Changing shooting interests?

[DustyGmt]

Have you guys ever looked at what you had and been almost completely disinterested in what you have and wished you'd gone another direction with your shooting interests?

With events unfolding such as they are, becoming harder and more expensive to shoot and alot of what I own being heavily targeted "ban" items, I've sort of lost the spark in some small way. It used to be so much fun to dump 400-500 rds of 9mm, 200-300rds of .223 into my dump boxes, throw a bunch of mags in my range bag and just spend the afternoon going to town on stuff at the range, it's been a good while since I've felt like that was an option.

Like, "don't shoot what you have because tomorrow (insert some bs here) is going to happen".......

Just curious if any of you guys have been struggling with any of that. I've become quite fond of trap shooting lately and have considered the fact that the guys at my club who have a few shotguns for sport (you know, one of those legitimate sporting purpose guns we often hear about) and wheelguns, don't really have much to worry about as opposed to guys who have arsenals, which are a huge investment of your time and money.

If I could snap my fingers and turn what I have into a smaller, more "friendly" collection of guns, I might consider it. It would be alot less of a headache because lately, I don't get the enjoyment out of it that I used to, from constant perpetual attacks on 2A and ammo falling into precious metals category, it's a lil bit of a downer. I could never bring myself to sell what I have, I love all of it. Just not feeling the same about it as I once did.

If I could do it over, I might not have so many EBR's and plastic fantastics. I'm thinking if I was starting over, I'd have a few really nice shotguns and a few really nice revolvers and bolt guns, and of course I'd have a couple black guns.

I know this seems like a "downer" post, I just find it odd that I'm thinking this way, it's probably by design and I wouldn't be surprised if others in my boat feel the same.

 

[Poper]

If I could do it over, I might not have so many EBR's and plastic fantastics. I'm thinking if I was starting over, I'd have a few really nice shotguns and a few really nice revolvers and bolt guns, and of course I'd have a couple black guns.

There is nothing saying you can't do this. Pick your favorite 2 or 3 EBR's and a couple Wonder Nines to keep and liquidate the rest to fund some wheel guns, scatterguns and a bolt action rifle or levergun.
Then prepare for the reloading education..... Uh, .... Addiction.....

 

[Barry the Bear]

I got into archery, ranges are cheaper, "ammo" is reusable, and it's a bit of a workout.

 

[kje54]

I'm looking into full auto spitwads.............

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Actually im glad you asked this because throughout my life of being into the shooting sports, I've gone through several 'eras' of interest. My first was black powder revolvers, lever actions and percussion muskets. That was my first love. It started to evolve into bolt military rifles, Ruger Blackhawks, then slowly towards more modern.
Right now I have a huge thing for anything 20th century military (1911s, AKs, Trench shotguns)
Sometimes you think about selling some of your older guns to make more money for ones of your current interest. I can't bring myself to it because after I sold my Ruger Vaquero .357, the next gun I had to buy after that was a Ruger Blackhawk .357 to replace it. So there's a part of me that has to keep what meant alot to me at some point.
I'd say it's okay to 'vacation' to a different category of guns for a while. You don't need to sell anything of what you already have, at some point you're just going to want to go back to it.
Past few days after watching Magnificent seven, i've been leaning back towards my black powder era of interest. I went through town today looking at various lever action rifles for sale at the LGSs.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I must add and will do so in a separate post. what you talked about with raising ammo prices is part of why when I think back to my muzzleloading days, I get a feeling of comfort. With muzzleloaders, you don't have anything to worry about (Expect for cap prices) when shooting. I make my own black powder, can cast my own balls. Its so refreshing to shoot just 36 shots and feel satisfied for the day, all the while your crate of 7.62x39 at home is still unopened.
So going back to 'your roots' if you will is fun from time to time.

 

[entropy]

Have you guys ever looked at what you had and been almost completely disinterested in what you have and wished you'd gone another direction with your shooting interests?

With events unfolding such as they are, becoming harder and more expensive to shoot and alot of what I own being heavily targeted "ban" items, I've sort of lost the spark in some small way. It used to be so much fun to dump 400-500 rds of 9mm, 200-300rds of .223 into my dump boxes, throw a bunch of mags in my range bag and just spend the afternoon going to town on stuff at the range, it's been a good while since I've felt like that was an option.

