Firearms...for just about everything, but I primarily hunt deer with a bow (shotgun once)... I won't pick up my bow for hunting again until Fall...scatter-gun for turkey. I am kinda out there for firearms, building and collecting.
I have no Interest In hunting big game with a gun. It just does not Interest me In the least. 100% archery for me for big game animals.
90% of the time I shoot guns it’s for fun. I almost never shoot a bow for fun. I enjoy bowhunting more than other types of hunting, but from the pure shooting aspect, guns win hands down. Take the hunting aspect out of the equation & I’m not sure I would have ever picked up a bow.
my bow(s), but i really only shoot one of them (switchback) the Z7 is still in the box.... now my firearms on the other had all get used pretty equally.
My favorite thing to do is bowhunting whitetails...hands down. In a general sense tho, its guns. Trap and skeet, squirrel, birds, and its hard to beat shooting at a running rabbit. I also would rather target shoot with a gun than a bow...more variables with loads and such.
Bowhunting is my passion but now that the season is over, I move to shooting trap. My baby is my Beretta Teknys 12 gauge but picked up a Browning Maxus 12 gauge and am falling in love with the gun.
The past few years I have enjoyed nothing but shooting my bow. Here lately though, I've found myself tinkering with guns more and more. I'm even thinking about joining a range near my house that has a 500 yard range. I'd love to get out there and experiment and see what I could do at that distance. That is for pure enjoyment though. I'd never attempt to shoot a deer that far. Some find it fun or challenging...I think it wouldn't be fun but I'll give them the challenging part.
I really don't "enjoy" shooting my bow. I don't really "enjoy" shooting rifles either. But I could shoot claybirds all day with the shotgun. I like bowhunting the most though.
Rory, I felt the same way until I picked up a recurve. I now enjoy shooting whereas I never did before for whatever reason.
Ordering a string and gonna get a half dozen arrows for mine by springtime.. Hopefully the same thing happens for me.
I love shooting no matter what it is: longbow, recurve or compound. But, physical limitations (torn shoulder rotators) keep me from shooting anything but a compound because of the let off. Good to hear many are finding different ways to enjoy what it is they love to do.
For me, a rifle or any firearm for that matter was created to kill, the main objective being; to get the job done quick and effeciently. Wham Bam! Thank you Mam! Game over! Bows on the otherhand were made to kill with up close in a stealthy fashion. Bows intrigue me; when I kill something with a bow, at that time and moment I feel like a predator. With a rifle, I feel like I am simply harvesting. I have never "wanted" to go shoot a gun for fun. They are loud and annoy me somewhat to just shoot, yet If I need to kill something to put meat in the freezer I respect my firearm and expect to get the job done with it. A rifle is still my best option as a killing "tool." But, put a bow in my hand and an internal instinct inside turns on that screams "hunt". I always feel much more motivated and focused when I bowhunt. Its A feeling I hope I never lose! Finally, I quite often "want" to go shoot my bows just for fun, not just to hunt with, they are enjoyable to shoot for hours, they never annoy me and represent a true artform. Hands down, the thing I love most about bowhunting is that we are forced to get close to make a shot.
