I have too many competing interests that I enjoy. I haven’t lost interest, but my focus comes and goes a little as I move through my hobbies. I shoot more than I collect now, and have sold off most of the guns I don’t shoot or guns my son has no interest In inheriting. I still have more than I can shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by dking271:
I have too many competing interests that I enjoy. I haven’t lost interest, but my focus comes and goes a little as I move through my hobbies. I shoot more than I collect now, and have sold off most of the guns I don’t shoot or guns my son has no interest In inheriting. I still have more than I can shoot.

Pretty much the same for me, it’s always been a balancing act with other interests. I used to hold onto guns forever but have started to sell of a few here and there.

quote:

Originally posted by 0658:
My big question now is what do I do with a lifetime of firearms acquisitions?

Have an Awesome karma.

Just kidding, but couldn’t help it.

Not at all…I got to the indoor range for the first time in nearly a year and a half. Boy does that refresh my desire to go more often. I am young enough that I am happy with new to me acquisitions collecting a little dust, knowing ‘one day’ they will get to the range.

My interests within shooting have certainly changed. Playing the NFA bingo game, chasing every category minus Destructive Devices, used to be my focus. Did it, and actually started selling some of those items to use funds from selling towards other items on ‘the list’.

I cannot foresee a day in my life where, even if my body doesn’t let me, I won’t WANT to shoot!

The only interest I might have lost is a desire to buy more firearms.

Now that I have the ability to literally walk to the other side of my property and shoot out to 100 yards any time I want. I don't. I spend more time maintaining my range than using it. I now have the mindset "I'll shoot tomorrow" and I put it off. I love knowing I have my guns, I'm just not as excited to go shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by Karmann Ghia:
Now that I have the ability to literally walk to the other side of my property and shoot out to 100 yards any time I want. I don't. I spend more time maintaining my range than using it. I now have the mindset "I'll shoot tomorrow" and I put it off. I love knowing I have my guns, I'm just not as excited to go shoot.

I suspect it would be the same for me even if prices came down. It's more of a chore than fun now.

I haven't lost interest as much as being content with what I have.

The last few years of my life have been a pretty big transition with retiring and relocating. I feel like I'm still settling in and getting used to my surroundings. My familiar range and IDPA match locations and friends are in Indiana, so I have to figure out my next step if I want to keep competing. That's what kept me into shooting. I have plenty of guns and don't plan to buy any more and more ammo than I'll ever burn through.

I also have to admit, my other interests keep me pretty busy. It's all a matter of time management.

Got to spend a little time on the range today at work. Helped a guy prepping for the state instructor pre-qualification test work through some issues and he went from not passing to shooting 100. There was also a brand new guy who had to shoot and pass the state qual 3x to meet his pre-basic requirement. He was pretty solid to start with but we were able to tweak a couple of things, he did a great job of applying the material, and showed marked improvement. He was doing so well that I decided I didn't need to babysit and actually hung my own target and shot it with him on his last run through.

That's the kinda stuff that keeps me motivated and really interested in doing this. Shooting is fun. Setting personal goals and working to achieve or surpass them is motivating. Getting a chance to share that with other people who actually want to improve, and watching it "click" as they figure it out is even better.

I get the same satisfaction from shooting with my kids and watching them gain ability and confidence. My oldest found out this week that he's first in the state in 4H shotgun. Credit goes to his 4H leaders...I taught him next to nothing about shotgun sports, and he's much better than I am at them! On Thursday my wife and I took a visiting friend from Hungary to the range and she got to shoot handguns and an AR-15 for the first time. Her reaction was great to watch.

Guns by themselves are simply objects. Some offer historical or mechanical intrigue, but most are just mass-produced tools. If they just accumulate in the safe or on the shelf they will inevitably cease to matter over time. It's the context in which you use them that makes them interesting.

For me, it has ebbed and flowed just like many here.

As of late, it is the loss of the range/responsibility to go shooting and a new hobby.

I moved from Wisconsin to Georgia 4 years ago. In Wisconsin, my daughter participated in the SASP, kids action shooting. As one of the coach, I had access to a private range with steel plate targets. It was a hoot to shoot prior or after practice every week during their season.

Since moving here, the only access I have are indoor range/paper target. It's just not as fun as shooting steel.

