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

[Korndog]

Not having any dependents helps.

^^^ This! ^^^

 

[Gixxer]

I buy a couple boxes of ammo whenever I'm window shopping at wherever.

Hurts a little less when it's spread out. I also don't shoot super often, either. But I go through a fair amount when I go to get the most out of the range session.

Dry fire is the best friend of a man with not enough land to shoot on and not enough money or time to go to a range regularly.

 

[Talos]

If I could shoot in my own yard I surely would not afford to shoot often. I do buy more than I shoot though.

 

[joel2000]

Bought plenty in the past when it was cheaper and still buy more when in the stores. Shoot at a local indoor range about once a month and burn 100-200 rounds a trip.

 

[Korndog]

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

Pretty well said.
Forgot about the “old lady” or “first time impulse buyer after watching the news”….
They buy that airweight 38 special or Glock 19. Tuck it deep in the back of their nightstand or closet and never touch it again.
Half of these folks remembered to buy a box of ammo to go along with it. Of the folks who bought ammo, half of THEM never even open da box of bullets.
Not hating, just seen it with my own eyes.

 

[palmettomoon]

Pretty well said.
Forgot about the “old lady” or “first time impulse buyer after watching the news”….
They buy that airweight 38 special or Glock 19. Tuck it deep in the back of their nightstand or closet and never touch it again.
Half of these folks remembered to buy a box of ammo to go along with it. Of the folks who bought ammo, half of THEM never even open da box of bullets.
Not hating, just seen it with my own eyes.

I didn't include them in the list because I usually hear, "My husband bought me the .38 in 1978 but I've never shot the thing. It scares me."

LOL.

 

[HERMET]

Shoot less but spend more time really working on technique and making each shot count.
Quality over quantity, No mag dumps.

 

[Korndog]

I didn't include them in the list because I usually hear, "My husband bought me the .38 in 1978 but I've never shot the thing. It scares me."

LOL.

This “class” of shooters came to mind bc you didn’t mention any gun owners who consume ZERO ammo…

 

[BHPSteel]

This “class” of shooters came to mind bc you didn’t mention any gun owners who consume ZERO ammo…

Sounds like me.

My MantisX gets a daily workout though.

 

[Smoothrj]

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."

I am a.) I want to be d.) except no rolling on the ground.