Poll: Average Time Spent With A Firearm Poll

[arakboss]

I am curious how much time gun owners spend working with each of their firearms every year. I find that most of mine rarely get used at all.

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[Member 45541]

All of my firearms get range time throughout the year. I like to stay proficient with them, and they all get regular cleaning and inspection.

 

[TTSX]

Cumulative use over an entire year? What's the definition of "working with"?

If we're talking strictly shooting/maintenance then I would bet I spend 3hrs/wk so 150ish hours/year...? If we're talking carrying/hunting/fondling I bet I could increase that number tenfold or more


If you want to get all the way down to individual guns, you'd find that 20% of my guns get 80% of the "work" time. Then 20% of those guns get 80% of THAT time. We all really have just a couple favorite children, after all

 

[CountryGent]

I'm not entirely sure what "working with" means in this context. All use (e.g., shooting, cleaning, dry firing, et al.) or just working on some mechanical aspect of the arm?

At any rate, though my firearms interest have been truly all over the map over the decades, the only ones I shoot regularly now are various large revolvers and small machine-guns. Generally speaking, I shoot the various wheelguns several times a week and the rattle-guns sporadically. Why the habit went there I can't say, but I'm enjoying, so not going to overthink it. (Today was unusual that I got in some small amount of practice in with a .357, then proceeded to light up the hillside with several magazines from the machine-carbine.)

Beyond that it is just practice with carry pieces and occasionally taking something out of the safe for some purpose (e.g., pest removal, maintenance, etc.), though the latter isn't real common. All of our firearms get shot sometimes, either by yours-truly or by my life sidekick or one of our offspring. Those truly not used, flushed, eventually.

 

[Bobbygun]

I am curious how much time gun owners spend working with each of their firearms every year. I find that most of mine rarely get used at all.

Same here. I spend most of my "gun time" with the latest acquisitions. Since I took up archery, there are only a couple of rifles that see much action. Unless I join a gun club, that likely won't change much.

 

[arakboss]

I'm not entirely sure what "working with" means in this context. All use (e.g., shooting, cleaning, dry firing, et al.) or just working on some mechanical aspect of the arm?

At any rate, though my firearms interest have been truly all over the map over the decades, the only ones I shoot regularly now are various large revolvers and small machine-guns. Generally speaking, I shoot the various wheelguns several times a week and the rattle-guns sporadically. Why the habit went there I can't say, but I'm enjoying, so not going to overthink it. (Today was unusual that I got in some small amount of practice in with a .357, then proceeded to light up the hillside with several magazines from the machine-carbine.)

Beyond that it is just practice with carry pieces and occasionally taking something out of the safe for some purpose (e.g., pest removal, maintenance, etc.), though the latter isn't real common. All of our firearms get shot sometimes, either by yours-truly, or by my life sidekick. Those truly not used, flushed, eventually.

"I'm not entirely sure what "working with" means in this context. All use (e.g., shooting, cleaning, dry firing, et al.)"

All of it.

 

[CountryGent]

I find that most of mine rarely get used at all.

Out of curiosity, any reason why? I've known strictly, or nearly so, collectors who never shot their firearms, for example. Or is there some other reason?

 

[Bobbygun]

Or is there some other reason?

Speaking for myself, some of the guns I own were inherited or gifts that I used more frequently when I was younger. Even though I don't use them very often, I have no interest in selling them. I clean them occasionally. My son will own them someday. He stores his guns in my safe and I think he sees my guns as his guns too.

 

[arakboss]

Out of curiosity, any reason why? I've known strictly, or nearly so, collectors who never shot their firearms, for example. Or is there some other reason?

Maybe, poor time management. I end up finding other things to do and run out of minutes in the day. I am going to make more of an effort to keep track of my time, so not as much of it gets wasted.

 

[CountryGent]

Maybe, poor time management. I end up finding other things to do and run out of minutes in the day. I am going to make more of an effort to keep track of my time, so not as much of it gets wasted.

Time management can indeed be difficult. Well, if it is of any consolation, it is nothing new. After all Seneca (4 BC—65 AD) once wrote: "It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it." (De Brevitate Vitae)

 

[Joe13]

Hardly any, have you seen the price of ammo??, but I am extremely proficient with all of them.

I've been shooting for 44 years and every firearm I own I make sure I am a subject matter expert with each of them.

Rotation and what gets used and doesn't any given year depends more on who I go with and what I/we are doing.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Short answer....
On going...never really ending unless it has been sold or traded.

Long answer...read below ...at your risk....

Never really thought about "time spent".....or measured it , so to speak.

