Price of ammo,gas and reloading no good.

dgr416 · Post by **dgr416** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:25 pm

The price of gas,ammo and reloading is cutting way back on my shooting days.I have to drive 60 miles to a range .They have even started banning picking up brass on the range so they can sell it for scrap.Reloading bullets and powder has gone way up.I use to about cover my gas from picking up brass but no more.I still go but not nearly as much as I use to.I usually stay about 8 hours when I go so I can get more bang for the buck.Gas has cut into my 500 mile hunting trips also.I hope it goes back down but I doght it.I reload as much as possible but its getting expensive too.I hope that things change for our kids sake.I am glad I have my own land to hunt on but you can get tired of hunting the same old place.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:17 pm

dgr416,

I'm afraid I have to agree with you. The cost of things is going to cripple us if it doesn't stop increasing and come down. I really don't understand how so many people can just accept the cost increases and keep on going. Somewhere there will come a point where our wage earners can't make it any more. And then we will see an economic disaster such as our grand parents saw in the 30s.

As for the brass I've been to a lot of ranges that restrict picking up of brass.
So I pick mine up and if they say anything about that I tell them to pound sand, that brass is mine, I brought it and taking it with me.

Joe

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:22 pm

Our gas is 75% taxed and they are about to bang 4c on top in april!!!!!
We pay over $10 now per English gallon!!!!!!!
Everything is going through the roof and they keep trying to tell us inflation is low

Something is going to go bang!

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:28 pm

Wow,

I've never been to a range that they won't let you pick up your own brass. If they think I'm gonna leave a pile of 450 Marlin brass ( or anything else) just so they can scrap it they're gonna get an ear full.
Our local club leaves a bucket out if you don't want it. I have to admit I've dug through it a few times. Picked out a few goodies but I don't abuse it. I'm amazed at the stuff some guys leave behind. 45Colt/ 44mag. Lots of 30-30s. 5gal bucket are almost always full.

mod71alaska · Post by **mod71alaska** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:06 pm

I used to drive to the corner grocery store 5 miles away on a whim. Now it costs me $3 to make that 10 mile round trip, adds 50% to the cost of a small pizza, and I don't go on a whim anymore (or anywhere else.) As for shooting my rifles, when it costs $2 to $2.50 a shot I don't casually shoot them anymore either. I have the ammo, but I can't afford to replace it. So, the Model 71s and some other rifles are resting quietly. My pleasure now is in the enjoyment of having them and the memories (and dreams) they give me. I used to reload and know that reloading is a partial answer for many shooters today. It just isn't for me. I'm definitely shut down as for as going to the range for a fun afternoon of shooting. I walk in the woods and plink with a .22 or .22 Mag, and keep my 30-30 Model 64s and 94s within reach, too. I can't begin to imagine where these higher prices are headed. It's just crazy. It's affecting and hurting a lot of folks.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:34 pm

Our gas is 75% taxed and they are about to bang 4c on top in april!!!!!
We pay over $10 now per English gallon!!!!!!!

We think WE have it bad!

The socialists took hold in England long ago, they're not doing quite as well here.

The general idea is to keep the common people in their place. Workers in Russia could barely eat under Communism. Having a car means freedom and power to make choices, which socialists can't stand. Take the guns, cars, power to make choices in health care, employment, and consumer goods, and you've got socialist heaven. That's what it's all about for them.

Vote Democratic!

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:37 pm

Bang on rite sobenk

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:38 pm

I just went and purchased some .45 ACP ammo for the CCW course I hope to be able to attend this weekend, provided I can get someone to work my shift at work. I purchased the same brand and bullet grain/type as last time and it cost $3 a box more than the last time. The range I will be shooting at is 50 miles away one way so that gas will definately be a downer but I am sure I will have a good time if I get to go.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:24 pm

With the exception of once per month big bore and pistol caliber silhouette matches, I spend 90% of my time shooting rimfire. Shooting is becoming an expensive hobby. I can't imagine competing in IPSC or Practical Rifle, with today's costs.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:50 pm

Traded my F150 in on a new 08 Civic

Doubled the milage, maybe a little better than that......Shoot cast

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:51 pm

dgr416 wrote:The price of gas,ammo and reloading is cutting way back on my shooting days.I have to drive 60 miles to a range .They have even started banning picking up brass on the range so they can sell it for scrap.Reloading bullets and powder has gone way up.I use to about cover my gas from picking up brass but no more.I still go but not nearly as much as I use to.I usually stay about 8 hours when I go so I can get more bang for the buck.Gas has cut into my 500 mile hunting trips also.I hope it goes back down but I doght it.I reload as much as possible but its getting expensive too.I hope that things change for our kids sake.I am glad I have my own land to hunt on but you can get tired of hunting the same old place.

