"Pro" Shooters?

[OlSlyGuy]

What's with all of the "semi-pro" shooter talk? I get the jokes and love them but it got me to thinking, how many actual "Pro" shooters are there? How many guys make a comfortable living shooting for a living? I know some guys on here shoot for Stag etc, but what does that mean? Do they have day jobs? Do their contracts with their sponsors even cover the cost of ammo, guns, travel, matches etc, let alone allow them to live comfortably?

I'm a new competition shooter and don't have thoughts of becoming the next "it" guy but the thought of shooting for a living has a certain allure that I'm sure all of my fellow BSers can relate to. Just wondering how the "other guys" live I guess.

 

[mike cyrwus]

if Pro=shooting for a living

In that case theres about 2-3 pros in the entire US.

 

[jtischauser]

The semi pro stuff is in reference to the cool new 3 Gun Nation Semi Pro Series. They have several different points races 3 gunners can sign up for.

Pro, Semi Pro, Amateur, Lady, Junior, Club, Divisional. Each is worth $5,000-$50,000 if you win them. Here is a link for more info.

http://3gunnation.com/the_series/rules

Most guys that are Professional shooters in the sense that it pays their bills and that is all they do also give training instruction and get paid for their appreances in TV and magazines etc. Lots of them also build guns or sell gun parts and accessories or ammo or something firearms related. There are several young guys in the Army Markmanship Unit such as Daniel Horner that gets paid to shoot and train military troops. Daniel has won close to $100,000 since the inception of 3 Gun Nation in 2010. He is probably the closest to being a Pro in the competitive shooting sense. I think all of us could live comfortably on $100k.

Mike Seeklander from USSA deals with firearms and training for a living and he is a helluva competitive shooter. Jerry Miculek is probably the most notable, I think Dave Sevigny could qualify as a Professional, Rob Leatham Maybe, Todd Jarrett probably. Jessie Harrison gets a lot of endorsement deals cause she can shoot and is purty.

Regular dudes like me that do this as a income earning Hobby have day jobs. I make a pretty good living doing what I do so I will be keeping my day job for the forseen future. But all the guys you see with the logoed out jerseys get different things. Some get free gear, some get cash, some get discounts, some just wear the shirt to look cool. Some get free backrubs form their gunsmith accurate iron.

I am keeping a detailed list of how much I spend on ammo, gear, travel, food, etc this year to see just how much money i am losing to be a pro.

 

[Spiff]

Some get free backrubs form their gunsmith accurate iron.

Is that Pro only, or is that offer available to Semi-Pros?

 

[Chris_Andersen]

Is that Pro only, or is that offer available to Semi-Pros?

He has always charged me for mine!

 

[slider]

Man he does some pretty cool work. I saw a limited gun he built for one of the guys on the team and it was very nice!

 

[Wall]

Is that Pro only, or is that offer available to Semi-Pros?

or Pros with a "Semi"

 

[Chambers]

There are no semis in those magical hands.

 

[OlSlyGuy]

I am keeping a detailed list of how much I spend on ammo, gear, travel, food, etc this year to see just how much money i am losing to be a pro.

That might make for some interesting reading.

 

[KurtM]

Quote from Mr. T "Rob Leatham Maybe"

Robby was the very first person to be a PRO at the I make my living doing this, to the tune of an over million dollar contract with Springfield Armory. Jerry was still working in the refinery back when that happened. There were several others at a I make a living doing this Like Jerry Barnhardt, and Chip McCormick, Brian Enos, but no-one has ever been at the level Robby was and IS...so maybe??

 

[jtischauser]

That might make for some interesting reading.

Not if you're my wife it won't.

 

[Wall]

Robby was the very first person to be a PRO at the I make my living doing this, to the tune of an over million dollar contract with Springfield Armory.

I'd say that qualifies

 

[OlSlyGuy]

Not if you're my wife it won't.

I have that same problem. I brought home $165 worth of caddies the other day and she looked at me like I had a third eye.

 

[jtischauser]

I'd say that qualifies

How many years was the contract? 50?

 

[Deathtrap]

I thought Todd jarrett had a 10 year million dollar deal with para a while back also

 

[KurtM]

"How many years was the contract, 50?" Hahahahah you berry funny. Robby still shootes for Springfiel in case you don't know, and is on retainer for well over 6 figures a year after the first 5 year contract ran out. Man, as the Mayor you need to learn more about your constituents. The next in high over-all makes his living very nicely is Doug Koenig ( pronounced "Kaynig") And yes Mr. Wall Todd Jarrett has got a little deal going with Blackhawk now.

 

[DurningDefenseCustoms]

165.00 is still easier to explain than the 8200.00 surface grinder I just bought, ouch. she is spending her free time now making what looks like a doll of me to put pins in.

The whole business, if you shoot, smiff or host is very hard to make your income off of, I would say that less than 1 percent of all make any real money.