Average amount of ammo used a range?

[Thlax]

I'm finally getting my own pistol! Therefore I can go to the range every weekend now and practice without having to rent all the gear and such.

However, I was wondering how much ammo people normally buy/use per a range session?

I was thinking 150-200 rounds per range trip depending on the weekend for myself? Being a college boy, money isn't growing on the trees to spend as freely as I'd like

Just wanted to see what everyone else does!

Thanks-

-D

 

[black_powder_Rob]

If you are worried about cost get a 22lr and practice with one of those. I myself expend about 300-400 rounds a range trip. I shoot pistols and rifles usually and only go about once a month or so.

 

[docnyt]

You're gonna get a whole range of replies here (pun intended).

Depends a lot on your budget and time constraints. Personally, I average 200 rounds on handguns and 50 to 100 rounds on rifles since the AR ammo and milsurp ammo tends to be more expensive, and I don't really want to beat on my shoulder that much.

 

[dnlgao]

150 rounds of 9mm.

 

[lucky-gunner]

ammo

You can't really go by a set number of rounds for your range visits. Some days I can shoot for what seems like the whole day. Sometimes only a half hour or so. Once I notice that I'm starting to tire I normally hang it up. You can do a lot of damage to your skills if you are shooting when your tired. It's a good way to develop bad habits.

If you want to shoot a lot get a .22 or a conversion for pistol.

For a plain answer I shoot around 50-250 centerfire ammo. I can shoot thousands of .22 LR in a day on the farm though.

 

[bigfatdave]

Hundreds of rounds of .22lr, rarely over 600 between the two of us.
Maybe 150-200 rounds between two shooters for centerfire pistol.
100 between two shooters for centerfire rifle is about normal.

Get a .22 anf find a range other than the crummy rental range, you'll shoot a LOT more and save money doing it.

 

[David E]

It depends what you're wanting to do or work on that particular day.

I've found that 200 rds is generally a good amount. More than that, I'm wasting ammo, less than that, I haven't drilled the technique enough.

Running a high volume technique session can be 300 rds with good results, but I usually don't do those.
Range sessions last 2 hours or so.

People that shoot 500-600 rounds in 1-2 hours might be having fun, but they're not really improving their skill(s)

If all you can afford is 200 rds a month, you'd be better off spreading them out, say, 100 dedicated rds every other weekend.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've found that 200 rds is generally a good amount. More than that, I'm wasting ammo, less than that, I haven't drilled the technique enough.

People that shoot 500-600 rounds in 1-2 hours might be having fun, but they're not really improving their skill(s)

If all you can afford is 200 rds a month, you'd be better off spreading them out, say, 100 dedicated rds every other weekend.

There is a lot of wisdom and experience behind these points.

While there is nothing wrong with just shooting for fun, if you're trying to become a better shot...or even just proficient...you should focus on practicing certain skills with each shot and stop when you get tire and are just slinging lead down range. Plus then you run the risk of developing bad habits with sloppy sight alignment and trigger control.

It is better to shot enough rounds to ingrain a technique, than to try too few rounds on different techniques. You should learn to correctly dryfire to practice what you've learned during live fire.

Actually a more correct statement would be to learn a technique in dryfire and than fire live rounds to confirm that your dryfire practice is correct. Dry fire is more than just pressing the trigger while trying to hold the sights still.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

If you are on a budge and don't reload, check out MasterCast. They will reload for you.

 

[BCRider]

There's a whole lot to be said for getting even a cheap but decently reliable .22 to go with a center fire gun. Shooting rimfire will aid you in developing better skills and the proper mental detachment from the recoil effect faster and moreso than by shooting stronger center fire rounds. I'm not saying that you won't get there eventually but you'll likely find that learning to avoid a flinch costs you as much or more in center fire ammo at today's prices than a used low cost .22 and a thousand rounds of ammo for it costs.

Early on I bought an Iver Johnson Colt Woodsman clone. It gave me some troubles at first but it turned out that I just needed to slightly alter the magazine so it fit up into the well a hair further. It did this because it was a Colt mag instead of an Iver Johnson mag. Now it shoots reliably as can be and groups as well as any other gun I have... which means it's me that is the limit. And it cost me a whopping $125. Down your way it's quite possible that you could get a largely unwanted but decent .22 for under $100. And how much 9mm will $100 buy you? That's right, a .22 and a couple of bulk 500 boxes now sounds pretty darn good, don't it....

