How do you save money with your firearm hobby?

[Tinman357]

I was amazed by how much money I have after I became single and got her talons out of my pockets. Equally amazed by the reduction of stress, not spending any money at all on blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes medication. I lost weight and got in good shape. I eat healthy and sleep so much better now. I drink a lot less now too, and what I do drink is of finer quality.

The house is always clean and quiet. I go on long relaxing rides on my harley, I go shooting whenever I want. Heck, I've just about quit smoking with not much effort.

I have plenty of time to do what I want to do and everything that needs to get done, is.

I can't even imagine the life I would be living if I had stayed single.

Totally not kidding.

 

[Ura-Ki]

For me, I have my core grouping of firearms that I would never part with, with those, I have long saved money by keeping them instead of buying/selling/trading.
For the rest, it's a wash really, I don't buy stuff that ever goes down in value, nor do I spend a bunch accessorizing, so that saves me.
The rest is shooting and reloading, and that's just a minor cost sort of like putting gas in the sports/muscle cars, or Airplanes, actually cheaper!

 

[RVTECH]

how do you save money or offset the cost of the hobby?

I think the term 'save' is somewhat subjective and depends oh how you approach any hobby or sport.

First - WE are not really 'saving' as we are spending money on something for the enjoyment of it - but how we choose to do that is where it will differ.

In my case I have always owned and shot 'traditional' guns - I.E. lever actions, BP, bolts & revolvers and those are typically less expensive by virtue of the fact they are slower to reload and shoot, as opposed to semi autos - therefore I shoot them less. I have NEVER experienced a 'mag dump' of 500 to a 1000 rounds in a day as I have read about some doing.

I shoot often - but this is typically a morning out at a favorite spot and casually shooting maybe 75-100 rounds through a couple of guns at a variety of targets. I sometimes include a bit of hiking around the area as well along with it.

Because I own more 'traditional' guns I don't spend a lot of money on sights, suppressors, uppers, lowers, grips, stocks, rails, dots etc. I often read about many spending on. My needs are simple and few - and my wants less.

I have always reloaded. While reloading may only save money 'on paper' - it sure saves in the long run by not having to run around and look for ammo to buy, search online websites etc. AND in times of shortages it really pays off. It always cracks me up when I read about those who say 'I don't reload 9mm because it's so cheap to buy' - and then I read about those who later are complaining they can't find it. Maybe they should have added 9mm to their reloading repertoire.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I'm the only person on earth that bought a 10-22 and didn't modify it.

Profit!

 

[Knobgoblin]

I can't say for sure that I bargain hunt exclusively, but I tend to jump on good deals when they pop up. Not shooting much the last couple years has saved me tons of money. Most of the cause has been...working too much. Which, oddly enough, generates more money to spend on guns, ammo, and knives.
Loading down the kids with my excess is my new outlet, which will hopefully free up space to buy newer, better, more interesting gear.

 

[Member 52301]

I'm the only person on earth that bought a 10-22 and didn't modify it.

Profit!

I never bought one to begin with!

I am NOT knocking them when I say this.

The ONLY semi automatic rifle that I ever bought and owned in my ENTIRE life was the sweet Made in CT Marlin Papoose with the blue floating bag.

Cate
Added more.

 

[arakboss]

Based on this thread and others you've started, it seems like you have a shopping hobby/addiction more than a firearms hobby. It seems like the high is opening something new then it wears off as soon as you put it away and it's on to the next thing.

Can't really help you with that.

I am definitely dealing with that issue. What is worse is sometimes I don't even open the package and it gets shoved in the hole of despair

Edit: this is why I would rather buy a $50 no name BCG rather than spend $459 on an LMT enhanced BCG. The "high" from package opening high would be the same with either BCG but with the LMT BCG purchase I wouldn't be able to buy and open nearly as many packages.

There is more to it than the high from opening the package. Finding the deals is enjoyable and looking for additional lesser known discount codes is also fun. I can't afford to buy every great deal that comes along so I live vicariously by posting the deals here or on r/gundeals so others can purchase them. Positive feedback from others that purchased the great deals I posted is just as good as opening a package to me.

