Have We Become Too High-Tech? Top-of-the-Line Equipment at All Costs

[Grunt64]

In today’s airgun and firearm world, the race for cutting-edge tech feels endless. From Bluetooth-enabled chronographs to carbon-fiber everything, the push for premium gear is relentless. But have we crossed the line? Are we chasing specs and status at the expense of fieldcraft, simplicity, and real-world results?

Are we losing sight of what matters most—accuracy, reliability, and skill? Is top-tier gear always worth the price tag? What happened to doing more with less?

Some of the most elite shooters in the world don’t run Stronghold tripods or Tier One bipods. Why? Because they prioritize function over flash (Very highly skilled). They know that gear should disappear into the shot—not steal the spotlight.

What happens when that high-end equipment has a mishap? A failed Bluetooth sync, a cracked carbon leg, a proprietary mount that won’t lock up? Are you out of the hunt? Is your setup so specialized it can’t adapt? I'm not knocking innovation but maybe it's time we ask: are we building systems or just collecting trophies?

 

[pan60]

I think you can get great gear at of course in my humble veiw to must buck but it is out there.
I like the AAA EVOL because of the simplicity and reliability I also like the upper line of bipods because my experience with the more affordable has not been so good I find them unreliable and for other stuff I dont like anything the needs a battery : ) not but it is a world were having a cell phones isnt always bad I dont carry one ut I have one on the desk : )
I like the idea of a scope linking up but I havent yet gone down that path and I dont think I will haveing bearing on what I do it juts has the potential of making life a little easier at times
personally when I hunt it me and the gun I dont carry a bipod or a tripod I have a tank in the truck just incase and thats it for me other then my thermos of coffee.

I have some friends that shoot and some like the tech I think it depends on the person I myself am not so into it but I try not to rule it out if it can make like a bit easier

I shoot black powder so I think thats as basic as it gets if I can makeing air gunning more fun lie easier I am all in. : ) minus the electronic tech that stuff doesnt make like easy for me I strugle to figure it out Half the time and let it frustrate me to the point of the nearest trash can

 

[Chief 10-Beers]

I try and stay simple. Functionable over Fancy.

 

[Linehauler73]

I don’t think so. Innovation is a good thing and the more the marry. It’s made the world the utterly amazing place it is.

 

[Chief 10-Beers]

Yeah, next we can buy a Tesla Robot, sit back and watch him shoot it! lol

 

[Grunt64]

I don’t think so. Innovation is a good thing and the more the marry. It’s made the world the utterly amazing place it is.

Have you watched the news lately? I find that very debatable.

 

[Luis Leon]

@Grunt64, innovation in of itself isn’t necessarily bad. Most of the overly doodaded PCPs are for competition or shooting off a bench. Reliable, simple and solid PCPs are actually taken afield. For myself, PCPs are inherently not as solid as a good powder burning equivalent. And while we all see PCPs that make our eyes those PCPs do appeal to some. I simply buy and use what I would use practically. If you’re always pursuing the “cutting edge” of any hobby? Simply be prepared to bleed cash. Those doing that chasing are simply making their own decisions…

 

[Chief 10-Beers]

Ha! Reminds me of when I did competitive Archery. You would be on the Warm up range and a Guy showing off the latest Bow would be telling how great it was, and the old archers would say "If ya didn't bring it with you, you won't find it here". Meaning "Talent, practice, Devotion. A new toy sometimes changes nothing. JMO but they were right.

 

[PasadenaMike]

no thanks the more tech the more bugs and issues. Simple life happy life. Learn how to judge distances with your parallax wheel just like field target .

 

[Chief 10-Beers]

Did the Batteries actually improve the Daystates?

 

[PasadenaMike]

Did the Batteries actually improve the Daystates?

They are for the laser guided pellets

 

[Pumacarl]

The percentage that are competing or just buying top tier gear is small but vocal, and interesting to us, so it seems bigger than it is. As far as people doing bad things with new tech, or old tech, it doesn't matter, crazy is always going to do crazy. That doesn't mean that us going back to stone age gear is going to stop someone from throwing rocks either. The only thing that happens if we go backwards, or stall, is we waste our time on problems that were already solved. The top shooters of the world, are that, because they have what they need. You can list any single piece of gear that they use and someone will say that you don't need that, until you are back to nothing. We need food, clothing and shelter, everything else is optional. Getting the level of equipment that you can afford, to make you a better shooter, that isn't just guessing and slinging lead, is a good thing. Doing more with less is its own pursuit, same with fieldcraft. All the high tech goodies take skill to master too. The effort doesn't change, just what the effort is on, to get the same result. There's the rub, not wanting to learn new stuff, not forgetting or foresaking tradition. Some don't want to be part of the new way and don't want to use a chronograph, laser range finder, or a ballistics app, or a truly better but far more expensive piece of gear than they want to get. So what? Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything, or buy anything, and everyone has a different opinion on what is important to them and why. Just because someone is using all the latest and best gear doesn't mean that they don't know all of the other stuff either, in fact, that is just as likely to be the reason they got it. It sure is mine.

 

[Danman]

I'm somewhere in the middle of this conversation.
In the world of guns; from the lowly springer to howitzers the pcp is possibly the least reliable platform, edging out only flintlocks maybe. Making them less reliable with overly complicated designs (dozens of sealing points) or electronics is a big negative to me, sure the performance on a bench may be better but there will inevitably be down time or DOA situations that I shouldn't be dealing with with my simple high quality (and expensive) gear. I like sitting at a bench and figuring out dope, writing it down, retesting it and maybe the holy grail...using scope tape, lol. The little time I have to shoot will not be spent to charge batteries, diagnose a no-start, chase a leak, make sure the stars align with my gear etc. I run expensive gear i will admit....that just means I have much less of it. Currently i own: 1 bipod, 1 compressor, 2 pcps, 2 springers and tons of fittings, hoses, filters, n ammo. I could have 4 bipods, 3 compressors, and 7+ guns for the money but I will choose quality & simplicity over quantity every time.
I'll pick on Accu-Tac here....they were working on an electronic bipod last i heard. Yes I love Accu-Tac but in no way shape or form would I own an electronic freaking bipod. To another guy, it may just be the bees' knees for his setup.
A good mix of skill and equipment use is always a safer bet then relying on the latest and greatest in the field.

 

[Jaabaa]

I like seeing who the best Shots are(person & Equipment) The latest greatest thing I want to see.
But I just want to shoot. Keeps my mind off all the bad stuff in the world. Don't want that stuff, just like to know. Great thoughts everyone.

 

[Grunt64]

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I like seeing who the best Shots are(person & Equipment) The latest greatest thing I want to see.
But I just want to shoot. Keeps my mind off all the bad stuff in the world. Don't want that stuff, just like to know. Great thoughts everyone.

I beleave some of the best shooters have a military background.