Like, "don't shoot what you have because tomorrow (insert some bs here) is going to happen".......

Just curious if any of you guys have been struggling with any of that. I've become quite fond of trap shooting lately and have considered the fact that the guys at my club who have a few shotguns for sport (you know, one of those legitimate sporting purpose guns we often hear about) and wheelguns, don't really have much to worry about as opposed to guys who have arsenals, which are a huge investment of your time and money.

If I could snap my fingers and turn what I have into a smaller, more "friendly" collection of guns, I might consider it. It would be alot less of a headache because lately, I don't get the enjoyment out of it that I used to, from constant perpetual attacks on 2A and ammo falling into precious metals category, it's a lil bit of a downer. I could never bring myself to sell what I have, I love all of it. Just not feeling the same about it as I once did.

If I could do it over, I might not have so many EBR's and plastic fantastics. I'm thinking if I was starting over, I'd have a few really nice shotguns and a few really nice revolvers and bolt guns, and of course I'd have a couple black guns.

I know this seems like a "downer" post, I just find it odd that I'm thinking this way, it's probably by design and I wouldn't be surprised if others in my boat feel the same.

It's natural for shooting interests to change over time. The hard part (at least for me) is hanging on the guns once the fancy has passed. (in my case more for monetary reasons.)
I would keep any AR's you own, they may be handy in the future. Same with at least one CCW-able handgun. If you hunt with a rifle, keep a bolt action. I used to be into 100 yard pistol shooting, which I got started in with the idea of taking a deer with one out to that range. (and later a Moose hunt.) after that, having a .44 Redhawk seemed kind of silly, and I ended up selling it after my first son was born.

When I first started getting back into Trap (which I stopped after enlisting in the Army-then got out, got married, had kids, etc.) I had an 870 Tactical Magnum with a SpeedFeed IV stock, I used the 28" barrel I'd picked up for pheasants (yes, it was my pheasant gun too) and although I got some funny looks, they didn't last long- I could still shoot 22's on up with it. (First time I tried Trap after years of not shooting it, I used my son's Wingmaster with an Xtra Full Turkey choke in it, I was demonstrating to the 4-H kids how it was shot, and shot a 22. With a tight choke. At 16 yards. I still had it. Shot the Tactical Magnum for the first year of leagues, and the beginning of the second, when the 1100 Competition I'd ordered the September before finally came in. That was the start of the Trap gun collection, though that wasn't my intention at the time. I shot the 1100 Competition that year, and shot it well, even pheasant hunted with it, and shot some Winter Jackpot shoots. I found out one of the guys I shot with there had a Ljutic for sale. It just snowballed from there!

But don't think for one minute that the machine that makes "You know, the thing" Biden ponder Draconian gun laws doesn't want to take away your 870 TB, (or mine!) or even my single shot Ljutic, because they are working towards that end just as ferverently as they were in 1934, 1968, and 1994. Don't let Bidens' advice to his wife about home security make you think SxS, O/U, and Single Barrel shotguns aren't on their " for me but not for thee" list-they want them all!

If you have several AR's and lots of 'plastic fantastics', nothing wrong with selling a few and getting other guns you have wanted for a while. If you decide a Ljutic is in your future, let me know- No, mine is not for sale. But I know some guys who have some they might part with.......

The prepare for the reloading education..... Uh, .... Addiction.....

Oh, he's already got that going for shotgun reloading.....

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Yeah, I have.

I used to accumulate old milsurp bolt action rifles and eventually just got very bored with it. I looked at my collection of old obsolete warhorses and just said “this is boring”.

Since then I’ve sold them all and now only buy and keep guns I actually enjoy taking to the range and shooting.

 

[.38 Special]

Ultimately, guns really just do one thing. I've spent all of my adult life - and much of my childhood - proving it. It kept me entertained for decades, but ultimately...yeah. Just the one thing.

Now, I still enjoy that one thing, but I've lost the compulsion to try yet another twist on the theme, and the result is that I have sold off nearly all of my guns. The ones I have left are either exceptionally good at that one thing, and/or have so much sentimental value that I could never let them go.

