Shoot more or less since Covid started?

[drband]

Less, but due to personal circumstances. We’re the primary caregivers for my in-laws in our home. FIL passed in May. MIL (broken hip) has very limited mobility. I actually stopped carrying while we had FIL with us—dementia. It was just not possible with him in our home.
Range trips are very few and far between.

 

[DeepSouth]

It’s not because of Covid , it’s because of supply and price for me .

Same, Covid had nothing to do with it. Ammo supply/price is my limiting factor, which arguably was because of Covid.
Between more paid off days and the extra income, because of Covid had availability not changed I would have shot more, likely a lot more.

 

[CraigC]

Last year I shot more, a lot more. This year, very little. Can't really say why, just didn't.

 

[AK Hunter]

I shoot way more since covid hit, even when they shut down the range, I found some place to shoot.
I retired one month before it hit, so I have much more time to reload & shoot that I ever did before.
I was stocked up for heavy reloading when it hit & it's a good thing I did.
The other shooters at the range I think got jealous because they would shoot 20 rounds & pack up to leave while I was blasting through 200 or more rounds.

 

[md7]

I marked shooting less. Ammo availability, cost, etc has been inconsistent. The idea of material shortages is a bit of a concern to me also

However, I’ve shot a lot more rimfire and even picked up a Glock 44 to mimick shooting my 19’s. So there’s that to consider

 

[Bartojc]

I'm going to finish this year abut the same as last year although it seems like a lot less. This is down 30% from 2019.

Primary reason last year was that the ranges were closed for about 8 weeks. Since then I just haven't shot as much. Some of it is time and availability, and some of course is component availability. I haven't bought powder or a primer in over 2 years, but the time is coming when I'll need to.

-Jeff

 

[SQLGeek]

Significantly less for me but it's not all been Covid related. The ammo/components shortage and now sky high prices were the first issue. Fortunately my club never shutdown. Personally though, life has been been chaotic. My kids are busier with sports than ever. Last year was very tumultuous at work and this year I spent quite a bit of time looking for a new job and then settling into that new job.

I'm finally at the point where I can start seriously looking at resuming reloading and shooting again.

 

[BigBL87]

Definitely been yes for me, mostly for cost reasons. I have enough of a stash to last me a little while in my most common calibers (9mm, 223, and 22lr) but not so much in the others. I actually have 3 or 4 rifles that still haven't been zeroed just because it's hard to get myself to pull the trigger (literally) knowing how much it'll cost me to replace what I use up.

I shoot out at my in-laws property, so mine is almost all cost related rather than due to COVID itself.

 

[.38 Special]

Less now than at any time since I was about 16 years old, entirely due to primer and powder shortages. Archery has taken over as my "ballistic sport" and probably will continue on in at least some of that capacity even when/if components become available again.

 

[Speedo66]

Less, as in none.

Have plenty of ammo and reloading supplies, but still refrain from going anywhere indoors I don't have to.

Plus, the range i went to did away with any discounted times for seniors or first responders, so the cost has doubled.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I was shooting 5 matches a month plus 100rds practice on the weekends pre-scamdemic.

That dropped to one match a month with maybe one weekend of practice.

Now that the soon to be illegitimate governor is going to turn my state into CA/NY on steroids I'm literally buying ammo like I won't ever be able to buy anymore.

My shooting will probably be reduced to once a month practice and a monthly match every so often.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

The same for me. Maybe a little more with rifles since joining a range out to 300 yards.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

I'll add this.

Last year I saw no difference in shooting at the range and gravel pits I patrol.
I assume people just wanted to "Get Out!"

But now, because of circumstances beyond our control, I am salvaging less brass than last season.
Just my opinion or observation.....
They are conserving ammo or have run out because of component or ammo availability.

 

[jarhead127]

Since I shoot mostly in the backyard, I shoot more since covid started. I sold both motorcycles, had both booked cruises cancelled, and seldom traveled since covid. Sooo, needed some kinda hobby + shooting/reloading filled the void. We normally cruise several times a year, but I won't get vacced + neither one of us wanna cruise with masks (unless it's a Halloween party).

 

[valnar]

Since I shoot mostly in the backyard, I shoot more since covid started. I sold both motorcycles, had both booked cruises cancelled, and seldom traveled since covid. Sooo, needed some kinda hobby + shooting/reloading filled the void. We normally cruise several times a year, but I won't get vacced + neither one of us wanna cruise with masks (unless it's a Halloween party).