My firearms are more than tools or simple items to me.
Many symbolize Freedom to me...or hold special memories....
Most , being historic firearms , cause me to think about where they were , what they were used for and who used them....
They all get used by me in some fashion...and all get 'regular " maintenance or looking over.
What that "regular " maintenance means....
Ehh...again...I don't know , it is something that I just do and enjoy...and not worry or wonder bout the time spent

All get looked all , gone over , researched...even my modern firearms...
I've learned a lot about my newest to me firearm...which also happens to be my most modern firearm.
It is a uncommon variant of the Winchester 1300 series of shotguns.
While not the most rare or expensive of firearms...it is neat shotgun with an interesting design .
It also works well for its intended role....a grouse hunting shotgun.

I get the same satisfaction when I look at and handle one of my antique muzzle loaders.
Lots of wondering about who made it...who used it...where it was used...and lots of research into finding those answers.
Maintaining them...putting them on display....using it to teach about history and firearms...happens ...a lot especially during the summer months.

It is one thing to talk about firearms and history....it is another thing all together to do so...then place a rifle from 1800 - 1820 in the hands of someone
And explain that it still works as intended...and has won a few rifle matches and gotten my last elk.

My Favorite firearm that I own was made in 1997
I have used it constantly since then. It is my "go to rifle" ...to use a modern phrase.
I have won rifle shooting matches with it...it has kept me fed...it has been used to teach others history and firearm safety / shooting.
I was honored to be friends with its maker....and have lots of memories with this rifle.
It is truly a part of me....Yet I have never really wondered about the time spent with this rifle.
It is mine...I shoot it well....and I enjoy it ....measuring the time spent with it does not figure into my thinking of it.
However...the time spent with it...is priceless and precious to me.
Andy

 

[P7M13]

Or is there some other reason?

Perhaps mama accused him of being "all hat and no cattle."

For me, depends on my time, and as far as shooting them, my reloaded stash. Like @TTSX , excluding my carry pieces and the ones I sleep with, my ratio is more like 90% on 10%. They all get at least one hour per year, which is a lot of time. When I'm maintaining them, there are days where I definitely feel that they own me, not the other way around.
There had been years where my wife complained to me, "I am a gun widow."
In a heavy use gun year, I'll spend over 500 hours on the hobby, and easily half of that would be maintenance and reloading. When I was younger, I'd bring 500 rounds to a shooting session and fire them all. Now, I might bring 20 per gun and only shoot ten of each.

 

[Stomper]

Maintenance is "as needed", so it varies and isn't quantifiable. I also consider EDC "working with" firearms.

So I accumulate 8,760 hours annually, and 8,784 hours every fourth year.....

Give or take a few hours depending on time spent in metal detector segregated areas that I'm not able to easily circumvent.

 

[ktgee]

I would say each time I take a gun out to shoot, I would spend an hour shooting and another half hour cleaning and maintaining. I shoot all the firearms that I own. Over the years, I've gotten rid of many that I don't shoot, and I've acquired several that I do enjoy shooting.
The best part of maintaining or repairing a gun is that most tasks can be done DIY.

 

[dangerranger60]

I have a couple I shoot more or less every day. I shoot ground squirrels and pest varmints most every day. I might miss a day or so but other days I'll shoot for 8 hours straight to make up for it.
My carry gun is in my pocket every day from the time I get dressed till bed. It gets shot at least twice a month [ or more]. It gets cleaned weekly, and if I'm learning something new gets dry fired daily. Some of my safe queens only get out yearly, and some get used during a season.
So it depends. DR

 

[Aught Six]

Some rifles never get fired, they are laying in wait.
The other ones I shoot the heck out of monthly.
Less in the summer, more in the winter.

 

[woodsjake]

I am curious how much time gun owners spend working with each of their firearms every year. I find that most of mine rarely get used at all.

Probably much less than you would think!

 

[orygun]

Cumulative use over an entire year? What's the definition of "working with"?

If we're talking strictly shooting/maintenance then I would bet I spend 3hrs/wk so 150ish hours/year...? If we're talking carrying/hunting/fondling I bet I could increase that number tenfold or more


If you want to get all the way down to individual guns, you'd find that 20% of my guns get 80% of the "work" time. Then 20% of those guns get 80% of THAT time. We all really have just a couple favorite children, after all

I would "assume" shooting, maintenance, upgrading, reloading would be "all of it".
The ratio or percentage of guns that get used makes sense to me. The season also has to do with what I/we are shooting. Hunting rifles in late summer/early fall, handguns throughout the year, shotguns rarely. And a lot sits in the safe unused.

Even though I don't use them very often, I have no interest in selling them. I clean them occasionally. My son will own them someday. He stores his guns in my safe and I think he sees my guns as his guns too.

Of course he does!