I’m just not as motivated as I was before. I had to carry during duty AND off duty per policy. Even so, policy didn’t have to force me to carry off duty - I was more than willing.

Now that I’m retired and living away from the desert, where I could go out and shoot at will, I have to jump through more hoops, and sometimes spend money, to shoot now. I can still shoot at my prior LE agency’s range free, but I have to worry about their training schedule. Then, I may have to use the local ranges.

Also, I have greatly downsized my arsenal from my glory days, and I’m more than satisfied with having one do-it-all pistol, a hunting rifle, and a couple of shotguns.

Prices on all related things need to come down a loooong way before I get as interested again as I once was.

As it is, I routinely walk out of the LGS with nothing but resentment.

quote:

Originally posted by apprentice:
Prices on all related things need to come down a loooong way before I get as interested again as I once was.

As it is, I routinely walk out of the LGS with nothing but resentment.

You are not going to find them any cheaper than they are now - at least on firearms. I doubt ammo and reloading supplies will go lower either.

I shoot maybe twice a month in spring, summer and fall. Being retired means I can hit the public range in Berryville and have it all to myself (which is really really awesome).

I just put a repro Springfield 1795 musket on layaway, and while I say "it's just gonna be a wall hanger" I know I'm gonna have to shoot it once.

quote:

Anyone Lose Interest In Firearms?

Haven’t gotten to the range in what seems like forever. Great deals on firearms available everywhere, but I haven’t bought for a long time. Collection down to a handful. So, I would say yes, I have.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
Used to shoot IDPA and the like then, at some point in the last 10 or 15 years, I got old. Running and gunning lost its allure and firearms interest went with it. Then 5 or so years ago I discovered rimfire benchrest. I'm hooked. It's challenging, fun, and I get to sit on my ass doing it, and, I'm only walking 50 yds to set a target.

absolutely concur. uspsa was fun and interesting for a long time but I gradually just stopped. I shoot a little bit of club bulls eye and a bunch of solo bench rest .22 and the occasional .22 silhouette. I'm fine.

I shot a lot of IPSC stuff when I was younger. I got tired of spending all day at the range and maybe 10 minutes of it actually shooting. Then I got into NRA Highpower for a decade or two, including some long range stuff. I had to give up position shooting when my knees and back deteriorated. Now it's just a very occasional sort of thing. I'm getting ready to start selling off the majority of my collection as I have no heirs to leave any of it to.

Always into and will have interest in firearms. Just stopped buying since I am content with what I have and shame on me for not getting to the range more than I should..

The interest is still there but the priorities have shifted. I'm up to my eyeballs in a racecar build/restoration project and that is sucking up all my disposable income and then some.

In October of 2022 I purchased a pistol and a shotgun within a week of each other ... then didn't shoot either for almost 3 years. Part of it was because my favorite indoor range closed without warning or notice. I was still working then, so only had weekends. I retired in Feb. 2024 ... and had a series of TIAs (transient ischemic attack, aka mini-stroke) not a month later. This had me afraid to even leave the house, let alone shoot anything heavy-recoiling, for fear of "vapor-locking." I only got back into shooting in the late summer of 2025.

During much of this interim period, however, I did make it a point to "stockpile" ammo and magazines, and I have only worked my way through part of it. I have also purchased a long-range centerfire rifle, a handgun, a PCC and another shotgun, and go to the range at least once, sometimes twice, a week. Having weekdays free means there are no crowds there; I often have it nearly to myself.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

No, I've not lost interest. But my interests have shifted around somewhat within the hobby. Tactical stuff, USPSA, milsurps, cowboy guns, DA revolvers, long-range...even side-activities like reloading and holster making. It definitely helps that my gun club is only about 10 minutes away and my work schedule gives me days off during the week when everybody else is busy...I typically shoot at least once a week, and often more.

I've never quite adjusted to living in a free State, and it's very nice here but, it's like b 26 bucks for 1 hour on any big box store indoor range. And, one walks away and leaves their brand new brass. A place to live costs too much for me here. Warehouses of people in large rental properties where they live right on top one another. I have less income now. I've not lost interest as guns, shooting and reloading are where my heart is. Will die someday having missed out because things just cost too much now.

Lost interest somewhat. My gun collection is complete. I may purchase an additional collectors C&R or something like that. I'm retiring a week from tomorrow, that should free up some range time. The reload room is being packed for a relocation. I do hope to shoot more soon. The thought of moving my ammo makes me cringe.

I have kind of lost interest, now that sudden appearing leukemia has entered my life. (After a few more weeks of meds and tests, the doc says I might be in remission)
Still I have to downsize a bunch of guns. In a few days, check the ads page

I wouldn’t say I’ve lost interest in firearms so much as my interest has changed. Put together a group to shoot monthly on our pistol range. Have been working on learning more about long distance and have setup a range with a KYL at 400 yards and various roughly 1 MOA targets out to 1200 yards. My son started to get interested and added roughly 2 MOA targets close by the ones I setup. Instead of shooting a lot of interesting pistols in various calibers I have been focusing on the guns on my permit - an old school P229 that my son milled for a red dot, a P226 with a horrible red dot and suppressor height sights on it, and a P228. The way the P228 just goes off at or shortly before full extension vs how things go with the dots reminds me that I need to do a LOT more dry practice with the P226 and P229. Sometimes after the Saturday morning pistol shoot we move back the canyon and setup a clay flinger and get after it with shotguns. It’s silly, but I enjoy point shooting them from the hip with one of the cruisers (one in 12g, the other in 20g) more than “doing it right” with the 870 or the (Turkish) Weatherby semiauto.

Starting to learn about reloading as well, but need to build more bench and buy more tools…


I don’t seem to have much interest in buying other guns anymore, though if I happened across a pinned and recessed model 19 or 66 snubby I might change my tune.

I average shooting every 8 months. I have the time and the ammo. Big box range. I won't go Fri thru Sun. Just a generally disdain for whomever else will be shooting. I look at new guns when I am there but already have more than enough. 30 dollars an hour.
Just can't get motivated to go. So I guess I have lost interest.
Was there last Friday to kill an hour before an appointment. Range wasn't too busy. As I exited, I passed an incoming customer reeking of skunk

have not went to the range in a long time.
and have started to downsize my collection.

quote:

Originally posted by IndianaMike:
have not went to the range in a long time.
and have started to downsize my collection.

Ditto.^^^^

I'm retired, so I don't have any excuse, but for the last 7 or 8 years I only make it to the range 4 to 6 times a year. I have the time, I just don't take the time.
I have a couple carry guns, a couple revolvers, a shotgun I haven't shot for 30 years, and a couple .22s. Most everything else I've gotten rid of. I have no one to leave them to, and I don't want my wife to have to have to deal with them if I leave first.

As I have gotten older, my interest in firearms has declined to that of an interest not a passion. Firearms training and instruction was my 25 year career for the most part. Now thatI am retired, I carry for self protection but have little interest other than academic. My big question now is what do I do with a lifetime of firearms acquisitions?