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What does it cost you to go to the range?

boltstop

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 17, 2010
231
0
60
Colorado, USA
I just had a think, owing to the fact that as a grad student I have the income of a 14-year-old boy, that my costs for going to the range are pretty dog-gone steep.

I noodled that if I pop off 50 rifle rounds and 100 handgun rounds, and buy the gas I am out ~$60. This is not counting the brass costs (I believe they're amortized into my costs since I reload) or, of course, my time (hey, it's a hobby).

What does it cost you characters when you head out to your local plinkatorium?
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

I've been shooting a lot of .22 lately so I can spend 3 or more hours plowing through a 500ish block of .22 for about $30. If I start shooting anything bigger than that though, the costs skyrocket! Figure 60 cents a round for reloads plus the $15 or so in gas costs...it can add up pretty damn quick!
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

35min each way.

Take the car ~ 11 bucks
Take the rattle trap ~ 20 bucks

Match rifle ammo, reloads run about 50-80 cents
Jacketed pistol ammo runs about 30 cents
Cast bullet pistol ammo runs about 8-10 cents

All per round.

I shoot a lot of 22's at 200-300yd to help teach wind drills on a 600yd square range.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

Not much, I just step out on the back porch, I have a 400 yard range in my back yard.

Its handy when working on loads, I just stick the gun out the shop window and pop off a few rounds to see if they work.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not much, I just step out on the back porch, I have a 400 yard range in my back yard.

Its handy when working on loads, I just stick the gun out the shop window and pop off a few rounds to see if they work. </div></div>

...what a lucky bastard...

I have to drive close to an hour for a 500+ yard range
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not much, I just step out on the back porch, I have a 400 yard range in my back yard.

Its handy when working on loads, I just stick the gun out the shop window and pop off a few rounds to see if they work. </div></div>

Me too! It's nice. I'm clearing some more land to go out to 800 from my shop.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Trocar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not much, I just step out on the back porch, I have a 400 yard range in my back yard.

Its handy when working on loads, I just stick the gun out the shop window and pop off a few rounds to see if they work. </div></div>

Me too! It's nice. I'm clearing some more land to go out to 800 from my shop.</div></div> You win! I'll be right over.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

Hell, I've gone out an bought a BB pistol (CO2, real BBs, not those environment-destroying plastic weak-ass things) with kit for $68 delivered. I'll shoot in the field behind my house; it's a reservoir and has a berm. I have a literally endless supply of tin cans to plink and the inevitable target box.

Each range session should cost me about $.80, LOL!

I'll give a range report with pics when I get it. ;-)
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

300yd range 5 minutes from my house (My dads)

1,000yd range 10 minutes from the house.

11,000 acres of state land that I can see looking out my back door. Which has a range 5 minutes from my house.

Sad thing is I work all the time and have no time to shoot. Maybe this weekend?
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

704 yds out of my front window. If I drive for 2 minutes, 1800yds (if I had the ability and the rifle). My only costs are the ammo, and my steel plates (one time costs)
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

I am in the same boat as Kraig, just step out on the porch and blast away. 1000 yds out the back porch and up to about 3000 if you really wanted to just 2 minutes over the hill. If the county road wasn't where it is I would never have to leave the house unless I wanted to go more than a mile. So just reloaded bullets is my cost I guess.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

$10 gas, $13.00 range fees, ammunition, since I reload I do not save any money; I just shoot more LOL. Paper targets,
I am known for foregoing food/drink until the end of the day, once inside your "bubble" nothing else matters.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

1 hour drive which is $40 in gas total. Plus food so another $20 there and usually I shoot about $100 worth of ammo. Oh and targets.. so in total about $165
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

The range is 31 miles from the front door which takes about 45 minutes to drive. Range fees are $3.00 per hour and $60.00 a year for dues. Fort Dix Range 14 is very basic! Table and 200 yards. A box of 308, a few boxes of either 45 or 9 and of course some 22.

Maxwell
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

I figure about $20 in gas, round trip.

Lately I've been shooting 22LR that I paid $.04/rd for a while back. I don't know what it's going to cost to replace.

Also shooting a fair amount of factory .223 @ ~$.30/rd in a bolt-action Remington 700.

