Thinning the Herd

[jimmymac]

Some interesting responses. Appreciate it. I am not hanging it up. Shooting is still going to happen, just not going to put as much emphasis on it. I have a 24 year old kid that still wants to go camping and fishing up the river this year. If he does, then I do too! I am blessed he wants to spend time with me. He and I also play some pickleball. I figure that I should keep playing until the day comes when I can't.

 

[Bc'z]

Don't get too carried away.

See....
I know better....
Thinking I'm gonna burn off some slower powder this year anyway.

 

[JMayo]

I'm also wanting to stop chasing the points board.
Not as many hotel stays.
Im enjoying carving characters with my local carving club. Our big show in Charlotte is in April. I'll be there instead of at a range.

 

[Doug Casner]

I aint hanging it up . Just gonna stop shooting the ones that kill on one end and cripple on the other until hunting season. Im already crippled it dont take much to set me back. Doug

 

[K22]

I had the same kind of affliction, mine being competitive NRA Precision Pistol which I shot for about 30+ years. While I managed to obtain a Distinguished Expert classification, it became too much like a job because I was obsessed. I lost focus on the real goal, to have fun and enjoy myself. That's not to say I didn't have good times, I did, but most of the good was the comradery with my teammates when I shot on a pistol team.

An arthritic elbow in the mid 90's ended my competitive pistol career. It was sort of a blessing in disguise. But then enter the next affliction, varmint hunting. I was obsessed, often going in early morning and coming home a night, covering 3 to 4 farms, walking probably 10 miles or so roaming the fields. Old age and a degenerative spinal condition put a halt to "extreme" varmint hunting. Even without the physical restrictions, the availability of huntable areas has diminished significantly.

These days, being a half crippled old man, I still shoot pistol (two handed) and varmint hunt (a few hours in the evening weather permitting) only now it is for enjoyment, to get out of the house, and enjoy nature. Except for my physical limitations, I can truly say I am having more enjoyment in the sport, even practical shooting my rifles at the range. The difference is that I have put everything into perspective and treat my shooting sport as a past time not a job. I try to keep things simple and uncomplicated which, for me, increases the enjoyment.

 

[old_heli_logger]

Archery

 

[Steve Donlon]

Man, I'm really sad to hear so many of you are thinking about throwing in the towel. I have my share of injuries too. It felt like I was getting Alzheimer's disease. I was so weak I could not lift a bale of hay. I got 3 horses and 3 dogs, plenty to do. I was writing things down and leaving words out and did not think I was. It was all from the meds I was on. I quit taking them and feel much better. I'll be 78 this year and at the rate I was going I don't think I could have lasted much longer. My point is, some of these doctors use us as experiments or just give us all the pills that might work. I have a few friends that stopped taking pills that they really did not need because the side effects are not worth it. Just saying. We can make our selves well with what we eat and how we live, and shooting is good for you. So take care of yourselves.

 

[Andy Work]

Some interesting responses. Appreciate it. I am not hanging it up. Shooting is still going to happen, just not going to put as much emphasis on it. I have a 24 year old kid that still wants to go camping and fishing up the river this year. If he does, then I do too! I am blessed he wants to spend time with me. He and I also play some pickleball. I figure that I should keep playing until the day comes when I can't.

Sounds to me like you have your priorities in order.

 

[357Mag]

I love shooting Benchrest as much as the next guy, but I think it is time to simplify my game and try to increase the fun factor if I can just figure out how to do that. I am a serious type "A" personality, so my natural tendencies have always been to throw myself full force into anything I sink my teeth into.

This trait has served me well in shooting and other activities but has also worked to my detriment at times as I have turned extremely pleasurable non-work activities into full time non-paying jobs at the salt mine. When I let the script flip on me, I end up stepping back to reevaluate where I'm at and where I am going when the once pleasurable activity ceases to be fun!

I am not done here, but it is pretty clear I need to scale back and try my best to not let the competitive juices dominate the process. That is way easier said than done for me. We shall see. Owning five BR rifles at this point seems excessive. Not really sure why I started this thread. Probably mostly wondering who else falls into the trap I outlined above.

Jimmy’s -

Howdy !

Do you use one LV rifle to compete in both LV and HV classes ?
That might provide some simplification…equipment-wise.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[JEFFPPC]

I started last year with and shooting 3 bench rifles. I will,enter this year with 2, already have had inquires about one of them. If I end this year with one left that will be fine. My transition as been eased by 3 years ago getting involved with springer airguns. 20 meters off the bench is just like 100 cards with a pic. But, actually 2 buts, well 3 buts....no reloading, almost no cleaning, and no chasing and paying crazy prices for components. I shot at an indoor archery range, heat and a/c, no bugs. That gives me an outlet with just as much enjoyment as a centerfire rifle match.I will be 78 in Aug, started shooting matches at 16, it's been a ride.

