Shooting Sports Spending Levels?

[ronsatspokane]

Here is my perspective on shooting sports, especially competitive shooting. I am into F-Open. You REALLY do need at least 2 rifles. Building a "Full-Blown" F-Open rifle is not cheap and adding a top-shelf scope will be about 50pct of the cost of the rifle. If you shoot all year, you will be changing barrels every year. Unless you spin up your own barrels, you will spend about $425.00 give or take and another $300-350 to chamber it up, times at least 2 for the 2 rifles, can become expensive. Then in order to burn out those barrels, you are looking at "about" 1500-1800 rounds. With the cost of components, that it a tidy sum. Then IF you feel your skills are good enough to be developed into a TOP competitive shooter, T-R-A-V-E-L will be a necessity to various ranges for competition to hone your skills to become competitive on a National level. Not to mention, shooting all year is mandatory.

If you want to do what I do and shoot more for fun, than to win, win, win, costs are A LOT less. However, if your desire is to become competitive on a National level, costs soar. I am not talking about "going to the Nationals">>> I am talking about having a realistic chance to win or at least "generally" coming out in the top 20 percentile. I shoot about a half year now-a-days and never travel anymore. I still spend about 3-4000 per year. Someone who is dead serious, I would peg their "shooting costs" somewhere in the vicinity of 20-25K per year! And that is NOT including going overseas for a "world" event!

No matter how you cut it, shooting is expensive! But it can be phenomenally expensive, depending on your goals.

Beat me to it. Like you, I shoot to do well but don't invest the time and money to be competitive on the national or world stage. I shoot with people who do though and occasionally do well or come very close. To be competitive at a national level you need deep pockets and lot's of time for training. But that is true of most sports and of life in general. Sacrifice and dedication often produces results.

 

[Cecil S.]

Hello.........ahhhhhhh.....my name is Ken.......and ....ahhhh......i have a problem that I am very comfortable with. Is this a problem?

 

[ShootDots]

Beat me to it. Like you, I shoot to do well but don't invest the time and money to be competitive on the national or world stage. I shoot with people who do though and occasionally do well or come very close. To be competitive at a national level you need deep pockets and lot's of time for training. But that is true of most sports and of life in general. Sacrifice and dedication often produces results.

For several years, I tied to be competitive at a national level. However, my skills, especially at wind reading, could never really reach where it needed to be. However, being a "relatively quick learner", e-v-e-n-t-u-a-l-l-y I began to realize I was always going to be a "decent" competitor, but not a TOP competitor. Now I just enjoy the shooting and the camaraderie of fellow shooters at the matches.. That's where the real fun is anyhow!

 

[scasa]

It helps that there no shooting sports in east central Kansas. No .22 benchrest of any kind. Closest range is about 70 miles. I have a 50 yard range shooting from inside my shop. It's kinda boring shooting against myself so I don't burn up a lot of ammo. As far as equipment goes I pretty much make all my own stuff. I buy a few barrels, make my own actions and sometimes the triggers. Stocks I make as well as my rests. I probably don't spend 500 a year on stuff but still get a few new guns every year. Probably get 3 this year. Still loaded up with powder bullets and primers

 

[ronsatspokane]

For several years, I tied to be competitive at a national level. However, my skills, especially at wind reading, could never really reach where it needed to be. However, being a "relatively quick learner", e-v-e-n-t-u-a-l-l-y I began to realize I was always going to be a "decent" competitor, but not a TOP competitor. Now I just enjoy the shooting and the camaraderie of fellow shooters at the matches.. That's where the real fun is anyhow!

You and I are in the same boat. I'll still shoot nationally as in I was registered for Berger SW nationals but I've been forced to withdraw due to extenuating circumstances. Next time maybe. I do spin my own barrels so that cuts some costs and I don't buy a new action or two every year so that saves as well. I just repurpose what I have and try something new. It keeps it fun and entertaining. And the wife does not have to ask those probing questions about what happened to the bank account.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I try to spend as little a month as possible. It doesn't always work out that way.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Or if your a college football nut. Top end box for PSU football next year will be 28,000.00. Of course this does not include travel to and from the game or refreshments and only covers the half dozen or 7 home games. Shooting is cheap. Who spends that kind of money for 6 or 7 matches?

 

[slm9s]

Buying rifles/scopes/pistols is just the monthly contribution to the Redneck IRA!

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I have a friend that changes hobby’s about ever two or three years. It seams like as soon as he has bought all the bells and whistles for the “now” hobby he’s ready to move on to the “next” hobby! Shooting is/was his last, Im kinda waiting to what his next is. And yes shooting can be an expensive hobby if you let it. Life is short you work for your money enjoy it but if it becomes a financial burden to me that takes the fun out of it. I always get a kick out of watching someone bring “junk” to the line and kicking some butt Including me Lol