Is It Just Me Or....?

[Ezana4CE]

I've been observing activity on this forum for a couple of years now. In the beginning I was and still am under the impression that the bulk of the activity on HAM (that I encounter) generally reads like social chit chat. Why is it that members here are or appear to be geared toward socializing as opposed to sharing or troubleshooting more technical and/or mechanical aspects of airguns and airgun shooting sports? This is not me criticizing the bulk of the membership for how they choose to spend their time, just an honest observation and question. It has not been easy finding many of answers to questions I have or issues that I may encounter with some of my airguns.

I do realize that there is a significant contingent of folks here who seem to be into small-bore airguns. Also, many people live in cities and suburbs, so this greatly impacts our different use cases. I'm primarily a hunter and there only really seem to be a handful of frequently active hunters on HAM, another difference. But, back to this issue of socialization versus discussion of technical or mechanical aspects of airguns. What are your thoughts and observations based upon your experience on HAM?

 

[pan60]

I love seeing the social chit chat I think that makes it more welcoming.
also I am not sure that when some has had a issue that several here have offered up solutions?

now for me personally and as a moderator I would like see a section dedicated more to the mechanics the machining and even manufacturing but I am most likely in the minority on the I have brought it up to the boss and if there an interested there always a possibility.

we have some very capable members?

 

[Ezana4CE]

I love seeing the social chit chat I think that makes it more welcoming.
also I am not sure that when some has had a issue that several here have offered up solutions?

now for me personally and as a moderator I would like see a section dedicated more to the mechanics the machining and even manufacturing but I am most likely in the minority on the I have brought it up to the boss and if there an interested there always a possibility.

we have some very capable members?

@pan60 When I speak of technical aspects even tuning is an interesting topic. I don't mean guys coming looking for someone to post and give away their tuning information with no intention of really participating in or contributing to the airgun community. Something like the thread below.

250Z Barra 250z Slug Tuning

Feb 22, 2025

I’ve been trying to find the right slug and tune for the 250z at 100 yards. I’ve tried three brands of 21gr slugs at about 1040 fps, I was concentrating on 30 gr H&N slugs. Now I’m trying 25gr and 27 gr. The 25 gr at 960 fps seems to be doing the best so far. At 960 fps it’s producing 50 plus ft-lbs and starts to drop off of the regulator at the 26th shot. Still useable through 30 shots. I’m not sure why I am even doing it. I don’t have a need to shoot slugs or shoot out to 100 yds.

• Billm
• Replies: 52
• Forum: Barra Airguns

• 

One of the more thorough technical threads I dropped into on HAM that stands out is PumaCarl's Bara 250z thread. I like how detailed he is and how he takes his time building the thread by compiling his experiences with this rifle. What really makes it nice is when other Bara users enter the discourse with questions and offering similar or contrasting perspectives based upon their experiences. I enjoy reading that. Even though I don't really have much interest in those guns at the moment, after reading through some of that thread I feel more informed than I did before I encountered it. With that information I can direct others to it, share a link to the thread elsewhere, or consider this gun at a later time when improved iterations are released.

Edit: It was Northeast Beast's Bara thread. But do you see how I was mistaken on the OP? PumaCarl is really active in that thread. So is Billm That's the sort of of participation I'm talking about.

250Z My thoughts on the 250z overall

Feb 21, 2025

To start the price point. Its good, leaves room for aftermarket goodies. Which we all love so much, as making the rifle are own is always the goal. Tune ability super tunable. The rifle responses very well to tuning and is not real picky as to the settings. The Stock its biggest downfall as far as my opinion is concerned. Its flimsy in points not enough side mlok. For hunting it works but for tactical prs style shooting it doesn't. Trigger is ok for the average shooter, but with a little work can hang with anything out there. Barrels are good but could use a bit of help with some...

• Northeastbeast
• Replies: 50
• Forum: Barra Airguns

• 

 

[Pumacarl]

I've been observing activity on this forum for a couple of years now. In the beginning I was and still am under the impression that the bulk of the activity on HAM (that I encounter) generally reads like social chit chat. Why is it that members here are or appear to be geared toward socializing as opposed to sharing or troubleshooting more technical and/or mechanical aspects of airguns and airgun shooting sports? This is not me criticizing the bulk of the membership for how they choose to spend their time, just an honest observation and question. It has not been easy finding many of answers to questions I have or issues that I may encounter with some of my airguns.

