How much $$$ in Competitive Shooting ?

[M14AMU]

Obviously There's a fair amount of money on the retail and smithing aspects of hunting, hobbyist, and competitive shooting.

I think people have made some money off of the YouTube / podcast Angle of gun reviews and Discussion topics. (I kinda follow Honest Outlaws vids and reviews on Youtube, and a few others)

I wonder though how much money is In the competitive shooting world.... guys like Doug Koenig or Jerry Mikulek or Taran Butler of JJ Racaza.

Let me be clear... i'm not wanting to nose into those specific guys net worth.... i'm more wondering at hiw capitalised / financed competitive shooting really is .... how it compares to something like major league baseball or pro motocross / supercross sports.

I'm wondering about guys that have gone to some of the bigger shooting competitions, and whether , it's all prize table stuff or cash money.

Does anyone actually make a living off of competitive shooting?Or are they kind of independently wealthy ppl who maximize their hobby ?

If your desire is to make $$$$$ you need to take up bowling, golf, or baseball! Shooters shoot because they love to shoot; it's just that simple! And if your intention is to compete....and to compete at the upper level you best be 'well heeled' enough to compete on a very regular basis....like at all the major matches because you will be competing against individuals that are affluent enough that they don't have to work or they either have someone that they can have run their business while they go off to shoot! Making three or four matches a year with a minimum of practice.....you may as well stay at the house!!

 

[True Grit]

I'm amazed that there's not a buy in or a calcutta at every match. It could be a winner take all or a 50-30-20 pay out. I liked the way the Tack Driver match was done. People like me who knew they didn't stand a chance could still buy in but it wasn't mandatory.

 

[Dkk37058]

Back when I started shooting across the corse you could win your class and win NRA awards points it reminded me of Monopoly money but you could use it it pay your next match entry fee . I wish this was still happening it would help out a little.

 

[Gman]

I'm amazed that there's not a buy in or a calcutta at every match. It could be a winner take all or a 50-30-20 pay out. I liked the way the Tack Driver match was done. People like me who knew they didn't stand a chance could still buy in but it wasn't mandatory.

I remember Calcutta's in my old ATA trapshooting days. Could walk out with a brown paper bag full of some serious Benjamins if.............. you didn't choke on the last 25. Ask me how I know.

 

[ELR LVR]

Sometimes people make money doing the darndest things but not shooting have a friend his kid when he was in high school made over a $100,000 a year racing RC car's lol

I would think the fan base for that would be less than the shooting sports.
I honestly dont get it
How do people make so much at Golf
But not shooting
---
I would watch shooting events way more than golf events
---
There needs to be more money prizes for our events though
Someone on here said though if that was the case
Almost every match wuld be booked so quickly none of us would be able to ever enter
So theres a good point there too
So many people entering for the big prize to the point
Your slot would be taken before you even signed up
---
So I guess we have to live with
being able to enter without the match being full already
And go with no major payout in trade for being able to leisurely compete

 

[Will Henry]

I've been involved in various types of competitive shooting since 1971. I figure I'm no more than 50 thousand in the hole. If I had been wealthier, I'd be further in the hole. WH

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I would think the fan base for that would be less than the shooting sports.
I honestly dont get it
How do people make so much at Golf
But not shooting
---
I would watch shooting events way more than golf events
---
There needs to be more money prizes for our events though
Someone on here said though if that was the case
Almost every match wuld be booked so quickly none of us would be able to ever enter
So theres a good point there too
So many people entering for the big prize to the point
Your slot would be taken before you even signed up
---
So I guess we have to live with
being able to enter without the match being full already
And go with no major payout in trade for being able to leisurely compete

I think you’re forgetting about the brainwashed being afraid of the political incorrectness.

 

[ELR LVR]

I think you’re forgetting about the brainwashed being afraid of the political incorrectness.

