Are gasoline prices affecting your shooting?

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ms6852

ms6852

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Just wandered how the price of gasoline will affect most shooters. Will you go to the range with less frequency or will you now shoot a lesser quality brand? Or if you are like me will you take a new approach to shooting and incorporate more rimfire shooting like 22lr?

I normally go to the range twice a week and drive 35 to 40 minutes each way.
If the price of gasoline keeps going up I might have to buy a bicycle now, or go all western and get a horse.
 
If you can afford the prices of ammo these days you can probably afford to drive to the range. I struggle with both.
 
Gasoline prices have not crossed the $4.00 mark yet in my area. They are approaching that mark. When they do, I will make no extra drives anywhere that does not involve work, making a living, or essentials. That means I won't be buying any guns, ammo, fishing equipment, etc... are your ready for the double dip recession?

I have already cut back 50% when prices crossed $3.50. So, yes, current prices are affecting my shooting and other hobby activities as well as planning for the future. This fuel situation (as well as rising prices in general) certainly does not make life much fun.
 
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Not yet. In the past six months I've rediscovered the joy of rimfire shooting. I have a place about 10 miles from my own house where it is rural enough that I can shoot rimfires practically all day without upsetting anyone. Gas and ammo would have to get far more expensive than it is now to make me curtail that.
 
Cost of medical insurance, gasoline and everything essential does affect all aspects of life for the average guy.

I have shot over 4k of pellets through and air rifle since Jan 01 2011. So the prices going up have forced me to figure out a way to shoot more while costing less. I save on travel time & expense and a range fee. The local range is $10 for me and a tin of 500 pellets is $10. Plus I shoot almost daily averaging about 250 shots a week. I shoot for a month for what 2 range fees would cost me. I thoroughly enjoy the air rifle shooting. It can be just as challenging as the big boy range.

Prior to the air rifle I did shoot a lot of .22lr in rifle and pistol. Both .22 and air rifle are good training. Part of it is the closest range was only 50yds. Most of my centerfire rounds were shot in matches. I have not made a match in over a year.
 
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My rifle range is 140 miles round trip---won't be going there much anymore.
Pistol range is about 12 miles round trip--I guess I will shoot a lot of handgun.
I don't need any new equipment for reloading.
 
It doesn't take any gas to go to my range. I'm lucky enough to be able to shoot it out in the back yard.

Guardrail
 
Definitely. I used to pour gallons of gas through the barrels of my guns, but at $4+ a gallon it is just too expensive. Now I just use Hoppes #9. Seriously, this is a silly thread; almost as bad as the ever-repeated "If you could own only one gun....." type threads.
 
The range I go to is 17 miles away and I go about once a week. My shooting has been probably 95% 22LR for quite some time. I wouldn't say gas prices are affecting shooting for me but they're definitely influencing where else I go, how often I eat out (almost never), etc. Heck the 17 miles to the range once a week is about as far as I drive lately; work being 8 miles away and all the stores I need being 3 miles or less away.
 
Yes the price of gasoline has effected my shooting a whole bunch. The Silhouette matches that I used to attend faithfully are over 120 miles away and with the cost per gallon close to $4.00 a gallon that makes each match $50 even before I pay for the entry fee. As a retiree I cannot afford that. Thanks to all you guys who voted for this scumbag!
 
well considering the fact that i can walk to my range in 15-20 min.....or i can drive there is less than 5 min.........i think i can spare the $0.50 in gas to get there.
 
It costs me more to drive to the range than a couple of boxes of ammo (I cast my own bullets) High gas prices are affecting everything, but shooting no more than anything else.

Mostly I'm waiting for good weather to shoot.
 
Gasoline (and more so diesel) prices effect the price of everything. Yes, the price of fuel is effecting and will effect my shooting. It is taking a huge chunk out of my expendable income in general, and fun is paid for out of my expendable income.

This will eventually crush our entire economy.
 
I think its great, Lot less traffic and the range is not very crowded, I have 4 friends that I go with we take turns driving to the range 9 miles away, we go once a week
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The cost of fuel has no effect on my shooting one way or another; work is my biggest issue, getting the time to go to the range.
 
WNTFW is on to something. Great idea about air rifle. I can definitely shoot out of my backyard if it comes to that. Thankfully as I stand it does not effect my shooting as much as it does my expandable income. I may not have the option to buy as many guns as I wish but I really do not need to buy more as I have more than plenty.
 
Can't say that it is; I have a round trip 80 mile commute to work each day, so a 20 mile trip to the range on the weekends isn't that significant as far as affecting the overall amount I drive.
 
I just dropped 120 bucks to fill up my truck, that stung a little. I would have much rather spent that on a few boxes of ammo and a trip to the range, for sure. I'm getting into shooting rimfire though. My new S&W M&P 15-22 sure is a lot of fun! I'll buy a Vespa before I stop shooting. I can see it now... Driving down the road toward the range at 35 mph but all the cars are afraid to pass me because I have an "evil looking" rifle strapped to my back...
 
I just dropped 120 bucks to fill up my truck, that stung a little. I would have much rather spent that on a few boxes of ammo and a trip to the range, for sure. I'm getting into shooting rimfire though. My new S&W M&P 15-22 sure is a lot of fun! I'll buy a Vespa before I stop shooting. I can see it now... Driving down the road toward the range at 35 mph but all the cars are afraid to pass me because I have an "evil looking" rifle strapped to my back...
Click to expand...
I filled up my truck yesterday, $110 and it wasn't even empty (the low fuel light was on tho'.) I wonder if I could ride my bicycle to the range... I biked to the grocery store yesterday and my butt is mad at me today (TMI) Probably need to work up to it.
 
For urban folks, I suspect there are going to be a lot more scooters around the cities for regular commutes.
 
Yes, it has impacted us greatly. My usual range is 150 mile round trip, and gas here is $4.23; there is no finer place for me to go that allows my interests (hot range, private, 1000 yard, camping, multiple ranges, 24-7, nobody to mind you, clean, etc.) We make the most of each trip by staying overnight when possible, and practice night shooting in addition to a nice campfire.
 
No.

I live on about 90 acres, so I can step outside and shoot all I want.

My take on fuel is simple: my vehicle won't run without fuel and while I don't have to like the prices, I and I alone can choose to accept the prices and deal with life on life's terms. Basically "the cost of doing business" if you will.

I get good mileage, still I plan my trips and use some common sense about all this.
Some of us old pharts, have been through fuel availability and prices more than once over the decades.
 
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