I do realize that there is a significant contingent of folks here who seem to be into small-bore airguns. Also, many people live in cities and suburbs, so this greatly impacts our different use cases. I'm primarily a hunter and there only really seem to be a handful of frequently active hunters on HAM, another difference. But, back to this issue of socialization versus discussion of technical or mechanical aspects of airguns. What are your thoughts and observations based upon your experience on HAM?

I understand what you are asking, and why, as I have followed your threads in the past. I would say that the more technical the question, about a specific gun or hunting activity, is just going to get people answering that have the same setup, or doing the same thing. If they don't have the same thing, or doing the same activity, would you reallly want them to contribute to the thread? Historically, I would guess no, and I don't blame you at all for that. If you ask a direct question to a group, I assume you want a direct, experienced, answer and if I don't have one, I won't reply just to say that I don't. BUT. To get people to get technical you need to get them talking and interested in the conversation in the first place, and the only way to do that is to start talking yourself and just be passionate about what your doing, how you're doing it, and the problems that you are having and working on, and they will join in. Everybody likes to be helpful but nobody wants to feel used either, or obliged to answer for that matter. Socializing is relaxing, enjoyable, and I have found it to be the best way to get good answers. It does take longer, but enjoy the journey, this stuff is a lot of fun.

 

[WillM]

I think Franklink is pretty technical and thorough in his recent work on the Blackwolf. And interesting, also.

 

[Linehauler73]

I like that a fun chit chat thread doesn’t get closed here like on the other popular forum. Take the airgun control thread that was over there. People were having harmless fun and the thread was popping but there is a limit to that so it got pointlessly shut down. That place irritates me to no end. Here doesn’t seem like that.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I like that a fun chit chat thread doesn’t get closed here like on the other popular forum. Take the airgun control thread that was over there. People were having harmless fun and the thread was popping but there is a limit to that so it got pointlessly shut down. That place irritates me to no end. Here doesn’t seem like that.

@Linehauler73 i don’t tend to read through many “fun chit chat” threads. I realize that some guys are members of forums for the social aspect. The older we get, I believe it becomes more important to remain connected to others. I have little issue with that. I’m generally not logging in to socialize and make friends. If I want to focus on socializing I would have joined a local social club, Facebook, or something similar. Forums were pitched to me as a place to learn by an employee that helped me buy my first airgun.

In the spirit of learning I tend to read threads and posts for that purpose. I can also shoot the breeze, but I tend to meter that to not intentionally derail a thread. This is a courtesy. Here I don’t see much of a balance. A lot of content reads like chit chat to me. I was thinking about it yesterday and part of the reason I do not think that I encounter more of the technical info on HAM is because the forums are broken up by brands. Some brands I don’t own. Others I won’t own, so I rarely look that way without need. Aside from that, I see what I said I’ve seen and I believe that it contributes the quality of what is most visible. I do check the “New Posts” feed and instead of encountering useful and relative information, I seem to sift through what seems like more chatter or posts about products or aspects that are not relative to my interests. Some of this is to be expected. However, I do enjoy well put together threads with relevant discussion surrounding the original premise. At least until issues are worked out or the OP finishes their presentation.

 

[Ezana4CE]

My bottom line is this, it seems to me that most sites have a stated purpose. If I’m in alignment with that purpose I may join for similar reasons.


I read the rules to this place when I joined. I liked the layout and articles. I figured it would shape up into a pretty decent place to find information. I think excessive chatter gets in the way of that.



I’m here to read, learn about, and talk about airguns. Others may not be. A little socializing doesn’t hurt, but If I wanted to talk about the outdoors more, there are places for that. The same goes for cars, pets, motorcycles, women, fishing, etc. Maybe my exposure to more of the technical elements is lacking because of the way information is distributed here. Perhaps my expectations are too high or warped. Maybe things are just as I have expressed in this post. I’m curious to what others see in this regard. Ultimately I realize that I don’t have to be here, but I couldn’t help but notice these things so I posed a question.

