Found the "Afterlife" by Quitting Airguns

[PasadenaMike]

I Found the Afterlife by Ditching Airguns. Seriously.
Okay, let me tell you what happens in the afterlife because I’m here now. I’m not dead, lol, I’m fully alive.
I’m talking rebirth and mental clarity after ditching anything airgun.
This can apply to any hobby that consumes you, where you just quit cold turkey. For me, that meant walking away from the constant grind of the airgun world.
My mind is finally quiet now. I feel a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. I’m not thinking about filling tanks, or worrying about velocities, or anything like that.
Today, for example? I took my kid to a birthday party. I wasn’t thinking about airguns—I was just bowling with my kid. It was amazing. My focus is so clear I’m just happy watching The Outdoor Boys on YouTube.
The peace I've found has been incredible. This is the real reward for making a clean break.

 

[Luis Leon]

You simply let your airgunning hobby get out of hand… “Constant Grind of the airgun world”? Definitely an unhealthy way to view or experience any hobby. Good for you for walking away. For most its simply an escape, the constant grind may apply to those who are in the airgun business. But I doubt many would view it your way. I love shooting my airguns for example. My powder burners simply sit but are always at the ready. Enjoy your new found air gun free life. There are other pursuits and kids grow up too fast so you are wise to enjoy your time with yours. You can always loop around later on if you are inclined… Be well Mike.

 

[Franklink]

This has got to be about the 10th post I've seen of you saying something like this.

You SAY that you want to leave airguns, but you can't seem to leave airguns, evidenced by yet another post saying as much.

 

[MountainSportAirguns]

Funny, Luke from the Outdoor Boys channel quit making videos because he didn't like the attention his kids and family got, then his kid starts his own YouTube channel. I guess if you are still here posting you technically really haven't quit. Lol

 

[jps2486]

I did that with R/C planes after 60 years of it. Sold everything and don't miss it.

 

[FL22]

I did that with R/C planes after 60 years of it. Sold everything and don't miss it.

Muscle Cars and Motorcycles… but I just can’t part with the tools, I have no idea why I need to keep a motorcycle jack and some specialized tools for Harley but I can’t let them go.

 

[JimT66]

I did that with R/C planes after 60 years of it. Sold everything and don't miss it.

Now that's a hobby that will eat you alive! Seals and gaskets pale in comparison to radios, servos, crosswinds on landings, loss of signal, or just plain flat out nose first crashing. One plane or chopper moderately damaged woulda bought you that new Ghost! Whew. I don't miss that one at all either.

 

[Madhatter]

Muscle Cars and Motorcycles… but I just can’t part with the tools, I have no idea why I need to keep a motorcycle jack and some specialized tools for Harley but I can’t let them go.

I'm the same way with my MC tools and my 2 dirt bikes. Wife keeps pounding on me to sell them. I've had 1 since 1990 and have modified it so much that it doesn't know what it is any more. The other I put a lot of money into to get it running right on top of the money my son put into it before I got it.

 

[FL22]

I guess if you are still here posting you technically really haven't quit.

No, he’s gone.

Take care Mike.

 

[Florida_Man]

I spent a lot more as a golfer
I could buy a premium rifle or two a year with pellets to shoot every day.

But married with a kid and a fixer upper.
Like anything I’ve done, you can’t make it your life. Family is life, hobbies are when you have time.

 

[Grunt64]

I Found the Afterlife by Ditching Airguns. Seriously.
Okay, let me tell you what happens in the afterlife because I’m here now. I’m not dead, lol, I’m fully alive.
I’m talking rebirth and mental clarity after ditching anything airgun.
This can apply to any hobby that consumes you, where you just quit cold turkey. For me, that meant walking away from the constant grind of the airgun world.
My mind is finally quiet now. I feel a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. I’m not thinking about filling tanks, or worrying about velocities, or anything like that.
Today, for example? I took my kid to a birthday party. I wasn’t thinking about airguns—I was just bowling with my kid. It was amazing. My focus is so clear I’m just happy watching The Outdoor Boys on YouTube.
The peace I've found has been incredible. This is the real reward for making a clean break.

“It’s not the air guns—it’s the way you turned a fun hobby into a grind. You didn’t just quit air guns, you quit the mindset you built around them. The obsession, the constant tweaking, the pressure to chase perfection—that’s what made it toxic. Air guns didn’t do that to you. You did. And now that you’ve stepped away, you’re finally seeing the peace that was always available… if you’d let go of the noise.”

 

[Franklink]

I spent a lot more as a golfer
I could buy a premium rifle or two a year with pellets to shoot every day.

But married with a kid and a fixer upper.
Like anything I’ve done, you can’t make it your life. Family is life, hobbies are when you have time.

“It’s not the air guns—it’s the way you turned a fun hobby into a grind. You didn’t just quit air guns, you quit the mindset you built around them. The obsession, the constant tweaking, the pressure to chase perfection—that’s what made it toxic. Air guns didn’t do that to you. You did. And now that you’ve stepped away, you’re finally seeing the peace that was always available… if you’d let go of the noise.”

