Cost of shooting

[Hamsen]

While browsing the ammo rack at one of my favorite stores
I begin to think about economics and the cost of shooting.

I was looking at a 550 bulk pack of .22lr that was priced a
hair over $15 dollars. That comes out to 2 cents a round,
well 3 cents if I round it up.

So say I spend $15 dollars for 550 .22's..thats a lot of time
shooting and enjoying the range.

Just to compare other calibers.

100 round of birdshot is $20 or .20 cents round
50 round of 9mm is $12 or .24 cents round
50 round of .40 is $18 or .36 cents round
50 round of .45 is $25 or .50 cents a round

Now say I just went and purchased 5 boxes of this
bulk .22lr..thats 2,750 rounds to have some fun
with at the range $75 bucks

This is what it would have cost me to shot 2,750
rounds of the "others".

Standard birdshot = Oddly enough $550 dollars for
cheap shotgun shells.

9mm the cheapest of the centerfires comes in at
a good price of $660 bucks..

.40 is $990 bucks..

and if you didn't re-load it the .45 would have come
to $1,375!! I could buy a used Saturn for that

Thats just 5 bulk packs...imagine the savings on
10! Might have to get a .22lr plinker someday.

 

[pv18463]

One of the main reasons I started shooting 9mm instead of 45 was I couldn't afford to practice with the 45 as much as I wanted.

 

[Claude Clay]

a friday afternoon at the range for my daughter and i may comsume a
brick of 22lr--$20
200 32 long/acp/H&R--$18
200 9mm--$20
200 38----$20
50 357----$25
100 40s&w$12
200 45acp-$25
100 LC----$15

145 total if we take everything; plus rifle of course

about $100 for 2 people for 4 hours of fun & practice.
viva re-loading

 

[Justin Holder]

You can't afford to not have a .22

 

[Bovice]

Reloading is the key to shooting a lot.

For most types of ammo, you can cut the cost in half.

 

[Hamsen]

Claude,

I didn't count your bulk 22 but it looks like
you shot 1,050 centerfire rounds for a cost
of $135 dollars..or .13 cents a round.

I have to admit .13 cents a round is great
considering you shot some expensive calibers
like .357 and .45

1,050 rounds of rimfire would have been about
$30 dollars vs the $135 you spent plus to re-load
costs time and equipment.

But..you had the enjoyment of shooting some
great guns too.

Rimfire still seems to be the king of "cheap".

 

[jnyork]

With a really GOOD air rifle, you can have shooting fun just about anywhere you can find 36 feet or so for a regulation 10 meter range. The air rifle will be more accurate at the design range than your .22, you can shoot in the basement or down the hall or in the garage, no worries about noise, gunsmoke, neighbors etc. 500 rounds of match grade pellets for less than $10.00.

 

[MinnMooney]

Sure, .22LR is cheaper than .300 Win. Mag. but it's like comparing throwing Black Cat firecrackers or lighting up a couple 1/4 sticks. Which is more fun?

To each his own.

 

[kk0g]

Reloading is the key to shooting a lot.

For most types of ammo, you can cut the cost in half.

And if you cast your own bullets you can cut the cost to about a tenth!

 

[jcwit]

I have bunches of bricks of .22 lr that I paid $10 or less for years ago, so shooting those cost me less than $.02 per round. However the .22 lr that I like to shoot costs anywhere from $100 to $240 bucks a brick. That can run as high as $.48 per round, but it sure is accurate.

Now for anything bigger I reload. Biggest caliber is 30/06, this costs me approx $.30 a round using military pull down bullets. Pistol rounds are as low as $.02 to $.03 per round as I cast my own bullets using free lead.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Actually, I'm with the reloading and air rifle crowd, not that .22 doesn't have it's place, and you can't replace actual trigger time on your guns, but Basic Rifle Marksmanship, can be done with both air and .22 then pushed out on the bigger gun, and a CO2 repeater makes dandy pistol practice in your basement, it you jump the gun and shoot yourself in the foot, also makes smaller hole. Most major pistol brands have a air soft or pellet version now.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I've always said, the cost of the firearms is just the tip of the iceberg. If you shoot with some regularity, the cost of ammo over the years will far exceed the cost of buying the guns.
I only shoot 9mm in pistols because I don't want to reload metalic ammo. I do reload all my shotgun ammo due to the quanity that I shoot. Nobody can afford to buy 28ga. Well, nobody I know anyway.

 

[gun guy]

22 lr and pellet guns are great to practice with, even handloading, while 1/3 rd to 1/5 the cost is begining to add up these days. the thing i like best about the 22 and pellets, no brass to pick up.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't know about you, but I absolutely can't blow $100 a day shooting, replace the ammo, and pay my bills. And $100 is probably on the cheap unless you shoot mostly 22LR.

