Priorities...................

[berettabone]

I was thinking back to my younger days.................shooting/firearms was strictly a hobby. Started out with .22 rifles in the basement, with a bullet trap, trying to put the bullet through the same hole. Then the hunting years, rifles and shotguns, and fast forward to now. How priorities change. For me, it was 100% hobby, then went to 90% hobby, now it's 75% defense, and 25% hobby. I've pretty much sold off all target firearms, and have gone the way of the defensive firearm. Almost none of my shooting is pure target shooting per se, it's mostly defensive distances, and it's REALLY a challenge to hit the target from 25 yds. with a short barreled firearm. My main focus is defense. When your eyes start getting old, it sometimes can be a waste of ammo, shooting at 25 yds. and over. It's kind of sad that todays world dictates what my focus is on................like a lot of other things, I'd like to be able to go back, and regain the hobby aspect, and not really have to worry about defensive shooting. Boy, have things changed......and the pocket book really doesn't allow for both.:( What sayeth you??????????

[Bawanna]

Still a very strong hobby for me. I find myself more interested in 22 and target stuff. I guess as we approach the river crossing defense of myself becomes less of a priority. But that being said I'm still a sheep dog through and through and want to protect others that can't or don't protect themselves.

I haven't lost focus on the defensive end of the hobby but unlike my younger days were 44 mags and 41 mags and things that dislocate shoulders were the coolest, I don't play with them near as much.

More of a fondler now days than shooter I guess. Get as much satisfaction fondling cleaning and fixing up as I do shooting them I guess.

[Bills1873]

SStill like big boomers occasionally, but I've also gravitated more toward defense shooting. My ccw's get far more range time than the big revolvers and rifles. I take more time cleaning and admiring the guns than shooting them for sure!

[Bob T]

Absolutely still a hobby for me, maybe more than ever.

Started steel plate competition last year, going to start USPSA this summer and hopefully some 3-Gun. Just picked up my first AR, and it's all just for fun.

Going to be 60 in a couple months....having fun is where it's at.

Bob

[Tpepper70]

Growing up on a dairy, I started shooting at a very young age and hunting was a livelihood. We had hundreds of cattle, but ate deer and hog year round. As I got older, bored with hunting, I took a break. Then the wife and kids came and I enjoyed watching them hunt and shoot. Now that the kids are grown, 19-23, and grandkids are coming, I'm starting to shoot more, but mainly defensive. This is due to living in the country, but not too far from rough areas infested with drugs. My wife is home during the day, so she stays armed and is a better shot than I. Too many crazies in the world without moral compasses. Started casting bullets and making holsters for a new hobby. What fun.

Cruce Dum Spiro Fido

[berettabone]

Yes, unfortunately in my area, drugs, alcohol, low IQ and robbery have become the flavor of the day. Must stay vigilant at all times. My wife and I try to go up to our other property as often as possible, to decompress. We can't wait until we can get out permanently. The city is getting old real fast, and I never was a city person to begin with. It's another reason why I have sold many firearms I have owned. I can't afford to have them here for fear of a break in. Maybe the "hobby" part can resurface once we are in the country.

[Armybrat]

We're still pretty safe around here, but my gun pastime is about 50/50 hobby & defensive. Mainly collecting & plinking with the carry guns. This thread makes me want to get out & plink with this Model 63 that hasn't been fired in at least 10 years:

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/f692520441df9185b0f040c7dba27dce6dfc094.jpg

[deadeye]

I was raised in Nevada on a farm so hunting was second nature. In the years after WWII there wasn't money to buy meat in a grocery store. Got my own 1st gun (firearm type) in 1952 when I was 8 years old. Winchester single shot .22. Still have it. At 12 got a Remington bolt action .22, and at 15 got a Mauser .270. Serious gun. Still have both. Now that I'm an old codger and have money to buy meat in a store I haven't hunted for years. My CM9 and AR15 are used for target practice now days but are available for other purposes if need be. Also have a great selection of air guns I enjoy shooting in my back yard "range". Yep! Times change.

[Alfonse]

Shooting was always a hobby until I had a family. Then, defense became a consideration and practice for defense became the hobby. Now, most of my shooting is for testing things we are making for parts/accessories. I hardly ever get out to shoot for fun and some of my most fun toys just sit in the safe. One thing for sure, I can expect priorities will change in the future, they always do.

[berettabone]

We're still pretty safe around here, but my gun pastime is about 50/50 hobby & defensive. Mainly collecting & plinking with the carry guns. This thread makes me want to get out & plink with this Model 63 that hasn't been fired in at least 10 years:

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/f692520441df9185b0f040c7dba27dce6dfc094.jpg

and it's a dandy...........................................

[ltxi]

Shooting was 100% a hobby for me in my youth, also. That lasted all the way up until the age of 18. Never been back that way since.

[Bawanna]

It is a dandy indeed. That's beautiful.

[GLOCKROCKER]

We're still pretty safe around here, but my gun pastime is about 50/50 hobby & defensive. Mainly collecting & plinking with the carry guns. This thread makes me want to get out & plink with this Model 63 that hasn't been fired in at least 10 years:

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/f692520441df9185b0f040c7dba27dce6dfc094.jpg


I'd be more than happy to give it some love!

[b4uqzme]

That's a beaut Armybrat.

I never really thought of it that way but I feel fortunate to say that most of it is for hobby. For self defense I would probably only have the guns in my signature. Everything else is for sport/target/range/clays/etc. IDPA/USPSA/etc. are great ways to combine the two.

[AJBert]

I'd say I'm more hobby than defense since we moved up here in the mountains a couple of years ago. Prior to that it was mostly defense. Prior to that, as back in childhood growing up, it was all hobby. The real nice thing about being up here is that I can combine the two.

[SlowBurn]

Never used to be a hobby. Owned only one full sized Glock for SD for years. Discovered convenience of pocket pistols, then discovered couldn't shoot little buggers very well and needed lots of range time. Putting in the time out of necessity I began to enjoy shooting, so now it's at least somewhat of a hobby.