What substitute hobbies while living in anti-gun countries?

[MatthewVanitas]

I'll be taking the Foreign Service exam soon, hoping for a slot in the State Department after I finish gradschool. I think it would be a great chance to use my foreign language skills, and my six years of active-duty military will give me preference hiring points and a few steps of seniority up the GS payscale.

One definite downside: the shooting hobby will be hard to maintain in many parts of the world. Unless I'm stationed in somewhere exceptionally corrupt or chaotic, I'd assume that it's likely that the local authorities won't be keen on me buying a 22 and going out plinking.

For those who have been in similar positions in the past, be it gov't or private sector, did you just give up entirely on shooting while overseas, find alternate ballistic hobbies (airgun, archery), or other?

If airguns are less/un-restricted in wherever I'm stationed, those could be fun. Read a great article in an old Gun Digest about European colonists in Sub-Saharran Africa in the 1970s (Angola? Rhodesia? Congo?), who built a miniature landscape in their backyard, and would hold weekly "sniping" matches on plastic toy soldiers hidden in the landscape. Probably some friends of Preacherman *grin*.

Archery could be fun too, if not frowned on in that part of the world. I'll drop by the UT Archery Club this semester, give that a try.

Thanks for any info from those shooters who've found themselves trying to keep up skills while overseas. Take care,

-MV

 

[crucible]

I work for State (as a GS not FS). I think you'll find it interesting for sure if you make in the FS, if you like living outside the US for most of your career that is. (They do take care of thier folks well too btw.)

That said, considering the last unclass security briefing I went to that all employees must go through intermittantly in which a career FS woman loudly complained of the "mean" Marines (I'm a former myself) who got a collegue of hers in trouble for finding classified materials unsecured in his area......or in a one-on-one meeting I had not too long ago where in the fist few sentences of meeting this person for the first time she complained bitterly about Bush, well, I doubt you'll find many of us 'shooters' there. (Of course, there's those that love Marines too because they saved them at one point in thier career, so.....)


I can also say I've met some incredible folks too to be fair. Many are very, very smart, competent and professional, and dedicated to doing what they do in the interest of the country.

Perhaps fly fishing would a good alternative-there's water in most places after all. (Unless you're stationed in sub-saharan Africa that is, or in most any place where there's danger pay involved, where going out in the sticks by yourself or even in small groups isn't the greatest of ideas.) Or maybe soem backyard ballistics like mangonels or trebechets-those are fun, and some are portable even

Who knows though. Asking the Marines who are stationed there...wherever "there" may turn out to be....will probably be your best bet regardless.

C-

 

[Meplat]

For those who have been in similar positions in the past, be it gov't or private sector, did you just give up entirely on shooting while overseas, find alternate ballistic hobbies (airgun, archery), or other?

While I feel for you (and no sarcasm intended - being deprived of my rights to keep arms really would be disasterous to me. Firearms ownership is NOT a hobby for me. It's a way of life. A lot of the so-called "civilized" countries have made even ownership of an air rifle onerous, if not downright prohibited, and I would imagine that archers have a bit of a time finding ways to enjoy even THAT pastime.


Even chunking rocks at monkeys is South Africa is now illegal. No matter that the pests destroy gardens and even come into people's homes, you are not allowed to "harass" them in any form. Although....in SA, at least you CAN own a gun.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I find air pistol harder to shoot well than bullseye.

 

[slopemeno]

That sport is called "Micro-Sniping" . A 9mm case at 35 yards is supposed to be the equivalent of the trunk of a human body at 1000 yards. I remeber that article, but I cant remember the magazine. "Rifle" perhaps.

 

[taliv]

learn something.

learn a martial art
learn to cook the local food
learn languages
learn something technical like computer security or electronics
study theology or law

if you're just looking for fun, you can't beat Big Gun RC Warship Combat
but paintball is legal in a lot of places and regular RC airplane or helo flying can be fun too

 

[Stauble]

While I feel for you (and no sarcasm intended - being deprived of my rights to keep arms really would be disasterous to me. Firearms ownership is NOT a hobby for me. It's a way of life.

couldnt have said it better myself. it must be a dixie thing

 

[Gifted]

Perhaps fly fishing would a good alternative-there's water in most places after all.

