DITTO Redneck 2... the politcal signs are perfect for target shooting. They can last a weekend if you dont let your 'marksmanship challenged' friends shoot at them (the wire frames are NO match for .223 and .308). If you see a sign that annoys you for a month, then after the election is over, grab it, then blast it.
Anybody else cheap (broke)? Share your tips
- Thread starter rocinante
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For buying:
HAGGLE!
It's a lost art. Haggle for everything that you're not buying in a shop, and sometimes even then if the feeling's right. Also, keep your eye out for deals and bargains in places you wouldn't expect. Lots of people have guns, but many of them don't place the value that you or I would. I've found some nice collector-grade stuff for great prices from people who own guns, but only own them as shooters. Thus, if that Luger (or whatever) isn't getting shot, it may as well go away, and you end up with a real bargain.
Check the market trends. People are buying black rifles? Buy collectibles. People are buying collectibles? Sell your collectibles and buy some black rifles. Stay away from the current trend, and you can buy stuff on the cheap and even make money when the market turns.
Bang-for-buck. This takes research. Learn what's what, know what the price should be when you see it, and jump if the time is right. I've been kicking myself for not buying an Egyptian RPK for $300 two years ago. Sporterized mil-surps often shoot just as well as their collectible cousins. Cz82's reign supreme in handguns.
For gear:
I've found Tagua leather products to be wonderfully made holsters for a modest price.
Airsoft gear works great for tacti-cool applications where you don't need the heavy duty-ness of the real gear, and it's far cheaper.
For Maintenance:
"free" toothbrushes at the dentist? Great for cleaning hard to reach areas.
Motor oil makes great lube.
Hot water is close to free and evaporates from metal quickly; it's primarily a black powder trick, but it cleans up smokeless guns too and on the cheap.
Learn to do some basic gunsmithing: polishing, brazing, fabricating, bluing or parkerizing. You can take a class or two at the local community college for the price of some jack-leg gunsmith work at the local metal-butcher. That way you can save money, and if it's broke when you're done, you don't have to be mad at anyone but yourself. If it's better when you're done, you get to break it later trying to make it "perfect."
HAGGLE!
It's a lost art. Haggle for everything that you're not buying in a shop, and sometimes even then if the feeling's right. Also, keep your eye out for deals and bargains in places you wouldn't expect. Lots of people have guns, but many of them don't place the value that you or I would. I've found some nice collector-grade stuff for great prices from people who own guns, but only own them as shooters. Thus, if that Luger (or whatever) isn't getting shot, it may as well go away, and you end up with a real bargain.
Check the market trends. People are buying black rifles? Buy collectibles. People are buying collectibles? Sell your collectibles and buy some black rifles. Stay away from the current trend, and you can buy stuff on the cheap and even make money when the market turns.
Bang-for-buck. This takes research. Learn what's what, know what the price should be when you see it, and jump if the time is right. I've been kicking myself for not buying an Egyptian RPK for $300 two years ago. Sporterized mil-surps often shoot just as well as their collectible cousins. Cz82's reign supreme in handguns.
For gear:
I've found Tagua leather products to be wonderfully made holsters for a modest price.
Airsoft gear works great for tacti-cool applications where you don't need the heavy duty-ness of the real gear, and it's far cheaper.
For Maintenance:
"free" toothbrushes at the dentist? Great for cleaning hard to reach areas.
Motor oil makes great lube.
Hot water is close to free and evaporates from metal quickly; it's primarily a black powder trick, but it cleans up smokeless guns too and on the cheap.
Learn to do some basic gunsmithing: polishing, brazing, fabricating, bluing or parkerizing. You can take a class or two at the local community college for the price of some jack-leg gunsmith work at the local metal-butcher. That way you can save money, and if it's broke when you're done, you don't have to be mad at anyone but yourself. If it's better when you're done, you get to break it later trying to make it "perfect."
I cut my IDPA/IPSC targets from paper bags, it's not only cheaper but easier to carry.
I got a few leather calendar covers with zippers at thrift stores for a dollar each. Taking the steel rings out and adding some padding will give you an unobtrusive pistol case.
I got a few leather calendar covers with zippers at thrift stores for a dollar each. Taking the steel rings out and adding some padding will give you an unobtrusive pistol case.
