Pricey Pesting

You forgot #4. Some of us are old and need to get rid of some $$ in lieu of giving it all to our kids (they will get enough as it stands). So when I do the math, so far I have taken 5 nutters with my Daystate Woverine R. That comes to 2100 / 5 = $420 per nutter.🐿🐿🐿🐿🐿

I use my $3-4000 rig for competition which sees a hundred or more rounds every few days so it's worth it to me. 

Also do I read a hint of resentment or even a bit of jealousy for those that do spend what they want on the hobby they enjoy?

Edit: The most important reason? I enjoy airgunning immensely and having a high end gun and high end scope I don't have to tinker with and can trust are worth more than the money spent. Knowing I can take my gun(s) out and use them without having to t worry about shifts in poi or velocity is great as well.

Add #5. Take #1 and add the fact that some people have no children or heirs other than their spouse to leave anything to.

Is it overkill when i take my Rolls Royce to the store?

You can do this math with any hobby, cars you'll very rarely get back what you put into it in time and money. Life is short might as well have fun and money is easy come easy go. That said I have no wife or kids to consider when I open my wallet.

Good topic Luis

I lived in S FL, on the waterway, my boat alone was N. of $35K, today that boat would cost $50K. That was just the boat, add rods, speargun, fins, mask, gas, etc to infinity. 

Those were some mighty expensive fish and lobster. (Will add pic) But worth every penny! I would never buy a gun that takes away from my family, but if I can swing it, and love the sport as I do, I will not even flinch. 

See those silly stupid grinning smiles, that’s what I paid for. 

This hobby has cost me less than any other hobby I've had in the last 30 years.

I did some quick math and I have $10,300.00 in my airgun collection less scopes and extra mags. bi pods and such, most we're acquired within the last couple years, why and how so much on BB guns? I worked my a@@ off for 44 years 50 60 hour weeks, house, farm, cars all paid for, I don't have any dept, no kids, I support my church, I do some volunteer work, never smoked, always fixed my own cars, sold a PD collection amassed over two life times, my dad's and mine, some bought as far back as 1951, money in bank and retirement accounts I earned two pensions, just updated the house, (wife's hobby, airgun's are beer money compared to this!), I had six surgeries in the last ten years, ( Had good health insurance and short term disability), been married 35years, Gee I'm an overnight success! I take care of my guns and every one still has value, I now have the time to use them, and I do. Wealth is acquired a little at a time over a life time from hard work!!! Now, I could liquidate this collection and get a percentage of money back, say 50 to 75%. I'm not getting any younger and I don't know how long I will be able to do "fun stuff". I would say I earned and can afford ten grand on air guns, once and a while I'll take out a sparrow or rabbit, but most of the time I just punch holes in paper, and LOVE it! I shot all six of my PCP's in my "indoor" range one after another, 5shot groups sitting in my easy chair to the far wall of my garage, only about 20yds. but with no rest, life is good!

Do what makes you happy, and just as importantly, comfortable financially. Don’t do it just because everyone else is doing it. A pest is just as dead with a $150 break barrel with a $50 scope as it is with a $2k FX mounted with $4K Scope. 

If you can swing it, love it and enjoy it, go for it. At the end of the day, it’s all relative. Can’t go around comparing haves and have nots. As long as you are doing what makes you happy, who is to say anything?

For most, it is a hobby. Spend as much or as little as you desire to enjoy it. Everyone will have an opinion on this based on their disposable income and needs/desires for the shooting equipment. One person's view on what is "nuts" is irrelevant to most others, whether they spend more or less.

When I get complaints from the Boss, I remind her that my consuming hobby before married was restoration of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and if you wanna spend money you'll never get back, try that on for size! So when she snivels about a six hundred buck air rifle I just got, I remind her that I used to spend that for just one part of hundreds, and it would fit in one hand, to boot!

@intenseaty, yes smiles and memories have no price, the are priceless. My wife and I ride a tandem that’s worth 4K... it’s paid for “smiles per hour”

Click to expand...

 

I just spent about $1400 between gun and it’s mod parts in the last month, along with about $200 in hotel costs to get there to buy it, food on top of that, etc. It was a road trip I’ll never forget, as I had a blast.



Felt guilty at first, but after looking at what I’ve spent on my house in the last year and a half it’s almost 60 times the amount I spent getting that Wildcat, I realize my hobby is peanuts. New roof, bridge and dock on my pond, pond aeration, a 32’ x 28’ garden with redwood raised beds and an elaborate drip system, adirondack chairs hand built, etc., etc., etc, and still more to come with a house paint job and new driveway. The wife’s list is endless. But, bless her heart, she’s not into diamonds, flowers, chocolates, or a day in the spa. She’s right alongside of me and my son with these projects.



I wish wifey saw my hobby as peanuts, lol. She looks to it as the dollar amount that put us over our limit, LMAO! She’s gonna blow a fuse when I tell her I bought a $75 Centerpoint scope from WM before consulting with her. Ha Ha! I have to maintain that bad boy image she fell in love with 32 years ago!

Luis, I fund my hobbies from “meal money” that I am compensated for when I work overtime at work and from sales of items that I already own and are paid for. I like to have nice things that I can depend on and enjoy. That usually comes at a price. I have a stay-at-home wife and 8 children (7 still in the house) so we are single income and I make a good wage but not more so than most average 2 income families. Our house was built in 1930, my newest vehicle is 19 years old. We live within our means. I save my meal money so I can buy what I want. I don’t need any airguns but it’s something I can enjoy at home and everyone can participate so, I not just for me. Honestly, I sometimes struggle with how many/how much airgun stuff I own. As long as I have my families needs met and I have the $$$ in hand, I will continue to enjoy my hobby of shooting air powered guns. I have just over $1000 currently in my meal money account and I also use it to buy gifts for family and friends. It’s a very nice feeling to know that $$$ is there and I can buy anything I want for anyone I want should the desire come upon me. So yes, I have disposable income that I have set aside just for my enjoyment. My Artemis pp700sa should arrive today!

I 'justify' having MANY reasonably-priced airguns on the theory (excuse) that expensive airguns are a lot like expensive women; exponentially more temperamental than more affordable models. However, that said, I have too many to keep well-exercised (airguns, not women); so am gradually replacing quantity with quality.

I also get my jollies massaging cheap and/or ancient 'platforms' to previously unimaginable levels of performance (airguns and women).





For instance, I find Heather MUCH less temperamental and considerably more 'approachable' (if you know what I mean) than in her younger days. 

Just wanted to add this thought to this...



I feel that this airgun stuff is overpriced for what it is but as long as there are people out there willing to pay it, the prices will remain. It is nice to see that getting into the pcp market has come down from what it was and we are now experiencing a lot of variety of choices in PCPs.



I agree too, not much money is necessary to shoot pests at average airgun ranges (<30 yards). Once those ranges start to increase to 40 yards and beyond, the price of the equipment to get the power and accuracy needed is going to definitely increase. It can be done cheaper but it’s going to take some work.