How many rounds do you shoot annually?

[Arkansas Paul]

I voted without double checking what section this was under. I voted 1,001-2,500 but that's everything, not just auto handguns. That's counting rimfire and shotgun stuff too. Auto loading handguns, probably more like 6-800. Just a guess.

 

[chicharrones]

Lets keep it to defensive calibers from semi-autos. So 380 auto on up...

Okay, I can see excluding rimfire. This poll also keeps down considerably what I shoot per year by excluding rifle, shotgun, and revolver.

 

[Remo223]

I used to shoot 500 in a week. Now I'm under 500 a year I think.

WHAT? I just reread the original post. If it's only counting defensive calibers for *semi auto* handguns, then I'm WAAAY under 500 per year.

 

[1911Tuner]

I tentatively estimated 1000-2500 for me. Time was that I'd burn that much up in two weeks...but that was then.

The poll results will be skewed in any event. The poll is taken on a gun discussion board, which means that the members are, by definition, more enthusiastic and most will tend to shoot as often as they can.

It's a little like asking the members of a NASCAR forum how many races they attend every year.

In order to get an accurate result, you'll have to poll everybody who owns a gun, and ask them for an annual round count. I'd estimate that for every active shooter, there are four gun owners who don't shoot very much at all. It would be hard to estimate how many firearms that are in private hands that haven't been fired in 20 years. Hell...I've got a few that haven't been fired in 10 years or more.

Case in point:

I recently aquired a Model 13 Smith from my stepson who bought it from the original owner. Serial number resolves to the mid-70s. The cylinder had a barely visible turn line on it. Estimated round count...probably 100-150.

A few years ago, I made a trade on a 1965 production Model 10 that didn't have a turn line at all. Estimated round count between 0 and 50.

In the late 90s, I was priveleged to examine a 1917 production Commercial Government Model that had been passed from father to son to grandson to great-grandson. The bluing was still 98% intact on the rails. A teardown revealed that the hammer hooks and sear crown were still showing a good amount of blue. Estimated round count...maybe 50 as a best educated guess. The new owner mentioned that he never remembered his father ever firing the gun, or even handling it very much. It was pristine, and as close to ANIB as any I've ever seen for one that old.

A friend from Charleston West(bygod)Virginia who is an avid hunter and consummate killer of 4-legged critters brought me a fairly rough Norinco that he'd gotten in exchange for an auto repair job. I tore it down and checked everything out...replaced the springs...and test-fired it. When he stopped by to pick it up on his way back home, I gave him a box of PMC ball to shoot in it. That was over a year ago. He shot the gun 7 times...cleaned it...and put it away.

So, if you're after a more realistic figure, you'll have to venture out past the gun boards.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

It's a little like asking the members of a NASCAR forum how many races they attend every year.

Tuner's got it right, but unfortunately even some of us can't shoot as often as we'd like. I just fired my first 50 rounds of the year and it was shotgun shells. Had a great time, but my wife's condition hasn't exactly enabled me to leave here alone much. Right now, I'll be lucky to log 1K rounds this year. As was said, there was a time that was 2 weeks worth of centerfire for me. I'd like to get back to there, fire up my reloading equipment, maybe join a shooting club. But it's not going to happen til I move. I'd like to think that's this year, but house sales......well you know.

 

[1911Tuner]

Stevie-Ray..back in the 80s there was an old guy who'd come into a local gun shop and powderhead hangout every year about the first of November and buy two .30-30 cartridges. Just two. Every year. One year, a guy asked him why he only bought two rounds.

Joe looked at him sorta funny...shrugged...and replied:

"I've only got two deer tags."

That's a true story.

 

[atonguis]

Wow, I like that story Tuner

 

[rellascout]

Tuner you are making assumptions about what the goal of this poll was. It was not written conceived or executed in a scientific manner so why would I expect it to yield scientific results. I was simply interested how often people on this board shoot.

In the end the numbers are about what I would have expected. About 63% of the members of this board shoot less than 5,000 rounds a year. That is less than 425 rounds a month.

For the majority of my time shooting guns I would have fallen in the 5,000 and under category. The majority of my shooting time has been in that category. When compared to the avg gun owner in this country that is a lot of rounds a year. In reality anyone who gets to the range once a month is way ahead of the curve.

