A semi-serious question!

[Captain*kirk]

OK, what, exactly...am I doing wrong?
I read in post-after-post things like;
"Loaded up 300 rounds of .30-06. Going to shoot them in the morning"
"Cast 1200 SWC last night. Loaded them this morning and leaving for the range this afternoon"
...and so forth. On a Tuesday or Thursday, no less!
Are most of you guys retired, (even the ones half my age), with 1.5M in your retirement funds? How can you take time off to go shooting in the middle of the week, burn up $200.00 worth of ammo plus range fees, and reload the same cases you just fired and do it again the next week as well? I find it lucky if I can get to the range 3 times over the course of the summer! Who mows your lawn, washes the car, does home repairs, goes to kids (or grandkids') games, paints the garage or stains the deck? You guys have set the bar impossibly high and you are eroding my self-confidence! What am I missing?

 

[LocoGringo]

If I go during the week, it's because my rotating shift schedule means I'm not working and I've done my chores already. Not everyone works a 9-5 M-F job.

However, I imagine there are a lot of retirees on the forum.

Edit to add: I forgot to mention that I'm a member of a club about 20-25 minutes away with a benchrest range that goes to 200 yards, a "plinking" range for handguns that goes to 50 yards and a "competition" range that is limited to handguns and rimfire firearms that goes to 100 yards. The membership costs me $180/year.

 

[Anchorite]

OK, what, exactly...am I doing wrong?
I read in post-after-post things like;
"Loaded up 300 rounds of .30-06. Going to shoot them in the morning"
"Cast 1200 SWC last night. Loaded them this morning and leaving for the range this afternoon"
...and so forth. On a Tuesday or Thursday, no less!
Are most of you guys retired, (even the ones half my age), with 1.5M in your retirement funds? How can you take time off to go shooting in the middle of the week, burn up $200.00 worth of ammo plus range fees, and reload the same cases you just fired and do it again the next week as well? I find it lucky if I can get to the range 3 times over the course of the summer! Who mows your lawn, washes the car, does home repairs, goes to kids (or grandkids') games, paints the garage or stains the deck? You guys have set the bar impossibly high and you are eroding my self-confidence! What am I missing?

I hear ya!
I wish I was retired, then maybe I’ll have time to do all the little things I want to do. As a lawyer, we have a saying……..the law is a jealous mistress.

 

[TEXASJD]

OK, what, exactly...am I doing wrong?
I read in post-after-post things like;
"Loaded up 300 rounds of .30-06. Going to shoot them in the morning"
"Cast 1200 SWC last night. Loaded them this morning and leaving for the range this afternoon"
...and so forth. On a Tuesday or Thursday, no less!
Are most of you guys retired, (even the ones half my age), with 1.5M in your retirement funds? How can you take time off to go shooting in the middle of the week, burn up $200.00 worth of ammo plus range fees, and reload the same cases you just fired and do it again the next week as well? I find it lucky if I can get to the range 3 times over the course of the summer! Who mows your lawn, washes the car, does home repairs, goes to kids (or grandkids') games, paints the garage or stains the deck? You guys have set the bar impossibly high and you are eroding my self-confidence! What am I missing?

Well my range starts about 20’ out my door so that helps

 

[21H40]

I feel you. Between the volume of ammo some of the THR kings mention shooting each year and the insane collections, I get the feeling that most people here invest about $75,000 a year in shooting, not counting hunting trips or range fees.

Even some of the more reasonable members talk about shooting two or three times a week to maintain minimum proficiency for self-defense applications. In the city, that would be about $2k in annual range feels in addition to ammo (guess $50/week for 50 weeks = $2,500). That's not oppressive, I guess, depending on your income and necessary expenses.

I'm just not ever going to be able to devote resources like that... although, my wife agreed to move to the country when we sold our house in the city. That means range fees are now part of the mortgage, right?

 

[35 Whelen]

The wife and I bought some land, raw pasture, a good ways outside of town 20 years ago. The first thing I did was lay out a range. We built a house and now when I get off work, I go in the house, chat with the wife a bit, pull on some shorts and a t-shirt, go outside and shoot. It helps immensely not having to go to a public range!
When I'm not actually shooting, I'm usually casting bullets and/or loading ammunition.

35W

 

[Blue68f100]

Retired and my range is just out the back or front door.

 

[BBarn]

Retired. Shoot about 100 centerfire rounds a week (mostly handgun), more in the summer, all handloads. Outdoors so range fee is small.

Even with a progressive press, I don't load more than 500 rds. on a given day.

Probably works out to about $2500 per year. Some probably spend that much on booze, or cigs, or junk lunch food. Just matter of preferences and priorities.

 

[Frulk]

Per your questions:
Retired Feb of last year.
Lawn crew cuts grass on Friday for $40 a week.
Drive truck through car wash.
I don’t detail interior. Have two dogs. I’ll do 80mph occasionally for a few minutes with all the windows down to get hair out.
Both decks are concrete and steps to back one are Trex so no staining.
I do occasional maintenance around house. Currently dealing with stuck sprinkler valve.