If you have your own land to hunt on (enough), why don't you set up a range on your land. It will no scare the game away and will really increase your shooting time. I shoot on my land all the time and in all the years I've been shooting on it, it hasn't effected the amount of game that are on it at various times of the year.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:35 pm

I'll be darned if I will cut down on my shooting!! I shoot about 2 cases of .22 a year. The price of that is up a total of about $80.00-$100.00. I am not about to change my lifestyle for a lousy $100.00 a year. I also shoot about 4000 or so rounds of centerfire every year, mostly .44-40, 32-20, .33WCF and 30-30. I shoot cast bullets that I buy instead of jacketed and do just about as well. I figure the cost of that has doubled in the last 2 years but it is still manageable, probably costs me $200 extra maximum. I buy lots of powder, primers etc at yard sales. I dont have to travel far to shoot, either out my back door or about 4 miles to the club range, or 14 miles to the other club range.

We have cut way back on our recreational and nonessential driving, we make lists of what to buy when we go to town to save making so many trips. We no longer drive 75 miles up into the mountains to have breakfast or 150 miles to go to the mall. We dont go out to eat more than about 2 times a month but that is plenty, I dont care much for restaurants anyway. Neither of us smoke or drink so we save a BUNCH there over some other folks.

I firmly beleive that a person can maintain doing what is important to him/her if they will just cut out the nonsense spending and concentrate on what's important. YMMV.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:48 pm

jnyork wrote:I firmly beleive that a person can maintain doing what is important to him/her if they will just cut out the nonsense spending and concentrate on what's important. YMMV.

If folks figure out how much they are spending on non-essentials that ruin their health and that does not aid their shooting .. like paying anywhere from $30 to $90 a gallon for whiskey...

Of course, you did add that phrase "what's important" ...

mod71alaska · Post by **mod71alaska** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:02 pm

JimT wrote:
jnyork wrote:I firmly beleive that a person can maintain doing what is important to him/her if they will just cut out the nonsense spending and concentrate on what's important. YMMV.
If folks figure out how much they are spending on non-essentials that ruin their health and that does not aid their shooting .. like paying anywhere from $30 to $90 a gallon for whiskey...

Of course, you did add that phrase "what's important" ...

I maybe buy a fifth of 12 year old Scotch a year. That fifth of Scotch lasts all year and into the next, and it's important.

45-70- · Post by **45-70-** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:07 pm

I got a gift card from work so I went to WalMart with it. Here's what I bought

Video game for the kids plus some other game thingy.
A pair of Dickies jeans
200 rounds of 12 gauge
100 rounds of 20 gauge
60 rounds of 30-30
100 rounds of 45 ACP
550 rounds of 22LR

I couldnt think of a better way to spend it

And I did notice the price of ammo has been going up.

dgr416 · Post by **dgr416** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:11 pm

