Three questions for our retired or semi-retired members.....

After retiring,

  • my interest in firearms and firearms related activities increased.

    Votes: 86 46.7%

  • my interest in firearms and firearms related activities remained about the same.

    Votes: 77 41.8%

  • my interest in firearms and firearms related activities decreased.

    Votes: 6 3.3%

  • my interest in firearm forums increased.

    Votes: 76 41.3%

  • my interest in firearm forums remained about the same.

    Votes: 65 35.3%

  • my interest in firearm forums decreased.

    Votes: 5 2.7%

  • my purchases of firearms and firearm related items increased.

    Votes: 65 35.3%

  • my purchases of firearms and firearm related items remained about the same.

    Votes: 57 31.0%

  • my purchases of firearms and firearm related items decreased.

    Votes: 33 17.9%

  • None of the above. See my post.

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • Total voters
    184
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Zaydok Allen

Zaydok Allen

Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
13,274
I have worked, and continue to work with a lot of individuals that have retired or are very close. Many of them I consider close friends, and despite being much younger than them, I get together with some of them on a regular basis to spend time together. Now and then it's to shoot together, but much more often it's to drink a beer. My mentor and I go to the biggest gun show in our area together every year, and even though we almost never buy anything, we enjoy it.

I find tales of their retired lives interesting because everyone is different. Some folks like to say "Screw it! I get to stay home!" And others want to do anything and everything they can in retirement. I'm guessing it has a lot to do with how much you've traveled in your younger days, how many hobbies you have, how many material goods you have at your disposal that you enjoy, whether or not you have kids and grandkids, and a host of other thigs I'm guessing.

So my three questions are these:

1. When you retired or became semi-retired, did your interest in firearms and firearms related activities, including shooting, increase when you retired, remain the same, or decrease. None of those answers would surprise me, as we all have different life philosophies.

2. What about your interest in online forums. I look forward to having more time to read for fun when I'm retired. Right now all I can squeeze out is 25-40 pages from a novel on a Saturday or Sunday morning. And frankly a lot of the time it's only a quick read here on THR or somewhere else online about something I want to learn about. I mean I read a lot, but it's typically scientific papers for my professional interests. So did your interest in forums about guns increase when you retired, remain about the same, or decrease, because real life is more important.

For me THR is a great source of fun and knowledge, but very often I find it a quick distraction from my daily stress, and then it's back to whatever I'm involved in at the moment.

3. Did you start buying more, about the same, or fewer guns when you retired? I could see any answer making sense based on what you already have and what you always wanted. I'm guessing I'll have a short pulse right after retiring of buying, and then a big step back when I feel I have the guns that are enjoyable to me. But what will be available in the future? That could change things.

Anyway, I look forward to reading people's responses. Age makes a big difference in what we do, but so many other factors come in. I'm just curious as to the pattern, if there is one.

And to our recent or extremely close retirees, congratulations.
 
I retired nearly a decade ago and following the completion of my certification, became an instructor/RSO at a local range. Just part time work but very rewarding. I still like the fact our customers will hand me their gun and ask me to verify if the sights are properly set up and aligned.
No pressure there, LOL.
 
I retired early 4.5yrs ago, my gun buying, forum interest and trigger time increased.
I drove a truck and had long hrs and the office was on the other side of Atlanta so after 12-14hr days I had 1-2 hrs drive home so my leisure time increased a lot. I enjoy taking milsurps to the range on days when kids are there to see their eyes when they shoot the Garand or Mauser.
 
At the house, I could shoot a 22 rifle or CF pistol or revolver. After we added an addition on the cabin and moved here; I can shoot pretty much anything and do.
I'm making an attempt not to add more new calibers. Although, I don't know what your thoughts are; the wife started laughing. :rofl:
Except THR, I don't spend much time on firearms forums. When I do, it is more the result of a search hit.

 
I had to take a medical retirement at age 51. That was in 2012. In 2013 we discovered I had prostate cancer, it was removed and I had radiation treatments. In 2014 we escaped Sodom on the Willamette and moved to Texas.

I've bought at least two firearms every year since moving to Texas. I've gone from two Hornady LnL AP presses to two Dillon 650 presses with a Hornady LnL sitting in a box in the shop. I've started bullet casting. I spend more time at the range and I shoot a LOT more. My stash of powder and primers has greatly expanded.