Twmaster
Member
I download the printable targets for pistols off the 'Net and print them on my laser printer.
I also buy old camcorder bags at yard sales for range bags. I bought a new camcorder bag for those old cameras that took VHS tapes and were like 20 pounds. It was $2 at a yard sale.
My cousin bought a range bag the same size from Academy. Not only did it look remarkably the same other than color. She paid $25!
I pick up any brass laying within reach of me at the indoor range. I keep what I shoot and trade or sell the remainder. Even .22LR can be sold as scrap.
And it's been said. Reload. With cast bullets bought 1000 at a time I end up paying about $5 for a box of 50 reloads for .380 and 9x19.
I also buy old camcorder bags at yard sales for range bags. I bought a new camcorder bag for those old cameras that took VHS tapes and were like 20 pounds. It was $2 at a yard sale.
My cousin bought a range bag the same size from Academy. Not only did it look remarkably the same other than color. She paid $25!
I pick up any brass laying within reach of me at the indoor range. I keep what I shoot and trade or sell the remainder. Even .22LR can be sold as scrap.
And it's been said. Reload. With cast bullets bought 1000 at a time I end up paying about $5 for a box of 50 reloads for .380 and 9x19.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Cell phone cases from Lowes @ 4.95 make great mag holders.
Soft binocular cases = rifle mag pouches.
Pizza box = silhouette target or target backer.
Rolaids bottles= reusable bulk .22 ammo box.
Altoids or pellet tin for .22 ammo pocket carry.
Gatorade wide mouth bottle for bulk pistol ammo storage and transporting.
Insulated soft lunch "boxes" will help keep ammo cooler in a hot vehicle or on a hot range.
Pizza box = silhouette target or target backer.
Rolaids bottles= reusable bulk .22 ammo box.
Altoids or pellet tin for .22 ammo pocket carry.
Gatorade wide mouth bottle for bulk pistol ammo storage and transporting.
Insulated soft lunch "boxes" will help keep ammo cooler in a hot vehicle or on a hot range.
10X
Member
I print targets from the net. Example Midway pistol targets. They cost very little for a bunch.
My target stands are copy paper boxes. You can put two targets side by side.
There is always a piece of wood or something at the range to weight down the box.
My target stands are copy paper boxes. You can put two targets side by side.
There is always a piece of wood or something at the range to weight down the box.
USAF_Vet
Member
I'm another who prints off targets for next to no cost.
I'll shoot milk jugs and such, but not pop bottles since we have a $0.10 deposit for each one.
Empty carboard boxes with metal tent stakes to keep them secure in the ground. Can shoot 'em up good before they can't hold a target any longer.
Thrift store tupperware make good ammo storage containers. You can pick up assorted sizes for dirt cheap.
Old t-shirts make for good cleaning rags.
disposable shop towels make good cleaning patches. A roll goes for <$3 at Wal Mart, and one sheet will makes a LOT of patches.
Spent shotgun hulls make for good pistol plinking. So do golf balls, around here, especially late in the year, a bucket of balls at a yard sale can be had for a few dollars, bucket included.
I like the camera bag for range bags, and luggage straps for rifle slings.
Home made sand bags for bench rest: Fill ziplock freezer bags with sand/ dirt/ kitty litter (clean) and stuff in an old pillow case. Fold and stitch pillow case to desired size.
Plastic easter eggs filled with marking chalk powder makes for awesome reactive targets.
I'll shoot milk jugs and such, but not pop bottles since we have a $0.10 deposit for each one.
Empty carboard boxes with metal tent stakes to keep them secure in the ground. Can shoot 'em up good before they can't hold a target any longer.
Thrift store tupperware make good ammo storage containers. You can pick up assorted sizes for dirt cheap.
Old t-shirts make for good cleaning rags.
disposable shop towels make good cleaning patches. A roll goes for <$3 at Wal Mart, and one sheet will makes a LOT of patches.
Spent shotgun hulls make for good pistol plinking. So do golf balls, around here, especially late in the year, a bucket of balls at a yard sale can be had for a few dollars, bucket included.
I like the camera bag for range bags, and luggage straps for rifle slings.
