High Cost Of Hunting & Shooting Sports!

[alabjr]

I totally agree that a lot of kids are lazy and or don’t want to be out of doors, etc. but even as an adult with a full-time job and really only this hobby of hunting/shooting it is super expensive and difficult to maintain with all of life‘s other bills.

I do also agree with those who said that a gun is a one time purchase and that money is spent as an investment for years of use, but I’d say it’s the AMMO that’s the killer! Let’s think about the comparison between video games and shooting:

1. Video game console price is comparable to a gun, both will last a long time (until the buyer wants to upgrade or buy additional)

so far, these are comparable…

until point #2:

2. A single video game for the sake of argument is similar to the cost of a single box of ammo…. But that single video game provides HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS of fun for the kid since it can be used over and over again in that console, whereas that box of ammo goes through that gun and is gone in MINUTES at the range and can’t be reused (even if you reload, you still have to purchase additional supplies $$$)

I’m sorry, but as an adult this is even discouraging at these new prices, let alone a kid! When I think about the fact that every time I pull the trigger on my slug gun to practice at the range it’s $6 that’s going flying out of my gun… shoot 20 slugs and that’s $120 gone in just a few MINUTES!

That’s why I gravitate toward clay shooting, .22lr plinking, (and recently even BB/pellet gun shooting just to scratch the itch without the high cost) because I still get to enjoy time outside shooting but not at dollars per trigger pull.

However, I still don’t shoot half as much as I would want to because of the cost. 

[vdep217]

2 hours ago, alabjr said:

I totally agree that a lot of kids are lazy and or don’t want to be out of doors, etc. but even as an adult with a full-time job and really only this hobby of hunting/shooting it is super expensive and difficult to maintain with all of life‘s other bills.

I do also agree with those who said that a gun is a one time purchase and that money is spent as an investment for years of use, but I’d say it’s the AMMO that’s the killer! Let’s think about the comparison between video games and shooting:

1. Video game console price is comparable to a gun, both will last a long time (until the buyer wants to upgrade or buy additional)

so far, these are comparable…

until point #2:

2. A single video game for the sake of argument is similar to the cost of a single box of ammo…. But that single video game provides HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS of fun for the kid since it can be used over and over again in that console, whereas that box of ammo goes through that gun and is gone in MINUTES at the range and can’t be reused (even if you reload, you still have to purchase additional supplies $$$)

I’m sorry, but as an adult this is even discouraging at these new prices, let alone a kid! When I think about the fact that every time I pull the trigger on my slug gun to practice at the range it’s $6 that’s going flying out of my gun… shoot 20 slugs and that’s $120 gone in just a few MINUTES!

That’s why I gravitate toward clay shooting, .22lr plinking, (and recently even BB/pellet gun shooting just to scratch the itch without the high cost) because I still get to enjoy time outside shooting but not at dollars per trigger pull.

However, I still don’t shoot half as much as I would want to because of the cost. 

Don't forget alot of video games have a monthly cost associated with them. I'd you really like to shoot let's say pistols there are definitely ways to make it cheaper.

Before covid I was at about 6dollars per 50 to make 9mm ammo right now with primer and powder prices it would be around 12.  Im a bit less as I've only bought a few boxes of primers recently. Buy in times of plenty in bulk and you can ride out the hi prices

[bushden]

19 hours ago, 3Blade said:

I think i paid somewhere in the high 100s to low 200’s for my first bow in the mid 80s and it came with a plastic flipper rest and metal pin sites… so not sure how anyone could say its more expensive. This starter bow is leaps and bounds ahead of bear white tail II i started with and in todays money probably cheaper

Archery gear is just keeping up with inflation which is not so bad, its guns and ammo that have far surpassed the inflation rates to the point of insanity.

[trapoholic]

I am retired, I bought my house with cash, I buy nice low mileage older vehicles with no car loans, I don't owe a penny to anyone. So I can afford the licenses and ammo, but as I mentioned in the OP I would not want to be a younger person today trying to get outfitted for firearm hunting. What made me think of this topic is the other active post of someone looking for 12 Gauge Sabots Slugs. He is making it clear that he simply cannot afford to go to the sport shop and pay up on it. It kills me to pay $45.00- $85.00 for ammo that was substantially less just two years ago! But like most of you, I too am sucking it up!

[Bucndoe]

People always have the money to spend on things that they want

[10deer]

we all started with the single shot 12 or 20 and a bear white tail hunter  compound and 35 pound fiberglass bow they should start there not with 1600.00 pumps

[bucky]

23 hours ago, OldMenRule said:

Lazy, entitled and indoctrinated. Not very different then most adults..

Only if you buy into it and that's not happening here!

[2-Stroke]

These inflated prices are ridiculous. I have a career, And I don’t want to spend $50 for 30-30. I was paying $14 a box in 2019. 
 

Or the box of steel from $15 now $35. 

[vdep217]

43 minutes ago, 2-Stroke said:

These inflated prices are ridiculous. I have a career, And I don’t want to spend $50 for 30-30. I was paying $14 a box in 2019. 
 

Or the box of steel from $15 now $35. 

While prices are higher its technically not inflation its simple economics supply and demand causing the higher prices.

[bushden]

42 minutes ago, vdep217 said:

While prices are higher its technically not inflation its simple economics supply and demand causing the higher prices.

You are right its not inflation but you left out GREED !

Edited September 5, 2021 by bushden

[vdep217]

22 minutes ago, bushden said:

You are right its not inflation but you left out GREED !

It's not the manufactures or the retailer.  A retailer showed me his invoices he is making 5 dollars per box.  The distributors are who he claimed was jacking prices up after him showing me invoices I have no reason not to believe him