Is it a tool or a toy for you?

[Pale_Rider]

There are two types of people in the AG world. Those who call there airguns toys and those who call them tools. For me they’re both. It’s a toy when I’m just target shooting, enjoying the satisfaction of a good group. Then it’s a tool if I need to take out some pest.

I assume the majority of airgunners are target shooting, followed by the minority who get one for a pest problem. 

Do you guys call your airgun(s) a tool or toy?



***EDIT***
I thought this was obvious but it seems a few people on this thread took the meaning of the word toy as something a child plays with. As stated multiple times in this thread, the meaning of TOY when referring to airguns is an ADULT TOY. The same goes with my $2000 electric skateboard that goes 26 mph, it’s my toy but I wouldn’t let my 5 year old daughter ride it. Collectible cars, drones, planes, etc ALL can be TOYS. All of them provide pure joy but can also inflict serious injury or death if mishandled. It’s the context that the word TOY is used. All semantics. 

 

[Ranchibi]

Michael! I’m like you...mostly a target shooter (fun toy) but occasionally pest (definitely a tool). Since I am a city dweller, hunting is not on the agenda! Although I occasionally get to long range pest at my friends place in Bear Valley.

 

[Spartan]

All of my guns, air or otherwise, are tools (even when I'm just target shooting with them) and I treat them as such. This is a big part of why over the years I've gotten away from fancy wooden stocks, engravings, fine finishes, etc. I like my tools to be rugged, light weight, well balanced, and dependable most of all.

 

[survivor45]

All of my guns, air or otherwise, are tools (even when I'm just target shooting with them) and I treat them as such. This is a big part of why over the years I've gotten away from fancy wooden stocks, engravings, fine finishes, etc. I like my tools to be rugged, light weight, well balanced, and dependable most of all.

^^^^ This % . Now don’t get me wrong. I do play with them. But at the end of the day I have a purpose for those tools. 
How about Functional Art ? I very often think of my guns as this. 

 

[GeneT]

Useful toys. I won't call them a tool, because I can't honestly say I bought them to handle pest problems (or I'd have stopped at one...). They're fun, and I enjoy pesting with them. If I didn't, I could probably buy 100 traps for the same money. That said, I'm with Spartan on appearances. Function before form no matter what. A pretty rifle that won't shoot isn't worth a can of beans to me.

GsT

 

[Ripper]

 They are more of a toy for me. I used to love to hunt, and went every chance I got. But I don’t hunt anymore. I don’t even do pesting . All the animals that come in my yard Don’t do any damage so I leave them alone. The only thing around here that Gets killed is mice. But there’s a cat in the house that takes care of that problem.

 

[Hapo]

...why can't it be both...?!?...

 

[FelixS]

Pesting soon to be target shooting.

I went the PCP route to rid of annoying pests. Now that they are mostly all gone, I'm gonna' miss'em.

 

[GBGUNNER]

Each time I use an air rifle to rein in a pest squirrel, crow, pigeon, raccoon, feral cat, or starling it's a tool and I enjoy the challenge of trying to out smart the pests to get a good shot. That the part that brings me enjoyment. Sighting in,checking impact points etc is like work for me.

 

[Hummer57]

I agree with Spartan. And I’m gradually slowing down on big game hunting and got into air rifles because I can do all my small game hunting and pesting with these. And I like shooting in general, so trigger time is much more economical!

 

[Pale_Rider]

Interesting perspectives.

Just to be clear, when I say toy I don’t mean toy as in their lethality should be taken lightly. I mean toy as in Adult Toy that is for pure fun. I know there’s some guys here that have airguns just for competitive shooting or even just plinking in the backyard. 

As for target shooting it takes a certain type of person to like it. Certainly one that has patience. It’s easy to hit your target successfully one time. But when you do it multiple times, getting your breathing right, your grip right, keeping the gun from canting, smoothly squeezing the trigger so you don’t pull the shot, when those things are executed properly for a multiple shot group it is very rewarding.


Also for me the better I get with target shooting, the better I can get the job done when pesting

 

[Diandyperales]

for me it is an expensive toy that must be treated with respect and care and a necessary tool for controlling p

 

[Guest]

It is both.

To be able to shoot accurately I need to be flexible and in good heath. Therefore my rifles are tools to my health.

Mitch

 

[ghoststalker]

I pretty much just use mine to rid pests, I consider them toys, I relate tools to things I use to make money, or build, repair things, tools are disposable for the most part. I don’t treat most tools as “ works of art” air guns, firearms, bows are treated with respect and very well taken care of.

 

[Septicdeath]

Target shooting, tuning and tinkering = TOY

Hunting = TOOL

This is how I look at this question. 

 

[Motorhead]

They are a MACHINE .... tools take them apart and put them together.

Playing with them lighthearted and carefree makes them TOYS

Using them for a specific task of taking game or vermin, target or competition makes them tools of that task.



SEMANTICS .... honestly

 

[Smitty8141]

Definitely toys. Only pest when we’re having a problem. 

 

[Odoyle]

Big boys toys. And a tool for relaxing and sometimes to put food on the table...

I actually ate what I shot before. Freezers of them... Get fed to the animals now...

 

[bigHUN]

I used to hunt with a bow and arrow, not anymore. My wife/kids hated that smell in a house when I returned home with a full trunk, and very quickly I lost my interest for that taste as well. And the hunting trips up - very North were not cheap neither.

Also used to compete in archery for a decade or longer, not anymore. How much money I spent every year for that sport running around at tournaments... for $3 medals? I have couple boxes of those now I can give you for a beer Shooting sports not making any dollars at all. Five years ago I turned my money fully towards vacationing and travelling with family and we've been to places.

I like shooting rings no matter with a bow or airgun, TOYS, and I just like expensive, my bicycles, drones or photography or cars...

 

[Dingfelder]

I got into it to have a hobby I could foreseeably continue well into my declining years and, if lucky, almost regardless of my health. A toy(s).

And that wouldn't take up a ton of room ... but that's not turning out to be true.

And that was very cheap to do once the initial investment(s) was made.

I do use mine to shoot squirrels with, so it functions as a tool too. But secondarily.