I like a lot of both of your comments.

If it becomes a job, it ain't fun. This is timely for me, as I recently, and somewhat reluctantly, agreed to a potentially large airgun review, comparable to what I did with the Ghost. I told myself, and the retailer that asked me to do the review, that I would take it slow and easy, and enjoy the process. Or rather, when I have the time and inclination, I'll put time towards it, and I'll make it a point to enjoy it, instead of letting it consume me.

 

[Danman]

“It’s not the air guns—it’s the way you turned a fun hobby into a grind. You didn’t just quit air guns, you quit the mindset you built around them. The obsession, the constant tweaking, the pressure to chase perfection—that’s what made it toxic. Air guns didn’t do that to you. You did. And now that you’ve stepped away, you’re finally seeing the peace that was always available… if you’d let go of the noise.”

This rings true for me. I, like Mike am an equipment mechanic, and that actually was one of the MANY reasons I gravitate to mechanical airguns. When they need service or repairs I will be doing it myself. On my time, no stress, i can shoot another if one is down. I used to be an auto mechanic but it killed my love for working on my own cars...so I quit. Now its fun again to work on my own stuff.
Mike did have an excessive amount of bad luck too... leaking guns, parts missing, DOA, lives in California (hot and dry version of Canada) but he also sunk his teeth in hard...waaay too much too fast. My latest gun is....still my Brk Ghost from 1.5 years ago lol. Slow n steady, that gun still wows me.
All the best, @PasadenaMike !

 

[Grunt64]

This rings true for me. I, like Mike am an equipment mechanic, and that actually was one of the MANY reasons I gravitate to mechanical airguns. When they need service or repairs I will be doing it myself. On my time, no stress, i can shoot another if one is down. I used to be an auto mechanic but it killed my love for working on my own cars...so I quit. Now its fun again to work on my own stuff.
Mike did have an excessive amount of bad luck too... leaking guns, parts missing, DOA, lives in California (hot and dry version of Canada) but he also sunk his teeth in hard...waaay too much too fast. My latest gun is....still my Brk Ghost from 1.5 years ago lol. Slow n steady, that gun still wows me.
All the best, @PasadenaMike !

I'm retired now but I was never a so called " skilled worker" but I have had a love for firearms since I was 11 or 12 years old up until my first PCP about 4-5 years ago, I have modified all 3 of the pcps i have owned. I sold one and now I have 2 and like you have said, when one is down you use the other until you can fix it. This is why I stick with simple design Airforce Texan and AEA challenger big bore. Even my compressors, 2- twin cylinder Tuxing.

“PCP—where precision meets play, without the obsession.”

 

[Dogowski]

I'm retired now but I was never a so called " skilled worker" but I have had a love for firearms since I was 11 or 12 years old up until my first PCP about 4-5 years ago, I have modified all 3 of the pcps i have owned. I sold one and now I have 2 and like you have said, when one is down you use the other until you can fix it. This is why I stick with simple design Airforce Texan and AEA challenger big bore. Even my compressors, 2- twin cylinder Tuxing.

“PCP—where precision meets play, without the obsession.”

I really enjoy all 12 of my air rifles. I enjoy shooting them and working on them as well. It keeps me sane in this insane world!

 

[SDsteph]

Anything that consumes you destroys you.

This year my wife and I chased scores and it was very costly. Hotels, gas and time. We achieved what we set out to do and I, for one, lost the joy of shooting and competition. I am looking to switch to WFTF and regain that level of fun. The plan is to pick and chose events (we are lucky enough to have a dozen clubs within about 4 hours drive or less) and have at least some weekends without doing two shoots a couple of hundred miles apart.

I recognized this before burn out. I am glad I did because the community that I have found is priceless.

 

[Dogowski]

Anything that consumes you destroys you.

This year my wife and I chased scores and it was very costly. Hotels, gas and time. We achieved what we set out to do and I, for one, lost the joy of shooting and competition. I am looking to switch to WFTF and regain that level of fun. The plan is to pick and chose events (we are lucky enough to have a dozen clubs within about 4 hours drive or less) and have at least some weekends without doing two shoots a couple of hundred miles apart.

I recognized this before burn out. I am glad I did because the community that I have found is priceless.

It's nice you have so many clubs close by. Having fun and keeping the stress level down is what we all strive for. Now go get em!

 

[Florida_Man]

I have to say, if I could no longer shoot in my yard I would be out of the hobby. That's the whole reason I got back in it.

Edit: after a little thinking, I would keep my PP700 for the memories, And I can still shoot at work during my mental health breaks. I would just keep a hand pump. I’d also keep my oldest AG, a Beeman P3 bought in the late 90’s. And my CMP M853. All those I can use indoors.

 

[Solo1]

Awwww ive heard this story before and next thing i know you say you have 3-4 guns. And now i see you on agn asking about a new leshy. Ppppppfffffffftttttt

 

[jps2486]

Awwww ive heard this story before and next thing i know you say you have 3-4 guns. And now i see you on agn asking about a new leshy. Ppppppfffffffftttttt

It's like quitting smoking.