Just for fun

Just for fun, I seek out and breathe new life into old, neglected, and often historic firearms, then take them out and see how well that I can get them to work.
To me, the first part is as satisfying as the second.

Odd Job said:

Unfortunately I have limited opportunities for fun in the UK (no centerfire semi-auto and no access to full auto). So I will break down my fun times by territory:

South Africa
1) Fired an 88mm howitzer at a bus a few kilometres away. That was on a cadet weekend organised by our high school. We fired a lot of rounds, but hit that bus only 3 times. It is hard to do!

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When I was in the US Army I fired a variety of weapons. I was excited to fire the L.A.W. because I remember first seeing it in a Clint Eastwood movie and being impressed. The sights are ridiculously easy to use and I was quite good with it. Never missed. Then one day at Baumholder range in Germany somebody pulled out a bazooka, yes, a WWII sewer pipe. Wasn't even in our TO&E but what the heck, I wasn't paying for the rounds, love shooting something new so bring it on. They had three tanks ranged up a hill to shoot at. Thought I was hot muffins and was going to show these guys who were all shooting at the close tank. I sighted in on the most distant tank and.......... missed the entire hill.
Ah well.

I have a conundrum myself .As one of the other posters said is it more fun to reload to shoot or shoot to reload!!! Also it is also really satisfying to teach another how to shoot or reload. So when I am reloading THAT is the most fun.-----But when I am shooting THAT is the most fun. Sigh--they are BOTH most fun IMHO.

I actually enjoy reloading more than shooting. So I joke I shoot to reload.

That said, I enjoy getting out and shooting when I can.

I shoot for many reasons. First for relaxation. Next to be safe and to be able to use my EDC if heaven forbid I had to. And I shoot so I can get better and prepare for competition.

So to me it’s not a one or another situation, I shoot for many reasons.

Labguy47 said:

Most of what I see on here lately is caliber wars, tactical koolaid, and who’s doing what politically. Does anyone shoot just for the pure enjoyment of it? I know I have a lot of medical issues, but I just enjoy pushing myself to make that one shot that everyone else would call BS on. Does anyone else do a mag dump just because they can? So what about shooting brings a smile to your face?
Mine is watching my daughter shoot.

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One of the best threads of the year. This Sunday my son and I are heading to the ranch to simply have a day in the sun and shoot. We're not hunting, fixing fence or feeding cows. We'll build a small cooking fire (the cabin has a full kitchen but why use gas when you can cook over mesquite?), put the coffee on to boil and get to it. We are simply going for the pure joy of pulling the trigger on multiple guns...and yes, a mag dump is absolutely going to happen.

I'm yet another in the "shooting is stress relief" crowd. Back in college I once taped the first page of an exam to the target - that was highly motivating.

I get the most enjoyment out of rifles - still remember shooting my Garand for the first time and being amazed at that "ping!" from the clip being ejected. *Almost* got Garand Thumb that day as well.

First time I shot my Colt MT HBar I didn't see where the round hit. I mentally shrugged and tried again. Didn't see that one either. Frowned and tried a third time. Wait... did the "X" in the center... hold on... yes, all three were touching, right in the X ring. No sight adjustment required. OK, keeper!

I've gotten the chance to shoot a Barrett 50cal (felt like I was being punched everywhere at once, and I was 0 for 4 at the 500 yard target, but I'm still glad I did it) and a Japanese WWII light machinegun (no, I did not try using the bayonet). I've held (but did not get to shoot) a Springfield that had been issued to someone in one of the Massachusetts infantry regiments in the American Civil War; I was quite young at the time and the rifle was longer than I was tall (or perhaps it just felt like it...).

And of course I've done a mag dump and gloried in the righteous powder smoke.

Check the "Warrior Poet Society" on Youtube: "John Takes an Anti-gunner To the Range". This was in Kenasaw, near Atlanta.
The former Army Ranger introduced an attractive young Aussie lady to his indoor range, his suppressed handgun and typical AR.

She was labeled as "an anti", but was only totally unfamiliar with guns.

I feel like a hibernating old bear waiting for the spring thaw. Not much fun when sliding around on ice, snow, and wind chills. Pass the long winter by going to gun shows and reloading.

Sometimes, just for the hell of it, I like to take my AK outside and do my "robo-finger" thing. 30 rounds in 3 seconds. Who needs bump stocks?

Every week. Old farts trap on Friday mornings, league trap on Thursday evenings, home league every second Sunday. Go for those 25s, 50s, steaks and cash or bragging rights. 22s off the bench at 50 trying for 1/2" or less. Clay birds on the berm at 100 with the Blackhawk. All fun.

To me, there is nothing like seeing a clay pigeon turn to black smoke.

I shoot the odd pheasant in season if I get the opportunity but otherwise I don't hunt nor shoot competitively very much, I only really shoot for fun. I still enjoy it as much as I did as a kid, maybe more so as I have 'real' guns rather than just air rifles. My real love is for BlackPowder guns, I like shooting them, cleaning them and all that messing about with different loads, different ball sizes and patch types to get the 'best' load.
After a long day in the office, an hour or so at the range, chatting to my mates and some target shooting ... nothing better for a de-stress in my book.

Labguy47 said:

Does anyone shoot just for the pure enjoyment of it?

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I thought everyone did.
I enjoy shooting of all kinds, archery, handgun, rifle, shotgun, black powder, hunting or target.
Pheasants and ducks with a shotgun and my dog is above all else but shooting is just a very small part of that.

Hi...
I enjoy all facets of the shooting sports.
I like to hunt bear, deer, squirrels, rabbits and pheasants and grouse.
Do a little varmint hunting as well.
I enjoy shooting off the bench and doing defensive handgun drills.
I like shooting a steel gong at 209yds with various handguns. I enjoy missing clay birds with my 12ga shotguns.
I like cleaning guns.
I like reloading.
I have taught others to shoot.
I am teaching my son to reload...he really enjoys it.
My oldest daughter is after many years getting back into shooting and also wants me to teach her to reload for her .30/06 and .357Mag.
There isn't any part of the shooting sports I don't enjoy...except the political battles.

Shooting I do for pleasure.
Hunting I do for duty.
I hate to kill anything warm-blooded unnecessarily.
Fishing isn't quite as bad, to me, but the meat must still be used for a purpose.

Medical issues have allowed me more time to shoot lately and is my fun and decompression.

What I enjoy most is what I can do now with my 1st new pistol purchased just less than a year ago. Wanted to sell it after 3 months lol.


Honestly though, it doesn't matter if it's a 20g pump, 9mm pistol, ar, etc, I enjoy all the firearms platforms available to me!