 

[Pumacarl]

The closest that I have seen to what you are looking for is the thread at GTA, by Bob Sterne & Lloyd Sikes, "Bob and Lloyd's Workshop." Bob pulled out of that because, it seems that, he wanted to talk off the rails too. Something like that original thread is what would be needed but it seems hard to keep those going. It takes so much oversight that people shy off. When you have no skin in the game, or are not having any fun with a topic, but rather it feels like work to log in, you go elsewhere. Information is not distributed here at all, it is presented by interested parties, and you choose what you want to view. If you are hoping to find a whole lot of people just silently watching a forum w/o really interacting, and waiting to answer specific questions, good luck. Let's say they would answer. How would you know, if you never talked to them before, (or them, anyone else) that their info is worth considering? There is no good easy way around this problem. The best thing about the competitions is that you know that those people know enough to get there, so they are worth listening to. There is nothing like that on the anonymous internet. All that it takes to find out if someone knows anything about any subject that you're interested in is a few minutes talking to them and you will know. But, you have to do the talking.

 

[Jaabaa]

Shooting and Brotherhood, been like that as long as I can remember. Live fire or airguns.
Talking smack...lol it's a great Friend & Family Time hobby.

 

[pan60]

without the social aspect of the forum it would not function IMHO.
not to mention you would not now if what someone said was even worth read in the first place without the the social aspect.
as mentioned HAM is a destination for everthingthing airgun relation, that coating about what you got what you want what you did and the issues will it all. it includes the social aspect.

but as mention I personally would like to see more involvement around the manufacturing the repairing the molding the problem solving I would love a sub group dedicated to the gun machines out there. but all these topic get discussed on some level has is.

I say take what you need or want leave leave what you dont. : )

 

[Billm]

I love seeing the social chit chat I think that makes it more welcoming.
also I am not sure that when some has had a issue that several here have offered up solutions?

now for me personally and as a moderator I would like see a section dedicated more to the mechanics the machining and even manufacturing but I am most likely in the minority on the I have brought it up to the boss and if there an interested there always a possibility.

we have some very capable members?

I would like to see that too. I like the challenge of making something. I’m constantly talking myself out of a lathe.

 

[Billm]

I see both sides of this issue. I am a “jack of all trades and master of none”. I thrive on information, especially technical information and in the past I got that from magazines and books. Now it’s YouTube, Facebook groups or Forums. I originally stumbled on here looking for info on my Beeman regulated underlever. I am actually trying to stop posting as much . I sometimes think that posting my targets shots and accompanying data annoy some. I read most threads even if I’m not interested in the topic. I am aware that even though I’ve been shooting “adult” airguns, since 1969 when I was 8, I’m far from an expert and I’m open to learning from anyone with the desired knowledge. I too wish there was more technical and hunting threads. This forum in my opinion doesn’t have the participation that some other forums do, but in my opinion it is a higher quality experience for me. I’ve owned vbullletin forums in the past and I appreciate how difficult it is to get meaningful conversations started. I sometimes post a question just to create some activity, but it’s not always successful lol.

I do like the social aspect of it. I joined the local shooting and fishing forum and discovered there were only four or five airgunners on there and they don’t post. If it wasn’t for the chit chat on here, i would never be able to talk to people with similar interests and so I enjoy it.

It all boils down to participation. If you look at the member list, it tells you who is active and the majority of posts on HAM are made by about twenty people. Unless someone is like me and into hunting, plinking, target shooting and modding, they might not find daily participation in their topic of interest. That’s only going to change with broader participation. I quit hunting sometime ago, but I still read the hunting topics. @Ezana4CE I read your thread about hog hunting, but I can’t really contribute as I haven’t really been hog hunting. Keep posting your technical and hunting threads, the more they make it into the search engines the more the forum will grow.

 

[Pumacarl]

I was just over at AGN, where they are trying to figure out how to get more productive threads too, and it is a not so easy thing. I think maybe the solution would be to take people out of it. Nobody tries to talk to their reference materials, and they don't talk back. If a good reference thread was established where just information was posted to and not commented on, that could help. The section could include a questions area where anyone giving an answer would just pm the poster of the question and not conjest the thread. Anything valuable that is learned could then be posted by the op back to the reference thread w/o any back and forth. If it works, it works, and would be kind of self editing. Something for consideration.

