The ACTUAL cost of Rifle Match Ammo

[Mhbower]

You need to spread the cost of the brass over it's useful life and consider it a "capital expense". You should be able to shoot quality brass that is annealed a minimum of 20 rounds. I know a shooter that recently retired some 6XC brass that had been fired 40 times. It still had some life left, but he was ready to start a new batch. I have some 6BR brass that is up to 13 times fired and still going strong.
The bullets are the big cost, and I purchased some Berger 6mm bullets in 2021 for about .58 each. In 2018, I purchased 6.5 Bergers for .42 each. The F-Class target is so small, there isn't any option for lower cost "short-line" bullets like we have for Across The Course 200/300 yards.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I guess a guy can just figure it’s just the cost of good mental health to be out with others doing something you enjoy.

 

[rebs]

As with everything else depends on how hot you run it. 223 is pretty mild, I wouldn’t be scared to say 3,500 plus

I shoot 24.5 varget with a Berger 80.5 bullet and cci 450 primer

 

[FrankG]

Read post #1.... This is good!

The cost of shooting just in ammo/components

So this is a good one... Just recently got an accuracy test barrel back from a ammo maker. 308win is the caliber. When ever they retire one as ours as they typically go a long time barrel life wise. I get it back and we look at it. So the accuracy test barrel I got back was officially retired...

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[divingin]

Less steak,

Heresy, sir.

 

[Webster]

Just bought some more Alpha 6Dasher brass ($125). I shot this new brass Saturday in a 60rd match, + 6 sighters.
So 66 rds total @ $2.18 per round = $143.88. Add the $25 entry fee = $168.88.
Now, reusing brass eliminates the $1.25, so now we're down to .93 per round. $.93 x 66 = $61.38. Add the $25 entry fee and I'm at $86.38.
When I started F Class, 10 years ago, I calculated. 75
per round with used brass. So my ammo costs have increased .18 per round, or $11.88 per match, or 19.35%.
Rounding off, that's 1.93% per year. None of this includes equipment. I'm retired with very limited disposable income. I may be getting squeezed out of the game.

Not looking forward to 2025, especially if the election goes South.

Brass. 1.25 cents per round
Powder 22 (8 lb Varget @ $400)
Primer 09
Bullet. 60
------------------------
$2.18 PER ROUND !

This does not include any shipping/hazmat or tax.

Varmint hunting. A lot less ammo cost. More gas money than ammo.

 

[Dimner]

This is me when I think of components when I try a new cartridge.

 

[762willdo]

Just bought some more Alpha 6Dasher brass ($125). I shot this new brass Saturday in a 60rd match, + 6 sighters.
So 66 rds total @ $2.18 per round = $143.88. Add the $25 entry fee = $168.88.
Now, reusing brass eliminates the $1.25, so now we're down to .93 per round. $.93 x 66 = $61.38. Add the $25 entry fee and I'm at $86.38.
When I started F Class, 10 years ago, I calculated. 75
per round with used brass. So my ammo costs have increased .18 per round, or $11.88 per match, or 19.35%.
Rounding off, that's 1.93% per year. None of this includes equipment. I'm retired with very limited disposable income. I may be getting squeezed out of the game.

Not looking forward to 2025, especially if the election goes South.

Brass. 1.25 cents per round
Powder 22 (8 lb Varget @ $400)
Primer 09
Bullet. 60
------------------------
$2.18 PER ROUND !

This does not include any shipping/hazmat or tax.

Buy now save later

 

[searcher]

I've shot both cf and rf at a competitive level of BR and I found overall, rf to be a bit MORE expensive! I could probably flip that by a little bit by shooting less rf ammo but I shot a lot of ammo in rf at the time and at 30 bucks a box, it adds up in a hurry. Both are expensive hobbies but nothing close to racing. I put it on par with pretty serious golf, where you travel a little and play other courses etc, but not talking Pebble Beach either. Even golf, custom clubs and a modest travel to nice ranges etc is on par with what we spend.

Yes. Rimfire ammo has gotten up there, keeping pace on increases with centerfire. For one wanting to build a competitive rimfire - they are not less expensive, that is for sure. With old components I bought years ago, I can still reload 50 rounds of centerfire for the cost of a box of current top-shelf rimfire.

 

[Texas Solo]

So by not racing, I'm actually saving money BR shooting.

I like how you think !!

 

[Taylorbok]

Pro tip: Don't look at the cost.

 

[gpoldblue]

Pro tip: Don't look at the cost.

Yeah..if you think this is expensive,think about your vehicle which is the least used,most expensive possesion you own!

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

Rounding off, that's 1.93% per year.

That's amazing! Bacon is like double what it was a year ago! Eggs are way up. Beef is through the roof...

Seems the tactic might be to make you feel good about your shooting while you get f#@$'d at the grocery store! Reloading costs are the LEAST of my worries...

 

[jxb]

To the OP's post, sure reloading or ammo is more but I'm not sure I can afford it any more now than when I was 30ish. We tracked all our costs in the 1990's and 2000's for reloading as we were doing lots of varminting and it seemed just as bad then as now. Costs were higher than we wanted and we of course groaned when the price of something went up.

Our hobby is no different than any other, everything has went up.

News flash, it has always been that way. My great grandfather talked about it, my grandfathers did, my father does, I do, and my kids do. Soon enough the grandkids will.

It's not just hobbies, look at those that travel for leisure those costs have skyrocketed. None of these are "needs", they are "wants". We just have to adjust as we move through life and define our priorities.

 

[HTSmith]

Yeah..if you think this is expensive,think about your vehicle which is the least used,most expensive possesion you own!

Nah, most of my rifles are worth more than my 2003 Suburban.

 

[Jayplace]

I guess a guy can just figure it’s just the cost of good mental health to be out with others doing something you enjoy.

I look at it as the cost of having fun.

It's the cost of eating out for 2 or 3 people, seats at most sporting events are more for (1) plus snacks, it's actually a cheap day of entertainment.
Compared to racing, it is inexpensive.

 

[noylj]

Couldn't collect your cases? If so, use old cases or, at least, "once fired" cases. What was cost of factory cartridges

 

[Jayplace]

I've shot both cf and rf at a competitive level of BR and I found overall, rf to be a bit MORE expensive! I could probably flip that by a little bit by shooting less rf ammo but I shot a lot of ammo in rf at the time and at 30 bucks a box, it adds up in a hurry. Both are expensive hobbies but nothing close to racing. I put it on par with pretty serious golf, where you travel a little and play other courses etc, but not talking Pebble Beach either. Even golf, custom clubs and a modest travel to nice ranges etc is on par with what we spend.

After reading your post, I couldn't help but laugh because you are correct about the cost of shooting 22rf. The 22rf does cost a little less per round, but, typically a 22rf will be shot more, a lot more. I've shot cf and rf matches also and found the rf more expensive.

 

[Taylorbok]

Yeah..if you think this is expensive,think about your vehicle which is the least used,most expensive possesion you own!

How little do you drive? I drive more than I do almost anything else and I only live 6 minutes from work

 

[searcher]

I like how you think !!

I tell my wife that my gun-shootin' alternative is to go back and buy another offshore fishing boat. She'll help me load the shopping cart......