So, how do the majority of gun owners afford to shoot often? I’m not referring to those who reload.

[Kman]

I wonder how the average gun owner affords to shoot these days? Either it’s a very short session, or you’re dropping a bunch of $. Every cylinder or magazine is $2.75 and up unless you’re shooting .22. I’ve been slammed with work, shooting less and I reload, so my costs are minimum. Either people are shooting less or I’m really poor and out of touch with reality.

 

[Treehawk]

I bought a bunch of ammo when it was cheap so I would not have to worry about cost.

 

[Hayata]

I wish I could get to the range more often.

Maybe when I retire...

 

[hamburglar3]

I bought a bunch of ammo when it was cheap so I would not have to worry about cost.

^ this and living in the woods let you shoot more casually so it doesn’t seem such a big spend

 

[Granite3]

Reload?

Dang near as expensive as factory loads now.

SPP's at $105/1k means over $200 per thousand loaded of 9mm.

Was $26/1k, for primers, could get into the $140/ik rounds.

 

[NoNamePlaced]

Local range is outdoors, members only, after people leave I’m like a little brass bandit and take all the gold for myself…. I sell it to GA Arms for free bullets….

I’m not proud of myself.

 

[hikingthehills]

^ this and living in the woods let you shoot more casually so it doesn’t seem such a big spend

Agreed on your point and what you quoted. I love it. I'm able to step out in the backyard and go through a few a mags a couple times a week. Back when I had to go somewhere to shoot I burned through much more because I only was able to shoot maybe once a month. Now it's whenever without filling the need to keep the boom going and saving some money.

 

[Psilloh1]

Ya gotta quit being wonna da' Poors....

 

[palmettomoon]

I see a few "classes" of shooters, each with their own ammunition consumption rates.

a.) The social shooter - goes to the range with a family member or friend, shoots the shyte more than guns, smokes and jokes, maybe spends 30 rounds across 3-4 guns in a two hour session, then off to the Huddle House for a hamburger and fries.

b.) The handloader - goes out to test hand loads once a week or so, shoots about 200 rounds, 5 rounds at a time, uses a chronograph to record data in a book.

c.) The novice - Wants to shoot more and is learning about guns and shooting. Maybe shoots 100 - 200 rounds they bought that morning at Bass Pro or Academy.

d.) The tactifool shooter - Burns through 4 value packs of .223 shooting at IPSC silhouettes at 15 - 30 yards with several mag changes between calling the range "hot" or "cold" to check targets to see his "shot clusters." May be seen to roll around on the ground or even use a VTAC board he made out of the old kitchen counter from his house when the wife remodeled the kitchen.

e.) The gear queer - Owns top tier ARs and optics, is constantly swapping out stuff on his "platform" and tests each variation with about 20 rounds before exclaiming, "It's all good." Returns to his apartment so he can play FPS games online with other virtual shooters. Expends 20,000 rounds of virtual ammo for every real round at the range. Considers himself a real "operator" and "was going to join up but....."

f.) The real deal - Competitive shooter who takes the sport seriously and tests/sets up COFs and practices under a timer for an entire afternoon looking to improve splits by at least 0.05 seconds or more until he "tops out." Usually shoots 350 - 600 rounds in an afternoon with a 98% hit rate, 75+% "A Zones."

 

[Pathfinder5243]

Not having any dependents helps.