Lets see........there are self bows, long bows, recurves, compunds and crossbows vs Rimfire .17 Hornady Mach 2 (.17HM2) .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire(.17HMR) .22 BB Cap .22 Long .22 Long Rifle .22 Short .22 WMR (.22 Magnum) .22 WRF 5mm Remington Mag [edit] Common Centerfire[edit] Inches[edit] < .30 caliber.17 Remington .17 Remington Fireball (based on the wildcat .17 Mach IV) .17-223 .204 Ruger .218 Bee .219 Zipper .22 BR Remington .22 Hornet .22 PPC .22 Spitfire (MMJ-5.7, 5.7mm MMJ) .220 Russian .220 Swift .221 Fireball .22-250 Remington (.22-250 Ackley Improved) .221 Remington Fireball .222 Remington .222 Remington Magnum .223 MINISAS .223 Remington (.223 AI) .223 WSSM .224 Weatherby Magnum .225 Winchester .240 Weatherby Magnum .243 Winchester (.243 AI) .243 WSSM .244 H&H Magnum .244 Remington (6 mm Remington) .250-3000 Savage .256 Winchester Magnum .256 Newton .25-06 Remington .25-20 Winchester .25-35 Winchester (6.5 x 52R) .25 Remington .25 WSSM .257 Roberts (.257 Roberts +P, .257 Roberts Ackley Improved) .257 Weatherby Magnum .260 Remington .264 warrior magnum .264 Winchester Magnum .270 Weatherby Magnum .270 Winchester .270 Winchester Short Magnum .270 Sabi .276 Pedersen .280 British .280 Remington (a.k.a.7 mm Express Remington) .280 Ross (a.k.a.280 Rimless Nitro Express) .284 Winchester [edit] .30 caliber - < .40 caliber.30 Carbine .30 Newton .30 RAR .30 Remington .30 Remington AR .30 TC .30-30 Winchester .30-06 Springfield .30-40 Krag (.30 Army) .30-378 Weatherby Magnum .300 H&H Magnum .300 Remington SA Ultra Mag .300 Remington Ultra Magnum .300 Ruger Compact Magnum .300 Savage .300 Weatherby Magnum .300 Winchester Short Magnum .300 Winchester Magnum .303 British .303 Savage .307 Winchester .308 Marlin Express .308 Norma Magnum .308 Winchester .308 Short Magnum .32-20 Winchester (.32 WCF, .32-20 Marlin, .32 Colt Lightning) .32-40 Ballard .32-40 Winchester .32 Remington .32 Winchester Self-Loading .32 Winchester Special .325 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) .33 Winchester (.33 WCF) .338 Federal .333 Jeffery Flanged .338 Lapua Magnum .338 Marlin express .338 Remington Ultra Magnum .338 Ruger Compact Magnum .338 Sabi .338 Winchester Magnum .338-06 A-Square .338-378 Weatherby Magnum .340 Weatherby Magnum .348 Winchester .35 Newton .35 Remington .35 Whelen .35 Whelen Improved .35 Winchester .35 Winchester Self-Loading .350 Remington Magnum .351 Winchester Self-Loading .356 Winchester .358 Norma Magnum .358 Winchester .375 H&H Magnum .375 Ruger .375 Remington Ultra Magnum .375 Weatherby Magnum .375 Whelen (.375-06) .375 Winchester .376 Steyr .378 Weatherby Magnum .38-40 Winchester .38-55 Winchester [edit] .40 caliber - < .50 caliber.40-60 Remington .400 H&H Magnum .400 Tembo .401 Winchester Self-Loading .404 Jeffery (10.75 x 73) .405 Winchester .408 CheyTac .416 Barrett .416 Remington Magnum .416 Rigby .416 Weatherby Magnum .43 Mauser .44-40 Winchester .44 Remington Magnum .444 Marlin .45-70 Government .45-90 Sharps .450 Bushmaster .450 Marlin .450 Rigby .458 Express .458 Lott .458 Sabi .458 SOCOM .458 Winchester Magnum .460 Weatherby Magnum .465 H&H Magnum .470 Nitro Express [edit] .50 caliber and larger.50-70 Government .50-90 Sharps .50-110 Winchester .50-140 Sharps .50 Alaskan .50 Beowulf .50 BMG .50 Peacekeeper .500 Black Powder Express .500 Jeffery .500 No. 2 Express .500 Nitro Express 3" .500 Nitro Express for black powder 3" .500/450 Nitro Express .500/465 Nitro