 

[Billm]

I didn’t realize this was a carryover from AGN. Me personally, I don’t care about the chatter, but it does make it easier to digest some technical topics when everyone stays on topic. I have more of an issue/irritation whether forums or groups is with people reading a title that is a question and immediately answering the question. If people would actually read the WHOLE thread before posting, there would be way less repetitive posts to filter through. Not to mention the fact that usually there is more pertinent info contained in the thread,

 

[Chief 10-Beers]

I was just over at AGN, where they are trying to figure out how to get more productive threads too, and it is a not so easy thing. I think maybe the solution would be to take people out of it. Nobody tries to talk to their reference materials, and they don't talk back. If a good reference thread was established where just information was posted to and not commented on, that could help. The section could include a questions area where anyone giving an answer would just pm the poster of the question and not conjest the thread. Anything valuable that is learned could then be posted by the op back to the reference thread w/o any back and forth. If it works, it works, and would be kind of self editing. Something for consideration.

For Me? I think that the other Forums are led by "Soy Boys". They never knew how to Defend themselves. It's easy to see. This is the reason to BAN rather than discuss the issue at hand. "Soy Boys"! Feel free to disprove it!

 

[Ezana4CE]

I didn’t realize this was a carryover from AGN. Me personally, I don’t care about the chatter, but it does make it easier to digest some technical topics when everyone stays on topic. I have more of an issue/irritation whether forums or groups is with people reading a title that is a question and immediately answering the question. If people would actually read the WHOLE thread before posting, there would be way less repetitive posts to filter through. Not to mention the fact that usually there is more pertinent info contained in the thread,

@Billm There are some assumptions being expressed as my thoughts in this thread. Until now I haven't said much because I asked for the perspectives and thoughts of other HAM members. I meant just what I said and I don't think I've asked more than 2-3 questions. No one else is speaking for me within this thread. If you re-read my initial post I've been observing this site since I arrived. My observations are not new. Nor did I begin the current discussion on AGN.

Reading the whole thread is helpful. If a thread has been derailed, one may not know it without reading back or starting from the beginning. I'm guilty of not reading the first post all of the time myself. It takes a conscious effort to develop that habit. This particularly true for me if I'm tired or multitasking.

 

[Moose]

I have read and reread the posts and it would be difficult to discuss technical facts without the socializing element. Over the 10 years that I have been financially involved in this industry, I have found it extremely difficult to present new technical facts to the experienced operators, even on this platform. 3 years ago, I set up a 15-yard indoor range to demo many new ideas. It is easier to instruct a new shooter with no knowledge of shooting theory. I can't make targets small enough for 6-year-old kids to shoot from 1-15 yards with a CO2 pellet gun. Most of the kids are shooting 1/4" beads on toothpicks, playing cards on edge, fishing line at 15 yards or hanging pencil erasers at various yardage. All the kids are extremely accurate, and I emphasize ALL. There are no failures and with that, they all will be returning to shoot again and again. These are the kids and grandkids of the conventional theory shooters that are too set in their ways to consider alternative ideas. My "Return On Investment" is not based on money, but rather the future of the kids and getting more kids involved at an earlier age. Too bad I haven't been able to connect with businesses in the industry that are willing to think outside the box! I always enjoy all the post on HAM.

 

[ctshooter]

My opinion - I believe there is room for both. A forum which is strictly chatter becomes nothing more than social media, while a forum which is all business (in my experience from when I got back into the hobby) is not friendly for beginners and those just getting in as things get too technical too fast and you get bashed on for asking noob questions.

I like that HAM allows both but is still able to mediate away any potential toxicity and keep things friendly.

 

[FL22]

I guess wade into this murky thread (to me). Why do I feel this way? Because it’s completely subjective based on the individual member, non-member, wall flower and so on personal POV.

I could talk to several hundred people within 5 miles of me about Firearms, but probably next to none about PCP Airguns.

Fact- I could walk for 45 minutes and buy a pb from 3 different stores. I would have to walk for days to get to an Airgun shop and I’m not sure if Tallon has storefront.

My point of all that is that I believe it is very important and in my mind a necessity to have social interactions, to me it’s nice to know and have conversations with other individuals who enjoy this hobby not just about technical articles concerning Airguns.

I have been a member of the HAM Community since June 26, 2023. I received several HAM Magazine emails before the community was launched.

No social media, referral, or tube just my own research is that is what led me here.

And I still consider myself to be somewhat of a noob .