Expensive sport or hobby

[gryghin]

Welcome Aboard. Glad you found the forum.



This is the best place to hang out on the internet.



Check out the organized clean ups in Oregon and Washington. It's the best way to meet the community and learn where and how to use public lands responsibly.



If you really want to get involved in community action check out Trash No Land.

Home - Trash No Land

Information for Target Shooting on Public Lands. "Stewardship Keeps It Open"2024 Pick Up The Burn Wolf Creek Lanes Cleanup

www.trashnoland.org

 

[WJR]

Welcome Aboard. Glad you found the forum.



This is the best place to hang out on the internet.



Check out the organized clean ups in Oregon and Washington. It's the best way to meet the community and learn where and how to use public lands responsibly.



If you really want to get involved in community action check out Trash No Land.

Home - Trash No Land

Information for Target Shooting on Public Lands. "Stewardship Keeps It Open"2024 Pick Up The Burn Wolf Creek Lanes Cleanup

www.trashnoland.org

 

[ma96782]

Aloha, Mark

 

[dangerranger60]

When my better half complains about cost, I say "I could take up Golf!" DR

 

[Aero Denezol]

I can't speak for Washington, but in the Willamette Valley there are comparatively few shooting ranges, and those get more crowded every year. Crowding means more time waiting around and time is a precious thing.

Something else: driving to the range used to be a leisurely activity, and now it is a contentious white knuckle affair. As traffic has exploded and infrastructure has stayed the same, there are more wrecks, more aggressive drivers, and more traffic jams.

All of these things go on the scale when I decide how to spend my free time.

 

[Lazyfaire]

When my better half complains about cost, I say "I could take up Golf!" DR

Mine had a horse! Golf was cheap!

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

RC Planes.

 

[WAYNO]

At my (private) gun club, costs are rising for them too. They can raise fees, or close down. And my choices are to pay the increased fees or quit. I don't intend to quit, ever.

And in the meantime, the waiting list to join continues to get longer.

50+ years ago, my shooting hobby was expensive then, too.

And 60+ years ago, ya know how many beer bottles I had to collect to buy a 50-cent box of .22 ammo? 50 !

 

[64MercurysRule]

Welcome aboard . Enjoy the forum and all it offers . Blessings .

 

[arakboss]

Thanks for the add. Just curious, anybody else concerned with the rising costs of gun club memberships, just to use shooting ranges and the losing of public places to shoot? Being on a very limited income, well over 70 years old, and the increasing cost and availability of common calibers of ammunition, it seems like some (many?) of us are being forced out of the hobby. Or am I just being a "grouchy old man" ?





















or

It's only going to get worse as ranges close down or are forced to increase expenses to meet gov requirements, increased insurance, etc. At least gun prices are reasonable. Ammo not so much.

 

[nammac]

I look at things relative to what my prevailing hourly wage was at the time. When I first got into firearms/shooting, the costs were indeed in the high side. Relative to my meager earnings.

As time passed, the career progressed, and the quality of the arms (or perceived quality) increased. Went from purchasing Norinco knock 1911's to purchasing Colts. Went from Taurus revolvers to Smiths and Colts. Nothing wrong with Taurus revolvers, I've never had an issue with any that passed through these aging hands.

Point is, as I climbed the economic scale, so did my collection. Just like where I lived and what I drove.

As for ammo and components, yes the price has increased, but is still within reasonable grasp as compared to my hourly wage. When I made $20-$25/hr, powder was $15/lb, primers were $15-$19/1k. So edging up towards an hours pay back then. Today primers are at an hours pay, powder is 2 lbs for an hours pay.

It's all relative. Look at inflation, $15 in '96 is $30 today. Yes the price of things have gone up, but don't compare yesteryear to today, compare what you payed relative to what you earned.

I personally long for the days of .50/gallon gasoline, like when I first started driving. I remember how painful it was when gas went to .75/gallon. It would cost $15 for the weekly fill up, quite a bite on a $4/hr budget. Now it costs $75 to fill up, not quite an hours earnings…

Keep things in perspective. More expensive sure, but relative to what?

 

[Stomper]

I look at things relative to what my prevailing hourly wage was at the time. When I first got into firearms/shooting, the costs were indeed in the high side. Relative to my meager earnings.

As time passed, the career progressed, and the quality of the arms (or perceived quality) increased. Went from purchasing Norinco knock 1911's to purchasing Colts. Went from Taurus revolvers to Smiths and Colts. Nothing wrong with Taurus revolvers, I've never had an issue with any that passed through these aging hands.

Point is, as I climbed the economic scale, so did my collection. Just like where I lived and what I drove.

As for ammo and components, yes the price has increased, but is still within reasonable grasp as compared to my hourly wage. When I made $20-$25/hr, powder was $15/lb, primers were $15-$19/1k. So edging up towards an hours pay back then. Today primers are at an hours pay, powder is 2 lbs for an hours pay.

It's all relative. Look at inflation, $15 in '96 is $30 today. Yes the price of things have gone up, but don't compare yesteryear to today, compare what you payed relative to what you earned.

I personally long for the days of .50/gallon gasoline, like when I first started driving. I remember how painful it was when gas went to .75/gallon. It would cost $15 for the weekly fill up, quite a bite on a $4/hr budget. Now it costs $75 to fill up, not quite an hours earnings…

Keep things in perspective. More expensive sure, but relative to what?

Sounds like being a male escort has really paid off for you after all these years.

 

[HiFi Magnetics]

It's only going to get worse as ranges close down or are forced to increase expenses to meet gov requirements, increased insurance, etc. At least gun prices are reasonable. Ammo not so much.

Which by the way I wont just go to any free park ranges unless there are officials or either I'm with NWFA members. People are just getting sick of hearing Driftwood everyday.. Its time!