I had a favorite shooting range 15 miles from our farm.The forest service determined it unsafe ten decided to turn the range 90 degrees .Then they decided to charge to shoot then they decided that you could no longer shoot skeet or clays there because of clean up then they decided they needed a paid US Forest Service employee there when they would open the range.Then they decided that they didnt have the money for the range employee so guess what they closed one of the most popular ranges around .The one that hundreds of people each weekend used.There were many young women learning to shoot guns to protect themselves.Its all gone they rebuilt the range but closed it.I had a range but they determined it too close to the road and made me no shoot on it.It was a powerline with a bench shooting away from the road in the trees guess what I cant shoot on my own range any more.The rest of my farm is in planted timber which is unsuitible for a range.I dont think there are any more public ranges that you can use your own skeet thrower to shoot skeet or use skeets to shoot with your rifle.This range closing caused me to have to drive about 70 miles each way to the range .I have only gone once because of dealing with traffic and being so far.Its about a 2 hour drive in traffic.I see more and more new rules on shooting ranges and alot of them are having less open hours and requyiring hunter safety to shoot.This is not good because first time shooters might not try if they have to take a class.I am aLL for hunter sasfety classes but they go too far and make it too hard to shoot.The range they closed was near a major university and can no longer be used.I hope it opens again.With the price of gas college students cant afford to drive 3 times as far to the other nearest outdoor range.
I have given alot of the kids I have taught to hunt and shoot ammo that I didnt need or I reloaded some for them.I also gave them hunting clothes I could no longer wear.I also helped them get their hunter safety classes done .I also took them hunting as much as I could afford.My bird hunting trips are getting less and less with each gas hike.I try my best to take as many kids hunting and shooting as I can.Unless we change off of imported oil I dont see anything good in the future either.The price of metals has driven up the cost of ammo,brass and bullets.I hope that the kids of today figure out things so their grandchildren can hunt ,fish and shoot.

MikeS. · Post by **MikeS.** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:27 am

We too have cut way back on trips to the store. I'm fortunate that my job takes me right past WM and a great grocery store. So instead of making a special trip to go shopping I do it on the way home.

My gun club is about 4 miles but I too shoot a lot more .22lr then centerfire.

leverhunter · Post by **leverhunter** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:57 am

I'm lucky, there is a range within a 10 min drive of my house. I have a key so can shoot when I feel like it.
Price of ammo in Alberta has gotten fairly high along with gas etc. I paid $40.00 last week for a 50 round box of 44 mag!! Bout near had a stroke. FWIW, I should be loading my own by May which hopefully will cut down the costs. 30/30 ammo is going for $18-$22/20 rounds except in one store which will remain un-named as they have several boxes for $12/box, at least till I get there tomorrow lol.

cas · Post by **cas** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:08 am

And the Iranians complained when it went to 40Â¢ a gallon recently.

The range I work at has gotten more strict with the brass. We let people pick if they're reloaders looking for something in particular. But you have to watch what you say because people will ask if they can take a few pieces of brass, and the next thing you know they're dumping the brass pail into their range bag.

Scrap prices being what they are, we don't let the buckets fill up. People were climbing the fence at night and stealing the buckets.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:30 am

Next to eating and the bed I sleep in, everything else will go before I even begin to think about cutting down on my shooting. That means theTV and the 'puter. (the wife will go too

)

'Ya just gotta be creative. Buy moulds and learn how to use 'em. Go to the range during off hours and throw a few 5 gallon buckets of dirt in your vehicle-----sift it out----you will probably get 50 pounds of lead-----------do it again next month when you bring back the old dirt.

Hit the scrap yards + tire shops for lead. If you have a job, you can afford some lead.

Hit the gunshows----buy primers by the 5000. Powder by the 8 pounder------------ Use lots of Bullseye & Unique

I have been telling people for over 30 years that Bullseye, Unique and IMR 4895 (or 3031) will handle 98% of all of your shooting needs for any gun you have.

If your finances are running that close to the point where you can't shoot, its time to change those finances and reset your priorities. You can't let other people dictate your priorities.

Where there's a will---there's a way------------------Sixgun

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:39 am

One of the biggest threats to our way of life is the on-going escalation of prices - mostly food and fuel. The cost of food is increasing at a rate not seen in 30+ years. Taking corn from the worlds food supply for ethanol and fuel - is just about the dumbest thing you can do - biodisel? Come on, people think about it... I know these things are good for the American farmer and they are making more profit than ever, but long term this is not the answer.

We need to find a way to turn saltwater into gasoline - then screw the middle east - we are on easy street.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:42 am

dgr416 wrote: They have even started banning picking up brass on the range so they can sell it for scrap.

I'm sorry - I got hung up at the sentence above. I'll read the rest of the post too - I promise!

I wouldn't belong to any range that wouldn't let one pick up their own brass. I can understand telling people not to scrounge (something I am always quilty of!