Express .505 Gibbs .505 Jeffery .510 DTC Europ .510 Fat Mac .510 Whisper .550 Magnum .550 Nitro Express .577 Nitro Express .577 Tyrannosaur (.577 T-Rex) .577 Snider .577/450 Martini-Henry .577/.500 Magnum Nitro Express .585 Nyati .600 Nitro Express .600/577 REWA .600 Overkill .700 AHR .700 Hubel Express .700 Nitro Express .950 JDJ From left to right: .50 BMG, 300 Win Mag, .308 Winchester, 7.62 Soviet, 5.56 NATO, .22LR[edit] Metric[edit] < 6mm4.6x30mm 4.85mm SAA (.191) 4.92x34mm 5.45x39mm 5.56x30mm 5.56x45mm NATO 5.6x50mm Magnum 5.6 x 52R (.22 Savage Hi-Power) 5.6x57mm 5.6x57Rmm 5.6 x 61 SE (5.6 x 61 Vom Hofe Super Express) 5.7x28mm 5.8x42mm DBP87 [edit] 6 - <7mm6 x 35 mm 6 mm BR Remington 6 mm PPC 6 mm Musgrave 6 mm Remington (.244 Remington) 6.5-06 6.5-284 6.5 mm Creedmoor 6.5 mm Grendel 6.5 mm Remington Magnum 6.5x50mm Arisaka 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano 6.5x53mmR Mannlicher 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer 6.5x55mm (Also 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, 6.5 x 55 Mauser) 6.5x57mm Mauser 6.5x68mm (also known as the 6.5 x 68 RWS, 6.5 x 68 Schüler or the 6.5 x 68 Von Hofe Express) 6.8 mm Remington SPC [edit] 7- <7.92mm7 mm BR Remington 7 mm Dakota 7 mm Express Remington (a.k.a. .280 Remington) 7 mm Gibbs 7 mm Remington Magnum 7 mm RSAUM (Remington Short-Action Ultra Mag) 7 mm Remington Ultra Magnum 7 mm STE (Shooting Times Easterner) 7 mm STW (Shooting Times Westerner) 7 mm TCU (Thompson/Center Ugalde) 7 mm Weatherby Magnum 7 mm WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) 7 mm-08 Remington 7 mm-300 Weatherby Magnum 7-30 Waters 7.2 SLEC (7.2 SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CARTRIDGE) 7.21 Firebird 7.21 Tomahawk 7.44mm 7x33mm Sako 7x57mm Mauser (.275 Rigby) 7x61mm Sharpe & Hart 7x64mm Brenneke 7x65mmR Brenneke 7x72 Rimmed 7.5x55mm Schmidt Rubin 7.5x57mm MAS mod. 1924 7.5x54mm MAS mod. 1929 7.62 mm caliber 7.62x25mm Tokarev 7.62x38mmR 7.62x39mm 7.62x45mm vz. 52 7.62x51mm NATO 7.62x53mm Rimmed 7.62 x 54R (rimmed) (7.62 Russian) 7.63x25mm Mauser 7.65x22mm Parabellum 7.65x53mm Argentine (7.65x53mm Mauser) 7.65x53mmR 7.63x54mm Greek Mannlicher-Schoenauer 7.7x58mm Arisaka 7.8 SLEC (( 7.8 SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CARTRIDGE)) 7.82 Patriot 7.82 Warbird [edit] 7.92 - <9mm7.92x33mm Kurz 7.92x36mm EPK 7.92x57mm Mauser (8 mm Mauser or 8x57 JS) 8 mm-06 8 mm Lebel or 8x50R Lebel 8 mm Remington Magnum 8x35mm 8x50mmR Mannlicher 8x56mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer 8x56mmR Steyr or Hungarian 8x58mm RD (rimmed danish) 8x60mm S 8x64mm S Brenneke 8x68mm S [edit] 9mm and larger9x39mm 9x45mm 9x53mm 9x56mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer 9x57mm Mauser 9.3x57mm 9.3x62mm 9.3x64mm Brenneke 9.3x66mm Sako 9.3x72mmD 9.3x74mmR 9.5x57mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer (.375 Rimless Nitro Express x 2-1/4") 10.75x57mm 11x60mm Mauser 12.7mm British No. 2 12.7x99mm NATO (Multi-Purpose) 12.7x54mm (subsonic) 12.7x108mm 13x63B 13.2x92mm 14.5x114mm 14.5 mm JDJ 15.2 mm Steyr Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) 20 mm caliber 25x137mm 30x165mm 30x173mm [edit] Wildcats - Obscure - Proprietary[edit] Inches.14/221 .14-222 .14 Walker Hornet .17-223 .17-06 .17 Ackley Bee .17 CCM .17 Hornet .17 PMC/Aguila .17 Mach IV (now commercialized as .17 Remington Fireball) .17 PPC .17/23 SMC .17-357 RG (.172" Wildcat based on the 357 SIG) .191 (4.85mm SAA) .19 Calhoon