I remember in Germany the permits were expensive. all the enviro-wackos overseas, though fishing seems to have slipped through their cracks.

 

[Soybomb]

I've always wanted to learn archery. Seems like something I could do in the backyard even unlike shooting. I'd go for that or learn a martial art of some sort perhaps. Something outdoors or active. Photography would also be quite rewarding and a way to remember your time away from home. But that equipment is a little expensive to be taking to some places.

 

[Tejas Gunwerks]

While in the Marine Corps I went on Embassy Duty. I was stationed in Tegucigalpa, Honduras (the goose). I took up martial arts. Goju Ryu. Martial Arts can be quite brutal in a third world country. At one time or another I broke my chest, tail bone, toe, several finger. I jammed every finger and toe, bruised my entire body numerous times, chipped teeth, strained muscles and sprained both ankles and wrist too many times to remember. It was much better than any martial art I have since taken. I learned to fall and roll on a cement floor take full speed and power blows while speaking Spanish.

 

[SomeKid]

If you have internet access, internet gaming.

If you don't there is always single player.

 

[rick_reno]

I've lived off-shore for a couple of years in 3 places - New Zealand, Switzerland and Hong Kong. In New Zealand I took up watching Rugby, hiking and rode my bike a lot; in Switzerland I made some friends who shot and went shooting with them, they had to shoot often to stay qualified for the Army - I went really nuts on my bicycle there and rode about 4k miles a year. In Hong Kong I got lucky that much of my work time was split betwen the Philipines and China. I had friends I worked with in the Philipines who would let me shoot their guns (only handguns) - I was pretty sure I was the only unarmed person in the country. I didn't bother taking my bike to Hong Kong.

 

[hso]

If you're assigned overseas the options are as varried as your imagination.

Fishing if land locked, deep sea fishing if on the coast.

Scuba diving, kayaking, sail plane, rock climbing, sailing, hiking, backpacking, orienteering just to name some of the outdoor hobbies I've had.

Photography (and that's a universe of subtypes), astronomy, bird watching

Cooking (good lord, think of the possibilities of learning in a native land how to prepare the foods well!!!)

Wine and spirits study and collecting

Art, archeology studies

Gem/jewlery making/collecting

Knife making/collecting

Don't stay in your cube, don't ignore life, don't piss the exotic away for the numb familiar drone of the computer.:banghead:

 

[lawson]

if i can't hunt or shoot, i always fall back on my first love.... fishing.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

While I feel for you (and no sarcasm intended - being deprived of my rights to keep arms really would be disasterous to me. Firearms ownership is NOT a hobby for me. It's a way of life.

Lest I be misunderstood, I'll clarify.

I agree that firearms ownership is a crucial part of being a free citizenry, and though fun is of far greater import than surfing or playing spades.

My question could be better phrased as: "What pastimes would make me a better shooter and more capable person when I return to the U.S.?"

Airgun would definitely have some crossover, but might be restricted in some countries.

Archery possibly less so, but I'd imagine that fewer skills cross over.

Martial Arts is an interesting possibility. Fostering a ready mentality and maintaining physical condition is never a bad thing.

I'll definitely be enoying the foods and language wherever I go, but that's a bit of a different category. With no way of knowing where I'll wind up, it's hard to predict what may/may not be legal, and what may be unrestricted but inadvisable for a foreigner.

I'll definitely be tracking down Marines at whatever embassy I go to. When backpacking through the Caucuses, it was great to chat with the guards at the Tbilisi embassy. That gov't ID card with the EGA on it does help a lot. Unfortunately, the main MSG (Marine Security guard) hobby in Tbilisi was going out to bars and drinking quarts of Kazbegi beer, and I'd already figured that one out on my own.

slopemeno: thanks for finding the name for me, I'll have to go track down that article now.