My situation is somewhat unique in that I actually make a lot more in retirement than I did working. Other than the chronic back problems forced retirement isn't too bad.
 
I'd wager that, being a gun forum, the results will be skewed by retirees that are active on the forums, and thus likely active in shooting. I'm not voting, since I'm 25-30 years away from retiring. But my FIL is at that stage, and his firearms related activities have greatly decreased. He used to shoot trap weekly with buddies, but one by one those buddies stopped showing up as they aged. I don't think he's shot a gun in over a year. I even invited him to the range to shoot a new rifle he picked up, and he seemed to have little interest in firing it.
 
Interesting poll. I “officially” retired 10 years ago this year, but I haven’t held a steady job since 2005. Nevertheless, I voted “increased” on all three questions.

The reason for my answer to the second question is kind of obvious…my interest in firearms forums (actually just THR) has increased because I have more time to goof-off on the internet than I did before I retired. Especially this time of year. At 72 years old soon, I don’t have much “interest” in getting out in the cold any more than I have to. Besides, my favorite shooting “range,” the county gravel pit is full of snow. If I drove down in that pit to do some target practicing, my truck would be there until spring.:eek:

But my interest in firearms, as well as my purchasing of firearms have both “increased” since I retired as well. However, maybe “changed” would be a better word in my case than “increased.” I’ve been a hunter, fisher, backpacker and general outdoors person my whole life. And the firearms I was interested in, as well as the firearms I purchased, usually leaned that way. They still do occasionally. But in the last 20 years or so, I’ve become a lot more interested in self (including CCWs) and home defense firearms than I ever was before, and my firearms purchases usually lean that way nowadays.:)
 
I guess that I'm the one thats gotta be different. My answers are pretty much opposite from the other retired guys. I was diagnosed with MS and retired in 2015. My symptoms run from extreme fatigue to walking and balance issues.

1. I shoot less that before because I don't feel like it. Both loading gear for a range trip and the range trip tire me out.

2. I spend more time on online forums because of the above. I read through several forums like I read books. And I have enough experience that just maybe I can answer some questions and be of some little amount of help to others.

3. I buy fewer firearms and components for the same reasons as above. I worked long enough to have a nice pension and I made enough that I have investments, so while I'm not rich, I can buy most of the stuff that I want.

I'm happy to see so many retired folks shooting more and being active in the shooting sports.
 
I'd given my adult life working to be able to retire. Kids are on their own, house and cars paid for, and I have money in the bank. I'm going to as many competitions as I can now. The wife and I have plotted out the travel calendar for 2020 and it's primarily around competitions. The goal is at least 1 indoor competition a week, 2 days at the range practice each week and 2 outdoor shoots a month. Want to try shooting something new each year, too.
 
Last edited:
alfsauve said:
I'd given my adult life working to be able to retire. Kids are own their own, house and cars paid for, and I have money in the bank. I'm going to as many competitions as I can now. The wife and I have plotted out the travel calendar for 2020 and it's primarily around competitions. The goal is at least 1 indoor competition a week, 2 days at the range practice each week and 2 outdoor shoots a month. Want to try shooting something new each year, too.
Click to expand...

That’s a dream retirement right there!!:)
 
Hi...
I retired a year and a half ago at 63-1/2...just got tired of the workplace and the politics of said environment.
I shoot more, spend more time on forums and buy more shooting related products. I haven't bought a gun since I retired but am actively looking for several...just can't find what I am looking for. I don't really need any more firearms but I still want several more.
The struggle is real.
 
Well I went out on a “golden parachute” in November of 1997, three months into my 56th birthday. Only down side is the aging aspect. Time to do all those things working for a living left little time to do. Fishing, not at all anymore, wood working as the mood dictates, hunting gave that up at age 65 also. Firearms, shooting, hand loading and forums and winter book reading. Between those and home owner Maintence chores , family and getting the wife and I’s dinner daily makes for a pretty full day. Enjoying the time the good lord gives me. Go to bed late get up late. Life is good.
 
Retired about 8 years ago after years of crazy deadlines and 18 hour days. Similar situation for my wife. The house and car are paid for and we're comfortable just not extravagent. There's more time for shooting and reloading. I spend more time on various firearm forums for fun and because I look for more information. Gun related purchases are up because I have more chances to find bargains.