 

[jimmymac]

I understand but still sad to hear...

Nothing sad about it. I have a lot of things I like to do. My tendency is to over-do and get too singularly focused at times. I am grateful when I recognize the issue and make a change.

 

[jimmymac]

Jimmy’s -

Howdy !

Do you use one LV rifle to compete in both LV and HV classes ?
That might provide some simplification…equipment-wise.


With regards,
357Mag

Thanks for asking. I use a single LV rifle when I shoot group. I use my HV for UBR score and another heavier rifle in unlimited class. With as little group shooting that I do, I should sell off at least two rifles and let someone else put them to use.

 

[Fuj]

it's been a ride.

And happy to have met and shot with you !!

As it is in my arena, I too have been thinning. I used to joke about
having to buy new kitchen stoves so I can have more back burners !!
Yeah, not ready to stop creating, but really need to get rid of what
will never be used again and only sitting there as eye candy.

 

[TC260]

Nothing sad about it. I have a lot of things I like to do. My tendency is to over-do and get too singularly focused at times. I am grateful when I recognize the issue and make a change.

It's especially not sad when the reprioritizing is to spend more quality time with kids/family.

 

[R.Morehouse]

At one point, I had a handful of 6ppc's, a few 6mmBR variants & a few 300wsm's for longer ranges. Definitely too many balls in the air for me, and the fun had started to go out of it. Tried to get out of the 6ppc cartridge for about a minute, then jumped right back in, but this time with only 1 gun. Thought I would just shoot the WSM for all things and let the 6BR variants go. Put together a nice " tweener" WSM rifle that was a hammer, but it wasn't what I needed performance-wise shooting off a bench, so I let it go. Now I have 1 very nice Dasher for the 600/1K BR, etc. I turned the WSM into a nice Masterclass/Goodling built Lapua 338imp. and have been scratching an itch I didn't know I had, shooting some ELR.
I tried 22lr and still have a few here and researched air rifles and have one here. But 2 things kept me from diving into them.......I LOVE the reloading, and I really like things that go BANG.......That has been my journey to being down to 3 guns for all my needs/wants at the different ranges I shoot.

Regards
Rick

 

[Fuj]

I LOVE the reloading, and I really like things that go BANG.......That has been my journey to being down to 3 guns for all my needs/wants at the different ranges I shoot.

Regards
Rick

I'm working on just one gun to cover point blank, to killin' them yotes at
Ridgway.....And getting rid of of a few kitchen ranges and back burners.
So back to basics......Rifle, pistol, shotgun,, and knife. As for the reloading
part of it ?? Going to be a tough one as a dyed in the wool wild catter. I
have one more left in me before I really think about hanging that up.

 

[6.5 forever]

Archery

Better the younger you are... But my almost 20 years of shooting a bow sponsored/competition, was a job.

 

[ogre1911]

For 40+ years I’ve bought/collected everything I could find a deal on from bring back Mausers to Colt revolvers and BR Rifles.

Always told the kids it was my 4 OH GUN K.

I retired a year ago and started the downsizing process as well.

I believe it may have worked out better than my TSP

 

[moondog]

What a timely thread! Just got back from a monthly Raton match last nite. I've been doing this for 15 years now, and noticed the "fun" factor is fading. I felt it last year and dismissed it as a passing attitude. Just had this conversation with my Wife last week on this very subject. I don't think I'll quit altogether, I'm blessed with a neighbor with 1000 acres that loves shooting, but doesn't compete. Prepping for comps, the travel, my age, and too many guns has given me a reality check.
Thanks for the motivation with this thread.
By the way, my Wife and I are really addicted to Pickleball! Like 5 times a week addicted! I'm Currently using a Chorus Shapeshifter and a Ruby for the wife.

 

[gunnermhr]

I will be 78 in Aug, started shooting matches at 16, it's been a ride.

Holy smokes Jeff, seams like yesterday you were telling me your goal was to play a basketball game when you turned 70 in a couple years. Hard to imagine time goes by that fast.

Jimmy, a friend of mine and i shot every weekend one summer, a few of them both Saturday and Sunday, in the beginning it was a lot of fun. At the end of the season we were both glad it was over. Too much like work. We both sat down and decided, never again did we want to feel that way at the end of the year. Since, we've both limited the amount of matches and at the end of the year, we are still hungry and cant wait until the next season. It is now more enjoyable than ever. I hope you're signed up for the Tack Driver again this year, I'm looking forward to our Sunday afternoon bull session after the match. I'll bring beer and cigars, you bring a lawn chair and stories.