Home made sand bags for bench rest: Fill ziplock freezer bags with sand/ dirt/ kitty litter (clean) and stuff in an old pillow case. Fold and stitch pillow case to desired size.
Plastic easter eggs filled with marking chalk powder makes for awesome reactive targets.
jleyring
Member
My father and i buy old military ammo cans to store bullets in. Great way to organize. they cost $2 and they hold hundreds of rounds. We never throw away old plastic containers (sour cream, cottage cheese, gallon ice cream) We use them for reloading. Easy place to store brass while you tumble, prime, and move the brass around.
MADDOG
Member
Go to a grocery store that has a bakery and get their buckets that frosting comes in. They have 5, 3, and 2 gallon ones and don't forget the lids. Great for storing stuff in and they are stackable.
fatcat4620
Member
For the guy who said don't smoke and don't drink- we are cheap but not animals! : ) Great ideas everyone. I get all the brass I can from the range. I make anything I can and always do my own gunsmithing. I also order all my mounts and rails from dealextreme.com
Bula
Member
Dollar Store for cheap stackable storage bins. I cast for everything I shoot (except .223), get freindly with as many tire shops as you can. 100 lbs of finished lead ingots, after smelting and fluxing, for $25. 700,000 grains of lead will yeild lots of bullets. Keep an eye on the sale boards here, great deals to be had.
ErikO
Member
My range bag is our former diaper bag for my son. We haven't used it in its intended purpose in over 5 years and it has several internal pockets, our last name is stitched to it and it has a great strap. Best of all, it was free at teh baby shower. lol
I got some old HP Laserjet printers that I use to print targets on. We just tape them over the freebie targets that we get at the range and shoot away. Toner is cheap for these, only $10 each and I have several that came with the pritners, too.
Also, picking up spent brass, decapping them and cleaning them up. I plan on selling off/trading the ones I wont' need to cover the cost of ammo/reloading supplies.
Finally, Aldi's had a special on small plastic parts bins. A whole bunch of them with holding bars for $10.
I got some old HP Laserjet printers that I use to print targets on. We just tape them over the freebie targets that we get at the range and shoot away. Toner is cheap for these, only $10 each and I have several that came with the pritners, too.
Also, picking up spent brass, decapping them and cleaning them up. I plan on selling off/trading the ones I wont' need to cover the cost of ammo/reloading supplies.
Finally, Aldi's had a special on small plastic parts bins. A whole bunch of them with holding bars for $10.
MD_Willington
Member
My pistol bag is a Dell laptop bag I grabbed out of a dumpster !
AWorthyOpponent
Member
Like someone else mentioned, I get all my accessories from paintball, or more commonly airsoft retailers. Most of the airsoft equipment is designed to be realistic, allowing the use of the same accessories as firearms.
Unlike in the real firearms world, the markup is on the "firearms" themselves. Some costing as much as or more than their real semi auto counterparts. This means that they don't have to mark up the accessories as much to get a profit.
Found out all of this from the owner of an airsoft supply store in the area. Apparently he got out of the firearms business and into the airsoft business because of this, though he still does FFL transfers and some custom orders.
Unlike in the real firearms world, the markup is on the "firearms" themselves. Some costing as much as or more than their real semi auto counterparts. This means that they don't have to mark up the accessories as much to get a profit.
Found out all of this from the owner of an airsoft supply store in the area. Apparently he got out of the firearms business and into the airsoft business because of this, though he still does FFL transfers and some custom orders.
Cosmoline
Member
--Rubbermaid totes make great range boxes
--Ziplock bags make great handload carriers
--You can reuse all sizes of containers for all sorts of purposes. Esp. tin ones.
--Garage sales! For example I recently needed a 5 gallon plastic bucket and a colander for removing the brass from a thumbler tumbler. I did the circuit of sales en route to the range and found a $1 tub and a $1 colander. You can often find beat-up kitchen items that work great repurposed for gun stuff.
--Military surplus stores! Much of my wardrobe and most of my carrying bags come from them. I also use IDF surplus canteens instead of buying coke at the range.
