Heh speak for yourself and for those with little impulse control. I find this hobby inexpensive if done moderately. At 2-5c a shot, 100 shots a week is 2-5$/week, 500 shots 10-25$...provided you buy a gun and are content with it and fill your own air via hand pump or 200-300$ compressor....all in I am probably about 2-3k deep with 2 pcp's and 20,000+ rounds, and both a hand pump and compressor. Still sitting on over about 2,000 rounds, because pcp's are generally (imo) boringly accurate, I don't need to prove to myself I can hit the bull every day...
Compared to building classic cars, going on scuba diving trips, heck even drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes (I do neither) cost more than this hobby, for me...
To say this hobby IS expensive is false, it CAN be expensive, if you're sipping the high end kool-aid thinking it'll make you a better shot, or reach out that extra 100 yards.
Funny because often pcp's are lauded as a cheaper alternative to its counter-parts via cheap ammo, which they are until you do the above...and sip that kool-aid.
-Matt
I wouldnt say its kooliad. Some just like quality things if we use them alot. There is nothing wrong with that either if thats what they like. Same with those using more inexpensive setups. Its about having fun right? However I wont be delusional in thinking a $200 scope is as good as a $750 or $1500 scope.
Some people think harbor freight tools are great and believe their motto. I call their motto bs and the only thing semi decent there are the apache cases. Yet they still dont stack up to pelican cases. I wont use their tools as cutup tools, let alone everyday use. I've known "professional" mechanics that used the junk and yet wondered why it took them so long to get things done. I tried using their tools and got sick of fighting the garbage and got my tools and was done in no time.
The same is true with kayaks. Some think that pelican or sundolphin kayaks are great. I see them as cheap pool toys. if it gets them on the water great, but I could never recommend one. All of my kayaks are jackssons not because Im a fanboy to the brand but because I love their quality and capabilities. Yes I have over 8k invested in them but they all serve a purpose and have fit and finish or capabilities others don't.
Stihl chainsaws are another example. A friend thought his farm boss was great. He uses it alot on a tree farm. Then when working on the river, he tried my 462 and was blown away at how much better and capable it was. Yes it was 3 times more. But using it all day long and how much better it was makes him want one. It makes our work so much easier and faster.
For myself its the same with airguns. Yes I could have gone with cheaper alternatives as I got into it. It was suggested, if I needed to, that I go with a less expensive rifle and spend more on the glass since you can move that to another rifle later. Its sound advice. However after my first field target match I was hooked. Why would I spend money on a lower quality rifle only to need to sell it later taking a loss, or worse yet be limited by it?
This is why I opted for a Daystate Revere Safari and BRK ghost as my first rifles. They wont be outgrown. Now I did splurge recently and got a redwolf midnight. Its simply an amazing and beautiful rifle. It will be my primary field target rifle. Its a work of art. Did I need to spend that much? No. However everyone I showed it to were wowed by how it looked. So why not go with something beautiful along with practical? It also lets me hand the other rifles to friends and let them shoot and have fun with them knowing they are shooting a quality rifle.
Now I am looking at adding an avenge x. Likely in 25 as a plinker or potential varmiter. I wont mind if it gets dinged up some. Its got decent accuracy and build quality. However it doesnt come close to matching that of the daystates.
I won't look down on someone using lower quality rifles, if thats what they enjoy and like and it gets them into this hobby. However at the same time I expect the same in return and not have them look at me negatively because I chose to spend my money on high quality rifles.
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