So, why did you get into "airgunning"?

[AmericanPsycho]

To make everybody happy as possible.

[mobilehomer]

Can't dance. Gotta do somethin'.

[only1harry]

This 2nd to last response has me a little concerned.  Let's not read into it too much, and not start a discussion on that please. Perhaps in the Back Room, but not here.  On with the thread's original intent.

I got back into airguns after 25 years because of pest control on my property, plus I love to shoot.  I also discovered that today's adult airguns are nothing like the ones I was using when I was a teenager so that had a lot to do with it too.

Harry

[clip]

 I wrote one response to the question but it disappeared. If it shows up anywhere else, a double post is unintended.


  I used to hunt small game---quail, squirrels and rabbit--- when in season. The rest of the time, groundhogs were my favorite target. My grandfather was a farmer with a small place (82 acres) on which to hunt. I knew all his neighbors and they would allow me to hunt as well. When my grandfather died the farm was sold. Over time the neighbors passed on or sold out so there went my prime groundhog hunting ground. I figured that shooting targets in my backyard with my .243 or .22/.250 wasn't a good idea so--remembering my childhood Red Ryder ..I responded to a request from my kids concerning  birthday present, and asked for a pellet rifle. That's how my addiction started.

   

[ohplnkr]

The challenge of putting something so small exactly where you want it at a range of 30-50 yds. To deal with all the variables of springers and break barrels in general is quite a blast for me. I also really enjoy the practice it gives me without having to deal with the use of PB's. Down range impact is always a concern with whatever you use. ...Besides AG's are just fun and cheaper. I was hooked the first time I shot my Daisy 51 yrs ago when I was 9.   I sure miss that old gun          John

[Chako]

Can't dance. Gotta do somethin'.

+1

[NJhunter]

 NJ just passed the OK to hunt for squirrel and rabbits with air rifles. So i went out and got one. I like shooting it.

[limbshaker]

Trespassing.

Hey, you asked! 

[TheFrugalTech]

I suffer from PMS in the winter. (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome)
Once it gets too cold to ride and then even too cold to do any rebuild/restore work on the bikes in the shop, I have to have something fun to do with what free time I have.
Living within city limits, firearms are out of the question. Not enough free time to drive somewhere to shoot when I want. Pellet guns have the green light where I live as long as they are not used for malicious intent or recklessly. It was just the most logical answer. Just wish I could get more than 40 Yards of clear shooting. But at least I can shoot when I want.
Knowing some of the local LEOs who know and understand the city ordinance helps when the neighbors call and report me shooting in the back yard.
Of course I jumped into the hobby deep with a lot of 9 rifles. Just seems to be my tendency, like the 4 bikes in my garage. And the same, "a different one for different use" applies.
With the cold weather the last few days, I have started laying out a 10 Yard single lane in my basement.
All I need now it a good trap that my QB25 and B21 won't destroy.

[josixpack]

I wish I had a little pest problem to take care off. Instead I kill paper targets really good!

The pest problem cost me more in repairs than what I have, and spent currently, on this "hobby".
Trust me, the paper is a better option.

I too had a pest problem but wanted to keep the damage to the house limited if any.  So, I picked up a Crosman M4-177 and made a crude pellet/bb trap and started practicing my shooting.  For some reason the pest went away.   However, I enjoyed shooting the gun and started reading about air guns and built a better pellet/bb trap, and bought another gun.  I read more, made/printed targets, built another pellet/bb trap, bought another gun plus accessories and the cycle continues.

I'm hooked and really enjoy my shooting time and killing paper targets. 

[bthrel]

Pure and simple enjoyment of fine equipment and precision shooting

Brian

[breakfastchef]

I gave up booze. Airguns provide an alternative outlet. This hobby sure does empty a wallet, but, at least I can know remember what i had for dinner the night before.

[DavidS]

Well when I was young I learned to hunt with high power .177 Multi Stroke Pneumatics (MSP), then as time passed and I lived in places where I could not hunt I did not think about AirGuns at all for a long time.

Last year I got to talking about .22 Crosman Airguns with some that I know, and decided to get a 2289g and see what I could do with it.   So I quickly remembered why I love AirGuns, and I am in the process of getting some land in Ohio to move out there near family away from town, and I will be getting back to hunting again, and this got me into looking at the different MSP Air Guns.   It did not take me long to get interested in modifying these guns, and I quickly learned to make some significant improvements to the power of the Crosman MSPs, and Daisy is next on my list.

And that Is how i got back into AirGunning.

[AK73]

They are cheap, quiet, challenging, a lot less of a hassle than firearms, I can shoot them in town, etc.

[reeko]

My dad had some nice target pistols when I grew up, among them a Walther LP2 which I could cock and shoot.

Kinda lost track of airguns for almost 30 years, found this forum and got hooked again!

[CorvidKiller]

I got into airgunning when I saw that my friend had few pumpers that shot pretty well and they were quiet and I in turn ended up loving them. So I bought myself a Daisy model 880 then got one of those chinese underlevers and used that for a few years then I got Gamo CFR and the rest is history.

[Bryan Heimann]

Started off with a gamo big cat.  For one, I wanted to practice in the back yard and shoot on the cheap.  But I also got it for the nostalgia of shooting pellet guns- although it was a huge upgrade from the pumpers of my youth.  What really hooked me, though, was my first time hunting as an adult.  I had a stoeger X10 that was incredibly accurate, and I got a squirrel and a rabbit and that was it.  Maximum satisfaction and fun.  Took Mr. Squirrel from around 40 yards.  Dead accurate and plenty of power for small game, dirt cheap to shoot.  Fast forward about 6 years and I am half a dozen home tunes in, plus now I have a sweet .25 cal magnum breakbarrel with a pro tune I got for Christmas.  It is an addiction.  I probably shot 40 rounds of buckshot at work today, and I got to blow up a big 5 gallon Ozarka bottle with it at the end, but I probably had just as much fun zeroing my little boys' X3 at 7 yards after work.  Hitting tiny targets with tiny pellets is challenging and fun! 

[Skip in WV]

My wife's fault. She gave me a Cabala's catalog and said look at it. I found airguns and it's been downhill ever since

[tweedking]

to shoot little holes in things. i am 8 on the inside, i just grew adult-looking layers over that part.

[WNCmotard]

I suffer from PMS in the winter. (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome)

^^LOL, I'll have to remember that one.

Like many here, I got back into airguns (had a few as a kid) due to the fact that I love to shoot. I used to take trips to the range with my PB's all the time, until it got prohibitively expensive. My Dad shoed me  what modern air guns were capable of a couple of years ago and shortly after that, I picked one up for myself. I'm really enjoying it, and I enjoy the tinkering and tuning aspect of it, which is actually something all my hobbies have in common.