Jeff
 
Well, I’m 72, I retired 4-1/2 years ago. Sold my business, stayed on for 3 years and wished them good luck, got my second new hip, got roto-rooted and two stents, lost 60 pounds, life is good. Got 3 too many rental properties, the last one was a disaster, spent a year and a half dealing and rebuilding it. Now it’s done. I’ve been a gun nut as long as I can remember. Go steady by jerks, might go along a few years and not do much, then catch a fire in my butt and get after it again. Haven’t bought any new guns in a year or so, not really looking for any right now, but you know how that goes. I’m working on loads for my last project, a change barrel, heavy target rifle I built some years back. I admit to letting the 6.5 craze catch me, I put a new Kreiger barrel on it and chambered it to 260 Remington Improved. I’m a wildcater, handload in the neighborhood of 25 rifle chamberings and a dozen handgun chamberings. Can’t say any of this has changed much over the years. (Way too much stuff) It might this year though, the last rental house is done and I bought a nice fishing boat last summer and am planning on making up for 50 years of lost time on the water. And we’ve been doing a lot of travel, Iceland, Europe 3 times, 4 big boat cruises, going to New Zealand and Australia next month, Italy and Greece this fall..... where did I ever find time to work all those years? Lord willing and as long as the money holds out we’re trying to make up for 50 years of nothing but work. Better get to bed, got to go to a buddies place to do some load tests on the 260 AI and trying some new bullets and powder in a couple three other rifles. Busy day again tomorrow!
 
Retirement to me is fishing, hunting, shooting when I want to instead of when I can - those are two very different mindsets offering two very different levels of enjoyment - retirement is freedom awareness from mindless indentured obligation and the forced company of strange and stressed people. Retirement provides a level of mental (and thus physical) relaxation that is not present in the dollar chasing world. I wish retirement freedom on everyone.
 
I retired almost 3 years ago. I answered "increased" to all three questions.

I'm shooting much more frequently (I typically get out about once a week). My reloading time has increased substantially. And I have more time to be in the forums.

I tend to have a lot of time to do these things....because I don't feel compelled to travel like so many others that enjoy it. For now I'm happy relishing living a life that isn't at light speed - like it seemed like it was when my wife and I were working.
 
Since retirement, took up hunting much more seriously, which has changed the direction of my firearms interest. Used to be "cool milsurp",
and hosing targets, now it's practical portability, caliber matching prey, good optics, and accuracy.
 
I retired from all hunting long before I retired from gainful employment. I just had heard far too many tales about the great "Sound shots" from other hunters. But it's only been recently that I finally sold all my long guns.

My interests in hunting and forums and guns and most other areas has remained the same but actual participation definitely changed. One major reason is that for some unknown reason pieces parts of me seem to be harder to recover when damaged. Even minor pieces parts seem to be more critical than in the past. Things that were an annoyance just days ago when I was younger now seem to tie me up for ages.

And the whole world is changing. The floor is much further away than it used to be and even just bending over to pick something up can be risky. Also the printing on the targets these days is much lower in quality and unless it's right next to me it just gets fuzzy looking. Even things like my belts aren't like they used to be. It used to be I could buy a 32" belt and it fit just fine but these modern belts are not sized properly so I need to order a bigger size.

My purchases of firearms has stayed about the same in some ways; the frequency is about the same but the characteristics has changed. Instead of looking for the latest, greatest, newest, most powerful I now seem to look for something that will complete a niche or fill out a pattern. This change in emphasis means that I buy about the same number of guns but mostly older models and fewer new models. That also tends to be reflected in what I carry. I'm far more likely these days to rely on a 22LR, 25acp or 32acp than on one of my 380s, 9mm, or even larger caliber handguns. The big exception would be my 38 Special wheelies which seem to get carried about as much as always.

I've even begun using some of the plastic holsters instead or real leather; not very often but far more often then in the past. I can't say that I like any of them but they do serve a purpose and so utility rises above esthetics at times. Almost all of my IWB holsters now live in the Box of Shame and it is my pocket holsters and shoulder holsters that tend to get the most WalkAbout time.

So while interest and purchases have remained pretty constant the nature has changed.
 
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