S&W686 Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 I shoot because I enjoy it. I hunted with my father when I was younger but that ended when I was 12yrs old. The next time I picked up a gun was in the Marine Corps in the early 70's. I did not pick up a gun again until 2008 when I got my license to carry. I wanted to do more than stand in a lane at the range and shoot at a target. Shortly after getting my HCP I discovered IDPA. A few years later I found USPSA. I enjoy the people I shoot with and the friendships I have made. The shooting community has some of the best people in the county. At 68yrs old I can still compete and hope to do so for many years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuz Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 For me I would say it’s relaxation and stress relief therapy. At least the practice and random range sessions. Matches are a hot mess of nerves and anxiety that requires more stress relief therapy to get over. It’s a vicious cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hvansky Posted October 15, 2021 Share Posted October 15, 2021 It’s that constant battle inside your head. I played golf growing up, pretty competitively. Since I stopped, I missed that battle. Glad I found USPSA to give me that feeling back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chapo Posted April 28, 2022 Share Posted April 28, 2022 Gotta be honest here fellas, I am a retired vet and suffer from depression. I am lucky because through out the years I have been able to accumulate lots of reloading equipment. But to be honest, sometimes I don't even feel like doing anything, much less reload. Going to the range feels like such a monumental task. I try to make videos to keep me busy. I mean, when I shoot I love it, its just getting to that point. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synchronicity Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 Chapo - If I try to go to the range by myself, I have the same problem. If I am meeting the friends that I have met in various competitions, it is Much easier to get excited about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuayThaiJJ Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 I think shooting, for me, is a lot like martials arts. I do jiujitsu and muay thai. It is therapy, a release of energy, focus, and expression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caspian guy Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 50 minutes ago, MuayThaiJJ said: I think shooting, for me, is a lot like martials arts. I do jiujitsu and muay thai. It is therapy, a release of energy, focus, and expression. This... For me it's an exercise in focus and attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
45 Raven Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 Chapo: Synchronicity has provided you with some excellent advice. If you have the opportunity and means, find a local shooting club or just a group of guys that get together and shoot (or load ammunition). The presence of others that share your interests and get to know you make all the difference in the world. Let us here on the forum know how you are proceeding. Best wishes, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chapo Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Much appreciated fellas. My wife likes to shoot, so when she accompanies me its all dandy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scroadkill Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 On 5/2/2022 at 10:06 AM, Chapo said: .. I'm not big on just expending ammo.. I even have a nice private range in the back yard and years of primers on hand and still don't practice.. what I do enjoy is the fun and fellowship of competing. There are a lot of guys who are pretty excited about shooting matches.. including a good percentage of fun loving vets and active military/leos.. Once you add tacos and beers with friends after the matches it is like a small vacation pretty much every Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chapo Posted May 6, 2022 Share Posted May 6, 2022 tacos and beers, that sounds like fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrounger Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 5/24/2015 at 6:23 PM, atomicbrh said: I came to the conclusion that I match shoot because I am selfish. I want to live in the Zen moments as frequently as possible and extend the length of those zen moments as much as possible. Old thread, but good topic. I shoot because I love nerding out on all the toys, loads and techniques from archery to sporting clays to USPSA to steel, it’s always something new to learn. When I’m shooting, loading, training, the hard focus is the Zen. I’ve been part of the shooting community for 40 years and it’s what I know and many of the people i can best relate to. The comrade is equal to the shooting for me, especially as I get older. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnickolas Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 I shoot because it requires 100% focus to do well. Therefore my mind can’t focus on work family etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effectus Magis Per Minor Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 7/22/2015 at 12:05 PM, turnandshoot4 said: I shoot because this is the only time I can dedicate my mind to something entirely. Well, shooting and surfing allow me to be single minded in an activity. Being from Indiana I don't get to surf much so shooting it is! Yes! Meditative for me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effectus Magis Per Minor Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 7/22/2015 at 12:05 PM, turnandshoot4 said: I shoot because this is the only time I can dedicate my mind to something entirely. Well, shooting and surfing allow me to be single minded in an activity. Being from Indiana I don't get to surf much so shooting it is! Yes! Meditative for me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effectus Magis Per Minor Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 7/22/2015 at 12:05 PM, turnandshoot4 said: I shoot because this is the only time I can dedicate my mind to something entirely. Well, shooting and surfing allow me to be single minded in an activity. Being from Indiana I don't get to surf much so shooting it is! Yes. Meditative for me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnipTheDog Posted August 31, 2022 Share Posted August 31, 2022 Getting too old to play football, baseball, basketball. Played volleyball for 25 years, too old for that now, at least my knees are. Need something that I can concentrate on and develop some new skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestPat Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 Stress relief and free brass! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbrace Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 Socializing and spending the day with like-minded people shooting matches is a great way to spend the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgh Posted May 25, 2023 Share Posted May 25, 2023 I shoot to hit the target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick303 Posted May 25, 2023 Share Posted May 25, 2023 You mean there is a place to run around with guns and shoot things????? Sign me up!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgh Posted May 26, 2023 Share Posted May 26, 2023 17 hours ago, Boomstick303 said: You mean there is a place to run around with guns and shoot things????? Hillarious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmarty386 Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 really appreciate this thread. ive struggled with the reason why i shoot......or even have hobbies in general. it would be more useful to my family and career if i didnt as its something that divides my time to a degree. most if my friends dont shoot either. ive felt selfish for years, working on improving and going to matches. its not so much that other areas in my life are neglected. its more just that as an adult, you realize that you could always be more productive with your time. its hard not to feel guilty when there is so much you could be doing with that time. ive come to the conclusion recently that shooting (or any other hobby) is about having control of something you enjoy. there are a lot of things in life that demand your attention. a hobby is something that you can enjoy at whatever level you like. if you want to be a super competitive at matches, you can work on that. if you want to just shoot casually and get out on the range, go for it. the point is, you make the rules and its something you choose to do for you. i think people who like hobbies (like myself) need that in their lives. it scratches some itch. shooting for me scratches a lot of itches. i am very competitive (in a friendly way) an enjoy chasing my range buddies on match day. i like having something to work on that is fun ti do. as an engineer, i like to gumsmif and tinker with guns, parts, etc. I like the reloading process both from a tinkering perspective and a perspective of chilling and watching tv while reloading. i can do all this and be a good husband and dad and be good at my job. its the perfect hobby. i used to ride motocross and that was just such a time sink, i couldnt find time to practice and be present for my fam and job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt1911 Posted September 13, 2023 Share Posted September 13, 2023 I shoot matches because it’s one thing that I’m actually decent at, it’s fun, and I don’t think about anything else going on in the world for those few hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seako_916 Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 I've been racing motorcycles offroad for many years but in 2022 fuel pricing got too high for me to keep going. At the same time, I discovered a local club to me that hosts what I knew to be "action pistol" events. I went and walked around and saw a match and was immediately thinking "I'm getting into this!". The accessibility and affordability of it compared to racing off road was so appealing. Additional positive to it is the lack of injury. I don't go to work limping around and hurting from exhaustion anymore. It's been a way to be competitive and learn just like racing was years ago. It has similar requirements of dedication and practice to become proficient and that's been a lot of fun. I've enjoyed the progression and seeing that work put in turns into results. As crazy as it sounds, this is a safer and cheaper sport than racing and I can go shoot a match within an hour of my house almost every weekend and in the summer, multiples a week. Just makes it a better (for me) band for my buck, pun intended. That being said, if I moved out west or down south, Id probably be back on a bike a lot more. I made the trip out to CO for a big match this summer and went camping and riding while out there and was reminded how much I love moto still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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