Cost of Being a Pro 3-Gun Competitor 2014

jtischauser

jtischauser

I'm addicted to kicking ass
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
23,507
Location
Guthrie, OK
I put together my expenses and winnings for the year. I can't include my exact sponsorship contributions but I can say that the income did exceed the expenditures by a few thousand dollars. Basically my sponsors covered my costs and the value of my prizes ~$18,000 went into my pocket aka a bunch of new guns and gear.

The 21 or so days off of work that I took is something that is tough to quantify.

Huge thanks to all of my wonderful sponsors! Red Dirt Plants, Stag Arms, BoomerShooter.com, Accurate Iron, Optics Planet, Freedom Munitions, Stoeger Industries, Nordic Components, Ergo Grips, Bladetech, MGM Targets, Boomfab, Streamlight, Seekins Precision, Infinity Firearms, Samson Manufacturing, AR Gold Triggers, Make Ready Pro Shop, Infinity Firearms, RCI XRail.

Huge thanks to all of the other companies that make the prize tables at our matches so great!

Super huge thanks to 3-Gun Nation! Without these guys and gals hard work and the visibility that their efforts and TV show give shooters like me I would not be able to live the dream that I am living by shooting 3-gun professionally.
 

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You forgot to remove the value of the BRO rifle from Gen III that you donated back to be raffled in benefit of Gen III having funds for kids. Otherwise.....remove two DQ's and you came out pretty well this year i'd say.
 
eazenutz33 said:
You forgot to remove the value of the BRO rifle from Gen III that you donated back to be raffled in benefit of Gen III having funds for kids. Otherwise.....remove two DQ's and you came out pretty well this year i'd say.
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Yeah I left that in there because it was my Income that I donated to GIIIG.

FYI. I didn't DQ on the two DNF. My shotgun broke at the Freedom Match and we got rained out and called it quits at the Pistol ProAm. I did DQ at the Shoot off.
 
I think it's great that shooting sports, especially 3 gun, are becoming so well-publicized. Pro shooters are athletes in every sense of the word and with match formats becoming more viewer-friendly and more people trying it out, there is a greater appreciation for what it takes to hit those offhand steel, or keep two on target while hauling ass down a shooting lane.
 
Aside from the Pro Series matches.....we shot the exact same number of major matches...sorta. You shot more pistols matches and I shot more 3-Gun matches, same number of shotgun matches. Looking at 2015, with the new Pro Series format, you should have some extra time available for other matches. I have no intention of cutting back if I make the cut unless dates overlap...but I may have to end up looking at flying versus driving expenses to see if there are any savings to be had while expanding my radius to attend more/different matches.
 
Shane P said:
Perhaps it's time for another red dirt range shotgun match to recoup some money.
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Weather permitting we will have one this month. I'm going big on shotgun next season.
 
I kinda hope some of those folks that dream becoming a shooting pro and quitting their day job come across this thread.

I bet a lot of those dreamers feel that this would be the perfect job. Doing what you love and making a living at it. It ain't that easy.

From my point of view, the Pros earned every penny they make. To take it to the level they are expected to perform at every match takes lots of hard work, lots of dedication, and lots of money. It also takes time away from everything that us that are not pros get to enjoy. Be it time with the family, watching a college game, or just reading a good book.

I am blessed with a total lack of talent for the sport. I was never in a position that I needed to make that commitment. But I'm still here for the fun of it.

Bill
 
Jesse you left off a major budget item for all those events I didn't see the hair gel section!

That is some expense and gain over all if you walk away from it all with all your limbs and you had a fun time in it it is all good. But I like that this shows that a lot of the people dreaming of just hitting it big and doing pro shoots to rack in the money is a little bit of a false dream and it takes a lot of money to make money as they say.

But I am sure as you said before it is in thanks to your sponsors and your kind boss that your able to do what you do.... plus a gun range in your backyard and that commute to work doesn't hurt either.
 
Being a semi-middlle of the pack local 3 gun hack ain't cheap either. I would do an analysis, but really don't want to know. Besides my kids haven't lost too much weight. But, dayum! I sure look good on the range!
 
Travis Colford said:
Jesse you left off a major budget item for all those events I didn't see the hair gel section!

That is some expense and gain over all if you walk away from it all with all your limbs and you had a fun time in it it is all good. But I like that this shows that a lot of the people dreaming of just hitting it big and doing pro shoots to rack in the money is a little bit of a false dream and it takes a lot of money to make money as they say.

But I am sure as you said before it is in thanks to your sponsors and your kind boss that your able to do what you do.... plus a gun range in your backyard and that commute to work doesn't hurt either.
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One of the big reasons for me to post this is so companies see what it costs to be a "pro". My goals don't include me shooting for a living. My hopes is that someday sooner have a group of 10-50 young adults shooting and competing and making a living doing so. Jerry M has been a pro competive shooter for S&W for like 25-30 years. I don't see the big manufactures finding and supporting the next Jerry M which is not good!
 
Bob Sanders said:
Being a semi-middlle of the pack local 3 gun hack ain't cheap either. I would do an analysis, but really don't want to know. Besides my kids haven't lost too much weight. But, dayum! I sure look good on the range!
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So far my kids don't seem to mind my shooting. They haven't figured out I'm spending their inheritance.

Bill
 
I got no urge whatsoever to make a living at a hobby. When you turn a hobby, something that's enjoyable into work. Well it's work then and that kind of kills the enjoyable part of the deal for me. Kind of like pro bass fishing which I once wanted to get into. When I saw those guys out there in a gale with rain, sleet, etc. while I'm setting in my recliner all dry, comfy, warm and having a cold one it kind of changed my outlook.
 
I'm sure it's possible to shoot enough to make it work, but I can't imagine that. I know it's not all shooting, and that there are demands to be met as a spokesman/salesman and the travel, and whatnot, but man, to have someone else help support my shooting addiction?
 
There is a lot of debate on what defines a pro versus an amateur in the shooting sports. I recently saw a great definition by pro shooter Julie Golob on her Facebook page. It goes something like this. A pro shooter makes a living shooting. An amateur shooter aka sponsored shooter has companies that help them lose less money while enjoying their hobby. Despite what "pro" series I shoot in I'll always just be an amateur shooter as will 95% of those at any match until the industry decides it wants to put real money behind the shooting sports.
 
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