42yo), going to introduce grand daughters(7yo and 9yo to a 22)...But great fun along with being able to CCW..BEST part is confab with others about this and that 'gun' WITHOUT any political BS thrown in and around.
Between sons and me we have 21 guns and rifles we exercise up in the mountains..GREAT fun..

Learning to load my own ammo completely changed the hobby for me. Doors were opened.

Bought a gun so I could shoot....then I needed targets....that required a range......that led to a shooting club membership....other club members showed me what I should have bought...purchased more guns.....used guns for hunting.....required hunting gear.....led to buying a truck to haul everything....needed an ATV for hunting.....led to buying a trailer for the ATV....hunting provided meat.....purchased meat processing equipment.....needed more ammo for practice and hunting.....got reloading equipment.....discovered I didn't have all the calibers I needed......bought a safe for gun storage......went out and bought more guns.....(the cycle came full circle)

Scooter22 said:

Also like plumbing. Lots of Faucets.

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Would that explain all the drips? []