How many of you have had waning feelings about firearms?

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The solution is probably social if you eliminate the cost aspect. Like hunting, if you associate with people who shoot (or hunt) you are more likely to maintain your interest level. If it is just you and the gun or you headed out to the woods, not shooting or hunting probably has little impact on your life if you have the self defense aspects covered and a reasonable amount of ability.
 
I'd honestly recommend reloading. It will save cost, but (perhaps more importantly), it might renew your interest. It's satisfying to shoot handloads, it saves money, most people would probably say they enjoy it and that its relaxing, and it allows you to fine-tune your ammunition to your liking. Another fun option is bullet casting.

If you have enough time for handloading, i think that's a great option all around.
 
Speaking for myself, my advancing age, arthritis, and location (Southwest Florida, not much good public-land hunting here) means my days of humping up and down mountains, slogging through swamps, dragging 200lb carcasses, and messing with tree stands are pretty much over.
Also, with the scarcity of ammo, and rising cost and hassle of a visit to the range, sporting clays, etc., I'm pretty much finished with that as well.
While all the rest of my firearms may have become "closet queens" (sounds kinda weird doesn't it?, but I don't have a safe), one gun of mine lives a very active life.
That would be my trusty old .22 rifle.
It carries a magazine full of CCI .22lr Quiets and a Burnham Brothers scope-mounted shooting light, and is alway kept ready for instant action, 24/7.
I'm one of those survivalist/preppers out in the boonies, trying to maintain 20 tropical fruit trees and two large vegetable gardens.
The local coons, possums, squirrels, rats, crows, and common grackles seem to think I've put out a buffet spread just for them.
WRONG!
That .22 rifle is kept very busy almost every day, and I certainly have all the shooting action I could desire these days.
 
I agree that feelings about hobbies come and go. There are times that I live for nothing but guns and related activities. Then there was about a month or month and a half period here while back that I never set foot in my loading shop or fired a round. It always comes back though. :)
 
Maybe I would have more fun if I had land to where I could do the Brandon401401 thing. I don't, though
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have no clue what the brandon401401 is... However, enter a USPSA, IDPA competition or three gun competition, It could reignite that spark that is quickly fading.

Just shooting paper waned for me a long time ago. I prefer steel and speed now-a-days. ever trying to improve my splits.


reloading does pay off in the long run iff you shoot more than a box or two a year...
 
Orion,

As commented you really should take a hard look at reloading. I'm not sure what you are basing your opinion on that it is expensive to get into but with today's ammo prices the payback occurs very quickly.

Another thought is instead of going forward goes backwards to C&B revolvers, front stuffer rifles and even flintlocks and real gunpowder. There is a lot of history and knowledge about shooting smoke poles.
 
Tarosean, look up that user on youtube.

As for reloading, I live in a relatively small apartment with no place to put reloading equipment. And at this point, . . . the start up of the equipment, along with casings, bullets, primers, powder, and whatever else, is money that I really don't have to spend right now. I need to save up money.

As for shooting, I do have plenty of 22lr that I purchased back when it could be found, so I have that.
 
Sam, . . . I'll see where that is, but yeah, that would be a lot of fun for me!

Thanks for the suggestion! :D
 
I would say the research and the getting of the gun is half the fun for me


I do spend less time shooting as my job seems to be taking up more and more time........


I dont really have any range toys anymore... My pistols are for CCW,
My rifles are hunters, my shotgun is HD

Purpose for all
 
Sam, . . . I'll see where that is, but yeah, that would be a lot of fun for me!
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They're just north of I-70, slightly west of Columbia. If you're down around Springfield, about 3 hours away. Worth it a couple of times a year, I'd bet. Maybe not every month, though.

Thanks for the suggestion!
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My pleasure!

Those SASS clubs are probably a lot closer...
 
The high prices have changed my direction, for sure. I've ditched the AR in favor of an AK-74 clone and I'm back in love with Mosin-Nagants thanks to the thousands of rounds in spam cans.

I think the key is to keep an open mind and adapt to the times.

Getting off that pernicious shooting bench also helps keep things interesting. I bring a surplus shooting mat with me and after I sight in or test loads I shift over to it, usually low kneeling or sitting but some off hand as well. REALLY adds to the challenge and fun.
 
not a real waning interest--more like i am getting bored with indoor range shooting of paper targets. i do have a public outdoor range--but it's limited to paper. i would prefer setting out steel.
 
You sound like a candidate for black powder shooting. It's easy to get into, inexpensive, and you are essentially "reloading" every time you shoot. Gun laws aren't nearly as rigid. If you have a penchant for history, all the better. The fun factor is off the charts, and you may find it will renew your interest in all firearms, as it did mine.
 
