oneounceload
member
I just go shoot some sporting clays; lots of fun, sociable folks, nice stress relief.
Shooting gone flat
- Thread starter Capt. Obvious
- Start date
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rodregier
Member
If you have reached a plateau and want to get better, professional instruction is one option.
If you can't see the targets like you used to, consider a red dot sight. They have been a new lease on life for older bullseye shooters...
If you can't see the targets like you used to, consider a red dot sight. They have been a new lease on life for older bullseye shooters...
Shooter973
Member
Shooting gone flat.
Switch sights, if you normally shoot with a scope, switch to a rifle with iron sights only. I had to do this to keep my interest in Deer hunting. It was simply to easy to shoot a mule deer with a scoped 30-06, so I switched to a open sight lever action 30-30. I also moved to handgun hunting, home cast bullets, etc etc.. I still hunt with open sights 95% of the time. More and more with a 45/70 and home cast bullets. Makes it more challenging and interesting to me.
Switch sights, if you normally shoot with a scope, switch to a rifle with iron sights only. I had to do this to keep my interest in Deer hunting. It was simply to easy to shoot a mule deer with a scoped 30-06, so I switched to a open sight lever action 30-30. I also moved to handgun hunting, home cast bullets, etc etc.. I still hunt with open sights 95% of the time. More and more with a 45/70 and home cast bullets. Makes it more challenging and interesting to me.
50cal
Member
Take up reloading. If you already do, take a break (as mentioned a few times).
rduchateau2954
Member
I got a bad case of it always going to the range. A weekend of competition on a buddies land with a pile o guns, a couple jars of tannerite, and a few hundred plastic army men solved that.
MachIVshooter
Member
Yup! I never stop entirely, but my enthusiasm waxes and wanes. That's why I have dirt bikes, hot rods, 4x4s, RC cars, model trains.....
200Apples
Mojave Lever Crew
Well, Captain Obvious, since you're using the term, "pistol", the phrase, "shooting ability... gone flat" and a descriptor, "bored" it would appear that you've been shooting the plastic guns, and more than likey using the 9mm Parabellum cartridge.
Perhaps you should start shooting a more-accurate round like the .45 ACP and from a real pistol like a 1911.
g.willikers
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2007
- Messages
- 1,027
Without focus, it's easy to lose interest in anything.
Especially if it's not a necessary part of everyday life.
There's plenty of shooting activities that require far more commitment that just accumulating guns and plinking.
As has been mentioned, how about getting involved in local competitions?
If you want to stay with shooting, that will keep your juices flowing.
Or maybe take some training classes.
Just going to the range and punching holes in cardboard, without any other stimulus, does get old.
Especially if it's not a necessary part of everyday life.
There's plenty of shooting activities that require far more commitment that just accumulating guns and plinking.
As has been mentioned, how about getting involved in local competitions?
If you want to stay with shooting, that will keep your juices flowing.
Or maybe take some training classes.
Just going to the range and punching holes in cardboard, without any other stimulus, does get old.
Sauer Grapes
Member
I put my handguns away for about 2yrs. Shot tons of shotgun for most of that time.
Delford
Member
I'm fortunate to have a shooting coach. He's a good friend who got me to take the CC class which resulted in me getting into shooting. He's always creating new challenges both in defensive response and in shooting pistols, rifles, and shotguns; usually a combination of both with several weapons. Get to know fellow shooters who are helpful and flat will go away.
My other shooting hobby is photography which is a good supplement since I shoot on a farm and photo opportunities pop up from time to time.
My other shooting hobby is photography which is a good supplement since I shoot on a farm and photo opportunities pop up from time to time.
wanderinwalker
Member
What about shooting has gone flat for you? Are your normal range days too easy? Make them more difficult. Try some competitions. Try shooting a pistol at 50 yards. Practice using your weak-side hand.
Otherwise, as said, it's OK to take breaks. I stopped shooting Highpower a few years ago. I took 3rd place in a big state match, shot the best score of my life (98%) and then literally put my gear away. In the intervening time I've moved twice, gotten married, gotten back into bicycling and spent a summer running 5Ks, 10Ks and a couple half-marathons. Changing and diversifying interests is healthy.
Or you could take up reloading, shooting rifles, shooting shotguns, fly fishing, canoeing, stamp collecting or just about anything other than golf. As long as you don't take up golf there's still hope for your shooting.
Otherwise, as said, it's OK to take breaks. I stopped shooting Highpower a few years ago. I took 3rd place in a big state match, shot the best score of my life (98%) and then literally put my gear away. In the intervening time I've moved twice, gotten married, gotten back into bicycling and spent a summer running 5Ks, 10Ks and a couple half-marathons. Changing and diversifying interests is healthy.
Or you could take up reloading, shooting rifles, shooting shotguns, fly fishing, canoeing, stamp collecting or just about anything other than golf. As long as you don't take up golf there's still hope for your shooting.
