When you retired, did your time spent with guns increase, or*?

[Hondo 60]

Up without question!

During the nicer months, I'm at the range 2, sometimes 3x a week.
I also cast my own now too.
And 99% of my gun purchases have been within the last 5 years.

 

[papaairbear]

I retired for the final time this last March at age 62 and I do spend more time with my firearms and reloading. I used to get to the gun club twice a month when I could get away from work and now I'm getting there 6 to 8 times a month. As most everyone else has already said, you probably wont have all that free time in luxury we dream about because you'll be doing things around the house and yard you've let go due to lack of time.

 

[tekarra]

I had hoped to do more shooting when I retired, but it did not work out that way. Too many chores and obligations got in the way.

 

[jcwit]

All has to do with where one wishes to put their priorities.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I retired a few years ago. Never had time to do much in the way of reloading and shooting when I worked. Lots of overtime in the summer and fall mixed with house and yard maintenance killed my hobby spare time. Now I have plenty of time to reload/shoot. I make it to the range at least once a week and spend several hours reloading every week.

I would have to say that retirement doubled my shooting. I'm not home 3-4 months a year now and retirement still increased my range time. You will find other things to do with your time when you retire. We purchased an RV and hit the road.

 

[Ky Larry]

I'll be 62 in November. I was forced to retire about 3 years ago. I had triple bypass surgery, leg amputation,diabetic neuropathy, etc. Got tired of sitting around so I've made myself get up and go. Got a peg leg and haven't stopped since.I shoot, reload, and fish more than I ever have. Two grandkids (boy 13 girl 10) love shooting .22s. Volunteering at the VA hospital and church keep me busy. I can't ride motorcycles anymore because of loss of left leg so I'm going to buy a Can Am Razor next spring. This is the best time of my life.

And to my former boss

 

[Nanook]

I retired last July 1st, and thought I'd really go shooting often. It hasn't turned out that way, since I added a few hobbies to the mix. I

I was busy obtaining woodworking tools, and restoring a couple I already had. Then I decided to add metalworking to the mix. It all dovetails together, lots of bleed over between the hobbies.

But I haven't gone as often as I thought I would. That will change here pretty soon, once the weather cools down. I'm not a fan of humid, hot weather and we've had plenty of it. I hibernate in reverse when we have that stuff.

My shooting buddy has been working overtime, too, so we haven't got to go that much.

I load my own, and cast as well. I have plenty to do, and don't miss work in the slightest.

 

[zb338]

A lot of you guys are really lucky to have retired young.
I didn't get that luxury because I worked for a company
that got bought out etc.; you know the rest. Now at 81
I'm semi-retired, still working and still shooting.

Zeke

 

[joem1945]

I retired 7 years ago and I shoot way more than I used to. I try to go 2 X a week and the rest of the time I reload or wind up cleaning guns. I do wonder how I ever found time to work.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I retired at 60 a year ago but I've got a 14 year old daughter who keeps me pretty busy.
I can shoot out back, guns as well as archery, so it's not a big deal...

 

[jmr40]

I retired from teaching in 2010 at age 52. I wanted to work a little longer, but economically it didn't make sense not to. I'd coached 2 sports for 30 years and didn't want the 60-70 hour weeks any longer. I never got a summer off, maybe a week or long weekend. Because of budget cuts they were going to shorten the school year by 10 days and pay us for 180 days instead of 190 during the 2010-2011 year.

This is the 1st year since I retired that teachers have gotten their full 190 days pay, but no raises since 2008. They also cut 120 positions county wide. By me retiring I saved 1 spot for a younger teacher that would have been let go. When I did the math and realized what my bring home pay would be with working 10 fewer days plus giving up the extra money for coaching vs my bring home pay retired it just wasn't that much different.

The 1st year or two I got in a lot of hunting including trips to Colorado and New Mexico. I had planned on doing so every year or 2 as long as I can still climb the mountains. But that is about the time my mom and dad hit the wall and needed a lot of help. Dad died in 2013 and mom lived with me for 1 year before moving into an assisted living home.

I still get in more range time and local hunts than ever. But at this point can't really plan long range for a Western hunt like I had planned on. We rarely go more than 5-6 weeks between hospital visits for mom and then DR visits in between. It is almost a weekly trip.

 

[huntsman]

I quit working fulltime in 2000 and this year I started drawing a pension at 55, since I quit working I've bought one new gun with some inheritance money.

I can shoot and hunt on my own land and time isn't an issue, money is.

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose- Chris Kristofferson

I may not play at a hobby but I am free and sufficiently armed.

 

[Ignition Override]

Furncliff: Beautiful.

rcmodel: My wife has been excellent with mgmt. of her Type 1 diabetes, even before she learned to use the insulin pump several years ago.
It would be nice to leave the job next summer, partly to go on more vacations with her in case there is a glitch as she gets older
(she is three yrs. older than I).

Some us might have years of shooting left before glasses are needed for iron sights.

 

[Hardtarget]

I'm 65 and wondering...what is this retirement thing you speak of?

I'm not sure when that will happen. My wife has been retired ten years. She likes it and says I should give it a try. I'm willing...just wafflin' about it.

Mark

 

[Reloadron]

When you retired, did your time spent with guns increase, or*?

Without a doubt. Yesterday for example was forecast to be a beautiful day and with Fall approaching in NE Ohio you take what you get. The range was quiet and since retiring I have noticed that on weekdays I only see other retired guys like me. I went out a few years ago at 63 and fortunately in good health. I now have plenty of time to do the things I enjoy doing and I love every moment of it. Winter and freezing weather will move me to the indoor range but till then I will enjoy every moment outside. Anyway, with retirement absolutely my range time has increased many fold.