How many of you have had waning feelings about firearms?
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nope but I'm sure I'm operating on a more laidback pace then a lot of folk.

I don't do competition, don't own custom or specialized firearms and I don't feel the need to buy new guns on a frequent basis.

What I do is practice regularly with my EDC and SD guns, I practice with my hunting guns pre-season and I just enjoy shooting. It does help that I can shoot in my backyard and I own enough land to hunt and plink on.

For the last 42 years guns have been a part of my life and I hope it's always that way.
 
One rifle that I don't have waning feelings shooting is the M44. That is a FUN rifle to blast down range. :evil:
 
If you're looking at getting more excitement out of shooting, try to find some federal land, like a national forest, near you. Take a day for this. I get some carboard or scrap plywood, paint on some silhouettes and set them up hither and thither. I put some wood or steel posts in the ground to simulate "cover" positions that I can pop out of or lean over. I then practice double taps, quick hits, reloading and tap and rack drills.

This can be done with ANY firearm, from any bolt or lever action, any semi auto, down to a .22 or black powder revolver. Practice different positions and scenarios. This is exciting practice for me, and it generally costs only a bit of ammo and the cost of fuel to get there.

My last session I shot my Mosin Nagant M44 in various combat drills. I shot two quick shots leaning out from my fake "cover" position, then leaned over it for two more quick shots. I moved further away and shot from behind trees and stumps, and then moved back further and shot from the prone, seated and other improvised supports for some longer range practice. The ammo for this gun is very cheap and abundant and with a bolt gun, you don't burn through it very fast.

You have to find ways to keep it interesting, ESPECIALLY when you are on a budget, like myself.

Good luck
 
About 20 years ago I went through a bunch of changes - divorce, career/industry change, and left the US completely. I also figured I would make a break from firearms. I didn't sell everything but put it all in storage and tried to forget about it.

I found that it started seeping back in anyway. Started buying gun magazines once in a while. Continued drawing up designs and gun ideas. Ended up buying a bunch of guns every time I was back in the US.

When the internet started coming to life I found a few gun forums and learned about the building craze which was going on 15 years ago. Then it really broke loose.

I've come to the conclusion that it is woven into my DNA. Even if I can't have them where I live now I have to maintain my toys back in the US.
 
Orion8472 said:
As for reloading, I live in a relatively small apartment with no place to put reloading equipment. And at this point, . . . the start up of the equipment, along with casings, bullets, primers, powder, and whatever else, is money that I really don't have to spend right now. I need to save up money.
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Sell one of your guns to fund the reloading start up. You're thinking of selling some anyway.
Reloading has completely changed my relationship with firearms in a very positive way. It's a very rewarding hobby on it's own.
 
Hex. . . the other part was "no place to setup the equipment.

At some point, when I have a place to do it [and the money to buy all the stuff], I may start to reload. But I would only get that into it if I had something other than paper to shoot at. And at this point in my life, I'm not sure that "shooting" is high on my "to do list". As it has become, . . . it is a once in a while outing. Perhaps even just "several times a year".

I'll consider all of the comments given on this thread. Thanks to everyone who contributed. :)
 
I think you've gotten some very good advice in this thread. Competitive shooting or other kinds of firearms and shooting might rekindle interest for you. Single action revolvers kind of did this for me, when interest had reached a low point.

My recommendation is to just give it a rest and get into something else for awhile. Sometimes the fervor for the hobby comes and goes. Your guns and components won't spoil or rot, so if you keep them stowed away in a safe location with low humidity you are not out anything.

Conversely, I have read about people who thought they were done with the hobby, sold everything (or close to it), and then had to re-build. No need to be "that guy".


I can also relate to not really having anywhere to shoot. I have never set foot into anybody's range yet, and my family's land is about 2 hours away. So shooting for me is actually a rare treat that is rather limited in scope. Some guns I don't get to fire for years at a time. Still glad to have them, and don't plan on selling them. My dream is to one day live somewhere that I can shoot in my back yard. When that day comes - I'll have most (if not all of) everything I want to shoot already on deck.
 
bainter1212 said:
High prices just stimulate my inner scrounger. Range trips for me now are 1/2 shooting and 1/2 wearing out my knees picking up other people's brass.

Also scrounge for lead and do more trading than buying.

The high prices have turned my few range trips into time I really savor and appreciate more and more.
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who is leaving brass laying around in these days for others to pick up?
 
it is expensive to get into reloading. if you can afford to buy what is needed components are real hard to come buy like powder. so I do not see where a guy can get into reloading to perk up interest it might make him disgusted even further
 
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