Budget and how to manage

imacgyver · Mar 22, 2011

How much does it cost on average monthly annually to compete? You have entry Fees x Number of competitions. Ammo requirements (purchase vs reloaded) bulk etc... Travel expenses, equipment

On Average

How much do you spend? Break down as easily as you would like.

I've got to ask for a budget for this, and not sure what to expect.

technetium-99m · Mar 22, 2011

That entirely depends on how many and what kind of matches you want to go to in a year and how much you want to shoot outside of match day.

Club matches are $10-15 per with 100-200 rounds of ammo required.

2 club matches a month would be $360 in entry fees assuming $15 per, with 3,600 rounds of ammo a year assuming 150 rounds fired per match (scale up as required).

Big USPSA handgun matches are typically $100-150 in entry fees with 250-350 rounds of ammo per match.

I'd budget $500 to attend a large (Area Championship/Double Tap type) match. You can cut that down a bit by sharing gas/accomodations and eating cheap.

Pretty shoddy answer now that I look at it, but it's what I got.

DutchWrangler · Mar 22, 2011

I'm just starting out in competitions myself thanks to BS.

As much as I would like to try my hand at the centerfire comps like 3-gun, I simply don't have the discretionary income which, even if done once a month would run in the neighborhood of $100+ per pop (fees, ammo and fuel to the event). For that reason alone I'll be concentrating on just shooting rimfire events (SC mostly) since .22LR ammo is much cheaper with the hope of doing at least two events per month.

I've chatted with a few others about 2-gun rimfire events but it seems that aside from a handful of us scattered around Oklahoma there doesn't seem to be much interest. I guess it just isn't sexy enough.

I think 2-gun rimfire would be a great way to get new shooters involved in action shooting relatively cheaply with the eventuality of those shooters moving on to 3-gun and expanding that segment. Win-win situation either way I look at it. And of course, the 3-gun folks will more than likely do 2-gun rimfire as well giving it some sexiness.

Anywayz, for me I'm looking at spending about $50 per month on ammo and fees for a couple of comps shooting the humble lil' .22LR.

Jefpainthorse · Mar 22, 2011

I shoot the Heartland Match in lieu of "training"... $20 entry... about 1.5 gallons of gas.... and a box and a half of 45 or 38 depending on the mood that month.

Will Andrews gets about $150 a year ... I try to shoot 2 of his classes each year. H&H is a 100 mile commute so we pace ourselfs on that trip. I work in OKC so other business there is done on my "lunchour"

Living in the country has it's advantages... we can shoot all the rimfire we want... and some mid-bore rifle without risking a bullet leaving the farm.

jtischauser · Mar 22, 2011

If you are just starting out don't read this thread! You will not shoot as much and that is bad, um K. What you should do is sell you golf clubs, skis, camping gear and all that other crap you never use that is in your closet, attic or garage and feed the buring desire in your trigger finger weekly.

Wall · Mar 22, 2011

Why would anybody do something silly like put a number on it :blink: ? I'd hate to think what it might be.

PS. If you ever meet my wife, don't mention any of this!

imacgyver · Mar 24, 2011

Thanks for the info guys, I have a good idea of what to start my budget at for local matches

Handgun only
$15 - $20 per match
2 - 4 matches per month
400 - 800 rounds a month

Low Estimates
$30 (Entry Fees)
$90 (Ammo)
$50 (Gas)
$170 - if I don't look for bulk ammo buys

High Estimates
$80 (Entry Fees)
$150 (Ammo)
$100 (Gas)
$330 - without carpooling and no bulk ammo buys

And maybe another match or two if I had a rifle match (sans 3 gun)
$40 (Entry Fees)
$150 (Ammo)
$50 (Gas)
$240 -

So I better start buying ammo in bulk or reload, carpool to destinations and focus on closer matches.

Wormydog1724 · Mar 24, 2011

I don't keep track of my fun/gun account/budget.

imacgyver · Mar 24, 2011

you will when the Wifey says, tell me what your budget is, or you will come home to find all your stuff at the pawn shop!

Wall · Mar 24, 2011

JP aka iMacGyver said:
you will when the Wifey says, tell me what your budget is, or you will come home to find all your stuff at the pawn shop!

see my previous post

Wormydog1724 · Mar 24, 2011

JP aka iMacGyver said:
you will when the Wifey says, tell me what your budget is, or you will come home to find all your stuff at the pawn shop!

Wifey will become Ex-Wifey faster than she can say "pawned" if that happens. I love her, but my guns were here first. :lol:

Kidding... kinda.

Glocktogo · Mar 25, 2011

You can do a couple of local matches a month on a fairly small budget. It's when you get bit by the major match bug and start traveling all over the country to compete that it gets a little pricey.

ldp4570 · Mar 29, 2011

Except for the fun match's Chris puts on for us here in McAlester, anything else is a road trip to Tulsa or OKC. Every once in a while isn't bad. My neck can stand a round trip to Tulsa, OKC is an overnight. 3hr drive, shoot, watch my son compete, and I have to take meds and lay down. No choice, just the way it is. As to budget, well I'm on a fixed income, not by choice. So I save lots of pennies and nickles.