--Bubble wrap and tape= scope carrier
--Most of all, I save money by not using a car. I haven't had to pay for a gallon of gasoline since 2006. My fuel is food, air and water. When I started down that path people said I was crazy. Now they are coming up asking where I got my trailer.
--Ziplock bags make great handload carriers
--You can reuse all sizes of containers for all sorts of purposes. Esp. tin ones.
--Garage sales! For example I recently needed a 5 gallon plastic bucket and a colander for removing the brass from a thumbler tumbler. I did the circuit of sales en route to the range and found a $1 tub and a $1 colander. You can often find beat-up kitchen items that work great repurposed for gun stuff.
--Military surplus stores! Much of my wardrobe and most of my carrying bags come from them. I also use IDF surplus canteens instead of buying coke at the range.
--Bubble wrap and tape= scope carrier
--Most of all, I save money by not using a car. I haven't had to pay for a gallon of gasoline since 2006. My fuel is food, air and water. When I started down that path people said I was crazy. Now they are coming up asking where I got my trailer.
rocinante
Member
All good stuff says the OP. Thank you.
Another tip is to use masking tape to cover the holes in your target so you can blast it more.
Another tip is to use masking tape to cover the holes in your target so you can blast it more.
writerinmo
Member
For those of you who print their own targets on laser printers, try this out. I pick up photo paper at every chance I get at yard sales, most times people get tired of buying ink cartridges long before they use up all that nice glossy paper.
Now take that paper and put it in your laser printer so it prints on the glossy side, and print out your targets, the more black in them the better.
When you shoot them, the laser toner pops off around the hole, a lot like the Shoot-n-see does. Pretty neat, but don't go buying the paper at the store as it aint cheap, but you can get it for 50 cents or a buck at a yard sale.
Swinging targets for the smaller caliber. Walmart has a small one for around ten bucks and you can shoot it all day for plinking. I'm working on several 1/4" thick steel ones to put out at my buddys place where we shoot, he had some up but they don't last long if you shoot them with a Mosin.
Now take that paper and put it in your laser printer so it prints on the glossy side, and print out your targets, the more black in them the better.
When you shoot them, the laser toner pops off around the hole, a lot like the Shoot-n-see does. Pretty neat, but don't go buying the paper at the store as it aint cheap, but you can get it for 50 cents or a buck at a yard sale.
Swinging targets for the smaller caliber. Walmart has a small one for around ten bucks and you can shoot it all day for plinking. I'm working on several 1/4" thick steel ones to put out at my buddys place where we shoot, he had some up but they don't last long if you shoot them with a Mosin.
MarkDozier
Member.
- Joined
- May 15, 2006
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- 375
i use empty plastic coffee cans with lids to pick up brass at the range. i also put 22 in one it holds around 1000-1200 rounds and sits it the car no problem.
Ignition Override
Member
Never practice with a rifle magazine that holds over five rds.
Ammo lasts a good while in the Savage bolt-action .22, but you can use up quite a fair bit before sweat obscures your entire view through shooting glasses
, unless you just carried it and a small backpack a quarter mile.
But if its max. capacity is larger, never load more than three-five rds. in it.
As people seem to hint on certain gun websites, any day now after the empire has suddenly fallen, the luckier people might live in a compound with a foxy Australian lady rock and roll singer, where people protect "the precious juice", encircled by leather-bedeckt barbarians (with mohawks) who wander the wasteland.
Therefore, smaller mags ( i.e. SKS vs. AK) are not fashionable, nor macho.
Ammo lasts a good while in the Savage bolt-action .22, but you can use up quite a fair bit before sweat obscures your entire view through shooting glasses
, unless you just carried it and a small backpack a quarter mile.But if its max. capacity is larger, never load more than three-five rds. in it.
As people seem to hint on certain gun websites, any day now after the empire has suddenly fallen, the luckier people might live in a compound with a foxy Australian lady rock and roll singer, where people protect "the precious juice", encircled by leather-bedeckt barbarians (with mohawks) who wander the wasteland.
Therefore, smaller mags ( i.e. SKS vs. AK) are not fashionable, nor macho.
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Nushif
Member
Rubbermaid plastic-ware is this reloader's best friend! I literally have a huge stack of them to keep things orderly.
As much as I *want* that Beretta ammunition holder ... I can't afford it.
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