Biggest impediment to shooting?
- Thread starter AnselHazen
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Kingcreek
Member
Weather and time. My pistol range is east of the barn and my rifle range west of the house. I have ammo and components to the point of excess.
Last weekend the wind was blowing so hard I saw a gust knock a tomcat over in the driveway.
Last weekend the wind was blowing so hard I saw a gust knock a tomcat over in the driveway.
A couple years back, my physician sat me down and pointed out that the air quality where I resided was literally killing me. I relocated to the mountains, and got a natural shooting range in the process. I usually give my nearest neighbor a courtesy call, but I can shoot in my back yard to my hearts content.
Of course, I live in that terrible place - California - and so I can only enjoy outdoor shooting 90-95% of the time....
Of course, I live in that terrible place - California - and so I can only enjoy outdoor shooting 90-95% of the time....
...because you spend 10% of your time finagling those loophole bullet buttons (that they are going to criminalize soon) to do a magazine change for your next 10 rounds lol
ColoradoShooter77
Member
Right now, its the snow and mud in the national forest. I have a shooting hole that is about a mile from the house. I've been tromping around in the mud over the last 2 weekends, it sucks....but by damn I'm going shooting.
Ranger Roberts
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I shoot a lot but I have a home range. I would like to shoot more though. I would say it's a mix of things. As others have said, work and occasionally family obligations are contributors. The biggest problem is that my bench isn't covered any longer. I ripped down the little pavilion with the intentions of extending it to add a second bench. I did that in the fall and then got nailed with the type of weather that you can't dig in. Now it's a waiting game until I can comfortably dig footers.
rskent
Member
It seems like all I do any more is work.
It sucks, but come to think of it so does being broke.
MIL-DOT
member
Me and my best shooting bud of 30 years, are finding our once rural county being over-run by subdivisions,among other issues.
One good old shooting buddy, with 3 ranges on his land, died of cancer a couple years ago, so that option's gone.
Some freinds that used to own a big grass farm that we had the free-reign of, had to sell out, so that's over.
Another couple "freinds" whose family property we used to use, have become full-blown criminal/junkies, are now in jail, and a family freind that is taking over is running off everyone that previously had permission to use the land (this just happened last week).
In another secluded spot out in the woods that my buddy's been using since he was a kid in the 70's, he's also been run off of by the cops.
There's a dirt road near me, that I've used for a quick "stop-n-pop" for years, but I always have to look over my shoulder, and even though we live in a very gun-freindly county (you may have seen our Sheriff's pro-gun,pro-America, pro-Christianity signs featured in the news and internet recently), I know I'll still get politely run off someday soon by the boys in the black SUV's.
After making a number of gun purchases that gives me 6 months membership at our big LGS's indoor range, I've always ignored it, because I hate the things.
Call me a caveman, but I like shooting out in the boonies, where we can shoot from 5 yards, or a thousand. Where we can shoot paper targets......or old propane tanks, TV's and toilets !
One good old shooting buddy, with 3 ranges on his land, died of cancer a couple years ago, so that option's gone.
Some freinds that used to own a big grass farm that we had the free-reign of, had to sell out, so that's over.
Another couple "freinds" whose family property we used to use, have become full-blown criminal/junkies, are now in jail, and a family freind that is taking over is running off everyone that previously had permission to use the land (this just happened last week).
In another secluded spot out in the woods that my buddy's been using since he was a kid in the 70's, he's also been run off of by the cops.
There's a dirt road near me, that I've used for a quick "stop-n-pop" for years, but I always have to look over my shoulder, and even though we live in a very gun-freindly county (you may have seen our Sheriff's pro-gun,pro-America, pro-Christianity signs featured in the news and internet recently), I know I'll still get politely run off someday soon by the boys in the black SUV's.
After making a number of gun purchases that gives me 6 months membership at our big LGS's indoor range, I've always ignored it, because I hate the things.
Call me a caveman, but I like shooting out in the boonies, where we can shoot from 5 yards, or a thousand. Where we can shoot paper targets......or old propane tanks, TV's and toilets !
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CapnMac
Member
The one thing is a mix of things.
It's taken eight years to get back to a job that pays as much as I made in 1996--and paying off after 2008 is still an issue. And, of course, my second job eats at my evening and weekend time.
Lastly, it's DFW--so, there are ranges, but finding one where either the staff, or the patrons (or both) don't horrify me has been a hurdle. I'm planning on checking out the brand new Defender Outdoors venue over in Fort Worth.
