How many of you think you’re too deep into this thing

A very timely post to me, I’ve spent so much money over the yrs. chasing the latest and greatest in everything that’s pcp related, it’s almost boring! And I’m truly tired.

I actually feel sorry for the new members and shooters chasing the dream and trying every new gun, best BC pellet, slug, super plenum to shoot 100,200,300yds. Because that’s what some reviewer, YouTube advisor (factory sponsored of course) “EXPERT” says you should buy. Been there done that, and have nobody to blame but myself getting sucked in to the vortex of what this sport has become. 

Best of luck guy’s, but please don’t forget money doesn’t always produce more enjoyment or better scores!

Sorry for such a depressing post, just how I feel at this time.

I love my PCPs, the repeatable accuracy never gets old. That said cost has been a major deterrent for me. Way too easy to be in over 10K with 3 to 4 fully kitted PCP rifles. Then factor in the support items and you can go north of 15K very fast. I’m enjoying what I have and at some far future point add to the stable or not.

nah, im just getting set up, i had a 'very' good couple of reasons to get into pcps and ultra high end targeting to impress people wasnt one of them .. but ive always liked to shoot so airguns are a natural and i go through phases of what im into atm, next, im setting up a lathe and mill, again, not for ultra high end lets impress everybody online type stuff but to make and work on my own things instead of using my wore out dremel, we go to the next 'what im into' ...

 A year and a half or so into the hobby and I just ordered my sixth PCP, have a compressor, 15,000 or so rounds of ammo, a corner of my garage dedicated to tools and supplies, a chrono, hunting blind, trail cams in the woods to spot little grey furry tailed targets, a shooting range in the yard, and plans to order PCP number seven by Spring. Nope, no problem here....

It sounds to me that you already have a pretty good grasp of when you should or should not spend your money on something.

Also if you ever get into balsa airplane kit building, I suggest some of the Pat Tritle designed kits on Manzano Laser or some of the Dumas kits (also designed by Pat Tritle).

I wouldn't suggest the guillows kits though, if you really plan on flying them.

How big is the hole most of us have slid into...?

Very big.



How deep is the hole? 

Very deep.







This one in the photo is 1,700 ft wide.

And 3,900 ft deep.



And somehow I get the impression, the airgunning hole is both wider and deeper.....

It's a dark hole, a BLACK HOLE! And with Black Friday upon us, it seems to be getting wider, deeper, blacker.....







On a more serious note yet...:

The pursuit of happiness through STUFF (or money, or fame, or fun) – has brought both millionaires and stars to a cementary prematurely – when they realized that STUFF cannot fill the void inside . 

I believe something or SOMEONE higher than STUFF can indeed fill it. We're not made to be satisfied by finite things....

I confess that I forget that all too easily in the rush to click the "Place in cart" button, the thrill of another hunting adventure, the fun of flipping through forum pages.... 

Matthias

I fell in a hole for Springers. I find them a challenge every time I shoot them. In three years I’ve purchased over 30 rifles and seven pistols and a truckload of accessories to go with them. I have no desire for PCP they just wouldn’t work for me right now. ( thank God ). I am relatively new to this sport but I plan on tearing everyone of my springers apart. Should keep me busy for a while.
We only get one spin around the dial.

Get the plane! Crow 

What is the value of a hobby vs cost?

My wife knows I am an OCD / highly linear person. In other words, doesn't mind when I get out of the house for her sanity. Hobbies and space seem to help both of us. Mine are (varying in importance over they years, but these seem to be the consistent top 3), Shooting, Wood working, and Photography. How much have I spent on the 3? I have no idea, but time and learning about the three kept me sane for a long time.

More than 50 years shooting (if you include my first BB gun that got me hooked) more than 50 years in cameras if you include my first instamatic, Wood working, only about 40 years 'cause I only got into that in High School.

All 3 are like a "Continuing Education" for me, keeping the mind sharp as I continue to learn and be challenged. It's the learning that keeps me going.

How deep is too deep? I guess when I get bored and quit learning. . . . . . .

Too deep is when your life revolves around a silly hobby. If you want to find years of enjoyment or even a lifetime, you have to keep things in perspective and have balance. Those who are consumed usually burn out like a road flare. I’ve had to check myself several times with different hobbies. It’s best to have seasonal hobbies. Always something to look forward to. I do all my builds in the winter. Then enjoy the fruits of my labor over the summer casually while I enjoy my other hobbies. Balance. Can’t get pellets, parts or a particular gun, who cares. I ride my motorcycle, dirt bike, go hunting, compete in 3D and so on. 