I'll also bring a 260 Remington and 284 Winchester, but probably shoot less than 20rds of each. Figure around $.50/each as a round number.

Maybe $50-$60 per trip?
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

After reading all of those posts I can tell there are no bench rest shooters here. Here is how to break it down if you are a benchrest shooter(I am not a BR shooter). Here is the break down if I want to go to the 1,000yd range since my favorite range is currently flooded.

Gas from my house to the range 91 miles total.
New gov stats on mileage $0.555USD per mile total $50.51 for gas and wear and tear.
Range fee per year $100.00
Divided out on the fact we can only use the range on Tuesdays June to August say 15 times so $6.67 each trip.
We can go any time but only on Tuesdays do my brother and I both have that evening off and wives and girlfriends let us go.
Ammo
1 rd of .338LM $1.00 (primer, powder, and bullet) cost based on last time I bought componets. I buy in bulk
Brass $1.5/10 = $0.15 per time use. I only count brass on the first shot after that it is free to me.
1 rd total cost $1.15 Usually only fire 10rds Total cost $11.50
Barrel wear
Stating a 2,000rd barrel life
$500.00 for new tube and gun smithing Could be a little more or less depending on who you have do it.
Cost per shot is $0.25 total for 10 shots is $2.50
Cleaning equipment
Everyone knows that this stuff does not last forever.
Rod
Jag
Brush These last longer than the BR people think but not that long. Some think they are a 1X use item.
Nylon brush
Patches
Chemicals
lube
Battery costs
Radios to talk to person in butts 6 AA batteries replaced about every 5 trips
Radio cost
This also could be divided out per use but only God knows how many times I have used them or how many more times I will get to use them
Paint
When we shoot steel paint lasts probably 10 shooting trips
$4.00 a can I use good paint $0.40 a trip
I used the buck a can cheap walmart paint but it hardly covers and it just is easier to use good paint for me.
Steel
IDPA tip back spring loaded target
Three 1’ X 1’ X 0.5” AR 500 squares
Two 1” X 2” X 0.5” AR500 rectangles
One 3’ X 3’ X 0.5” AR500 square only take this one out when shooting way out there. It is not needed at 1,000yds
I welded up re-bar holders for all of these.
Cost of this I do not want to go over this because it is a lot of cash. It is a lot cheaper to make your own targets like I did with everything but that fall down target. Thank goodness it lasts forever. Re-bar does need to be rewelded if hit with a bullet.

Now just add up the costs from the other rifles I shoot usualy a 223 or a 308. The 308 W costs $0.44 a shot with out brass.

Total cost ((((the total cost just made me sad)))

How I figure costs of shooting.
Gas 71 miles for gas (shoot after work) 2.84 galons of gas $10.00 at $3.50 a gallon and 25mpg
Rounds
10 shots 338LM $10.00
20 shots $8.80
Toss in some 22lr or some 10mm at $0.35 a shot say $6.00 worth.


Total $34.80 roughly give or take depending on 22 or pistol.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

I actualy bought my house based on distance to range, golf course, birt bike trails and mountains. Range happens to be 10min away so gas isnt a big concern. Range has a capped number of members and runs 80/yr with a 600yd,300yd (x2), trap, pistol/trainning bays and two archery ranges.

These days I'm waiting on parts to build my LR rifle so I have been enjoying my recent purchase of an Arsenal AK. Love the AK, 230 delivered for 1240 rounds of ammo and I dont have to chase brass.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

135 miles (about 2.5 hours with a pit stop) (max 600 yards)

this is with a Z06, so I get about 22mpg doing about 70-75, then the ammo (whatever I'm shooting) and cheap hotel if i'm staying the night before so I get there early, if not I just get up early.

probably about 40 bucks in gas

the range is 120 a year with 200 initiation fee
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

Mine is $65 per year for my personal membership (family+guest whenever).

My unit also pays a few thousand a year for the same 500yd range which gives us exclusive access tuesday and thursday 0800-2000. Excellent deal either way you slice it.

The best part, its 4 miles from my door to the firing line.
 
Re: What does it cost you to go to the range?

Not sure. How much does it cost to open the back door? Only can get about 200yds off the porch though. Have to drive 10-15minutes up a logging road to get to 800yds.