Is the shooting experience being priced into Elitism?

[gunsandreligion]

All hobbies or sports cost $. I think a big reason it seems to cost more is because we shoot a lot more centerfire than we did in the past. Around here 22 costs around $15-$17 a brick, and 12ga is about $4.75-$5.25 for 25, which is pretty good. I also think it will seem cheaper if you use a auto less.

 

[jcwit]

Around here 22 costs around $15-$17 a brick,

Match .22 LR that I shoot is $75.00 a brick and up.

 

[22-rimfire]

So I can rent a lane at the range for $9, a couple bucks for targets, and $20 in ammo...about $30 to practice and get better...once or twice a month...anyone can afford that if they're smart with their money.

I tend to agree with that. For me, shooting is simply not a priority even though I have a lot of ammunition available to me. Price is always a factor, but time and motivation is a much bigger factor. Heck. I am a member of a private club that is under 10 miles from my house and I still don't make it there more than a couple times a month at best. I simply don't have much free time that I want to use up shooting.

Good 22 ammunition does cost a bit. I buy it and shoot it.

The shooting sports in general is not ELITIST at all. I consider it rather blue collar, so I fit right in.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Somebody mentioned "priorities"...I agree with that.

Myself...I'm a truck driver and I do not even own a personal vehicle (my wife does and its not anywhere near a new one), but I have a few guns and plenty of ammo and reloading supplies.

We do not have satellite or cable TV...but we have trial cameras, all sorts of hunting gear, (that stuff is expensive).

It comes down to what a person wants...if hunting and shooting is what you want, it can be afforded even on a truck drivers income.

 

[roadchoad]

You can buy a 9mm and 200 rounds, or a .22 rifle and a brick for less than 200 bucks. Pretty affordable in my opinion. It cost me a couple hundred bucks for my son to play football each year, shooting is a pittance compared to that.

Other things cost less now as well. I mean, think of the $200 tax stamp for NFA items. That hasn't changed since 1934, so realistically, the cost of that is a small fraction of what it once was.

 

[Beak50]

My fin law got me into shooting and has 2-3 time's as many gun's of all sort's Browining's.ect kinda high end I guess, with leupold glass.I Have a few fine gun's myself,but these day's We are gonna buy my son a Cooper with Primo glass and call it quit's for collecting except the old Mil-surp's.To buy the set up we have in his basement we got now there is no way possible I could ever afford it now being on Disability and him retired.My fin law alway's said that all gun related stuff would skyrocket!I'm looking at a box of Marlin 444 shell's I paid $15.95 for what are they now?Over $30.00.

 

[jsimmons]

You don't have to buy the designer guns. I purchased a RIA 1911 FS Tactical for $420, and greatly improved its accuracy by spending another $160 on a drop-in barrel/bushing kit and an adjustable match trigger. Total outlay less that $600, and it out-shoots my $1000 Springfield (even after being massaged by their Custom Shop). You can also get a RIA 1911 G.I. for less than $400.

As far as ammo goes, my wife has gotten in the habit of picking up a box of .45 ACP for my 1911's, and a couple of boxes of Tula .223 for my ARs, every time she goes to Wal-mart, and we have a constant supply of about 800 rounds of each caliber available at any given time. It's not hard to stock up on ammo that way, especially during the winter months when it's just too damn cold to go out and shoot.

Accurate rifles can be had relatively inexpensively, especially if you buy a .22. Savage bolt guns, a Ruger 10-22, or Henry H001 can all be had for less than $200, and ammo is super cheap compared to center-fire cartridges. If your tastes go more towards evil black rifles, a S&W M&P15 Sport is between $600-700, or you could always get a AK-47.

 

[Pilot]

After all, have to pay for the executive bonuses somehow..

That comment was really uncalled for. I could say the same thing about union wages. Take your jealousy and class warfare elsewhere pal.

Everything is getting more expensive. We have a lot of hidden inflation, that nobody, including the media is talking about. Commodoties, metals, energy (fuel) all have combined to make guns and ammo more expensive. I reload, and shoot a lot of bulk .22's. That's how I deal with it.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

We have a lot of hidden inflation, that nobody, including the media is talking about.

That comment was really uncalled for. You can't just "hide" inflation; it's determined by an un-controversial index of goods and services, all of which have prices anyone can look up for themselves. Consumer Price Index.

When you look at the numbers on any given commodity that seems to have gone up, it's most likely still cheaper than before the crash. Gas is definitely still cheaper than it was for most of 2008. Copper? Down from where it was a year ago. Lead? Way below pre-crash prices. So depending on which two points in time you're comparing, those goods could actually deflate the measurement of overall inflation.

And here's a huge one that's gotten much cheaper: houses. ...though I'm not sure how that factors into determining inflation, because I don't know whether they measure the raw value of something like a house, or the amount mortgage holders have to pay on a loan for any given piece of property.

Man, reading this CPI stuff is making my head hurt. No more statistics after doing math homework!

 

[22-rimfire]

I will say that speaking in generalities, high end precision target shooting is sort of elitist. But nobody is forcing anyone to buy or build these rigs. I say... more power to ya if you want to and can get into that sport!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Now, my personal opinion....over the last few years of reading various gun forums, I've seen a few more posts about people buying high-end bolt guns, like Sako or Cooper because, well....the price of ammo is so expensive, that the price of a quality gun pales in comparison. Why run expensive ammo through a cheap gun, right?

I have never understood the notion that there is supposed to be some sort of financial harmony between ammunition, guns, and their accessories. I am fairly certain that the gun doesn't care about the price of the ammo and the ammo doesn't care about the price of the gun. The optics are pretty much unclear on this as well.