I regret moving into suburbia before getting into guns, and now can't leave due to kids. I WISH I could shoot in my backyard.

 

[BWS]

Been heavily involved with archery for over 50 years. We build trad bows,and have a nice 3D range here at the house. The whole covid thing sorta impacted the supply chain but nothing compared to the firearm/ammo industry.

So,shooting firearms became a problem because of not being able to restock. Yes,I still shoot but...... just takes the fun out of it worrying about primers and powder.

Been shooting long range compounds. Under 35 yards we shoot Trad bows. Axcel/Tru ball and QAD co's. are right up the road. We're in a very heavily participated bow area. Got a cpl new Trad bow projects in the works.

Less now than at any time since I was about 16 years old, entirely due to primer and powder shortages. Archery has taken over as my "ballistic sport" and probably will continue on in at least some of that capacity even when/if components become available again.

 

[herrwalther]

Much, much less. My problem is two fold: a) ammo is still harder to find at reasonable prices to replace what I shoot and b) many of my local ranges have closed permanently because of the economic impact of Covid. So not only do I have less ammo to shoot I also have less places to shoot. My closest range instead of being 15-20 minutes away is now an hour away.

 

[Ignition Override]

A) Wuhan/Covid : No change since it began.
Good advice was followed, starting in mid-2008.

B) Tentative future denials of State Dept.
—-license renewals—- for Russian ammo imports:

…no reduction in shooting 7.62x39 ammo until my “reserve” for this goes below approx. 75 percent of the present quantity. That threshold might be met in mid-2022.

Who “says” that you must fill a 10, 20, 30-rd. magazine to capacity , or even half, every time you pick up a centerfire gun?

I never did so, except with both 22 handguns, even in 2017 etc.

 

[MrShooter]

With ammo running 2-3x what it was before, I've cut back by half or more, still shooting my stock.

 

[JEBruns]

No here. Still shooting 200-300 rounds a week, just like pre-Wuhan Flu. My range never closed, although I can shoot in my yard also. I was well stocked for components going in, and have been able to multiply my supplies in the last few months. Costs a little more for components right now, but it's still a lot cheaper than current loaded ammo prices.

 

[RealGun]

COVID was a factor only while the range was shut down initially.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Slightly less, but my wife hasn't gone with me when she use to go all the time. My slightly less is more related to the primer shortage, I have enough primers to last for about two years at this rate.

 

[DMW1116]

I shoot more frequently, but I’ve reduced volume a little. I never shot a lot of ammo especially if I was by myself, which I am most of the time. Even before, it was rare for me to use a full rifle magazine or 50 round box of pistol ammo.

I picked up a starter reloading kit and that has allowed me to keep shooting. Nothing makes me flinch more than knowing how much effort it takes to replace a full magazine. Price for shooting my reloads is still less than buying factory ammo before the outbreak at least for rifle rounds. It’s about the same for pistol.

 

[KY DAN]

I shoot less..... I hate thinking how much it will cost to replace. I have a good stable job and the wife works and am completely debt free BUT $1000-5000 for 10k primmers is ridiculous.

With that said I ordered a cheif aj stock and loop for my childhood red rider bb gun. I have a blast with thar and I can reuse the bb in my trap

 

[JEBruns]

I picked up a starter reloading kit and that has allowed me to keep shooting. Nothing makes me flinch more than knowing how much effort it takes to replace a full magazine. Price for shooting my reloads is still less than buying factory ammo before the outbreak at least for rifle rounds. It’s about the same for pistol.

I guess it depends on what you're paying for components. For me, 9mm reloads are half the price of store bought.
-115gr bullets are $96 per 1000 from Rocky Mt Reloading, delivered
-Last jug of powder I bought 2 months ago was $184 for 8lbs (4gr per shell)
-Primers have been running $65-$75 locally at Bass Pro (I used the $75 number for this)
-I figure brass is free

The above works out to 18 cents a round. Store bought is $18 per 50, so exactly double. And the lowend store bought stuff is not high quality ammo. My reloads are tuned to perform well out of my guns. I tend to equate it more with the higher end range ammo, like Sig and the like. Since I shoot so much, I actually used the above savings to justify a reloader upgrade recently, from a Dillon 650 to an 1100. I'll have it "paid for" in savings in no time.