Has the cost of ammo changed how you practice?

[at-home-daddy]

Yes, I'm practicing less because of ammo prices. My annual membership also lapsed at around the same time that ammo cost was rising (and membership re-up runs close to $400/yr.), and so my "free" range trip with cheap ammo became a distant memory. Suddenly with range fee and ammo, each 100-round practice session became a $50 venture. At $50/pop, I couldn't keep up my every-other-week routine. I've backed down (from .45) to 9mm, but that doesn't make a great deal of impact overall. I suppose I could do more .22, but it's just not quite the same.

 

[vcs700s]

Yes, I shoot more .22 as I have no problem finding the ammo.

I shoot less .38 special and 9 mm.

 

[Dueeast]

I usually shoot .38 spl and .40 S&W. I still do, even though the price has gone up. But, I bought a new Smith&Wesson 22a pistol. So now I shoot all three but it cost less per outing.

 

[jkc]

For various reasons, mostly because it's quiet and non-lead-contaminating, and can be shot indoors, without ear protection, I recently bought a Crosman 2300T CO2 .177 pellet pistol. It's not much cheaper than generic bulkpack .22 rimfire per round, but a little. It's accurate, has adjustable sights and trigger, and offers economical practice... An alternative worth considering...

 

[rgitz]

Up till last year I consumed two hundred rounds weekly in defense revolver training in two sessions. Now I train once a week and shoot 50 rounds (.38 spl).
My .22 caliber consumption has remained constant though cost is up and availablity is down in southern Nevada.

 

[pps]

I reload. The biggest thing I've changed is that I shoot into a bullet trap instead of a regular target stand. Recapture the lead, melt it down and pour new bullets.

Today's range session 100rds of .357 and 150rds of 38. First range session since duck season.

 

[BuzzardBilly]

I too reload for my center fire revolvers.
For my 1911 I buy ammo.
Went to Dick's Sporting Goods yesterday and they had gone up $5.00 a box on 45acp.
I figure it will cut my 45 practice in half.
A couple of boxes a month instead of four or five boxes.

 

[jag312]

No. I reload. I have been reloading for more years than I care to remember. It saves money, and I have always believed that a serious shooter was also a reloader. I reload .223, .25-20, .45-70, 9mm, .44-40, .44 Special, and .45 Auto. I'm planning to start .380 Auto and 8mm Mauser.

I also alternate with .22 LR shooting. For me, there is a lot of fun shooting a Winchester 9422 or a Browning Challenger. A friend and I have an informal weekly competition where we use one gun (his S&W 41) and one one box of ammunition (25 shots eack). The best score wins a dollar.

 

[R*E]

I've always been a fan of rimfire pistols. It's a matter of working on the basics: grip, front sight, breathing, squeezing off a shot. The high cost of centerfire ammo just encourages me to shoot more .22s.

 

[Hook686]

no

 

[Titan]

I fear that under Obama, re-loading will go the way of the Do-Do bird as a result of punitive taxes.

For me, I've cut DRAMATICALLY down on shooting with .357/.38.

Most of my volume practice is with my 9mms and my .22.

.

 

[Gov't Cheese]

I'm shooting my 9mm's more and my .45's less.

 

[patvince]

for the last 2 years, i shoot more and more 22lr (around 1500 /year). I don't get the time to reload 44 and 9 mm. But with my new 460 I AM GOING TO RELOAD IT! My bank account will thanks me!
R.

 

[lemosqueezer]

Yes. I've definitly been spending more time with my Buckmark. But thats not a bad thing.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by Titan:
I fear that under Obama, re-loading will go the way of the Do-Do bird as a result of punitive taxes.

For me, I've cut DRAMATICALLY down on shooting with .357/.38.

Most of my volume practice is with my 9mms and my .22.

.

We'll see about that.

 

[lobosolo]

I shoot ICORE comp. with my revos and for IDPA my 1911. I am getting a lot of trigger time with my 617 and have just purchased a 22 cal conversion kit for my 1911 from tactical solutions.Now I'm waiting for the price of 22's to go out of sight
Jim

 

[John R]

I've haven't changed my shooting hobbies at all, shoot just as much as I ever did.
Been reloading for 40 years, and most of my guns have never had factory loads shot in them.

 

[jrd1976]

Not in the least. I have reloaded for 32 years. The only factory ammo I have is personal defense ammo.

 

[Seaforth]

I have three model 10's. A 4 inch, 3 inch, and a 2 inch. I use a 22/32 for alot of practice. Then I end my practice sesson with one of the Model 10's with 12 rounds. Do this a couple of times a month and uses about a single box of my regular round, MagTec 38 Spl+P. Cost me about $10 a month buying the MagTec in case lots.

 

[cmort666]

No, because I don't practice with factory ammunition. I now have the equipment to reload for every caliber of handgun I own. Last year, I bought Storm Lake conventionally rifled barrels for my Glock 19 and Glock 22 so that I could safely use my lead bullet handloads in them.

Other than the actual self-defense ammunition that I carry day to day, I'm now 100% handloads.