 

[langenc]

Ammo is expensive..

Compare it and range expenses for the non club members to a ticket to a NFL, NBA or eve at the movies..

Eve at the movies w/ pop/popcorn probably in the $15+ range and there are very few movies that interest me..

Tickets to NFL/NBA-I have no idea but more than I spend for gas, target fees(22 BR match) and ammo, Im sure. I drive 140 mi (one way) to the match, plus $8 bridge tolls to get to the range.

 

[Walther P99]

Jealousy and class warfare? Sorry but wrong. My comments were based on my experience as an accountant/auditor..

 

[oneounceload]

way too many seem to be too young to remember what ammo and reloading components cost back in the 70's and 80's when things cost more then than they do now and wages were a LOT less............we had some good years (price-wise) on ammo and components and everyone seems to think they should always stay that way, when there is global pressure on the raw materials............ we helped enrich the Chinese and Indian economies to the point they now have a middle class who wants things like cars (lead batteries), electronics (precious and semi-precious metals), and a government who now wants the military to NOT sell brass to commercial ammo makers, but lose money having it shredded and sold to the Chinese

 

[sixgunner455]

.22LR is my primary means of shooting entertainment, and has been ever since I got into shooting. I own more of them than anything else.

But I do own other guns now, which I didn't used to, and I handload, too. Back when 9mm cost 10 bucks per hundred, I bought all of it I shot, but now, twice as expensive, it's hard to make myself pay for commercial ammo for it, so I started reloading for it. .38 got more expensive, too, so I reload for that. And my .243, I can't hardly make myself pay a dollar a round for it. But .25/rd to reload, I'll do.

I don't reload so I can afford to shoot. I can afford to buy ammo. I reload so I can shot more per dollar I spend.

Elitism? Nah. I don't know any shooters that don't want more people in the sport, that don't want to see kids at the range, that won't share ammo with somebody that wants to try their guns.

This is one of the most inclusive sports there is. The price of entry is a .22 rifle and a brick of ammo, on up to as much as you want to spend, but nobody thinks less of the guy with just the .22. They just want to see him get out and shoot.

 

[jcwit]

The price of entry is a .22 rifle and a brick of ammo, on up to as much as you want to spend, but nobody thinks less of the guy with just the .22. They just want to see him get out and shoot.

Try showing up at a .22 Benchrest match with your Romanian M69 bolt action & a brick of Remington Yellow Jackets.

 

[tnelson31]

Try showing up at a .22 Benchrest match with your Romanian M69 bolt action & a brick of Remington Yellow Jackets.

Is that the shooting experience, or the competition experience?

 

[jcwit]

Not sure, but it sure would be an enlighting experience, No?

 

[Pilot]

That comment was really uncalled for. You can't just "hide" inflation; it's determined by an un-controversial index of goods and services, all of which have prices anyone can look up for themselves.

We're talking about ammunintion and guns right? Where do you see commodities such as metals, in the CPI? This is probably one of the largest factor in costs, and it is not tracked in the CPI, so many don't see it unless they follow the commodities markets. Many don't even follow the CPI, nor does the media often discuss it becuase it often BORES people, and they turn the channel. Just because something is public info, doesn't mean it gets read. Yes, shame on us, but it is a reality.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES (breakfast cereal, milk, coffee, chicken, wine, full service meals, snacks)
HOUSING (rent of primary residence, owners' equivalent rent, fuel oil, bedroom furniture)
APPAREL (men's shirts and sweaters, women's dresses, jewelry)
TRANSPORTATION (new vehicles, airline fares, gasoline, motor vehicle insurance)
MEDICAL CARE (prescription drugs and medical supplies, physicians' services, eyeglasses and eye care, hospital services)
RECREATION (televisions, toys, pets and pet products, sports equipment, admissions);
EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (college tuition, postage, telephone services, computer software and accessories);
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES (tobacco and smoking products, haircuts and other personal services, funeral expenses).

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpifaq.htm#Question_7

 

[Pilot]

Jealousy and class warfare? Sorry but wrong. My comments were based on my experience as an accountant/auditor.

So then you would know what the percentage of executive bonuses were compared to total operating expenses, or even just total labor costs, right?

Please.

 

[sixgunner455]

Not sure, but it sure would be an enlighting experience, No?

Especially enlightening since, if you did show up like that, you'd probably end up shooting some Wolf or Eley through somebody's match rifle, just to show you what a rifle and ammo set up to compete in that game can do.

Just sayin'. I can't remember the last time I admired someone's gun at the range and wasn't offered a chance to put a few rounds through it, whether it was a match rifle or a machine gun.

 

[Walther P99]

Deleted

 

[Walther P99]

So then you would know what the percentage of executive bonuses were compared to total operating expenses, or even just total labor costs, right?

Please.

Doesn't matter when most of them are also members of the Board of Directors that is approving the bonus payouts in the first place.. Oh, and many of these places incurred operating and net losses when the payouts were made.

 

[jcwit]

Especially enlightening since, if you did show up like that, you'd probably end up shooting some Wolf or Eley through somebody's match rifle, just to show you what a rifle and ammo set up to compete in that game can do.

Just sayin'. I can't remember the last time I admired someone's gun at the range and wasn't offered a chance to put a few rounds through it, whether it was a match rifle or a machine gun.

Maybe, Maybe not. Check out the responses from this current thread on this site

http://benchrest.com/showthread.php?81759-Where-Have-All-The-Shooters-Gone

Might get a little enlightment as one gets into the posts.

 

[hang fire]

Is the shooting experience being priced into Elitism?

Nope, that is why the Russians made 17 million Mosin Nagants and are shipping them to the US to be sold cheap.