Shooting less due to high gas prices and ammo cost?

[Redlg155]

Fellow Shooters,

Just wondering how many of us have had to modify our shooting habits due to the gas prices being so high as well as the price of ammo skyrocketing. I know I have been shooting a lot less.

This has also lead me to put more though as to what I shoot. My Vector Arms Uzi is fun to shoot (nope..not a FA), but even at semi automatic a 100 rds at 19 dollars a round for the cheap stuff gets expensive. I've recently bought a M1A, and she's expensive to just fill a couple of 20rd mags. It looks like my Romy Ak and .22 will see a lot more use.

Anyone else have to make a drastic change in ammo or weapon purchases recently?

Makes you wonder if the anti gun folks are a little more than thrilled at this.

 

[K3]

I cut back on groceries and electricity usage. The wife gets no more spending cash for shopping. My 2 year old son will be getting a job soon.

Daddy will keep shooting. He will increase if possible, depending on Junior's income.

 

[Chipperman]

I have not been to the range in about 4 months. Mostly it's been lack of time, but money is part of it.

My 2 year old son will be getting a job soon.

I'm gonna have to show this post to my twin 7 year old boys. Slackers

 

[El Tejon]

Red! How have you been? Good to see you around.

No change here. Just last weekend I scored a deal on .50USMG and 7,62AK ammo at a gun show here in Lafayette (the AK ammo was all tracer too!). Still got my golden touch with ammo.

Of course, "if current trends continue" I may get back into reloading. *shudder* El Tejon at the reloading press--evacuate the neighborhood.

 

[ChrisVV]

Google "Economic Shock Testing"

I did it for you. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=XJX&q=%22economic+shock+testing%22&btnG=Search

 

[FreeinAZ]

Even reloading costs have doubled! I have been shooting more 22's recently, and shooting less often (but more when I go--22 that is!) Caliber conversion kits are a lifesaver!

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Re-discover the joys of .177 bb and pellet guns!

Also, my mini-14 has now not been fired in almost 2 years as it is HALF the cost to shoot EVERTYTHING else I own instead!

I bought some junko-reloads in .223 at a garage sale and may blast those just to make sure the thing still works!

 

[M2 Carbine]

Shooting less due to high gas prices and ammo cost?

No.
I've always tried to econonize with my ammo costs, while shooting all I want.
Started reloading about 1962.
I buy ammo and reloading components in bulk to allow me to shoot as much as I want while saving money.
When I saw the writing on the wall I increased my buying, so that now for some years to come the max my ammo will cost is $4.00 a box.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

100 rds at 19 dollars a round

Holy Cow! You need to shop around a bit.

 

[Damon555]

I got rid of all my centerfires except one. It doesn't get shot unless I need something to hunt larger critters with. I've been stocking up on .22lr ammo and guns. I also have an adult airgun that is tons of fun to shoot. But if you want to shoot a lot then rimfire is the way to go.

 

[guntotinguy]

The wife and I have cut back a little bit,mostly to 'stockpile' ammo and buy a few more rifles we've been talking about.

 

[Asherdan]

I shoot the same, but if I didn't make some changes I'd be shooting much less. Some of the changes I've made:

Gas: I now stuff everything in a Dodge Neon for the 90 mile round trip. Gotta go slow up the canyon the club is in but it works. I'd rather take the Dakota but the 12 MPG difference makes a difference.

Centerfire rifle and handgun - When prices started spiking I put all the hunting bullets I use on the shelf that I could get my hands on. Worked up loads for each and then reloaded in bulk and put my hunting loads on the shelf. I'm set for quite a while. For range and year round plinking I've worked out, in 45/70 for example, cast loads using Unique that are accurate yet very economical. If my cast cost goes above 20 cents a bullet, I'll start casting my own. Just a personal cut off number there.

.22lr - I have a CZ452 Special that is a real fun rifle in its own right. I'm lucky in that it shoots lights out with the Rem golden bullet bulk ammo. I pick up another box every time I have an extra $15 in my pocket. I put a decent fixed 4x scope on it and its turned out to be a great all around trainer and fun to boot.

