Why airguns?

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SlimChance

Member
Dec 31, 2018
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Georgia, United States
This forum seems populated by some very serious shooters. This led me to wonder how the members here came to be serious airgun shooters. For me it was an effort to regain some enjoyment after a particular stressful year. Powder burners just were not fun any more.

I have no desire to insult or belittle anyone, I am simply curious. The advice and feedback I have gotten here have been most helpful. I do see several advantages to airguns for my shooting. Notably, reduced noise and power levels that allow shooting where powder burners would not be wise.
 
For me it started when I bought a house and I was getting mice, chipmunks, and squirrels causing havoc around the house, yard, and garden. Bought a multi-pump bb/pellet rifle, then I realized I needed a “high end gun” bought a Benjamin multi-pump that got returned due to a defect, a Gamo Springer followed, then I became a member here, got my first pcp, and the addiction took hold. The rest is history. 
 
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My gun club is limited to just 200 yards, not great when your into shooting upto 1200 yards. I was driving 3.5 to 5 hours each way to shoot at distances I enjoy.

200 yards with a sniper rifle is no test of skill for me. My first PCP was an Hatsan Gladius Long in 22. I discovered shooting that accurately at 100 yards was the equivalent of a powder burner at 500. When I shoot I always want to have a chance to shoot better and with air rifles I can always be challenged at the range I use. The only time I fire my powder burners is my pistols, revolvers and rim fire rifles. I can now shoot in my yard daily and at the range a few times a month .
 
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Convenience. I can step out back at home snd shoot all I want. I don't have to deal with the hassle of going to a range. No membership fees or required service hours at my home range. I also enjoy the process of tuning an air rifle.
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This plus with new neighbors they don’t seem to like me shooting the 17hmr or 22lr. Although the 7mag will take a coyote very seldom. 
 
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I was reloading my 300winmag for my range time at my local 200 yard range. Practicing for a 1000 yard range that is about three hours away when my buddy changed my views on sharp shooting. He had a 25 yard range on the side of his house full of spinning targets, steel squirrel that would drop if you hit him in the heart, and paper targets. I shot his Weirauch H110 and hit bullseye after bullseye, spinners, and that squirrel. After I hit 5 matchsticks in a row, I was hooked. It was quiet, fun and don’t have to drive anywhere. I immediately bought an EDgun R3 on this site and was happy plinking at his range. This was last spring. In addition to his plinking range, his house is situated in front of pasture that was infested with ground squirrels. The fun level went up a notch when we started hunting them, not just stationary targets. Whole other skill set when ranging and making a shot at distance with something that would rather not be seen. All of this is 5 minutes from my house. I got happy just typing this!

P.S. My half finished batch of 300winmag is still on my loading bench in my garage...
 
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I have loved airguns since I was a kid. One day I decided that I wanted a nice airgun so I started to do some research. The prices were at the time I thought to be outrageous for an airgun. So I did a bit more research and ended up with a benjamin marauder. I was soon hooked yet it still took me a few years to buy one of those outrageous priced airguns. My second airgun was a vulcan. Once I got a taste for a really nice airgun and what it could actually do and how far it could shoot it was over. I bought more. 

I used to go out and shoot powder burners often but I got tired of driving an hour or more one way just to go shoot. Then for a while ammo was scarce depending on what cal you were looking for. Lets not mention the price jump and the limited amount you could buy because there were those who would buy ALL OF IT if they could. Often times to resell it at insane prices. It all got old so now my powder burners rarely get taken out. Pellets are cheap in comparison. 

Airguns can be shot around the house and even in it without bothering anyone for the most part. I say most of the time because there are those people out there. Im lucky enough to not have any of those people near me as far as I can tell. Also if you co camping or are an outdoors person and go where others are or might be an airgun is would not bother anyone for the most part. But like I said. There are those people. 
 
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Love to shoot, hate the cost per round. Hate loud noises and have a terrible flinch with heavy PB's. Air rifles scratch the itch to shoot, low cost, can do all the chrony work in my shed, don't have to go to the range.

Son shoots 45-70 and 6.5 Creedmor. Bout Buck 50 per round. Pellets about 6 or 8 cents per round. I can shoot all day for $10 or $15 and he's shot $50 with two boxes of ammo.

Working up loads is easy too, just adjust my regulator and see where I'm shooting. Accurate too. Gun is capable of 1 inch groups at 100 yards, though I don't seem to be.

Just scratches the itch for cheap, quiet, and in the back yard.
 
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The stigma of today's society has taken all the fun out of firearms. Grabbing some ammo or buying a new gun is like trying to get a pilots license. Taking a walk down a country road with a firearm will result in a SWAT type shakedown from the county sheriff. Too many people think that if they see someone with a gun then they are OBVIOUSLY up to no good and highly dangerous. And God help you if someone hears a gun shot!

🙄

Even though I live in a rural community where EVERYBODY owns guns......bygod nobody had better be seen carrying one!!! And don't dare let anyone hear you touch off a few rounds.

It's stupid, and it takes all the fun out of shooting firearms. So since airguns are unregulated (at least for now) and shooting them doesn't freak everybody out, I still get to enjoy shooting sports without causing fear in everyone, making them lock up their children and pets...and immediatly call the law, and creating a bunch of hassles for myself.

Quite awhile back, on the way back from a trap shoot, I got pulled over for crossing the center line (swerved to avoid running over a turtle) 🐢. The first thing the patrolman asked was "do you have any weapons?" I said No, but I do have 2 shotguns in the truck. For some reason me saying "NO" pissed him off.....because to HIM any gun is a WEAPON. As far as I'm concerned it isn't a "weapon" until you use it to hurt someone. Ever since then it pisses ME off when I hear guys call guns "weapons". That kind of terminology and mindset is what has gotten us to where we are today.

It's sad, and it's a damn shame because it ain't ever gonna change.

I guess when asked if I had any weapons, I was supposed to say YES I have 2 shotguns, a pocket knife, a Mag-lite, and a stapler. And oh yeah there's a toolbox behind the seat with enough poop in it to kill half the county (cuz I can throw a 5/8 wrench or a 1/2" ratchet through a garage door with amazing accuracy). 
 
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Speaking of expensive, I paid more for my Steyr H5 than I did for my 300winmag with a Leupold scope and Harris bipod!!! But I’ve already shot the H5 more than the 300...
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I was talking about how cheap it is to shoot airgun vs pb. Pellet will cost less than bullets. My impact is $2000. My shotgun and .22lr is $200-300 max. A box of slug is $5 for 5 rounds or birdshot $15 for 25 rounds. A .177 cal 500 round pack is $3 from Walmart. Which is cheaper to shoot? Yeah.
 
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