Oddly enough, my passing interest in archery has been fanned into an obsession, even though bows do - wait for it - really only one thing. I just can't wait to find out for myself how many different ways there are to accomplish that thing, so here we go again.

 

[gobsauce]

I have. Although I only have a "rookie's" worth of guns (I actually have exactly 9), and I barely started,I sometimes look at my guns and realize I have almost no interest in them. So little interest, that I've even been recently debating to say my goodbyes to all my irons and to the fine folk here on THR.

 

[kidneyboy]

/ a bit of a rant / not directed at the OP

"I've sort of lost the spark in some small way."
This is how the anti 2A people win over the long term. Lose the spark in some small way and you won't be paying attention or you won't care when they actually ban some thing because, well, you aren't that interested anymore. Really, they don't need to actually ban things if they can put enough pressure on you to get you to "lose the spark". Why own something if they are going to ban it anyway, right? Why own guns if there is no place convenient to shoot them, right? Besides that, ammo is so hard to get, right? If they can get a whole generation or two to "lose the spark" they don't need to ban anything. They can just ask the uninterested, sparkless population to turn their guns in. This has worked for countless regimes across the world over the course of history.

 

[DustyGmt]

If I kept every gun I ever bought, I'd have somewhere in to 40-50 neighborhood. When I was younger I was a lil more restless and sold or made trades and I always wound up regretting it. The only gun I let go I was glad to see go was a Remington 770.

I'll probably just add to what I already have vs. get rid of stuff I know I'll regret later, like I always do.....

 

[maxxhavoc]

I have changed shooting interests several times over the years. They are cyclical, it seems. Every 5 to 7 years I seem to want something different.

My advice is to keep what you have. It will bring you joy in the future. If you sell it, you will probably end up regretting it.

Trying different paths will bring the fun back, you might also look at shooting a bolt action. A Ruger American Ranch takes AR mags, and a good day shooting may only be 40 rounds.

 

[mmb617]

I've gone through changing interests in a really short time frame. For most of my adult life I had exactly two guns, a rifle and a revolver, both in .22lr. I didn't shoot them much, sometimes going years between outings. With time on my hands after I retired I wanted to get more into shooting. I'd never even fired a semi-auto handgun so I bought an M&P .22 compact pistol. That was certainly different from my old single action revolver, so it was fun for a while.

Then I decided I'd like to try some larger caliber guns as I'd never shot anything but .22's, so I bought a Shield 9mm. Wow! I immediately found that I liked the centerfire pistol way more than the .22's. I wanted to get a new rifle but was hesitant to take the step up to a real AR, so I went with what I knew and bought an AR styled rifle in .22lr. I found that I still liked shooting the 9mm pistol better so I bought two more 9mm pistols, and then an AR in 5.56/.223.

At that time I pretty much quit shooting the .22's at all since I liked the bigger calibers better. Which led me to buying a pistol in .45 acp. That was fun but I still preferred the 9's, and one 9mm in particular, my M&P compact became by far my favorite. I shot it all the time, the .45 and the AR now and then, and the rest of the guns almost never, especially the .22's.

I was going to the range pretty often but always with those same three guns. I'll probably never get rid of the others, that's just not me, but they aren't likely to see much use.

And then I discovered black powder shooting. I bought a flintlock rifle and soon after a flintlock pistol. Now I shoot those on average 3 days a week. I still shoot my 9mm carry gun once or twice a month just to stay in practice and occasionally shoot the .45 pistol and the AR. I still have a good stock of ammo in 9mm, .45, and .223, and I have enough components (even primers) on hand to make a good bit more, but I concentrate my range time with the flintlocks.

So in answer to the original question I would have to say my shooting interests have changed a lot in just a few years.

 

[AK Hunter]

If you really get into reloading you will only need guns to test your reloads & to burn up ammo so you can reload some more. LOL

 

[kmw1954]

Started with revolver and pistols, which led to reloading, which led to bullet casting. Now working part time as an RO on an outdoor range and spending much more time with rifle shooters. That convinced me that I needed one. Now I am getting ready to shoot this winter in the range's local winter league and having a great time. Last year I only shot pistols twice! And haven't loaded any pistol ammo during that same time.