My shooting routine has changed. Closest range I used to frequent couple times per month has recently closed to the public. I don’t like indoor ranges so now I’ll prob start shooting feral on public land anywhere from 30-95 miles away.

Hope this helped put you at ease…

 

[allisd17]

Retired 5 years ago and relocated. Previous range was 45 minutes away, new range is 15. Despite that, I shoot much less; I just don't have the time. Go figure.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

I've been retired for almost 8 years.
I have the same question.
I do not have time to have a job anymore, yet I see some like ACJ1 posting nearly everyday (no offense!) about what was done in the reloading room today.
Are our clocks different?

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

OK, what, exactly...am I doing wrong?

Glad you posted this, i have been wondering the same thing wondering how to post it!

 

[LocoGringo]

Are our clocks different?

What, you didn't know? He has 36 hour days.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

What, you didn't know? He has 36 hour days.

...or doesn't sleep.

 

[adcoch1]

I will admit I dealt with a few serious bouts of insomnia by reloading...

I have wondered the same things a few times, I haven't shot hardly at all this year, like two serious trips to state land. But work has been really busy lately, so that's most of the reason. No good ranges I can afford around here for rifles, and I like shooting outside anyway...

 

[higgite]

No excuses, sir. Life happens.

 

[SNfoilhat]

Retired and relocated from west coast to upper Midwest 3 years ago. I can walk out back & shoot in the woods if I want. Belong to a local outdoor range that is about 20 min away & only cost $150 per year. Very little winter shooting after deer season closes. Spring summer & fall I'm busy reloading & shooting when I can while also do property maintenance & family life. Winter time is spent in pole barn tending the wood stove & reloading when not using the snowblower.
Life is good for now. Make the most of it while you can. Things can change suddenly.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I'm retired and very wealthy, live just minutes from NRA HQ range, full year membership $350 unlimited use, my people take care of the menial chores you mention, wake up at O Dark 30 and spend just an hour/day doing reloading stuff, and read THR on my phone in various doctor's offices.

 

[AJC1]

I was retired, but I started my new apprenticeship at the shipyard as a machinist. I spend every Saturday with my son on the range that is free, with a hunting or fishing license. My dad was a reloader his entire life so I have bought very little in the big picture. I've personally bought 5 or so guns ever, and my money goes mostly to primers powder and lead. On top of that I'm divorced, zero time spent chasing or maintaining women. My kids are teens so I see them when they are hungry

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I spend my time behind a keyboard at work and in the yard after. It’s an hour commute, I can work from home at will - there’s very few in-person meetings still even after the plandemic scare - and I can usually shoot small bore pistol in the back without a problem from the neighbors. We bought a lot of land when it was cheap but over the years the local farmers have been passing on and their kids would rather sell than work a stake. Civilization is pounding on the gates.

 

[lordpaxman]

I’m retired, but find myself busier than working 10-12 hours at a salaried job. For time and money, we all have a different prioritization on where those go.
I’m fortunate enough to be this side of the daisies, so I do enjoy a bit of the gun games and all that entails.

 

[StrawHat]

When I was competing I learned that shooting massive quantities of cartridges did not improve my scores. Shooting fewer cartridges but trying for perfection did improve my scores. So did shooting at longer ranges. One of the ways I got to the ribbons and medals was practicing PPC at 100 yards. It is amazing how much you can concentrate on that front sight! When I would get to the matches, the targets seemed huge and really close.

Kevin

 

[jmorris]

How can you take time off to go shooting in the middle of the week, burn up $200.00 worth of ammo plus range fees, and reload the same cases you just fired and do it again the next week as well?

Often the projectile is the most expensive component, so I made machines to make and size them for me.

Homemade automated bullet manufacturing

www.youtube.com

If you shoot a bunch of different stuff or invite people over that do not reload, one of these will save a lot of time.

Brass sorter

www.youtube.com

I also have automated reloading machines that save lots of time. Add a scoop of bullets and two scoops of brass, hit the button and come back 5 minutes later and 100 rounds are sitting in the bin ready to case gauge.

Computer controlled Dillon 1050

www.youtube.com

I shoot almost every day here at home. If I am just playing with steel, I don't even need to go down range except to paint every now and then.

Auto reset targets

www.youtube.com

If I ever retire, I already have more than a lifetimes worth of projects in line.

 

[Soonerpesek]

Yeah, at times I get a little green when I hear about all that seem to shoot/load almost every day….

But then, I’m also happy that folks can do that when they want and enjoy life.

Most have worked to get where they’re at in life…

Someday maybe that will be me….

I’m still happy with what has been granted to me in my life and family tho…!!!

 

[CQB45ACP]

I spend my time behind a keyboard at work and in the yard after. It’s an hour commute, I can work from home at will - there’s very few in-person meetings still even after the plandemic scare - and I can usually shoot small bore pistol in the back without a problem from the neighbors. We bought a lot of land when it was cheap but over the years the local farmers have been passing on and their kids would rather sell than work a stake. Civilization is pounding on the gates.

What? You a nightclub performer? Sing us a song, piano man. Or, maybe a Metallica cover.