Gas Prices and Match Attendance

[Forum Boss]

For those of you who don't catch our Daily Bulletin, here's a short item covering the issue of Match Attendance and Gas Prices. I'm hearing from quite a few Match Directors that the high cost of fuel is keeping shooters from making long drives to regional and national matches.

My Advice? Team up with other shooters, and consider switching to another vehicle. No, you don't need to sell your F150 dually. But you may find that your second car has all the hauling ability you and a shooting buddy really need. Here's the story:

 

[Forum Boss]

I've been hoping to go report on the Cactus Classic in Phoenix this weekend, but, looking at a 1000-mile roundtrip, fuel costs are signficant. So far haven't found somebody to share that ride.

Lynn, you might check into air fares. Southwest is running a $99 anywhere special right now -- that would be $400 roundtrip for two persons if Southwest flys close to where you need to go. I hate to think of packing heavy guns and lots of equipment for plane transport though.

 

[Kodiak99317]

Here is Saskatoon SK Canada we are paying $1.14 for a Liter of regular gas. 1 US gallon = 3.7854118 liters, so we are already paying,partly thanks to the taxes on the fuel, more to come I think, Carbon tax next...) $4.315 a US Gal. here in Canada.. It was about that price in Aug 2007 too, during the high summer prices. That's about $54 for a 10 US Gal tank fill up,holds some in the neck of the tank too, about 7 more Lt) There is talk of it going to $1.50 per Litre in the summer of 2008 and that's $5.678 per US Gal.

Yes it is getting bad everywhere. We once talked about poor Europe and their $5/gal fuel prices and how crazy that was....and it is here in North America too now. :,

I driving this weekend from ToonTown SK to Sloughouse CA,SE of Sac. CA) for a match,,1st leg of March Madness) approx. 2700 km or 1675 miles one way. I drive a diesel Jetta so I should do it in three tank fills one way, at around $3.50 per US Gal of diesel, so around $120 each way. She gets over 1000 km or around 620 miles per tank on the highway. This helps but I still have to pick the shoots you want/have to make it too at these prices and sometimes, you just have to do it. Life is too short not to have some fun while your here

 

[Tommie]

I'm concerned that fuel prices will put a bite into my PD shooting as well. Ironically, I now fondly reminisce about the fuel prices which nearly scared us off last year. And the way things are headed I may feel the same way about today's fuel prices by this time next year.

Fuel and metal prices have been rough on our hobby.

Tom

 

[Kabang]

Good post ModMan. Last fall I bought my wife a new Scion XB. Then drove it 400 miles round trip to a match. The thing got 32 miles to a gallon at 70 MPH. It feels bigger than it is. I know you needed a good reason to go get a new car.

 

[rayfromtx]

The Toyota Prius gets 55 mpg in my daily commute. I have gotten as high as 65 mpg for an 818 mile tank when I was trying. High speeds cut into it's mileage so I only get low to mid 40s at 75-80 mph speeds when it is loaded down with shooting gear luggage and two people. With it's hatchback, it seems it was made for traveling to matches. It is also very comfortable for my 6'4" 220 lb. frame.

Buy a Prius and you will no longer be concerned about gas prices. I drove f150s and f250s for 20 years. The best mileage I got was 15 mpg. Compared to that, this car will pay for it's entire purchase price in fuel savings alone by the time it's worn out. I am also saving thousands on tires, oil changes and repairs. I hope I never have to go back to driving a truck.

I'm a home builder.

 

[Rustystud]

PauL:

It is not just the cost of gas. The cost of shooting has gone up accross the board as well. Bullets, brass, powder, primers,and scopes, bases rings, and rifles all have gone up. Saddly there is n end in sight.
Rustystud

 

[Forum Boss]

Rusty,

You make some good points. I know that fuel costs and the increased price of primers and lead bullets have really slowed down the growth of the action shooting sports and cowboy action. In those disciplines,I used to shoot a lot of cowboy action because it is very popular locally), you need to fire a few hundred rounds a WEEK to stay truly competitive. I'd say the cost of bullets is up 60% or more compared to, say, 2003.

I know guys who were doing 4 or 5 matches a month have cut back to two.

 

[rayjay]

2007 was my first year shooting in our club's BR matches. I was amazed by how fast I went through powder, primers and bullets. At first I was using Bergers and buying them a couple of hundred at a time so the price hit wasn't as noticable. I later bought 1000 30br slugs at one pop and the $320 tab was a bit harder to swallow.



Fortunately the club is only about 40 mins away so the fuel bill isn't hit too hard. I also have little interest in shooting bigger matches.

 

[Rustystud]

Paul:

One great thing about shooting lead as you can dig it up and recycle it. Melt it down and skim off the trash and flux it and recast. Not so with Jacketed ammo.

Rustystud

 

[GerryM]

Take a good look at all of the facts.
The rising fuel costs have inflated every thing . Not just our shooting. Every thing costs more, transportation costs
are really setting us back. groceries are way up along with all services. There isn't much left with all of the inflated prices. Our economics stink period. Blame the speculators on wall street for this one and the government on all levels for their wind fall profit on taxes. There's no end in sight with this false economy we live in.

 

[rayjay]

If I was going to blame one person I think I would start with Nixon. His trip to China started this slide. Embracing our 'former' enemies isn't looking too smart now.

 

[billmo]

Guys you are right. The country is in one hell of a mess and it is going to take some time and some brains to get it straight. But, I got a feeling it is going to get worse before it gets better. I do remodeling and repairs on beach rental property here in SE N C and work is way off. Nobody is spending any money to repair or remodel. Work is the slowest I have seen it since I started my business in 1993. Hope and pray it turns around. Bill

 

[Ogre6br]

you guys really dont have anything to complain about with gas pricing

1us gallon = 3.785 liters

current pricing in Melbourne Aust PER LITER is $1.39-1.42 for standard and $1.49-1.55 for premium.

$1.39 x 3.785 will give me our price per gallon

$5.26 a gallon- and your complaining about $3/gal

and you guys now control a massive chunk of the worlds oil - irag??

you should be paying about $25 a barrel for oil not $100

LAter
p

 

[Travelor]

My wife and I have also reduced our travel to F-Class Matches. Considering the cost of ammo components and gas, a one day 600 yard Match that is 300 miles away each way is costing:

26 gallons of gas at 23 mph = $80.60
Entry fee $18 x 2 = $36.00
Reloaded ammo
bullets = $28.00,$107/500)
primers = $9.24 ,$35/500)
powder = $14.26,$23/lb)
total ammo cost = $51.50

Total cost at a minimum = $168.10,or $1.27/shot) not considering wear and tear on car, barrel life, or food.

We are staying closer and luckily we are able to still shoot,

George

 

[GerryM]

For those abroad who think we are getting off cheap'
Consider what we the tax payers are paying the military to protect those oil fiels It's a heck of a lot more. i can't even estimate the cost of crude at this time. 155 billion was the new price to help contain the insurgents plus another 55 billion
ddollars Us just this past week or so. I;m afraid to really find out the real price for our fuels.

 

[AJ172SBCT]

For those of us mechanically inclined. I know I am since, according to my wife, I screw everything.

Click Here

It sounds feasible. Anybody willing to give it a shot ?

Jacques