Any new covid hobbies?

I've been spending more time with my parents/helping my dad on remodeling and fishing. I've also been handloading a little more. Shooting less but working on load development. Shooting over my chronograph and working in fits and starts on another handload database.

It hasn't changed my work hours (job) but I have done several gun-hobby things this year.

I refinished this 452 Varmint 22 Magnum:


And this 452 FS 22 Magnum:


And this stock from a 452 American (haven't made a photo after reassembling it):


And refinished the wood on this Model 37, shortened the (long LOP) stock a little and added a recoil pad, cut the barrel and sent it to Michael Orlen for screw-in chokes:


Set my AR-10 up with scope, laser, sling, and LaRue MBT-2 trigger.

Sold some scopes (certain discontinued Leupold rimfire scopes have been bringing insane prices this year, about 25% over original MSRP) and bought some other scopes at great prices.

Actually bought some .308 ammo at bargain prices this year.

Intended to sell some guns because of not having safe space for them, but ended up installing a new safe instead... Bore-scoped every barrel that I'd never looked at before with the bore scope. And sold some ammo (for guns I don't even own) when .380 ACP hit $1 per round (!) and .40 S&W hit $.50...

With the wife now working from home 3 days per week, I have expanded my shooting to more than 1/week so we don't kill each other............
She retires at the end of next year; the component shortage better be over by then so I can restock!

I’m playing with leather. Not good at it, but getting better.

Too busy shooting to start any new hobbies.

BB gun, pellet guns and rifles, 22.cals, shotguns, and my Powder burners from ammo I have stocked piled and my new Muzzle loader.

Pellet pistols like this fine Walther

or this Beeman C1 Classic. (Webley)

Or this Diana Magnum 22.cal pellet. I could go on and on.

My new COVID hobby is consoling my friends and family who have lost people they care about.

Never thought I'd ever have the energy to run a trap line, but it is now a necessity. The cold weather in Michigan has forced the rodent population to enter my house. A quick trip to Home Depot got me my supplies. Two rat traps and four mouse traps. All were set last night in the basement and the garage. This morning a rat trap was denuded of bait and un-tripped, but the remaining mouse traps yielded 2 mice. Not bad for a days hunting!
The hides and meat were quite destroyed so I skipped skinning the beasts. MY wife suggests not taking my 22 pistol along with me when running the trap line. Guess she is correct. Taxidermy is also out of the question. Now I know what it feels like to be in Alaska!

I built this...



26' x 30', so I have room for tool chest, work benches and compressor in the back..... and (don't tell my wife) a Bridgeport (if I can score a second hand one in decent condition for short money).

12' x 30' attic will have a reloading room and the rest will be storage.

No new hobbies, but I have immersed myself deeper in some of my long time hobbies.

Nothing gun related.

-New job
-Lots of cleaning
-Daughter should start walking soon

Ive been able to show off my social distancing skills that I've been honing for years

That and convince my amazing wife we need more. Could you imagine the chaos if this was worse than it is?

SSN Vet said:

I built this...

View attachment 951384

26' x 30', so I have room for tool chest, work benches and compressor in the back..... and (don't tell my wife) a Bridgeport (if I can score a second hand one in decent condition for short money).

12' x 30' attic will have a reloading room and the rest will be storage.

Click to expand...

^^ WINNER!

Not a new hobby, but expanded my reloading hobby.
I've started casting and loading buckshot.

Also since Covid started, I have joined my local range. I used to have to drive an hour to deer camp to shoot. Now the range is 10 minutes from the house.
So I've shot more here lately.

I6turbo said:

Sold some scopes (certain discontinued Leupold rimfire scopes have been bringing insane prices this year, about 25% over original MSRP) and bought some other scopes at great prices.

Click to expand...

Do tell. I have one that isn't being used.

Yes,pretty durn gun related....

Shop truck is an '07 F150 2wd stick shift. 3.31 rear gears,V6 with 150K miles. Probably hauled a 1/4+ million dollars worth of parts and equipment.

Giving it some SERIOUS TLC. Have new 18" wider wheels from a newer truck. All fluids changed including rear,trans,and even the steering rack(which makes an instant improvement,and takes 1/2 hr) which also got retrofitted with a factory cooler. Drilled/slotted brake rotors and Hawk road racing pads. New Spicer U joints. Shorter throw custom shifter. Some serious suspension work along with $$$ Bilstein go fast shocks on all corners. And some more,get the freak down the highway,parts.

I haul several guns,highend trad bows,and $$ parts N stuff to go hunting and visiting out of town Gbabies and sons. Also buy antique furniture in places as "rough" as downtown Baltimore..... the truck has to be a very solid platform,there isn't gonna be any breaking down.

AFSG said:

Not gun related but I got back into CB radio during the lockdown.

Click to expand...

CB radios are making a strong comeback. It could be the folks who grew up with dad on the CB or just folks wanting to get beyond the internet. Young and old are buying up CB radios. I currently have three in my base station collection.

Retired January 1st. COVID March 15....
Still traveling but cancelled some trips and went other places.

THE HIGH ROAD has been great for passing time.
Spending more time cooking (more healthy meals lost 35#s) and not eating out.

Thanks THR keep positive and keep teaching!!!!

My job doesn't allow me to wear facial hair so while I've been on Covid related furlough and am wearing a mask when I go out, I've been growing old school style beards and mustaches. I have had Mutton Chops, Fu Manchu, and am now sporting a Boston Blackie.

JudgeHolden10 said:

Do tell. I have one that isn't being used.

Click to expand...

There is a lot of love for the Leupold rimfire scopes that have been discontinued over the past couple years or so.
The two I sold were:
VX-1 2-7x28 Glossy sold for $400 (the Glossy finish scopes are in even higher demand than the matte finish)
VX-2 3-9x33 EFR sold for $549

I6turbo said:

VX-2 3-9x33 EFR sold for $549

Click to expand...

Wow! I bought one of those used a few years ago for much less. Hmm...

Not really a new hobby, but like @Arkansas Paul I've expanded my reloading.

Never felt the need to reload 9x19 before. Whether pandemic or social unrest related, I decided reloading at 0.17 per round beats the 0.375 per round I paid for my last factory ammo.