I’m on my third week in another state on a hunting trip. On weekends my buddy and his sons come out to hunt. On our down time I break out my Airgun and we pick squirrels off a walnut tree at 92yrds. Then I put the gun away until the next weekend. This winter the gun may go under the knife again but for now just casually enjoying the fruits of my labor last winter. 

Maybe a bit too much.... But at least I havnt bought another gun in the past... 3 months? Haha.

Great thread, you guys are funny!

But really, that rabbit hole does have a bottom its just a matter of getting there then buying enough guns to place beneath ya so you can climb out. LOL

Cheers

Definitely deep into this thing, really really deep. Thinking I had the worst airgun addiction in the whole world, I have since found others that are way worse than me, I actually feel better about myself now.

It’s sport hobby and just best thing I ever got into so it’s like having a race car or any other thing all in what you want to do just love it  

Addiction? What addiction? Here’s an alphabetical list of airguns/pistols that I’ve purchased over the 3 or 3.5 years along with the scopes that I have mounted. This is my personal collection and does not include the 62 air rifles and pistols that I gave to my brother. Oh, All were purchased new except for 3 rifles and 2 pistols. 

1. AEA Element.22: Vector Optics 3-12x(sfp)
2. AEA HP Semi Pistol .25: Vector Optics 3-12x
3. AEA HP Semi Pistol .25(300cc): Vector Optics 3-12x
4. AEA HP Assassin .22: Vector Optics 4-16x
5. AGT Uragan .22: Discovery 3-12x
6. AGT Vixen.22: Pard NV008
7. Air Arms S510 XS.22: Hawke 3-9x
8. Air Arms TX200.177: Hawke 3-9x
9. Airmaks Katrin.22: Vector Optics 3-12x
10. Artemis S900.22: none
11. Artemis Breakbarrel.177: UTG Bugbuster
12. Ataman BP17 .22: SWFT mini scope
13. Ataman M2R .177: Prismatic 5x 
14. ATI Nova Vis .177: Bushnell 3-9x
15. ATI Liberty (.22): UTG Bugbuster 3-9x
16. Beeman 3134 Bullpup .22: None
17. Benjamin Fortitude .177: Nikon 
18. Benjamin Marauder Rifle Semi .22: Vector Optics 3-12x
19. Brocock Atomic .22: Vector Optics 3-12x
20. Brocock Commander XR: Discovery 3-12x
21. Brocock Concept XR: Vector Optics 3-12x
22. Brocock Sniper HR: Vector Optics 3-12x
23. BSA JSR .177: Discovery 3-12x
24. BSA R10th .22: Hawke 3-9x
25. BSA Scorpion .22: Hawke 3-9x
26. Daystate Pulsar .22: Vortex Strike Eagle6-24x
27. Diana 48L .177: Vector Optics 3-9x
28. Diana 340L .177: Bushnell 4-12X
29. Edgun Layla .22: MTC 10x Atom Prismatic
30. Edgun Leishy .22: Sector optics 1-8x
31. Edgun Leshiy Two .22: Vector optics 6-24x 
32. Edgun Leshiy Two .22: Dedal scope
33. Edgun Matador .22: Aims 4.5-27x
34. Evanix Pistol(.357):
35. Evanix Pistol (.25):
36. Evanix Rifle (.357):
37. FX Dreamline Tact Compact(CB) .22: SWFA 3-15x42
38. FX Dreamline Tact Compact .22: Vector Optics 3-12x
39. FX Impact MK II .22: Vortex Strike Eagle 6-24X
40. FX Maverick Compact .22: Blackhound 6-24X
41. Gamo Bone Collector .22: Hawke 3-9x
42. Gamo Urban .22: None
43. Hatsan ATT44(pump) .177: None
44. Hatsan ATT44(pump) .177: None
45. Hatsan ATT44 .177 Tact: None
46. Hatsan ATT44 .25: None
47. Hatsan Barrage .177: UTG Bugbuster
48. Hatsan Galatian Tact .22: UTG Bugbuster
49. Hatsan Nova .22: Monstrum 5x prism
50. Huben K1 Gen7 .22: Vector Optics 3-12x
51. Kral Empire X .22: Vector Optics 3-12x(sfp)
52. Kral NP 01 .22: Prismatic scope 5X
53. Kral NP 01. .22: Prismatic scope 5X
54. Kral NP 02 .22:
55. Kral NP 02 .25: 
56. Kral NP 03: None 
57. Kral NP 04 .22: None
58. Kral NP 500 .22: Vector Optics 3-12x
59. Kral Dazzle .22: MTC Viper
60. Kral Empire .22: Vector Optics 3-12x (sfp)
61. Kral Puncher Silent .22: None
62. LCS Air Arms SK19. .22: Vector Optics 6-24x
63. RTI Prophet .22: Vortex Strike Eagle 6-24x
64. RWS R7 .177: Bushnell Dusk&Dawn 3-9x
65. Seneca Aspen .22: UTG Bugbuster 3-9x
66. Seneca Eagle Claw .22: Bushnell Trophy 3-9x
67. Sig Sauer ASP 20 .22: UTG Bugbuster 3-9x
68. Umarex Gaunlet 1 .177: None
69. Umarex Gaunlet 2 .22: Hawke 3-9X
70. Walther Reign .22: None
71. Weihrauch HW97 .177: UTG Bugbuster 3-9x
72. Weihrauch HW100 BP .22: Vector Optics 3-12x
73. Xisco Sentry 705 .22: Bushnell 3-9x DD
    [/LIST=1]
    