 

[HOWARD J]

As I can't find the things I need to reload I have been going back to things I have not reloaded in a long time that I still have components to reload. Whatever !

 

[earlthegoat2]

Going back to muzzleloaders

Buying “possible ban” friendly firearms like Remington 7615.

Conversely, getting more into “ban-possible” firearms like ARs.

Most recently I have been liking more vintage type firearms. I just bought a Remington 141 and have a close eye on a Winchester 1885.

 

[Chuck R.]

My biggest "problem" is changing match/competition disciplines and the equipment that goes with them. Over the years I've competed in:

Trap
Skeet
Sporting Clays
CAS
Black Powder Cartridge (BPC) Silhouette
Buffalo Matches
800,900, and 1000yd matches
IPSC
IDPA
3Gun

Each of course required a different set of tools, dies, molds etc. I keep telling myself that just as soon as I hit my 2nd retirement, there will be time to get back into the BP cartridge game and possibly CAS. Till then I've got 3 BPCRs (and a .22LR trainer), 3 Colt SAAs, an 1897, Marlin Cowboy in .45Colt and a couple "costumes" sitting idle.

I want to get into the PRS game, have a couple rifles now, but I fear the look my wife will give me when I tell her I'm going to start a new comp.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Just per the title, it's funny that I was thinking that the other day. For many years, I was heavily into pistols (and still shooting steel challenge) and not much else, but now my safe is pretty full of long guns of various cartridges and uses. Same goes for my reloader, a Dillon SDB, which is only good for handguns. Strange now that prices are so high, I'm shooting more of the most expen$ive stuff there is, and considering a Dillon 750, if only components would start reappearing. Guess it's never too late to take on and learn more shooting games. I'm 65 and one of the younger guys in my group. Latest interest is in long-range shooting.

 

[SimonRL]

Maybe you’re like a tree. You need to prune some old growth to make way for new. Perhaps if you unloaded some inventory that’s not exciting you anymore and had some of that cash in your pocket you might find yourself reinvigorated to build your collection in a different direction. People have been whining about the Gubmint coming for their guns for as long as I can remember and yet there’s more cool guns to be had than ever and we’ve seen ammo shortages before but they stabilized eventually. The thing that wasn’t so prevalent was the internet spreading whatever flavor of paranoia that floats your boat. Don’t let it get you down, it’s not worth it. Change up the old girlfriend (not literally!) and get yourself a new girlfriend. Be happy.

 

[CapnMac]

Been through all sorts of "phases" and interests.
Trap, then Skeet, Pistol & Rifle Silhouette; NRA Long range; Service Rifle; some action shooting. All sorts of things.
Poverty did help to keep from getting in too deep into anything. So, I stayed away from extra spendy "race guns" and holster rigs in IPSC, and never sweated "making power" trying to game the competition.

Luckily for "us" there no one way to do things, they can be as varied as we are, our selves.

 

[Legionnaire]

My interests have definitely evolved over the years though I'm still a hunter at heart and have a soft spot for hunting rifles. I have tended to accumulate in new areas of interest with the result that I have more arms in the safe than I reasonably "need." Had I known then what I know now, I think I'd have set a practical limit--anywhere between 10 and 20--and sold or traded out-of-favor guns rather than letting them sit. Now I'm looking at a lot of downsizing, which is hard to do, even though I'll be parting with guns I've not used in years. I look at the durable assets sitting in the safe and think the money could have been better invested without my losing any real or emotional utility. I need to get off my butt and sell some.

 

[Kyle S.]

I've tried to diversify my shooting interests and maybe not knowingly or intentionally. Milsurps, 2A based guns (AR15 or Saiga style shotgun), 22 plinking, hunting, and hunting with certain types of guns. I'd like to get into western/cowboy style guns, long range shooting with iron sights, handloading shotgun shells, and blackpowder revolvers and muzzleloaders.
Gun interests seem to be cyclical for me anyways. I usually come back around to each one every few years. Elections might have something to do with it.