 

[1911Tuner]

I wasn't really making assumptions about anything, scout. Just makin' an observation. If you were looking for an average round count for the members of the board, you've got 168 responses out of...I dunno how many thousands of members. If you were trying to extrapolate those results and use them estimate the average number of rounds that the average American gun owner fires...it still doesn't help much.

But it does seem odd that the poll came on the heels of my statements that 95% of the ammunition is being fired by 5% of the shooters...so maybe I did make a wee assumption.

 

[Dogguy]

No idea. The only time I count the rounds I shoot is with a new gun during break-in. After that, I just shoot as often as I can with as much ammo as I can afford.

 

[71Commander]

20K +

USPSA every Sun from April until Nov., plus practice on Wed.

 

[rellascout]

I wasn't really making assumptions about anything, scout. Just makin' an observation. If you were looking for an average round count for the members of the board, you've got 168 responses out of...I dunno how many thousands of members. If you were trying to extrapolate those results and use them estimate the average number of rounds that the average American gun owner fires...it still doesn't help much.

But it does seem odd that the poll came on the heels of my statements that 95% of the ammunition is being fired by 5% of the shooters...so maybe I did make a wee assumption.

I think its pretty clear to everyone but you that you made several assumptions about my the goal of this poll. An you know what assumptions do.... LOL I personally I find it quite elitest of you to attempt qualify the reasons why another member might create a poll or ask a question without any knowledge about that persons intent. You assumed something and then felt the need to correct me. Your arrogance and vanity are showing in your post. This thread has nothing to do with you. You remind me of this song... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmCJUSC6g LOL

In the end the number of members on this board is irrellevant. Since you felt the need to bring it up I will use your 5% of shooters shoot 95% of the ammo quote. The reality of THR or any gun board for that mattter is that 5% of the membership posts 95% of the content. The avg user signs up. Asks which budget 1911 should I buy. Then what ammo should I shoot. Where can I get a holster and then dissappears. The vast majority simply lurk. Others use it only as a place to sell guns. As moderator I would think you would have a better handle on that... No poll on this site is going to ever yield meaningful data unless you got 100% compliance with 100% truthfulness which is never going to happen. So whats your point? Really I have to ask.

Honestly you really crack me up.

 

[matty-vb]

should I count shots fired in indian country for my round count this year? I may need to vote again! haha

on an average year, most rounds are .22 like most people but approximately 1500 apiece of .40 and .45 as well

 

[kyletx1911]

just got laid off but i was on pace to shoot 10-12k last year all in .45 the tommy and all
the rocks

 

[possum]

25-30k a year is the norm.

xd (75%) up until recently

glock 19 (15%) up until recently now it is the main carry gun so it will take the place of the xd in rounds per year.

kel tec pf-9 10%

 

[Morgo]

Approx 25 000 of various centrefire pistol.

Plus .22lr for pistols and rifles, plus centrefire rifle ammo, plus shotgun ammo

 

[Smaug]

I voted 5-10k. I figured 100 rounds per week, 52 weeks a year. I don't shoot every week, so on second thought that was probably a bit high.

You asked about pistols, but I probably shoot the most out of my .44 Magnum Ruger Redhawk. It is a big 7.5" model with a 2.5X scope. I reload, so it is not expensive or punishing to shoot, but is a real tack-driver.

Aside from that, probably .45 ACP, out of my Para GI Expert 1911. I've always liked the caliber. I shoot 9mm slightly better (more accurately and quickly) but it is just not as much fun. To me, it is so easy to shoot a 9mm well that I feel like I'm cheating. Not enough of a challenge, I guess.

Very close to the .45 ACP is .380 ACP. My Bersa 383 (predecessor of the Thunder 380) is just an awesome gun. Very accurate and easy to shoot well. Ammo cost is not much of a factor any more, since I can reload it for around $7 a box instead of getting raped for $20+.

Things may change this year, since I just yesterday got laser grips for my SP-101. Between the accuracy advantage that will give and not having to chase brass, I will probably shoot more .38 Special-level .357s out of it than I will .45 ACP this year.

All you guys who would like to shoot more but don't, should really get into reloading. In my experience, you won't save any money, but it will be because you are shooting twice as much.

$200 is plenty to get you going with a nice single stage set-up. Plan on 100 rounds an hour, and it is pretty fun to do. I feel like a mad scientist when I'm reloading.

 

[millertyme]

It costs too much to shoot when you have to pay hourly range fees. If I were back in AZ I would have said I shoot a lot more.