    
    
    PISTOLS
    
    1. Artemis pp700(.177): 
    2. Artemis pp700 (.22): UTG Bugbuster 3-9x
    3. Artemis pp700 (.22):
    4. Artemis pp750 (.177): Sig Sauer 4-12X
    5. Artemis pp750 (.177): UTG Bugbuster3-9x
    6. Ataman AP16 (red short carbine): Vector Optics 3-12x(sfp)
    7. Ataman AP16 (silver long carbine): Vector Optics 4-16x Marksman 
    8. Ataman AP16: pistol scope
    9. Baikal : pistol scope
    10. Beeman pistol scope
    11. Benjamin Marauder Pistol(camo): Riton
    12. Benjamin Marauder Pistol:
    13. Brocock Grand Prix: pistol scope
    14. Crosman Custom Shop Carbine: None
    15. Crosman 1701p Carbine: None
    16. Crosman 1720 Carbine: UTG Bugbuster 3-9x
    17. Crosman 2300s: None
    18. Crosman 1377: None
    19. Crosman 1322: None
    20. Diana LP8: UTG Bugbuster
    21. Diana bandit pistol: None
    22. FX Ranchero pistol: pistol scope
    23. FX Ranchero Carbine: UTG Bugbuster
    24. Hatsan Pistol: Prism scope
    25. Hatsan Sortie: None
    26. Hatsan Sortie: None
    27. Walther AP20: pistol scope
    28. Weihrauch HW75: BSA pistol scope
    29. Weihrauch Hw BSA pistol scope
    30. Weihrauch HW44: pistol scope
    31. Weihrauch HW44: pistol scope
        [/LIST=1]
        
        
        
        
        
        

Addiction? What addiction?

Here’s an alphabetical list of

▪[73] airguns [and]

▪[31] pistols

that I’ve purchased over the 3 or 3.5 years. 

Aalong with the scopes that I have mounted.



This does not include the

▪62 air rifles and pistols that I gave to my brother.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I know, lots of empty space.



Because... — I don't know what to say.

I'm simply





speechless.

Matthias







PS: My calculator says, about 4 guns a month. 1 a week.

Better Thought , IF you sell off all that you do not use (like i did) you can afford that dream rifle .

Seriously i sold off 14 guns that i did not use any more , even that nostalgic keeper, and bought a $2,600 air rifle

Well, last night I made a move in the right direction....

You see, living and shooting in Peru means I need to bring most of the ammo my guns like from the US/Germany in a suitcase.

And did I mention that lead is heavy, particulary when placed on the scales at the airline check-in counter...? 



So, last night I went on a pellet shopping spree since I have a "volunteer baggage mule" coming from the US to visit. Very happy about that! 



And I really wanted 4 tins of .22 Hades. 

After checking 25 online stores the best price I could come up with was $23 a tin (500ct). The NORMAL price, after discounts, is around $13 give or take.



It was 3 a.m. as I clicked the "Place in Cart" and dutifully proceeded to fill in shipping address and credit card info. 

I was just about done, lacking that final (fatal?) click — when the voice of reason wispered through the night:

"Matthias, you are seriously going to pay for a tin of pellets almost twice as much than their regular price? How low have you sunken?! Is this truly THAT important to you to warrant this kind of excess...?" 

...

...

...





The night was quiet, even the pesky pest birds in the abandoned park had stopped their nightly gargling. So I heard the voice of reason loud and clear.

And in a moment of rare mental clarity I dumped out my shopping cart and exited the scene of a near-splurge. 



Maybe in 6 months I find another "baggage mule", maybe in a year. Yeah, my hollowpoint kill power tests can wait that long. They really can, even if it doesn't feel like they can.  

Matthias