The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Ulmus on August 23, 2008, 12:08:26 PM
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With everything going up in price, have you changed your shooting priorities?
Do you go to the range less? Do you bring less guns? Do you shoot less ammo while at the range? Do you shoot more rimfire and less centerfire? If in a sport (IPSC, SASS, IDPA, Skeet, ect...) do you go as often or do you miss a match or two? Have you skimped on something else so you can keep up with your habit?
I know it's affected me. I haven't bought any ammo in months and the last time I was at a range was when I went to pick up that beautiful Mossberg 464. (I did sneak in ten minutes at a public range and fired of maybe 35 rounds of rimfire since it was near my official destination, but I can't really count that.)
How's your habit going?
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yes, its let me actually shoot more.( which is to say once or twice a month, rather then once ever 6 weeks or so) Instead of me having 10-12 guys working for me on 5-7 jobs at a time. its down to 2-4 and only 1-3 jobs.
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I shoot less (more carefully) but go to the range more often. I used to blast away, rapid fire, etc. just for the sheer fun of it. Don't do that much anymore. I shoot less .45 acp and more 9mm and .22 LR. I also shoot a lot more Wolf than I used to...the savings are significant and I have no problems with feeding or failures.
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Yes, I don't shoot the ones I really like to shoot as much. The prices of .45LC sting!
I have bought more firearms this year, due to the very likely chance that they will be more next year. But ammo prices frankly "suck".
I shoot my 22 more, and instead of shooting 4-5 boxes, just shoot 2 of other calibers. .380, .40 ..45 ACP, .223,
Looking at a 7.62 x 39, just because ammo is still "reasonable".
I shoot 3-5 times a month and that hasn't changed, just the volume and variety.
Hell, they even raised the price for my Airsoft pellets! >:(
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It has affected me, too. Even the price of reloading supplies is ridiculous. It costs as much to roll your own as it did to buy commercial ammo a few years ago.
I can't believe demand has not lowered enough to cause prices to drop.
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Yes it has affected me as well, as a lot of you know, I dropped out of active shooting 7-8 years ago for many reasons, now I'm shooting competition again, and needing to replenish my supplies, I am getting sticker shock every time I shop.
I stocked up on supplies and ammo many moons ago, If all did was hunt, I would pass on 5 lifetimes of supplies and ammunition for the common person. But, I was and am a shooter, that means shooting alot. although I have what most people would consider more than I need, if I go back to shooting 5k rounds a month, it will go fast. I also want to protect my reserve supply, the stuff that is there if things go bad, kind of like your savings account and 401k, I don't want to touch it. Although prices are so high I could make an easy 3,000 dollars on ammo that I have put away. At some point I would have to replace it so there it is.
I do shoot more .22rf now, as it is cheap and works to keep the trigger time in, when I practice with centerfire, I try to do it, with a purpose, to improve. I love to blast as much as anybody, but it's alot like gasoline prices, I don't do 70 and 80mph, like I used to, when I see somebody peel out at a red light I say " there go's a buck for 30 feet ".
I even have casting equipment and supplies that I have never tapped, because things were so reasonable in the past, but it's there when I want to do it.
My advice, look for deals, on ammo and components. Stock up on any good deal even if you don't shoot that caliber, you can trade it later. Go to older shooting ranges and stores that have old inventory, that may not have been marked up yet. I'm Thinking of building the 5.45 AR15, because that ammo has not gone up much, YET!!!
A side note, match ammunition has not gone up percentage wise like surplus and commercial, for years .308 Federal gold metal 168 match has been 17 - 20 bucks a box of 20, it is only 25 bucks now. Military surplus has gone from 15cents around to 50 cents a round 300+ %, match ammo, up only 25%.
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Yer durn tootin it has affected my shooting.
1. I hardly ever shoot shotgun anymore since the price of shot soared over $40 here. I used to shoot shotgun once or twice a week.
2. I am shooting my .22 more and my centerfires less.
3. I used to bring several guns to the range to maximize my range time. Now I bring only 2 or 3 and one of those will be a .22. I am still using .22 ammo I bought on sale as much as 20 years ago.
4. While I still go to the range several times a week, I do not go to the range that charges me $15 to $20 to shoot indoors. Instead I go to the outdoor range that does not charge me for rifle or pistol shooting because it is included in my annual dues. Did I mention that the clubs outdoor range has a cover over the firing points and part of it can be heated in winter.
5. I dropped out of one of the clubs I belonged to for many years because I was not using their shotgun range enough to make it worth it and they started chargeing a "lead removal" surcharge! One of my clubs made big bucks allowing a mining company to come in and remove the lead from the shotgun fields and rifle/pistol berms!
6. I have reloaded for a very long time. Now I am considering and doing reloading for more calibers than before.
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Yes, I can't remember the last time I shot my .45, strictly 22 the last 6 months or so. And between gas prices and ammo prices I have not shot rifle this year :(
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Yes it has, because the economy (Namely the housing market.) has affected my WORK. I don't get to shoot as often, and cant afford to be a member on my favorite shooting grounds this year. It hasn't affected the number of guns I take to the range (Still have 9 left to clean from last Saturdays trip.). The last 2 range trips, I did shoot fewer rounds of ammo, but both were more due to time constraints than ammo price.