 

[Member 52301]

BUY the type of firearm that makes YOU happy not what OTHER people think that you should buy/own/shoot or the latest THING out just because it is in fashion.

Make a budget.

Stay within your budget.

SAVE UP before you buy your first firearm and PAY FOR IT IN FULL.

SAVE UP for every single firearm that you buy and pay for it in full.

This goes for firearms, ammunition, reloading supplies IF you CHOOSE to reload and IF you actually LIKE to reload your ammunition.

APPLY this to ANY other thing in life when it comes to a HOBBY.

Shoot more 22lr and/or ALTERNATE your CF firearm shooting or shotgun shooting if you own a shotgun when you do shoot. You can shoot MORE 22lr firearms and less CF firearms and still have a SAFE and FUN time enjoying your hobby. Plus you can keep up your skills even when there are so called fake/real shortages.

If you can plan your hobby budget AHEAD OF TIME as you do with your real estate taxes, estimated federal and state taxes, household budget, etc. - you will KNOW AHEAD of time what you intend to spend and JUDGE how much you shoot per year as a high, former high, medium or low VOLUME shooter.

I would rather buy a good quality firearm and in a NAME BRAND with a PROVEN RECORD on it's quality than 2 or 3 pieces of junk when you could buy 1 or 2 BEAUTIFUL and outstanding quality firearms especially when you are a Newbie just starting out. That IS exactly what I did.

(I am NOT knocking people who buy cheaper FILL in the NAME guns but if you have a GUN that does not work safely or is in good condition and you can't FIX IT on your own - why bother with it?! GET one that you LIKE and that you can RELY ON in all situations from the gitgo!)

I NEVER bought junk guns. I listened to VERY specific people, considered their years in the gun world and I read a LOT about good quality guns and WHO MADE THEM.

I never had a 'bad gun' or one that performed lousy or needed to be FIXED or sent back to the factory.

IN THE END, before I bought one gun as a Newbie, I made my OWN firearm decisions. NOT my late husband's or someone else's idea although HE and most of them did AGREE with me in the end when it came to my decisions and FINAL purchases.

I always wanted a QUALITY made gun in a NAME BRAND and IT had to be BEAUTIFUL TO ME too! I wanted to rely on it when and IF I needed it. Period!

I studied the purchasing issues with GUN factory brochures - I called the factories for them and picked some up in person, I bought my own gun books and borrowed library gun books and I bought ONE BIG GUN DIGEST.

I NEVER lost money selling a firearm either. I took care of what I owned when it came to firearms just as I did with my household goods and so forth.

Buy your RF ammunition on sale or a bit at a time - slow but sure. Some people buy a case at a time. I never did that and I am NOT knocking those who did do that.

I ALWAYS wanted to try out various RN and HP top brand names in RF ammunition and SEE what MY firearms liked from the gitgo BEFORE I bought a BUNCH MORE.

I did the same thing with my factory CF ammunition. (I never owned a shotgun but I would have done the same thing there too.)

Buy your CF ammunition on sale unless you CHOOSE to reload and actually LIKE to reload.

Be safe if you do choose to reload your CF or shotgun ammunition.

Some people do NOT like to reload too. NOT all of us are the same. Just like some of us may not like to cook a LOT and try out tons of recipes.

Buy firearms that can SHARE ammunition. Handguns and some pistol caliber CF and RF rifles. Been there - done that. I did that shy of 2 firearms back east. Plus one BP s/a revolver that I never did shoot before my late husband died and gifted before I moved.

If you do hunt or even if you do NOT hunt and only want a good quality CF RIFLE for woods/wilderness protection - buy one (Or two.) good quality rifles for that SPECIFIC issue. I NEVER owned a CF caliber rifle until moved out west too. (I do not hunt and I have NOTHING against hunting.)

Hobbies are meant to be something that you ENJOY and do not worry about. Life is too short!

IF your hobby is too expensive for your budget or if you do not ENJOY your hobby any longer NO matter what IT is, shooting or something else, CUT BACK on it or get out of it.

You don't have to LIVE YOUR LIFE in a specific manner when it comes to YOUR GUNS, YOUR HOBBIES, etc. just because everyone else does a, b and c and you choose to DO and LIKE x, y and z more!