-MV

 

[Old Dog]

While in Okinawa (of course, part of Japan, a truly virulently anti-gun country), I preoccupied myself with diving and martial arts. In Italy, while owning guns and regular shooting was not an option ... I found bicycle riding and just plain being a weekend tourist fun.

 

[Meplat]

Lest I be misunderstood, I'll clarify.

I understood your post, and apologize if my response came off in any way as flippant. It's just that I have lived my whole life with that right, and was saying that I could not imagine living without it.

I agree that firearms ownership is a crucial part of being a free citizenry, and though fun is of far greater import than surfing or playing spades.

Yeppir.

Airgun would definitely have some crossover, but might be restricted in some countries.

Airgun (if available) would have WORLD'S of crossover into powder propelled projectile launchers.

Archery possibly less so, but I'd imagine that fewer skills cross over.

Archery is a fine way to hone shooting skills. Many of the same things apply to both disciplines. Hold, breath control, sight picture, shooting between heartbeats, range estimation (to a MUCH higher degree than with firearms), front sight, front sight, front sight....

Martial Arts is an interesting possibility. Fostering a ready mentality and maintaining physical condition is never a bad thing.

Indeed

Unfortunately, the main MSG (Marine Security guard) hobby in Tbilisi was going out to bars and drinking quarts of Kazbegi beer, and I'd already figured that one out on my own.

Hey - some people are a quick study in the hard courses.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Archery is a fine way to hone shooting skills. Many of the same things apply to both disciplines. Hold, breath control, sight picture, shooting between heartbeats, range estimation (to a MUCH higher degree than with firearms), front sight, front sight, front sight....

Funny you should mention "front sight". I dropped by the Archery Club at UT, and met a fella who was shooting "bare bow".

Instead of having tricky sighting gear, bare bow folks shoot instinctively, kind of like shotgun or point-shooting. I find that intriguing, as it's both very retro, and minimalist.

I'm going to go back and drop in for a few casual shoots with the club, maybe invite a few archers to come shoot rifle sometime too. They have an amazing variety of extracurricular activities at this university.

Thanks for the info thus far, wish I'd made my question a little clearer. It's not that I lack and hobbies in life (cooking, reading, music, languages), just trying to figure out which hobbies might fill the ballistic gap in life when I can't shoot rifle and pistol.

-MV

 

[Crosshair]

Print off some of Oleg's photos and post them in that country. (Note: Only applies if you are in a country that has freedom of speech.)

 

[MartinS]

Archery, local style. Don't bring anything with you. do it their way, immerse.
Going to Mongolia?

 

[Tokugawa]

I don't know much about this stuff, but could'nt you talk to the Marines about your desire to shoot? Maybe you could magically produce a bottle of good hootch now and again...

 

[Tejas Gunwerks]

I don't know much about this stuff, but could'nt you talk to the Marines about your desire to shoot? Maybe you could magically produce a bottle of good hootch now and again...

Marines on Embassy Duty usually don't get to shoot much. They don't have to qualify with the rifle each year.

 

[Hardtarget]

Maybe try something that relates to firearms...like machinist. Learn how to run a milling machine or metal lathe. Then come back and take gunsmithing courses. You just might be the next John Moses Browning...we just don't know it yet!
Mark.

 

[Shorts]

For those who have been in similar positions in the past, be it gov't or private sector, did you just give up entirely on shooting while overseas, find alternate ballistic hobbies (airgun, archery), or other?

My husband and I aer currently asking the same question. We're PCSing to Japan as we speak. We're going to look into Airsoft to fill the shooting niche. As for the rest of the new opportunities we'll have, we're flying by the seat of our pants. If an interesting thing arises, we'll try it and see.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

My husband and I aer currently asking the same question. We're PCSing to Japan as we speak. We're going to look into Airsoft to fill the shooting niche. As for the rest of the new opportunities we'll have, we're flying by the seat of our pants. If an interesting thing arises, we'll try it and see.

Well, there was the Japanese gentleman who trained on Airsoft, came to the US for a few weeks of transition training, and won the Bianchi Steel Plate Challenge...

I presume that Airsoft guns and gear would be reasonably accessible in Japan. Not so much in Kyrgyzstan.

-MV