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50cal
Member
This is a decent topic - I found it interesting that many people get to a point where they lose interest. Not interest in shooting per se but lose interest in making the effort or time investment. I am always interested in shooting but its been a year since I have been active. Just getting back to it. Starting with visiting a few forums I joined back in early 2000. I guess Capt O. lost complete interest, he appears to have unsubscribed from his own thread.
Elkins45
Member
Learn to cast bullets. Then you can spend all of your spare time trying to find wheel weights.
LeonCarr
Member
Start handloading. Once you fine tune your ammunition to your handguns your groups will really start tightening up and your shooting will get better.
After recently outshooting a trash talking SWAT Officer in a timed tactical match by 44 seconds, I thought I needed a new challenge.
I started playing golf. If you can go to a golf course and put a golf ball in 18 different holes in less than 72 strokes, shooting will seem very very easy.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
After recently outshooting a trash talking SWAT Officer in a timed tactical match by 44 seconds, I thought I needed a new challenge.
I started playing golf. If you can go to a golf course and put a golf ball in 18 different holes in less than 72 strokes, shooting will seem very very easy.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Orion8472
Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2008
- Messages
- 3,638
I get into the same "funk" at times. When your only option is "shooting at paper targets [often with a 'speed limit' of "only 1 shot per 3 seconds"], it gets boring going out to shoot. Finding a place to shoot where you CAN shoot quicker and at reactive targets is VERY hard to come by. I would do more shooting if I had access to such a place, but I don't. So, the "funk" can creep in and cause a lack luster desire to shoot, . . . . or [I suppose] could even make it to where you have issues with a skill you've been good at for some time. A psychological effect of sorts.
Finding a place to do competition shooting could be good, but not reloading myself, and with the cost of ammo, that can get expensive. It's also VERY structured, so it isn't the same as "setting up targets and having a fun, relaxing time of shooting".
Anyway, all this to say, I understand the issue fully.
Finding a place to do competition shooting could be good, but not reloading myself, and with the cost of ammo, that can get expensive. It's also VERY structured, so it isn't the same as "setting up targets and having a fun, relaxing time of shooting".
Anyway, all this to say, I understand the issue fully.
cheygriz
member
Try the 4 step program
1. Buy a bunch of new guns!
2. Take up handloading seriously.
3. Take up bullet casting.
4. Get the necessary training and become an instructor.
1. Buy a bunch of new guns!
2. Take up handloading seriously.
3. Take up bullet casting.
4. Get the necessary training and become an instructor.
Ranger Roberts
Become a THR contributing member!
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2012
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- 1,091
I agree with the other who suggested reloading or blackpowder guns. Both are very fun hobbies that are their own subsection of shooting. A day on the range with a BP gun is a completely different experience, plus the day doesn't end on the range, they need to be cleaned asap. Reloading is a ton of fun. I have been doing it for years but my wife is starting to take an interest now. It's fun teaching her and seeing reloading from a beginners eyes again.
If neither are in the budget, have you thought about teaching someone to shoot? Like I mentioned about teaching my wife to reload, seeing that stuff through a beginners eyes is a lot of fun.
Last suggestion, have you tried reactive targets? Some ranges don't allow it, but if yours does, give it a try. I get bored punching paper almost immediately. However I have chased a golf ball around with a .22 for hours. My hunting partner and I even have a game where we shoot golf balls off tees and keep score. Here's a link to a thread where a few of us talked about it, I explain how we play in post #11
http://http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=763626&highlight=golf+balls
A dueling tree is fun even if you are the only one "dueling." Hearing the PING of steel always makes me smile, especially if I am shooting suppressed!
If neither are in the budget, have you thought about teaching someone to shoot? Like I mentioned about teaching my wife to reload, seeing that stuff through a beginners eyes is a lot of fun.
Last suggestion, have you tried reactive targets? Some ranges don't allow it, but if yours does, give it a try. I get bored punching paper almost immediately. However I have chased a golf ball around with a .22 for hours. My hunting partner and I even have a game where we shoot golf balls off tees and keep score. Here's a link to a thread where a few of us talked about it, I explain how we play in post #11
http://http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=763626&highlight=golf+balls
A dueling tree is fun even if you are the only one "dueling." Hearing the PING of steel always makes me smile, especially if I am shooting suppressed!
WestKentucky
Member
Try shooting weak handed, at a distance your not quite comfortable with, looking for accuracy
JWH321
Member
Reloading is fun, and it adds another dimension to your shooting - it's fun to play with various loads to see how it impacts your shooting.
Zendude
Member
You are bored for a reason. Think about what you would consider a meaningful endeavor that appeals to your basic values. Shooting might just be an activity to relax and take your mind off other things, not your primary focus in life. There might be something more basic missing from your life that is making itself felt.
Just something to think about. Therapy session over.
Just something to think about. Therapy session over.
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