Then I picked up pickleball 3 years ago. I'd rather play pickleball then go to the range and poke holes in paper. In fact, I have been trying to go to the range for the past few weeks and still haven't made it.

That said, nothing new really has perk my interest. Even if it is a smoking deal, I relent and realize I don't need it.

To anyone who is starting out...there are lots and lots of deal to be had out there right now. It is definitely a buyer's market at this point. Stuff I passed recently...S&W 5906 $349. Kahr K9 $249. P320 $300. A few years ago, I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough.

Lastly, my parents recently passed and having to go through their stuff had me thinking...there is no way that I want to burden my wife and kids with going through my safe and gear trying to figure out what is worth $ and what is crap. In fact, I think that once I hit 60's, I am going to start to thin the heard.

I haven’t exactly lost interest, I just lack motivation. While I was still working, I worked a 4/10 schedule, so I had Friday-Sunday off every week. Fridays were my “planned” range days if I didn’t have appointments and other stuff going on. However, many, many Fridays would roll around and I would get up and decide I just didn’t “feel” like going to the range that day. Maybe I didn’t want to lug all the stuff to/from, or maybe I didn’t want to clean them once I got home, or maybe I was having assorted pains that day. So, for many years I told myself that once I retired, I would go to the range at least once a month if not more (weekly was the ideal goal), however, I retired 31 Jan 2026 and have not made it to the range yet! I shot a match on 31 Jan, and that’s it so far for 2026. 2025 was pretty much the same - I shot a match on 01 Feb, then didn’t make it to the range all year except once with my neighbor to a desert spot. (The matches were part of the Tucson Senior Olympics Festival — I shot center fire pistol and rimfire pistol, and they are great fun. I’ve participated 4 years now.)

I have several guns I’ve purchased through the years that I’ve only shot on one or two occasions, then put away. Right now today I have two guns that I’ve purchased in the last year that I have not even fired yet, plus 2 suppressors I’ve not tried out yet. When I retired my wife sprung several “projects” on me that are delaying my plans. I suppose if I were really motivated enough, I could make the time to go shooting at least once a month despite the projects, but I just haven’t done it. Soon it’ll be too hot here.

In fairness to myself, there are many days when I physically don’t feel like doing much of anything (pain, lack of strength, etc.), so even if I wanted to go shoot that day I wouldn’t have been able to.

Once these projects are out of the way, I am (again) planning to go to the range regularly, but that remains to be seen.

Also, I have neglected my health/fitness for many years, so I need to get into that routine as well; once I lose some weight again and build some strength back, I will feel more energetic and motivated to go to shooting. At least that’s the plan.

Sorry for rambling so long…

Two weeks ago we buried a nine month old grandson. This has caused me to loose interest in most things that I once held important, and re-prioritize many things. Hopefully I will find interest again when this crisis passes.

^^^ I'm so sorry to hear that. My condolences.

sigcrazy7 - I am so very sorry for the loss of your grandson; I can’t imagine the pain you must feel right now. I’ll say a prayer for you and your family.

@sigcrazy7

I too, am very sorry to read this.

With 4 grandchildren, I cannot fathom the grief of you or your family.

not read the 4 pages, and don;t think I have posted,


may be wrong,

however,

as a FFL/SOT I have interest, but personal stuff has become a bit selective

as in,

something that tickles my fancy gets put aside if I can swing it,

but what actually tickles my fancy has become few and far between,


years ago I wanted one of everything issued by the US, then I realized that was a pipe dream (esp if you go back past 1903)

then I started on Enfields,



in between were US 22 trainers, a few MG's, Bullseye pistols, Small bore rifles , etc etc


told the wife I would consolidate and sell down at 50
sold a few
bought or brought home many more,

last was a 510-4 with a TTE receiver,
and a Lee Navy in about 98%

My interests and purchases have become much more narrowed. I now tend to know what I like and don’t

I’m pretty much down to 9mm single actions, single action revolvers, and SBRs. I have may more than that which I don’t want to sell for various reasons. I don’t buy as much anymore but I have been doing some custom work yo revolvers and other firearms to get what I like.

Overall my interest is increasing the closer I get to retirement. I plan to shoot as much as possible.