The ‘One Rifle' Philosophy

Philip Siddell discusses the benefits that adapting to a changing financial situation can bring to your shooting

- Philip Siddell

I harbour the fondest memories of the day I bought my Air Arms S400 Classic. My first really significant bonus had just hit our bank account, and whilst I’d received bonuses before, this one was big enough to allow us to pay off our car finance, put a little into savings and still have some spending money left over for both my wife and I. I booked a day off work and headed in to my local gun shop, accompanied by my old Weihrauch 95K for trade-in. I bought the rifle, a five-litre bottle – the S400 being my first PCP – a Harris bipod, a new Nikko scope with target turrets, an Air Arms moderator and a new sling. By the time I left, I felt light-headed; as giddy as a kid at Christmas! I’ve had that rifle for around three years now, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. Around 18 months ago, I stepped away from the corporate world – and its juicy bonuses – in pursuit of a career as a writer; in particular, as a field sports writer.

LESS IS MORE

I used to have a lot more money available to buy shooting equipment, but I had so much less time to go shooting. I certainly couldn’t claim that it was all ‘just part of the job’ as I do nowadays. It’s been an interesting time to be tied to just one rifle as bullpups have continued to expand their market share and affordable night-vision units have become the latest ‘must have’. While at times I’ve certainly caught myself drooling over shiny add-ons and coveting my neighbour’s rifle, I’ve actually discovered that the positives of being a one-gun guy, for me personally, at least, outweigh the negatives. In fact, committing to just one airgun has become something of a change of perspective for me; a whole new philosophy, if you will.