Hornet .19 Badger .19-223 .20-06 .20 VarTarg .20 Tactical .219 Donaldson Wasp .22/30 (T65 Duplex) .22-06 .22 Cheetah .22 Eargesplitten Loudenboomer .222 Rimmed .22/303 .22-243 Middlestead .223 AI .240 Apex (.240 Belted Nitro Express and .240 Magnum Flanged) .264 LBC-AR .264 warrior magnum (6.5x40 mm) .25/303 .275 H&H Magnum Modern .275 H&H (Based on Full length 375 Ruger case) Modern 7mm Rem mag (based on 375 Ruger case) Modern 300 H&H (based on full length 375 Ruger) .30 BR .30 USA .30 Walker .30-03 .309 jdj .30-06 JDJ .309 Bull .300 Dakota .300 ICL Grizzly .300 Lapua Magnum .300 Remington American Magnum .300 Whisper (.300 Fireball) .300-221 .303-06 .330 Dakota .333 Jeffery Flanged .333 OKH .338-06 A-Square .338 Whisper .338 Voschol .338 x 57 O'Connor .35 Samba (Also .35 WSM) .357/.44 B & D (Bain and Davis) .375 Dakota .375 Whisper Modern .375 H&H (based on full length 375 Ruger) .40-65 Winchester .40-70 Sharps .400 Whelen .416 Taylor .416 Whisper Modern 416 (based on full length 375 Ruger) .425 Westley Richards .44 Henry .45-90 Sharps .45-110 Sharps .45-120 Sharps .450 Watts Magnum Modern 450 (2.598" 404 Case) Modern 460 (2.850" 404 Case) .458 SOCOM .470 Capstick .475 OKH .475 Ackley .500 Phantom [edit] Metric4.5mm mkr 5mm Craig 5mm/35 SMc 6-06 6-284 6mmAR 6mm BRX 6mm Dasher 6mm XC 6x45 mm 6 x 47 Swiss Match (6mm/222 Mag) 6.5-06 6.5 Grendel (6.5x39mm) 6.5 CSS 6.5 PPCX 6.5 BPC 6.5x40mm (.264 warrior magnum) 6.5 x 47 Lapua 6.5 x 57 6.5 Jonson 6.5 Wby Mag 7mm Dakota 7mm Gradle Express 7x54mm Fournier 7.62 Jonson 7.62 Thumper 7.82 Lazzeroni Patriot 7.82 Lazzeroni Warbird 10,4 x 38 Vetterli (US: ".41 Swiss") 10,4 x 47 Italian Vetterli 100 different guns for each caliber and a 100 different bullets for each gun..........handguns, shotguns, rifles, muzzleloaders in any of the previous, shot, bullets, slugs, dozens of powders and 1,000 page books just to cover the load possibilities to tinker with. Optics choices a mile long and accessories for every need you can dream up. The incredible minutia of firearms and accuracy is a facinating thing where 0.001" could be the difference between success and failure. No contest for me on pure enjoyment........in fact shooting a bow is actually quite boring to me. I could go to the rifle range every day of the year and never do the same thing twice. My enjoyment of a hunt rarely, if ever has anything to do with what weapon is in my hand.
Artform? Are you talking about going out and shooting your compound? No wrong answer......just asking. Atlas...that list is impressive. I've never seen anything like that. "Cool" is an understatement.
Ditto And I enjoy just shooting my bow as well. I don't enjoy shooting a gun for the heck of it either. Just no interest. I could shoot my bow everyday and have fun with it.
Me either, NY. The exception would be the ML. Heck, I even enjoy cleaning it. I'm weird. I can certainly see how people DO enjoy shooting for the heck of it, though......ditto any bow. If you consider 3D bow shooting.......that's heightened.
Interesting. Some responses are surprising, but certainly interesting. For myself, when it comes to recreational shooting, it's MUCH easier, cheaper, and convenient to shoot my bow. I do enjoy shooting certain types of firearms (primarily handguns and trap/skeet...not too big on bench shooting), however. Just hard to find the time sometimes to drive to my cabin to do it (while my parents farms is only 1 mile away, I don't shoot for recreation on it).