Well, I mean we have Olympic shooting right?
I just think the whole variety of sports is promoted incorrectly
We also have shooting events on Sports channels right?
---
So are you suggesting if we promote the shooting events to where there is big cash prizes
we might get too much interference and protests?
Help me understand what you mean, I used to watch Shooting events every Saturday as much as Fishing events

 

[mikecockcroft]

There must be a lot of money to be made. There are tons of shooters on Facebook with
“professional shooter” or “pro shooter” in their bios.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Well, I mean we have Olympic shooting right?
I just think the whole variety of sports is promoted incorrectly
We also have shooting events on Sports channels right?
---
So are you suggesting if we promote the shooting events to where there is big cash prizes
we might get too much interference and protests?
Help me understand what you mean, I used to watch Shooting events every Saturday as much as Fishing events

I just simply meant even if the masses enjoyed the events, there’s no way they would support it because in their delusional world guns are evil.

 

[newbieshooter]

$75,000 AG Cup Match on Shooting USA TV Today « Daily Bulletin

Precision Rifle fans should watch Shooting USA this week. On Wednesday, August 2, 2023 Shooting USA offers a special edition devoted to the 2022 Armageddon Gear AG Cup Invitational.

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This Week on Shooting USA - AG Cup 2025 | The Outdoor Wire

NRA World Shooting Championship

The NRA World Shooting Championship gathers the top shooters in the world to compete in virtually every type of major firearms shooting sport including pistol, rifle, shotgun and combined firearm sports, crowning one competitor as the undisputed World Shooting Champion.

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[mikecockcroft]

When 200 losers pay $350 to lose, the winners make money. PRS shooters that will never win or place top 20 will gladly pay 300-350 to shoot matches all year long. Great deal for the 20 guys that win them all.
Doesn’t effect me just my observation.

 

[jk80]

When 200 losers pay $350 to lose, the winners make money. PRS shooters that will never win or place top 20 will gladly pay 300-350 to shoot matches all year long. Great deal for the 20 guys that win them all.
Doesn’t effect me just my observation.

This is what happened to trapshooting. More and more, purses, Lewis classes and calcuttas were slanted to pay high gun instead of say 50 30 20. Didn't take long to make rank and file shooters realize they couldn't hike their leg high enough to get a smell. For a lot of years I won enough I had to claim it on taxes and worry about keeping expense receipts to write off. Now there's not enough to want to worry about playing it. There's about 20 shooters that do fairly well but the money's gone down enough they have to give clinics to help ends meet. It didn't help that most in the industry's aren't kicking in any added money. Bean counters figure they don't need the good will to get shooters to use their products. Glad I was able to participate in the golden years of trapshooting and to win enough it paid my expenses.

 

[Texas Solo]

From what I’ve seen, best way to make money on shooting is to compete and then use that knowledge to make products to get into the industry at that level.

Like Eric Cortina. Now he owns Cortina Precision. Sells lots of tuners, etc.

 

[BHP9]

Great minds think alike.

Near where I live there is a Ford dealer and the dealer principal (daddy) employed his 2 sons and they made him a millionaire. Before that he was well over 3 million in the bank.

Moral- don't hire family.

This true and not a joke!

 

[gasph]

A few years ago a friend of mine was starting out in short range benchrest and so was I. He placed well at the end of his 2nd year and won a couple of plaques at a registered match. As everyone congratulated him on winning some wood he said "to date I have spent about $10,000 and have won two pieces of wood". A couple of the more seasoned guys said "is that all it cost you?".

 

[Fairchaser]

Shoot for the love of shooting competition and mainly for the fellowship of other shooters. Shooting for money cheapens it IMO.

 

[1K6BRA]

I figure I have roughly $40,000 into the long range competition game (guns, scopes, reloading equipment, etc.)Biggest prize I’ve ever won was a Nightforce scope,but by cracky I won it!

 

[GetReal]

Shoot for the love of shooting competition and mainly for the fellowship of other shooters. Shooting for money cheapens it IMO.

Days at the range are some of my best ever. My most recent, I couldnt miss, from 100 - 600 yd (range max) with the AK, 2 diff caliber ARs, or the 6 Dasher.

I never hope to make any money at shooting. I was just curious about people who do.

I am blessed enough to absolutely love the job I make my living do it.

 

[JFrank]

I’m in for the money..