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The real cost of shooting.

5K views 31 replies 17 participants last post by  trickg 
#1 ·
Well, after years of buying ammo, reloading components and firearms, what is the real cost of shooting?
.308 is a good example. I shoot both .308 and 7.62x51, very little difference in reloading. I have more .308 bullets than I will most likely reload. 168gr HP's, 165gr SP, 150gr SP, all the way down to some 120gr. . I bought a 7.5x55 to use some up. The average $ per 100 is $8.00. My boxes of bullets have load data on them, ballistics, year purchased. 10..12 years ago I purchased a ton of stuff, I still keep buying powder and primers, bullets and brass also. I bet I could load, or use cartridges I have, and fire 5 rounds a day for the rest of my life. I still would need more powder and primers, but after years, what is the real cost? It is like fly fishing/tying. Once you have the basics it becomes a cheap sport. 400+ rounds a day is no longer my thing, I'm happy with 30 to 40 rounds each rifle, and maybe 3 rifles, up to 120 rounds a day, 5 or 6 times a year. Sure I'll take out an AK and shoot 5 30 round mags, but that really does not count. It is truly a sport that as I have become older, I think I have mastered fairly well. I average $200.00 a year on reloading components/supplys. Cheaper than golf!! jp
 
#2 ·
I'm not cheap but I do look for bargains (read a fair price) on components and when I find a good deal I buy what I want. I shoot regularly but not in huge quantities, I may burn 40 rounds per gun per outting but that is max. More often than not I will shoot about 20 or so rounds per gun per range outting. The exception is load development, then I simply shoot what is needed to get where I want to be.

On average I will spend about $500 a year on components and supplies. And like you say .... it's cheaper than golf.
 
#3 ·
My problem is I keep switching from single action to semi-auto, from lever action to bolt action or shotgun for hone defense. Each one requires load development (much of the attraction for me), but above all, for me it requires practice to acquire competence and practice to maintain competence. And I'm probably lucky if I get by with $200 a month for loading components. And with the cost of components increasing, it's going to be a problem for me because I'm also a golfer.

But I must say you gentlemen are not being quite fair to judge your firearm expnses to golf expense. Comparing golf expenses to the national debt would be fair.....it's on a whole different level than loading components!
 
#4 ·
Hi Guys, you are talking about my 2 favourite sports, shooting and golfing.
I usually quit golfing on Sept. 15th of the year as that is when hunting starts.
Being retired I monkey around with shooting earlier in the day and then golf when my brother gets off work ( 4:00pm). I love golf and would love fishing more but I need exercise and you can not walk to much in a boat.
As far as reloading this past month I bought a RCBS charge master so I will have to load quite abit to make it worth while. But both are hobbies and it is better than being in a Casino or bar.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I'm a musician and decided to take up drumming 5 years ago. In that time I have probably spent between $5K and $7K on gear between:

Drums
cases
sticks
heads
cymbals
mallets
metronomes
gear bags
hardware (pedals, stands, thrones, etc)
misc.

It's been a lot of money, but I finally have the setup I want and need little else to keep it going other than replacement of my expendables such as sticks and heads.

Shooting and reloading, assuming I don't buy too many new guns, is considerably less expensive.
 
#7 ·
I probably spend $3000-$4000 per year on guns and reloading. Fortunately I've now purchased the vast majority of the stuff that I want, so I expect to see that dollar figure drop even though I now shoot competitively.
 
#8 ·
Hello Gentlemen,
I stop golf many years a go when i got heavy into shooting no time for both... I reloads at present 14 different caliber of hunting bolt rifles and one handgun. I go to the rifles range (100/200 yds.) almost every sunday from mai to october and during winter when the range is closed I use the facility of the handgun club near by (interior range 25 yds). Even trough the year I acumulated a considerable amount of equipment, compared to some others sports like golf or ski I consider shooting very cost reasonable and competitive. On the other hand when the golf game or the skiing is done that it, shooting on stead require to put in some extra hrs. ...tumble, resize, trim, polish and reloads... but that is the effort that allowe me to shoot high volume at low cost.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Personally I have found golf to be cheaper than shooting/reloading. Once all the equipment is purchased, there is little expense besides the greens fees. Balls are easily acquired when you play in the rough as much as I do, so outside of greens fees there is no real expense to golf beyond the initial investment in clubs. Shooting and reloading is an ongoing expense as there are so many expendibles involved--bullets, powder, primers, brass, and of course there's the initial purchase of reloading equipment, and the number of "I want one of those" experiences. There is also the cost of the range fees that almost equal the greens fees unless you have a large parcel of land where you can set up your own range. Don't get me wrong, I don't plan to give up either of these enjoyable pastimes.
Moosie
 
#10 ·
Moosie, where I live, going to play golf can be a pretty major expense. Greens fees for non club members are high, and club memberships are even higher...IF your petition for membership is accepted. I can't imagine shooting being less expensive than golf out here.
 