Ideally you'd get a .22 that has a grip size and angle that mimics your center fire gun. But in a pinch anything will do that shoots reliably. It doesn't need to be an Olympic target gun but it should be capable of grouping reasonably fairly well so the effects of your efforts and any changes can be seen. Happily that means anything that doesn't have huge rust pits in the bore or great big divots out of the muzzle crown is fine as long as the gun feeds cartridges into the chamber and the empties back out reliably.

As far as flinching goes dry firing is a great idea. But it's too easy to mentally realize that there's no ammo in the gun and to flinch later when there is. Time spent with the .22 aids you a lot in making the transition from dry firing to full power center fire rounds. And it also keeps you at the range longer without breaking the budget. It's pretty darned easy to burn through over 200 rounds in an hour or so. If you make a big part of your range visits consist of doing a lot of the drills and bullseye shooting with a .22 you can cut costs a lot. Granted it's not valid for a lot of shooting skills that must have the kick of the center fire. But there's more than enough things to learn and reinforce where a steady diet of .22 will prove worthwhile. You just need to mix it with a "topping" of center fire shooting to pick up on the other aspects that can't be served by .22. Things such as learning to double tap in the right timing or at least pick up on fast and accurate follow up shots.

 

[dsb1829]

22LR is what I put the most quantity downrange. Usually 100-200rd to practice technique. My 9mm/45/357 rarely get more than 50 rounds on a given range day. Of those the 9mm is the best for ammo prices. I have to agree with what others have said on quantity, after about 200-250rd eyes fatigue and I get sloppy on technique. Maybe over time I could build up to more, but at current anything over that is wasting ammo.

 

[Thlax]

Thanks for all the replies! I understand everyones budget is different. I think I'll be good with about 150-200 a weekend (600-800/mo). Should be enough to get good practice in!

If not, I guess I have to save more for my hobby

 

[TH3180]

Before I started hand loading. I would bring 100 9mm and a few hundred .22lr. Now that I hand load it's a few hundred 9mm and a few hundred .22lr. I don't have time to go every weekend I try to go twice a month lately it have been once a month.

 

[Alpine]

However, I was wondering how much ammo people normally buy/use per a range session?

Last time I used well over 1,000 rounds but, that was with .22lr

I usually just take a box of 50 if its centerfire. If I took more I know
I would just shoot it up

 

[x_wrench]

part of it is going to depend on what pistol you bought. i can burn through 500 22lr rounds in a range trip with no problem. but i could never even think about shooting 500 rounds of 44 magnums in one session. if you are buying a light recoiling pistol, you will use a lot more rounds that a heavy recoiling pistol. a small light weight plastic 9mm will recoil a lot more than a full size steel 9mm. to tell you the truth, 200 rounds out of my 45 is more enjoyable than 200 rounds through my 380 plastic pistol.

 

[rellascout]

For me it is more about time than rounds. I spend about 1 hour shooting per range session. This ends up being 150 to 250 rounds depending on caliber.

Its not about just sending lead down range. For example if I am shooting DA/SA I am doing a lot of 3 shot strings decocking and shooting. So it is going to take more time than SA strings.

I also find that more than 200 rounds your mental and physical concentration diminish. Accuracy and efficiency suffer. I am personally training for a self defense situation not a long extended confrontation.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Should be enough to get good practice in!

If not, I guess I have to save more for my hobby

I highly recommend taking a shooting class or professional instruction to learn good shooting habits before you start developing bad ones...it saves a lot of ammo in the long run

 

[BCRider]

There's no doubt that if you spend a solid two hours at the bench then things become pretty muddy about 45 minutes into the shooting. Far better to take some breaks and stretch out the time. If the range is crowded even shoot for a half hour or 45 minutes and then pack up and go to the back of the wait line while you chat with your buddy's. Or share a lane or bench with a couple of guys you know so you all get breaks in the shooting. Taking breaks helps you keep fresh and avoid tiring your arm muscles out and opening up your groups.

 

[Thlax]

9mme --

I'm taking my CCW course in a month. All set

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

For me:
150 9mm
100 .45ACP
100+ .223
200+ .22lr

 

[Girodin]

For me it totally depends on what I am doing.

Certain skills/drills demand less ammo to work on than others.

It also depends on whether I am training/practicing or just out shooting.

 

[Yarddog]

Now that Deer seasons DONE, I'll have alot more shooting time I reload so
it's not that hard on the wallet.

When at my private range, I work on draw & point shoot with my carry guns
and shoot the .22 for fun ; ) PS I average shoot 50-100 rnds of 9mm aweek on average
Y/D