Ron

 

[Reloadron]

I'm 65 and wondering...what is this retirement thing you speak of?

I'm not sure when that will happen. My wife has been retired ten years. She likes it and says I should give it a try. I'm willing...just wafflin' about it.

Mark

Listen to your wife! Then too some people like working indefinitely. Me? I was happy to leave the workplace and everything associated with it. You will never know if you like it till you try it.

Ron

 

[RandyC]

My wife and I are both Scrooges with money and, with the market fluctuations, we squeeze every dime to take nice trips now and then. I actually shoot less than when I was working mainly because of it's rising cost.

I keep quite a bit of ammo, most of it hand loaded, for each firearm. But I'm one of those guys who seeing a particular caliber get below 250 rounds think it's time to start reloading some more.

If ammo costs were the same as when I retired I'd shoot a lot more.

 

[keokeboy]

retired at the age of 58, moved to arkansas and still spend great times shooting weekly, in-door and AGF range in mayflower. took my new henry BB 357 and was very impressed with the accuracy. not even hot summers ,ice on the ground stops me from shooting.this time of the year the range is busy due to up-coming hunting season. will turn 71 next month will have to put a scope on my henry,but dont know what is the best scope to get for older eyes..4x32 wont cut it

 

[Bullseye]

Gun time increased yes but then so did a lot of other hobbies and things including keeping up with the house repairs and making home a nicer place to be.
Best thing is that work just got me tired and now I get around when I want and go to sleep when I've done all I could in one day.
Retired is certainly much more enjoyable. I never really liked work all that much when I was doing it for somebody else. I did like being my own boss for about 10-15 years.
Retired is BETTER!

 

[Ibmikey]

Ah yes the Golden Years, Unfortunately as each year passes the body begins it's slide into the toilet...while we remember having the strength and energy to work and play from dawn to dark. I have little reason for complaints when i see that so many friends and co workers have bit the dust, even with my phony knee and neck that refuses to move where i can no longer hold my head up in pride i have little complaint.
I have the opportunity to build AR's now, shoot when i please, travel to my buddy's home in Texas to shoot wild hogs and help my neighbors who have a few more years than i. One big problem is disposing of a couple hundred firearms as the lights grow dimmer, i do not sell firearms but have had fun giving many away yet still having enough about for my enjoyment of a life long hobby.
The Golden Years....to bad we did not have them when young and could truly enjoy them.

 

[Reloadron]

Ah yes the Golden Years, Unfortunately as each year passes the body begins it's slide into the toilet...while we remember having the strength and energy to work and play from dawn to dark. I have little reason for complaints when i see that so many friends and co workers have bit the dust, even with my phony knee and neck that refuses to move where i can no longer hold my head up in pride i have little complaint.
I have the opportunity to build AR's now, shoot when i please, travel to my buddy's home in Texas to shoot wild hogs and help my neighbors who have a few more years than i. One big problem is disposing of a couple hundred firearms as the lights grow dimmer, i do not sell firearms but have had fun giving many away yet still having enough about for my enjoyment of a life long hobby.
The Golden Years....to bad we did not have them when young and could truly enjoy them.

It's a bit strange as I also slowly bury friends and am happy I am faring better than many of them. I haven't bothered to sell off any guns and likely won't. There is a list and my wife knows their worth. I think I'll do as my sister did with her husband's guns, in accordance with his wishes. She gave away much of his collection to immediate family. When I have any of Mike's rifles out for the day I do take a moment and think about Mike. Damn, I miss that guy. I have plenty of friends who never made it to retirement so consider myself fortunate.

Ron

 

[25-5]

I've been shooting, hunting, and reloading for forty years. I retired about 5 years ago. It was then I became ill with the milsurps disease. The symptoms of the disease are rampant. I reload more and shoot more as a result. A happily busy retirement.

 

[Zeke/PA]

In my world, things changed after retirement in many ways.
Thankfully, healthwise, I 'm still able to garden and perform most of my home maintainence functions.
Shooting has become a luxery performed about once a week instead of 2 or 3 times/ week.
I have a shop equipped enough to be able to fulfill my needs as I mow about 2 acres and am able to maintain my tractor.
I really enjoyed my job and I miss it but I can spend more time with my kid's mommy.
Retirement ??? It has it's ups and downs!

 

[George Dickel]

Been retired almost 3 years now and definitely shoot a lot more, when I worked it was maybe once a month. Got into reloading and enjoy it but it is a bit costly to start out. Got interested in F Class target rifle shooting and have spent the spring and summer getting my equipment together. A group of us shoot small bore silhouette once a month, the car club I belong to shoots pistols at an indoor range once a month, and that range holds a pistol competition shoot once a month. I try to go to a local outdoor rifle range 2 or 3 times a month where we shoot .22lr, milsurps and centerfire rifles.

Retirement is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bigdog57]

I have been retired for nearly a year and a half. I had intended to go shooting much more, but I find I do not. Health problems, and other interests demanding time, both conspire to keep me from the range. And when I do go, I don't stay long. The local range is a free public range, quite close to me, but the denizens that come in the later morning and afternoon have little regard for proper 'range etiquette'. So I go early in the morning and leave before 10AM.
I do so little shooting these days, I am thinking seriously of <gasp!> selling many of my guns. Getting to where the money is needed more than the guns.