 

[00-Guy]

Check with the ATA

I am here to tell you that all of the clubs in my area are hurting with regard to attendance at ATA registered shoots. We are throwing fewer targets to fewer shooters. All of the local state shoots (Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania) were down from 2007 which was down from 2006. The reason cited is often costs of shells (STS and Win AA are up 50%) as are all reloading compoments. Cheap shells formerly $30 flats are now fast approaching $50 per flat.

Also not only are ATA shoots down, so are the local leagues. It does hurt especially the smaller clubs.

Since the question for this thread was am I shooting less, the answer is yes.

 

[Orange_Magnum]

No, but because of bruised wrists from hot .357 magnum loads.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Spending less on centerfire and more on rimfire. Cheaper

 

[mpmarty]

Nope. I live 25 miles out of town and so when gas prices go up I stay home more, reload more and shoot (on my own range) more. I cast my own bullets, buy powder in lots of $500 or more to get Grafs discount and shipping. Have over 30,000 large pistol primers and 20,000 large rifle primers. Two referigerators full thank you. I'll shoot all I want.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Attention all of THR: Party at Marty's house!

 

[TexasRifleman]

More ammo price than gas.

I used to shoot a LOT of .308, that's been trimmed down quite a bit.

The .22LR sees a lot more action than it has in a very long time as well.

I got into reloading back in the 80's but put all that in a closet for the longest..... it's all back in use again too.

We'll get through it eventually.

 

[chipperi]

I was farting around with the idea of shooting IDPA matches that a local club has once a month. But $20 entrance fee + 200+/- rds of 45acp for each match is too pricey for me.

 

[lee n. field]

It's 25 miles to the club. It cost me on the order of $8-$10 in gas to go there and back.

I go less than in the past, alas.

 

[Floppy_D]

I used to spend more time shooting at the outdoor range, but it's an hour drive, and that becomes a limiting factor.

I cast and reload, so the cost of ammo hasn't really hit me, and my favorite indoor range is about 4 miles away. If anything, I shoot a lot more now, just indoor pistol instead of outdoor rifle.

 

[Bear2000]

Hate to say this, but I drive a Prius - 52 mpg average, or about .08 cents/mile. 25 miles round trip to the club, or about $2.

The upside of these gas prices is that they're forcing us to conserve, buy and produce more efficient cars, and think about real solutions to get us off foreign oil. That's good for the country in the long run. And no matter where you stand politically, both candidates are talking serious about energy. Their plans are different, and you could argue for one or the other (which we shouldn't do here!), but they're both serious, and that's a good thing. We've got a great opportunity to move toward energy independence, and the only thing that created that opportunity was high gas prices, as frustrating as they are in the short term.

 

[BikerNut]

The Cheap Way to Shoot

I can swing by a pistol range in Des Plaines, IL in about 20 minutes, but haven't had the time lately.

Outdoor ranges for high-powered rifles are all more than an hour away, which makes a round trip a gas-price issue.

But I shoot a lot of .22 in my basement mini-range (I have a VERY effective backstop behind my target hanger). For some reason, I bought a trillion rounds of .22 ammo a long, long time ago, including a lot of .22 shorts, CB Caps and subsonic. Now it's starting to get used.

It makes very little noise, too, so they neighbors won't panic and think a terrorist is on the loose.

 

[Hook686]

It is all relative.

A man has to have a hobby to get him out of the house. If he sticks around he'll end up doing 'Woman work. Bowling, golf, tennis, glider piloting, hang gliding, sky diving, SCUBA, sailing, skiing, .... All cost money. Dinner and a movie with the SO will set me back $75.

At these cost comparisions a trip to the range costs maybe $45. Cheap entertainment I'm thinking.

 

[kamagong]

Ammo keeps me from shooting as often as I want, but gas doesn't really factor in all that much. It probably has to do with the fact that the range is two miles from my house and I drive a Honda Civic.