I can't believe you don't own a 22. ...get a 22 plinker someday? How about tomorrow?

 

[oneounceload]

A few years ago, I bought cases of Remington .22 - 25 boxes of 250 each - 6250 rounds per case for $95.00 OTD at a gun show - I still have enough for a loooong time. .22's are great for practice

 

[berettaprofessor]

I have bunches of bricks of .22 lr that I paid $10 or less for years ago, so shooting those cost me less than $.02 per round.

Nope, shooting them costs you whatever the going rate is if you REPLACE them. They're only still $.02/round if you keep hoarding them and don't shoot them or if you're so far ahead, you don't need to buy more in your lifetime.

 

[Claude Clay]

Hamsen,

im semi retired and break even on my 'fun' teaching basic pistol and one-on-one classes on carry in CT--situtional awreness, proper holster(s) and pistoles. as is said here on thr-mindset, skillset, toolset.

in all , i re-load 27 different calibers and consider anything is better than watching tv. so having 3 presses and 4 different calibers at any time, my daughter or i can go and do 15 minutes or an hour.

including rifles an honest number would be closer to $150.

+1 on 22lr--seeing who can knock a golf ball the highest up the berm at 100 yards is fun and i'll put my 452 super brno against anything and at least tie em!

 

[jcwit]

Quote:
I have bunches of bricks of .22 lr that I paid $10 or less for years ago, so shooting those cost me less than $.02 per round.

Nope, shooting them costs you whatever the going rate is if you REPLACE them. They're only still $.02/round if you keep hoarding them and don't shoot them or if you're so far ahead, you don't need to buy more in your lifetime.

Ha! At my age its very unlikely I'll have to replace said ammo. Nor will I likely have to purchase any more primers or powder.

So the price of $10 bucks or less stays static.

 

[A and O]

Hope you live to 115. You will be buying 22lr at .25 ea.

 

[jcwit]

If that happens and I'm still able to shoot, I'll be tickled to pay .25 cents a round, heck .50 cents would even work!

 

[Seattleimport]

This thread demonstrates why I own a Mosquito, a 10/22, and a GSG-5.

I have other (bigger) guns for other purposes. But punching paper? .22 LR, all the way.

As others mentioned, there's also the air/airsoft option. My next gun will be an M14. An M14 that is battery-powered and shoots plastic balls. Why? Because for me, the joy of shooting is in pointing at something, and putting a hole in it. The explosion, flash, and powder--and expense!--are optional.

I mean, this is fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=Qh6ggK_pIpw

 

[oldbear]

As I only shoot 38 special +P, +P+, or .357 Magnum ammo, and I don’t reload shooting has become somewhat pricey. Assorted 38 special at .50$ per round and 357 at .80$ per round have limited my shooting to 150 – 200 rounds per month. With ammo, range fees, and targets I spend about $150.00 monthly.

 

[duns]

.22 is ridiculously cheap but I don't use that caliber for self defense (which is mainly why I own guns). Use 9mm, 38 Spl, 358 mag, 45 ACP. So I don't see any point practising with .22. Even if I started shooting 22 for fun, it would not reduce my costs because I still need to practise with my "serious" calibers.

 

[wvshooter]

I don't know of any leisure activity that is inexpensive.

Fishing. You need a boat, motor and trailer plus all the gear plus the license. And don't forget the fuel to get to your favorite spot.

Golf gets pretty expensive too with the clubs and the greens fees, especially if you play more than once a week.

Have you checked the price of a Harley lately. By the time you add some custom accessories to your ride you're way up the dollar scale.

The best deal out there is hiking or biking or shooting if you load your own ammo. I took the plunge and while reloading demands attention to detail it can be enjoyable at the same time. Also, it's nice to know that if you have the components, primers - bullets - etc. stockpiled, there is nobody that can stop you from producing ammo any time you want to.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Compared to boating its quite cheap.

I remember when we added up the costs of owning my grandfathers Chris Craft. It was $10k a year before you even turned the key. That $10k covered insurance, summer dockage, winter storage, and the most basic of maintenance. If you actualy use it, and maintain it properly ownership costs are about $20k-$30k a year.

My most favorite pastime is sailboat racing... My friend spent $1.7m over a 10 year period racing his boat.

Now we can get into aircraft...I know someone who owns a P51...want to know what it costs to keep one of those flying?


So whats a few grand worth of ammo a year? Its all about perspective.

I shoot mostly .22 because its fun, and keeps the wear off my good guns.