Don't let YOUR STUFF own YOU.

I got into buying MY own firearms and learning to shoot firearms safely and proficiently for 2 MAIN REASONS, self defense and the RKBA issue, and IT TURNED INTO A HOBBY for me for 20 some years.

I shoot far, far LESS now and just to keep up my basic skills and for all safety issues.

MY last 2 sweet, beautiful and tack driving CZ bolt action rifles in 22lr and 22wmr were gifted to my husband recently but I can still shoot them when I choose to shoot them.

I didn't care if people liked or did not like my TRADITIONAL types of firearms that I owned in my life too. Lever action rifles, a few bolt action rifles, several Ruger RF and CF s/a revolvers, several Smith and Wesson RF and CF d/a revolvers, etc.

I WAS THE ONE WHO PAID FOR THEM and I was the one who shot them, ENJOYED ALL OF THEM and carried them previously. Open and conceal carry.

Although I did buy/own 3 semi auto SWEET pistols (Glock 19, S&W Models 41 and 22A. My late husband shot the Model 41 and 22A more than I did.) and 1 semi automatic CT made Marlin Papoose rifle with the floating blue bag from back east. He shot the Marlin Papoose more than I did too.

He was TALL and lean and his hands did not LIKE some of my s/a revolvers and a couple of my J frames in S&W.

He did LIKE my S&W d/a revolver Model 686 and one RUGER s/a revolver - a BLACKHAWK in 45Long Colt but he liked one other GRIP better on another RUGER s/a super six convertible a bit more. I owned several Ruger s/a revolvers in RF and in CF calibers back east and out here. A few of them did have different grips and ALL of them were the New Model ones bought from the late 90's and on like ALL of my other firearms.

So what suited ME even with smaller hands did not always suit him with larger hands and longer fingers. But they were MY guns and he could shoot them or not. Same as I did with his 'house gun' and I did not shoot his couple of other guns.

I did NOT modify or order custom made guns. I am NOT knocking people who do.

I did NOT change my former first Glock around or any other firearm.

I do NOT like or use scopes.

I do NOT like tons of do dads on guns.

Some people do LIKE all of those things and to each their own. I am NOT knocking them.

Don't let your STUFF own YOU.

Enjoy and use what you own.

MOST hobbies cost money if you are USING things/objects unless it is something that you can do for FREE.

And if you are concerned about the COST of owning firearms - only buy/own a few or shoot LESS.

Best wishes to you too!

Cate
PS: I NEVER ever regretted one gun that I bought, owned and shot. I enjoyed ALL of them and they were good and BEAUTIFUL guns. I LIKE beautiful guns. They have to LOOK NICE TO ME and work well - be RELIABLE.

And if my old lady hands and my left eye were better - I would STILL be shooting all of my former handguns and rifles too.

Right now, I am only shooting those two 22lr and 22wmr CZ bolt action rifles that I recently gifted to my husband (Mentioned above.) to keep up MY skills SAFELY and WHEN or IF the time comes that I can NO longer do that safely - I will NO longer shoot. Period.

Typos and added more!

 

[arakboss]

Hopefully this isn't too far off track but what would happen if everbody in the world made it their goal to earn and spend as little money as possible? Just enough to get by and live short lives? I have read arguments that it would help the economy but it seems to me that the economy would have to shrink?

 

[Member 52301]

Hopefully this isn't too far off track but what would happen if everbody in the world made it their goal to earn and spend as little money as possible? Just enough to get by and live short lives? I have read arguments that it would help the economy but it seems to me that the economy would have to shrink?

Good question and I will have to answer this later on.

I keep making typos, apologies to the forum, my left eye is tired, my hands are tired/sore and I am having morning coffee with my husband.

Cate

 

[elsie]

I don't save with my firearm hobby; I save for my firearm hobby.


elsie

 

[Norwestr55]

What ever you do, don't start reloading thinking that you're going to save money. But if your wife will fall for that line, go ahead.

 

[Jason999]

I reload for my rare stuff.
I tend to buy beater guns so I can play gunsmith (nothing rare), so it's a semi inexpensive way to keep me entertained.