Things I do to save money

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nettlle

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Not that anyone that buys and shoots guns is all that frugal. I just spent 2 hours cutting up bulk flannel I ordered for gun cleaning patches. And I reload. I watch you tube videos and have asked gun forum advice and have managed to keep (3) 1911's running for 45k+ rounds without going to a gunsmith.

Doesn't sound like much but I recently bought another very nice 1911. And I think what I saved doing the above more than paid for it.
 
Not that anyone that buys and shoots guns is all that frugal. I just spent 2 hours cutting up bulk flannel I ordered for gun cleaning patches. And I reload. I watch you tube videos and have asked gun forum advice and have managed to keep (3) 1911's running for 45k+ rounds without going to a gunsmith.

Doesn't sound like much but I recently bought another very nice 1911. And I think what I saved doing the above more than paid for it.
:rofl::rofl::rofl:
I do things like that. But cutting up bulk flannel to use for cleaning guns so that you can afford to buy more guns to clean smacks of being a "vicious circle," doesn't it?:D
 
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I cut up t shirts and blue jeans for patches. I reload. I keep a tight watch over my brass and do all my cleaning with stuff you find at the hardware store. It's not about being cheap, it's about getting more for the money you would already be spending. Can't see myself throwing out a t shirt and then going to buy cotton patches. Can't justify buying multiple brushes when I've got a wad of choreboy (copper scrub pad), can't see myself spending more than a buck a round to shoot.

I can see myself buying a $2000 gun and having no regret though, done that a few times. I can see taking time off work and traveling just to shoot. I can justify buying thousands in equipment to reload and be able to enjoy my sport. I'm just not big on spending it where I don't need to.
 
I buy Hanes white tees in 3 packs for summer, they usually go about 10-15 washes before they get all fuzzy and shrunk, I then sit down with a pair of scissors and cut them into patch size and general cleaning wipe size. It seem absurd to spend $10 on a pack of patches...
 
cutting up bulk flannel I ordered for gun cleaning patches

Same here (I buy at Wal-Mart when random ends go on sale), different sizes from .30 caliber thru .62 for the muzzleloaders.

My old work socks are gun cases for handguns.
I use a sewing machine to stitch up all the holes.

Blue jeans legs with the bottom sewn shut and a
length of string added to the top are carbine cases.

JT
 
I download and print my own target patterns and bring my own cardboard so I dont have to buy them at the range. The trick is to find patterns that dont consume copious amounts of ink.....

If Im feelin really cheap, err.......frugal, Ill just shoot one hole in a blank white paper, then aim at that hole for the subsequent shots.:D
 
dig old slugs from the berm
I’m actually going to do that this week while I’m on quarantine for 5 days (assuming my agency doesn’t call me to work more covid units). We have an old shooting range (public land that someone MANY decades ago decided to shoot at and people just kept shooting there) that was shut down about 2 years ago by the Corp of Engineers. I’m betting there’s probably 10,000lbs of lead in those berms.
 
I download and print my own target patterns and bring my own cardboard so I dont have to buy them at the range. The trick is to find patterns that dont consume copious amounts of ink.....

If Im feelin really cheap, err.......frugal, Ill just shoot one hole in a blank white paper, then aim at that hole for the subsequent shots.:D
Same here. Where I used to work we had way more pallets coming in than going out and every one that came in came with at least one pallet sized piece of cardboard to line the bottom of the pallet. I would make a silhouette shape out of one, make a trace and take a pallet knife and cut out 30-40 man size silhouettes at a time.

If you like printable targets, check these out: https://www.trex-arms.com/training-aids/
 
frogfurr:
You must be doing some strenuous cleaning, and quite often.
Glad you could buy "Just one more" (the response to a wife who asks "How many are enough"?)

Bush Pilot:
You Won Flied Lice and Spling Lo' ? No Won Ton Suu -- Ha' Tee o' Coke ?
 
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Ill just shoot one hole in a blank white paper, then aim at that hole for the subsequent shots

Now that is frugal.

And coming from me, it means a lot.

I'm the guy who makes people nervous when I park next to them at the range.
Actually had one come tell me 'Your car is on fire'.
Just smoke coming from minor oil leak. I figure with 398,000 (and close to being paid for), a small drip is nothing to get excited about.

Now I'm trying to remember if I have ever gone shooting with a rig that was worth
more than the guns I had taken along?

'Can't justify buying multiple brushes when I've got a wad of choreboy (copper scrub pad),'

Great idea, thanks for the tip!



JT
 
I print my own targets, I keep my masters in plastic sheet protectors, I had a part-time job which generated a lot of 8 1/2 by 11, lately I have been experimenting with different shades of paper. At those ranges which require a minimum target size of say 12" x 18" I will use a large target-a silhouette-salvaged from the garbage can. Use store brand adhesive tape to attach my targets and patch tears in the backing.
You'd be surprised at how many well-off and wealthy people are quite frugal-cheap, if you will. They understand "getting the most bang from your buck".
IIRC Fred Huntington of RCBS started out staging bullet jackets from 22 brass.
 
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I make patches from worn clothing and use ChoreBoy as well
I design/print my own targets on paper that will be thrown away (non proprietary)
I save cardboard for target backers
I make my own shooting bags from old blue jeans
I pick up brass
I repurpose larger pill bottles and the silica gel packs for case gauge storage
I repurpose many other containers and zip baggies as well for brass, and etc.
So far, I've been able to smith my own firearms
I mount scopes and minor gunsmithing for buddies, they reciprocate with venison
I pack a lunch. My team eats out at lunch every day; that's easily $1,800/yr I save
I eat oatmeal twice a week
 
I make a lot of my own targets too. Also, about this time a year ago, when everything went online, I discovered I could use all that Zoom time to cut old shirts into cleaning patches.
 
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