#11 ·
Golf

Moosie, where I live, going to play golf can be a pretty major expense. Greens fees for non club members are high, and club memberships are even higher...IF your petition for membership is accepted. I can't imagine shooting being less expensive than golf out here.
You guys keep talking about golf, somebody is going to lock the thread:p.

My back can't handle the club swinging, and I know I don't spend enough on guns and bullets, yet.

Guns and shooting are not an expense, they are therapy.
 
#12 ·
I'm 52. Recently took inventory, and bought a lot of components in anticipation of the clamp-down coming when osama gets elected in a few months, along with NY probably going liberal, too. Now, I figure I have a lifetime supply laid in.

.
 
#13 ·
Reloading costs me 7-8.6 cents a round...

Hi,

I currently reload for .44 SPL, .45 LC, and .455 Webley although I've got dies and commercial lead for most handgun calibers from .380 and on up.
The stuff I'm now reloading is my own cast bullets. Costs range anywhere from 7 cents to 8.6 cents apiece for a loaded round depending on which caliber/bullet weight I use.
When I manage to score some lead, my costs drop even further. I was hoping to go down to 5 cents a round, but basic powder and primers run me 4.5-5.9 cents a round.
Casting is the only way to go!

Happy Shootin'! -Tom
 
#20 · (Edited)
Realistically, I would think that you could outfit yourself pretty well in terms of necessary reloading equipment for about $100 give or take a few. (probably give a few) You could pick up a Lee Anniversary kit like I did, plus a set of Lee dies and other than expendables, you'd be all set. A pound of pounder can be obtained for $15-$20, and primers are about $30 per 1000. The most expensive part of it I have found is for bullets. In doing a quick browse for 30-30 bullets I can find the less expensive ones for $17-$20 per 50, so starting from scratch, assuming you actually buy 1000 primers

$80 - Lee Anniversary kit (on inventory reduction sale at Midway USA right now)
$19 - Lee Pace Setter 30-30 Winchester dies (also on sale)
$18 - 1 lb of powder (I split the difference - $18 is an estimate - probably high)
$30 - 1000 primers
$18 - box of 50 bullets

Grand total = $165, and you'd have everything you needed to load more except bullets.

I can't speak for reloading rifle, because I haven't done that yet, but not including my startup costs, I'm reloading .45 ACP for about 16 cents a round, and I'm buying bullets - not casting. As soon as I get involved in casting (I have a source for wheel weights) my cost to load .45 ACP is going to be 4-5 cents a round, not including my time of course. :)
 
#15 ·
If you will search our Archives, you'll find almost overwhelming advice and recommendations to get started reloading.

The best advice is to purchase a reloading manual and read the informative pages.
 
#17 ·
Thank you matt, apparently simple answers to simple questions are beyond somes capabilities, I'll be finding a more user friendly forum now, One would think a website selling reloading supplies would be more user friendly, silly me.
 
#18 ·
Yea I know what you mean, sometimes the moderators here seem to think that because they have seen a thread or question a bunch of times that they need to be grouchy about it. Hopefully you decide to stick around.
 
#21 ·
Matt, Marshall has specifically asked us to point newbies to existing threads when possible (and I can assure you that there are a lot of existing threads on this topic), rather than run up forum bandwidth bills.

Ken's advice to start with reading a reloading manual is sound.

I can add that using the search button at the top of the screen with a phrase like "getting started reloading" will bring up a LOT of information. Perhaps it would have been better to give specific directions to use the search function..... in addition to pointing out the list of 'similar threads' at the bottom fo the screen (nice that the site does some of the searching for us, isn't it?).

As a reloader yourself, I think you would have to agree that it is necessary to do some reading / research, in order to be safe?
 
#19 ·
If you think that was a grouchy post, you won't want to see a real one.

To keep from wasting bandwidth on topics over and over again, we try to get folks to use the archives to research their questions first. Chances are, they will find the answers and a flood of other information. That keeps the board clear for topics new to everyone.

Seems you've been around long enough to understand this, Mattsbox.

Sorry if plainoldguy got his feelings hurt.
 
#24 ·
It's a volunteer position, Matt, as you know. If someone has time to look up links, great. If not.....

Another reason for not starting certain types of the same threads over and over on common topics, such as this caliber vs. that, is they generally tend to degenerate into shouting matches.

I have noticed, that people expect some sort of immediate gratification on the internet; less and less of a tendency to do a little basic legwork ahead of time. This is a comment not just based on this forum, but many others, and years of doing tech support.

Matt, if someone was upset because you suggested they read a reloading manual before they start the process, do you think that bodes well for them being a safe and careful reloader?

Food for thought.

FYI if anyone has issues regarding moderation of the board, please feel free to contact Marshall directly. I'm sure he'd welcome your feedback.

Pat, thanks for the info on the database stuff. I'll mull it over..... FYI we did have storage issues once or twice in the past, if I recall.
 
#25 ·
Pat, thanks for the info on the database stuff. I'll mull it over..... FYI we did have storage issues once or twice in the past, if I recall.
I can fully believe that you guys would have storage problems, and especially if you allow a lot of attached image files - those take up a lot more room that the text posts.

