We all experience stress in our lives, and finding a way to manage it and truly relax is essential. Hobbies are a great way to get in some personal time to help recharge and regroup. Engaging in shooting sports, like airgunning, can be a great way to escape the daily grind. We can personally vouch for the therapeutic benefits of airgunning. In this article, we’ll share our personal journey with airgunning, exploring how it can help you relax and improve your mental well-being. We hope our experiences will inspire you to embark on your own journey with airgunning.
Disconnect and Destress
Like most of us, you probably have a lot on your plate. Despite the love for your job and family, things can pile up and frustrations can mount. But fear not, one of the simplest and most effective ways to destress is benchrest target shooting with an airgun. It’s a straightforward process. All you need is an airgun, some ammo, and a target. No complicated setup or training required.
We started with a simple Gamo breakbarrel. It was the now out-of-production Hunter 440. Having never shot anything like it before, it provided countless hours of fun just taking shot after shot with different pellets to see what would give us the best results. When sitting at the bench, the rest of the world seemed to melt away, at least for a little while. This “palate cleansing” activity was often the recharge we needed to take a fresh look at things going on around us.
“Boring Accuracy”
There’s a term we save for the best airguns we shoot. We call them “boringly accurate.” While it may sound negative, it’s really one of the highest compliments we can pay an airgun. Boringly accurate simply means that there’s zero work involved to get exceptional results. The first airgun we shot that helped coin the phrase was the Air Arms S510 .177. It wasn’t a modern, regulated S510 but rather an old-school model. We acquired it, new for a review and ended up buying it so we could add it to our personal collection. Our test range at the time was only 20 yards, and this airgun would stack pellets on top of each other without even trying. We still love shooting that airgun, and it’s still boringly accurate.
Some other PCP airguns that have achieved such status are the FX Wildcat .22, Benjamin Gunnar .25, Benjamin Marauder, Benjamin Armada, Air Arms Tactical, and the new Macavity Arms MA2, just to name a few. For those who may ask, yes, we’ve had some spring airguns make the list as well. Topping the list would be the Beeman R9 in .177, which delivered one unbelievable sub .2” CTC group at 20 yards. Other examples would be the Air Arms TX200, the HW97, and the now-gone Sig Sauer ASP20.
What Works for You
Each person is different, so finding the right airgun and the right shooting discipline may take some time. And there are going to be different things that matter. For example, the Benjamin Gunnar mentioned above is certainly not the “most accurate” .25 cal that we’ve encountered, but it does resonate with us, and we just love to shoot it. And that’s what matters. Additionally, don’t be swayed by what others may say. Another airgun that we love is the Walther MaximaThor. It’s another .25 that has decent accuracy and power, but it’s not top of the chart on either front. But there’s something about the gun that we just connect with, and we love to spend time with it on the bench. It’s just really fun.
Find Your Airgun Fun
We’ve talked about benchrest target shooting, but there’s so much more that airguns bring to the table. If target shooting is not your thing, then look into cowboy action shooting, historic replicas, or how about some full auto fun with the Umarex M1A1. The bottom line is that airgunning brings something to the table for everyone that loves to shoot. If you can find your airgun fun, then you’ll be on your way to understanding how therapeutic airgunning can be for you.
Call us… The Airgun Dr. is in
Given the many options out there, you may find yourself stressing about what airgun to get. Well, we certainly don’t want that! If you are looking for the perfect airgun and need help, just give us a call. We are always here to help “prescribe” the best airgun for your mental well-being.
