Air guns : An addiction or an expensive hobby

[Racer88]

I've gone through many hobbies over the years.... Skiing, scuba, auto racing, firearms, knives, watches.... and just now, my first air rifle.

No matter what your hobbies cost, it's cheaper than booze, drugs, gambling, carousing, and divorce.

And then there is the adage, "I hope that when I die, my wife doesn't sell my guns, knives, telescopes, fishing rods, bikes, watches, etc... for what I told her I paid for them!"

 

[markT]

Marketing!!
FX=Genius

 

[OldVet]

Addiction , obsession , hobby , and love.
Well at leat it's not an addiction where you get nothing out of of it. I find the actual airgun of any kind to be OK. It's the accessories like scopes , compressors , ammo ect ect. Goes on , and on. Just as long as your having fun , and not overlooking the important priority's in life like your Family , Your health necessary essentials. Put your priorities first then more to this Hobby will roll your way.
I'm sitting here with a darn hernia very painful , have to wait till surgery calls next week , but I'm still able to mount a 4 x 32 scope on my Crosman M4 .177 multi pump
It's all I can do , but that's OK. I'm good , and it's fun. Tuna64 you like Walnut check out the Rainson post under PCP airguns.OV.

 

[markT]

Fit, feel, function. Trigger( very big) sound of hammer striking valve ( some YT videos are annoying) and exhaust gas ( extremely important)
Then there’s that consistency thing. Some say accuracy..

 

[Normkel]

You are correct. FX new models are a miss for me. I like the older models of FX like the cyclone, royale 400/500, and the streamline - all with a beautiful walnut stock. From what I heard they are bullet proof and easy to work on. The only FX that I may consider is the DRS classic in a walnut stock.

There are no other PCPs in this area, and few springers, so my exposure is limited to the ones I have purchased. That makes for many difficulties, of course, but many shooters are generous with suggestions, and that helps.

I've not seen FC Cyclone or Royale but have two Streamline .22s, Walnut & Composite, I missed purchasing a Crown which I regret, but have a DRS .22 Classic 600 mm Composite. I'm very happy with these and shoot them every week, unlike my other PCPs.

What distances do you shoot? We shoot metallic silhouettes to 160 meters, where the FXs do very well with pellets.

 

[Trunion]

I'm at a point where I'm satisfied with the dozen and a half of what I feel are quality shooters. The only gun that would tempt me now is a well preserved Webley Senior or Premier in .177

 

[jland48]

I have been reading all the responses to the addiction post, and all make perfect sense. There are many ways to reflect on what gives you pleasure in life. When I was in high school I remember my English teacher saying "when your dream dies, you die". At the time I thought that was a bunch of B.S., But at my lofty age I can see what she meant. Air guns have always been an important interest to me and I hope it remains so.

 

[Bigragu]

My opinion only, but if more folks truly got to know their gun(s) both inside and outside, along with the scopes mounted on them, they would find themselves financially ahead in the game because the need to purchase something else to “scratch the itch” wouldn’t be there.
I’m talking learn how to completely service the gun, address it’s flaws with better parts, experiment with different barrels and tunes to squeeze out all the accuracy that can be had, then learn to use your scope with the fancy reticles and zero stops. One rifle alone will keep your need to tinker easily for a year or two.

 

[PCP_addict]

I'm not addicted... I can stop at anytime if I wanted to.
But... they are so interesting with all the accessories and modding. More accessible and discrete than PB rifles. There's always a new one in development with some different feature. Bought a GK1 recently and ordered an Notos a few days after. I already have more guns than I need but what do I even need one for?
My bill are getting paid and I'm not skipping meals so I don't need to rationalize buying things.
Air guns are just one of many aspects of joy in my life. I have fallen into so many rabbit holes and this is just another interest, not much different from any other thing I throw money at.

 

[nxmless]

Yes.

 

[Stormin-Normin]

So 2.5 years into this I have a TX200, 2- Diana 75s, Walther LGU, FWB 300s, Diana 54 in .22, all with scopes of at least 20x. Largely financed by selling 1 centerfire benchtest rifle and 60x scope. No need to spend hours daily reloading every day as I cut centerfire matches by over half, very minimal cleaning, pellets roughly 20.00 per 500 as opposed to custom centerfire bullets at $500.00 or more per thousand and powder at $50.00 per pound plus all the work prepping brass and a dime for each primer.....this is much easier on me and my wallet. Remember folks, your not taking it with you. How many famlies have you seen broken up over what someone left behind. I consider this sport a bargin......and great fun as it's ever challenging. Enjoy it and quit micro managing.

What, no HW97? Wow!

 

[coastal drifter]

So 2.5 years into this I have a TX200, 2- Diana 75s, Walther LGU, FWB 300s, Diana 54 in .22, all with scopes of at least 20x. Largely financed by selling 1 centerfire benchtest rifle and 60x scope. No need to spend hours daily reloading every day as I cut centerfire matches by over half, very minimal cleaning, pellets roughly 20.00 per 500 as opposed to custom centerfire bullets at $500.00 or more per thousand and powder at $50.00 per pound plus all the work prepping brass and a dime for each primer.....this is much easier on me and my wallet. Remember folks, your not taking it with you. How many famlies have you seen broken up over what someone left behind. I consider this sport a bargin......and great fun as it's ever challenging. Enjoy it and quit micro managing.

Amen brother and agreed 100%

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Or ..

 

[Hateful McNasty]

One more for funs ..

 

[Back_Roads]

I just happen to like Raman Noodles

 

[Avator]

I just happen to like Raman Noodles

Me too.. I drain the water and add lots of butter then the seasoning.

 

[JEFFPPC]

When I decided to jump in I was between a 97 or a TX. No spring compressor plus a walnut stock made me choose the TX. Now that I also have a LGU I am pretty satisfied with out a 97. But maybe someday, they are good rifles.

 

[jetpopt]

Shooting them or buying them? For me, the shooting is sort of addictive but the buying is not, other than the ongoing need for more pellets.

Either way, it is as addictive or as expensive as how big a slice it is in your pie of activities and spending that allows you to be happy. I love shooting but it is not my only interest, and in my case it is not expensive even if I buy any guns I want, any price. That's because I simply don't want that many of them. That's how I am with "stuff" in general.

 

[jps2486]

Airguns are a cheap addiction. Alcohol was an expensive hobby.

And you piss it all away!

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I dont suffer from ..

Thank goodness