It's taken eight years to get back to a job that pays as much as I made in 1996--and paying off after 2008 is still an issue. And, of course, my second job eats at my evening and weekend time.
Lastly, it's DFW--so, there are ranges, but finding one where either the staff, or the patrons (or both) don't horrify me has been a hurdle. I'm planning on checking out the brand new Defender Outdoors venue over in Fort Worth.
medalguy
Member
New Mexico in the springtime means high winds (50 - 60 mph) and blowing dust. That can be an impediment indeed.
WestKentucky
Member
My wife. I love her to death but it seems like every time I have a good chance to go enjoy myself and make the 15, 30 or 45 minute drives to the ranges I like, she adds a few things to the honey-do-list. Today it was changing oil in her car, then she needed help with cleaning out the pantry (she's too short for top 2 shelves). She saw I was frustrated and decided we needed to go cruising some backroads in the truck. I did hit the range, but only had a pocket carry and 1 extra mag with me, but I scored 500 pieces of rifle brass I was hoping to find. Told her I was either finding, trading for, or buying more .308 and .223...got enough of each today to satisfy me that I have enough to fool with now, but still could use more... but yes, the Wife finds plenty things to occupy my time and keep me from the ranges.
huntsman
Member
Cost of ammo, I'm retired and shoot in the backyard so after gun purchase my only expense is ammo.
2bfree
Member
My health.
Deanimator
Member
Work hours. I let my club membership lapse because by the time I'd get there from work, they'd be getting ready to close.
That leaves public ranges. One's a hike to reach. The other's too dangerously unsupervised. All of them are EXPENSIVE.
That leaves public ranges. One's a hike to reach. The other's too dangerously unsupervised. All of them are EXPENSIVE.
herrwalther
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Work for the most part. Between going to and coming from, I am gone about 11 hours a day if not overtime is involved.
Other than that most ranges around me are too far away to make it worth it or not accepting any new members. There is a range up the road within walking distance that I would be at every day I could, but they aren't accepting new members until 2018. I might apply anyway and hope for a hail mary. Another range is opening in November about 15 minutes away.
Other than that most ranges around me are too far away to make it worth it or not accepting any new members. There is a range up the road within walking distance that I would be at every day I could, but they aren't accepting new members until 2018. I might apply anyway and hope for a hail mary. Another range is opening in November about 15 minutes away.
entropy
Member
+1. And SWMBO. And teaching shooting (4-H) on summer weekends. (Though I sometimes slip in a few [hundred] rounds after the kids leave.)
almostgem
Member
For me, time primarily. Honey do's kinda top the list, but I was a but lazy this past winter and didn't spend too much time reloading, so I'm in the garage now mornings catching up. Our issue isn't too cold, but too hot. South Florida outdoor ranges get oppressive starting in April, right through November/December. In the summer (most of the year) it's indoors with a good ventilation/air conditioning system, and handguns.
jdavis123
Member
1. finding time between transporting grandchildren to and from school so parents can get to work on time. Not to mention daily chores.
2. driving to my club range is a 30 minute one way trip.
3. packing up all my range gear sometimes seems like moving.
2. driving to my club range is a 30 minute one way trip.
3. packing up all my range gear sometimes seems like moving.
Jesse H
Member
I used to be the type that was hesitant to bring too many guns out to the range because I dreaded cleaning them. Once I learned a quality firearm will continue to function just fine even "dirty" I shoot more and worry less.
If I don't have time to clean after a range session, I'll make sure it still has enough lube and carry on. Even with duty weapons. I will clean the lenses of WML's that get dirty.
If I don't have time to clean after a range session, I'll make sure it still has enough lube and carry on. Even with duty weapons. I will clean the lenses of WML's that get dirty.
Have my own range so shouldn't be any excuses but currently with spring upon me the garden is waiting, grass is greening up and growing, house could use painting and performing vehicle maint takes priority. I squeeze in a little shooting and I figure with the cost of oil changes, brake jobs, spark plugs, etc keeping my vehicles in shape justifies the 8 lbs of aa5744 coming for my 45-70.
double bogey
Member
At present it is recovering from a 5 level vertebrae fusion and a kidney being removed. All I can shoot now is .22's. Thank the lord I had lots hoarded. Think I can shoot .223, will try and see if the recoil moves anything. Had fusion on Feb 7th.
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