My philosophy with the forums is that for me, it's part social, and part informational. I'll start new threads here and there, but I also like to resurrect old threads that are related to the things I want to know and I have done a fair amount of searching for - sometimes I can't find the specific bit of information I'm looking for.

Now, getting back to the subject of the thread, the cost of shooting, even when you reload, isn't exactly cheap - especially if you intend to continue to add to your gun collection like I do. I just received notification that the used 8 and 3/8th inch S&W Model 27 is on the way. Woohooo!!!!! :D It should hit my FFL by tomorrow, and then I "get" to wait another 7 days before I can have it. No rush - it isn't like I don't have a pretty fine selection of guns to shoot in the meantime. :)
 
#26 ·
Mike, I'm well aware of the volunteer efforts and how little they go noticed, I'm a volunteer moderator on much larger forum (www.ford-trucks.com/forums)

The point is that its supposed to be a helpful forum, and there aren't many shouting matches here, thats why I come here. Anybody can 'go read a manual' I have a bunch of them, and I'm always reading them. There are so many things about reloading that aren't in those manuals and thankfully we have these forums where guys like Nick and Rocky have such an immense amount of knowledge to share.

You can try to play it off all you want, but I have a valid point and I'm sticking to my guns, pun intended.
 
#27 ·
And believe me, you point is taken.

All parties involved in a forum such as this and others need to understand that this is just communication, much of it the interpretation of the written word. What I read as a comment, another may see as conforntational...
and to that end, I appreciate all parties civility, and let's get this back to the matter at hand.


I started to reload only to have more ammo on hand at a lower cost, much as we all have. It was my Garand and evil black rifle that were the most hungry.
Factory ammo prices are going thru the roof, [these days, what is not] and components are following as predicted. Powder, I see, as the most jump in price, second only to bullets themselves.

I look at it this way;
If it costs X to buy factory fodder,
and Y to make my own,
I'll spent the Y, have time at home with a hobby, and share the finished product with my loved ones with a day of shooting that is also a family event. Shooting is something we all do now, now that I intro'd the girls to my .22's....
Now, they have the fever for .223, and my daughter is hooked on 38 special form my K38.
so the real cost of shooting, time spent with family......I'll pay it.
 
#28 ·
Well, if I went off to another "friendlier" forum every time someone suggested I do a bit of research first, 1) I wouldn't learn very much, and 2) I'd run out of forums. Hope he figures that out.
 
#29 ·
You'd run out of forums shortly after this one, because there aren't many friendlier ones. My only gripe was the shortness of a few moderators here. You can bet there are a few threads where I will start writing a post and realize how rude or dumb it sounds and just watch instead of posting.
 
#30 ·
I'm not quite sure what the score is about the suggestion that the guy go look through some stickies. I didn't see it as being curt or grouchy - just informative that there was wealth of information to be found fairly easily with the search feature.

Back to the subject of the "real" cost of shooting, I'm curious to know if anyone's shooting and reloading hobby has brought about the demise of a marriage or anything like that.
 
#31 ·
Thankfully no, trickg. Not at my house, anyway. :)
My MIL... well anyway very early on in our marriage my wife and I had a discussion wherein I took some degree of offense at the suggestion that I (we) don't 'need' guns and that they're dangerous around small children. I do not share this point of view, and in fact I find that, in general, fear of things like guns stems largely from unfamiliarity, or sometimes from a single bad experience. in any event, I made it very plain that the topic was a deal-breaker, and we've not re-visited the matter in quite some time. I think my wife was getting some pressure from 'outside' forces at that time.

My wife likes to go shooting, though she has a condition very similar to rheumatoid arthritis which makes it difficult for her to manage anything but quite light (both weight and recoil) firearms. That is fine since .22 rimfires are much cheaper to shoot anyway. We don't fight about shooting or reloading at all, except that we don't have an expansive budget so significant 'moderation' is necessary whether I (we) like it or not.

My kids LOVE to help me reload. I just make sure they get their hands washed right away.
 
#32 ·
I don't think my inlaws are too hip to my involvement with guns and shooting, and they see this as some new onset of nuttiness or dementia on my part. I grew up in Nebraska shooting and reloading in a house full of guns to a dad who was in every sense of the word a firearms enthusiast, but didn't get involved with it out here until my Mom finally allowed me to have some of his guns this last February. Dad passed away 11 years ago and prior to his passing, I really couldn't afford guns, and after he died, I assumed I'd get his so I never bought any of my own until just this last week. Mom had other plans, and ultimately sold off most of them in spite of my protests, but she sat on them and none of them were used at all for over a decade. The truth is, the collection as a whole was worth quite a lot of money, so I see the reasoning, even if I didn't (and still don't) agree with it.

Getting back to the inlaws, it's hard to blame them for their stance on things - they have been lifelong Maryland/Baltimore area residents and have been brainwashed into the idea that guns are inherently bad and dangerous. My hope is that now that I am becoming more involved with it, I can get them involved with it too and they can see guns for what they really are rather than what the dems and libs want people to believe.
 
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