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Absitively, posalutely, AFIRMATIVE. Sucks to be broke, WANNA BUY A FORD? CALL ME ;D
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Absolutely, lead shot that used to be $18 for 25 lbs. is now over $50 for the same amount.
So much for being the shotgunner that I once was...
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I voted no, but here's the background.
I wasn't able to shoot all that much before, since I was traveling so much, and even when I was home, she who must be obeyed had to be squired around like Miss Daisy. Besides, the only ranges were 25 and 45 miles away (one way), respectively, so shooting was a nearly full-day activity.
Now, after the move, I am not traveling, and I have one range 10 miles another 12 or so. So it is easier for me to shoot now. Even though I joined this culture fairly late in life, thankfully, I was able to stockpile some ammo (I even have some surplus Hirtenberger .308 somewhere) at fairly decent prices, plus pick up a Dillon 550B reloader - as yet unused.
Locally, I can pick up Wolf .223 55-gr FMJ for $5 a box, which was no bargain before, but is now. My Sig 556 doesn't know the differance - I went through another 100+ rounds yesterday sighting in the new BUIS yesterday. OK, more than sighting in, I was having fun. I am also blessed with making a fairly decent living.
Thus, my no.
Side note - the new BUIS were a front Samson folder and ARMS 40L rear folder. I could not believe these 2, different manufacturers, mounted on a Picatinny rail and out of the box - zeroed at 50 yards and slightly low at 100 with no windage adjustments. Elevation is a bit off, shoots low, but the groups, oh my, very nice.
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Only shoot 1 USPSA match and 1 IDPA match per month and no practice (lost our range a while back). Occationally will go out with a friend to practice a bit. Used to practice every Wed. from begin/end daylight savings time. I'm retired and have had medical bills lately so supplies and gun purchases are on hold.
Richard
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I don't reload as much as before. Now I spend more time price shopping for components. ::)
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I quit shooting on a daily basis, mainly centerfire rifle, about two to three years ago. I have started to shoot again but only go twice a week with only one rifle at a time. Gotten into trap shooting but only do it two times a month. I reload all my pistol and centerfire rilfe ammo and the price of powder and components is tremendous, so have to limit.
Reading about how far some people have to travel to shoot and having to pay makes me grateful of where I am at. We have a municipal range that belongs to the National Guard but maintained by the city. NG and city entered into agreement where citizens can use the range but range can be closed when Guard needs it. Haven't seen the ranged closed since 92 unless they have closed when I haven't been there. Best part is that there is no charge to shoot, except trap which is $3 a round. I normally shoot 3 rounds, so $9 and three boxes of ammo. Plus I travel about 12 miles to the range but I live outside city limits.
Best part is that I am enjoying shooting more than before. I shoot for fun now rather than itty bitty tiny groups.
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It sure has, and the range is just across the highway from my subdivision, I eked out enough money for a yearly pass before everything went south, s/s disability check doesn't stretch out for ammo.
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I voted yes, but that is not entirely true.
I have shot very little this year, but that has been because of father-in-law's illness and rapid death and everything that goes with taking care of mother-in-law.
However, I'm not sure I would have been able to shoot at the same level of previous years if I had the time. Just last weekend I had the 500 mag out and was asked what it cost to shoot. I told him $1.50 at shot, but then I remembered that I was still shooting ammo I stocked up on over two years ago. I joke that today I'm happy to have a .223 so I can by "cheap" ammo at the price I used to complain about for my .22-250. A friend and I used to claim to not buy .22lr if it was over $9.00 per brick, and we bought a lot of bulk 550 round boxes for that price. Thank God I still have 15,000 rounds of cheap stuff, because now I purchase if I find it at $15.00 (and that is hard to come by).
It has gotten expensive, too expensive, but like eating I like it WAY too much to give up!
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It's yes for me. I go to the range less and shot more 22's also. But my range time has been longer.
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I voted yes. I can still afford to shoot .22's but my range is 32 miles away so the added cost of fuel keeps me at home on weekends. My wife has also had some medical expenses so I can't buy my reloading components like I did. Not being able to shoot on the weekends is depressing.
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Yes, but only in caliber....I still press the trigger as many times, just on a .22, instead of my usual .45 or .44 or .357 or 9mm or .223 or ect, ect....you get the picture. ;D
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Just returned two packs of Muzzy broadheads to Walmart, +$4. Got 200 rounds of 9mm instead. I can always resharpen my old broadheads ;D
Small bore rifle shooting every other week 50 rounds. Club is only 10 miles away.
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Since yesterday when they told us at work that everyone was taking a 20% pay cut for a month or three until they could get their cash flow going, the economy has severely cut into my shooting.
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The price of gas, traveling to the shoots that Marshal and I want to compete in has put a tremendous dent in out being able to just take off for weekends and find a Kansas shoot and go.
We are waaaay in the south east corner of Kansas.. so to go anywhere is a minimum of an hours drive ( to Neodesha Club) and it is a 3 hours drive at least to Hutchinson to their club. Oklahoma is at least an hour or more ( Tulsa being 2) but no matter.. by the time we drive and eat and shoot.. it is pretty expensive.
We reload everything ( and the proice of all of that is going up faster than you can skin a cat) **oppps.. sorry Haz***
and I have property out in the country 6 miles out so we shoot whenever we want to there..( so it makes no difference) but for the social shoots it sure does get pricey.