Hello group! My name is Bob and I have a pellet problem.
I guess it all started innocently enough. I loved shooting and had been an avid shooter for more than 50 years. I had wanted a Diana break barrel air rifle since first seeing one in action as a lad. I was looking for a rifle I could practice offhand shooting skills that didn’t break the bank. The decision to purchase an air rifle seemed to be a good choice. Little did I know the shocking depths that this decision would take me.
At first it was a few 5 shot groups on paper in my back yard from a rest. Sighting in, learning a proper hold, dealing with slipping scopes and stripping mounting screws. When I got it all together my shot count increased and I was hitting the target. Life was good and I began to really enjoy it.
Soon I was spending more time shooting. My routine was getting much better and I was shooting well. My patterns were much better and I enlisted a friend in my activities. Beer was often involved. It was fun.
We got better targets. Green army men. Plastic dinosaurs. Aluminum cylinders that rang like bells. We shot a lot better now. Our range was increasing. So was our shot count. It was so enjoyable we did it more often.
Sometimes after a long shoot I would feel really good. Relaxed. Almost elated. This was big fun.
One day I looked down and realized I had shot a full tin of H&N pellets. At first I thought my buddy had been snaking them. Then I looked at the time. We had been there for four hours straight. I didn’t realize it then but looking back I should have known this was a warning.
Soon we were shooting every day. For longer periods. Sometimes we would get up early and shoot all day. My lady friend hadn’t seen me in weeks. I hadn’t been fishing with my son in months.
I was having trouble paying the pellet bills. I had to switch to Crosmans to support my habit. Pyramid Air was slow shipping and I often had to wait. I was buying pellets on the Amazon from shady vendors that couldn’t be trusted.
One night while walking across WalMart parking lot with a sack full of CPHP’s and my fingers black with graphene I realized I had a problem. I was a mess. A lead head.
I was doing 2000 pellets a week and it just wasn’t enough. The more I shot the more I wanted to shoot. It was consuming my life. I had a flock of Hawke scopes constantly flying across the country being repaired. I had a bucket of broken scope mounts under my kitchen table that was piled with broken Hatsans. There was a tiny space I had cleared off to eat at the foot of a mountain of broken springs and torn seals.
I was hitting shotgun shells in my sleep. My eyes were crossed from focusing on the front post. My sex life had vanished. I wasn’t eating right. Personal hygiene was a problem. My dog was lonesome and howled all night.
I’m here because I want to tell you there is light at the end of this tunnel. I’m still using pellets but I have learned that with time you can turn it around. Its not easy. But with help you can make it. Someday I hope to be pellet free. For now I want to celebrate the progress I have made.
I’m down to about 1000 pellets a week and by Christmas my goal is to be using no more than 500. My time management is better and I adhere to strict eating and showering schedules. I’m trying to patch up my relationship with my lady and I walk the dog regularly. I still shoot a lot but I’m trying to put it in perspective. I feel that I have finally turned a corner and I’m on my way to recovery.
If I can't do it on my own there is always slug therapy. Sure there are risks but shooting slugs have proven to reduce pellet cravings in several clinical studies. Its new technology and the long term risks are unknown but I know that it's there if I decide I need it.
I hope this might be an inspiration to others out there with a pellet problem. Just know that you are not alone. Don't be afraid to ask for help. It's a disease from which you can recover if you simply take that first step and admit you have a problem.
I guess it all started innocently enough. I loved shooting and had been an avid shooter for more than 50 years. I had wanted a Diana break barrel air rifle since first seeing one in action as a lad. I was looking for a rifle I could practice offhand shooting skills that didn’t break the bank. The decision to purchase an air rifle seemed to be a good choice. Little did I know the shocking depths that this decision would take me.
At first it was a few 5 shot groups on paper in my back yard from a rest. Sighting in, learning a proper hold, dealing with slipping scopes and stripping mounting screws. When I got it all together my shot count increased and I was hitting the target. Life was good and I began to really enjoy it.
Soon I was spending more time shooting. My routine was getting much better and I was shooting well. My patterns were much better and I enlisted a friend in my activities. Beer was often involved. It was fun.
We got better targets. Green army men. Plastic dinosaurs. Aluminum cylinders that rang like bells. We shot a lot better now. Our range was increasing. So was our shot count. It was so enjoyable we did it more often.
Sometimes after a long shoot I would feel really good. Relaxed. Almost elated. This was big fun.
One day I looked down and realized I had shot a full tin of H&N pellets. At first I thought my buddy had been snaking them. Then I looked at the time. We had been there for four hours straight. I didn’t realize it then but looking back I should have known this was a warning.
Soon we were shooting every day. For longer periods. Sometimes we would get up early and shoot all day. My lady friend hadn’t seen me in weeks. I hadn’t been fishing with my son in months.
I was having trouble paying the pellet bills. I had to switch to Crosmans to support my habit. Pyramid Air was slow shipping and I often had to wait. I was buying pellets on the Amazon from shady vendors that couldn’t be trusted.
One night while walking across WalMart parking lot with a sack full of CPHP’s and my fingers black with graphene I realized I had a problem. I was a mess. A lead head.
I was doing 2000 pellets a week and it just wasn’t enough. The more I shot the more I wanted to shoot. It was consuming my life. I had a flock of Hawke scopes constantly flying across the country being repaired. I had a bucket of broken scope mounts under my kitchen table that was piled with broken Hatsans. There was a tiny space I had cleared off to eat at the foot of a mountain of broken springs and torn seals.
I was hitting shotgun shells in my sleep. My eyes were crossed from focusing on the front post. My sex life had vanished. I wasn’t eating right. Personal hygiene was a problem. My dog was lonesome and howled all night.
I’m here because I want to tell you there is light at the end of this tunnel. I’m still using pellets but I have learned that with time you can turn it around. Its not easy. But with help you can make it. Someday I hope to be pellet free. For now I want to celebrate the progress I have made.
I’m down to about 1000 pellets a week and by Christmas my goal is to be using no more than 500. My time management is better and I adhere to strict eating and showering schedules. I’m trying to patch up my relationship with my lady and I walk the dog regularly. I still shoot a lot but I’m trying to put it in perspective. I feel that I have finally turned a corner and I’m on my way to recovery.
If I can't do it on my own there is always slug therapy. Sure there are risks but shooting slugs have proven to reduce pellet cravings in several clinical studies. Its new technology and the long term risks are unknown but I know that it's there if I decide I need it.
I hope this might be an inspiration to others out there with a pellet problem. Just know that you are not alone. Don't be afraid to ask for help. It's a disease from which you can recover if you simply take that first step and admit you have a problem.