) other's brass, but not pick up my own? Some of the stuff I shoot is not common, and they can go jump in a lake before I'd leave that expensive brass lying on the ground!!!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:46 am

Nath wrote:Our gas is 75% taxed and they are about to bang 4c on top in april!!!!!
We pay over $10 now per English gallon!!!!!!!
Everything is going through the roof and they keep trying to tell us inflation is low
Something is going to go bang!

Nath - I work with people from the UK and Europe, and every time I think about complaining about gas prices (which I do anyway), I always remember that others have it worse - and have had it worse for a very long time.

The Dem's here will continue to restrict exploration and recovery, and continue to add taxes, because they want to see driving get unaffordable for the masses. As pointed out, the car represents freedom - something the committed socialists (we call them Democrats here) can not tolerate. Raising gas prices is a "four-for" for them - it reduces freedom as a whole, it increases the need for public (government) transportation (buses), it reduces the number of those evil enviroment-destroying cars on the road (paying off their environmental-wacko constituents for their votes), and it makes us dependent on tin-pot Islamic dictators with goofy mustaches wearing dresses!!!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:49 am

mod71alaska wrote: I used to drive to the corner grocery store 5 miles away on a whim. Now it costs me $3 to make that 10 mile round trip, adds 50% to the cost of a small pizza, and I don't go on a whim anymore (or anywhere else.)

Geez Victor, what are you driving - an M1 Abrahms?

I thought my wife's suburban chugged the gas!!! Then again, I imagine at $2.87/gallon (the price I paid last week to fill 'er up), it is a tad cheaper than what you are paying in Maine!

Sorry my friend!!!

dgr416 · Post by **dgr416** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:27 am

I was very suprised when the range I use to get brass from banned picking it up.If you clean up your own brass before it hits the ground its fine but some guns throw brass and you cant pick it up off of the ground.They use to have a guy who cleaned up the range for the brass now the state gets it to sell for scrap.The banning of the use of clay and wooden targets has cut way back on the number of shooters.I was suprised but it happened on almost all the ranges I shoot at.I always carry out what I bring in to every range I shoot on.With it being more costly to go shooting its getting to be a pain to shoot when they cut back the number of hours they are open and the days they are open and closing popular ranges makes it harder for alot of people to go shooting.Its not like the days when I grew up when you could shoot on an empty lot.Its getting harder and harder to find good places to shoot and finding a range over 100 yards is even harder.There is a private range thats very nice but its $900 to join and $600 a yar.$1500 is not going to attract new shooters.I usually take one or two kids shooting with me every time I go.I usually take a bunch of different guns to shoot so kids dont get bored.I usually let them shoot the 22 alot .I just hope we find alternate fuels cheaper than imported oil to bring this country back on its feet.If gas goes to $5 a gallon here its really going to impact our shooting sports in all the bad ways.I also hope that metals go back down.Lead shot for shotgun reloading went from $15 per 25 pounds to $70 .Its hard to find reloading supplies also .I see it totally going mail order .I just hope things get better for our kids and their grandkids so hunting and shooting will still be around.

mod71alaska · Post by **mod71alaska** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:33 am

Ysabel Kid wrote:
mod71alaska wrote: I used to drive to the corner grocery store 5 miles away on a whim. Now it costs me $3 to make that 10 mile round trip, adds 50% to the cost of a small pizza, and I don't go on a whim anymore (or anywhere else.)
Geez Victor, what are you driving - an M1 Abrahms? I thought my wife's suburban chugged the gas!!! Then again, I imagine at $2.87/gallon (the price I paid last week to fill 'er up), it is a tad cheaper than what you are paying in Maine!:(

I drive a 1995 Dodge Ram 4 x 4, which is in excellent condition but only gets about 12 mpg locally in the winter (if I'm careful) and 15 mpg on the highway. Gas where I live in Maine is $3.17 gallon almost everywhere. We haven't seen $2.87 in...well, I can't even remember when, Jay. $2.87 a gal. is a long forgotten memory here. I didn't think it was that low anywhere anymore. That's a great price and you're fortunate. Worse than the cost of gas here is the cost of heating oil. We're having a very cold winter and believe it or not heating oil is more expensive than gas!

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:35 am

I am spending more on ammunition components than I would like , but stock up now it is only going up. This is the "good old days"

I've got it pretty good for now. The range I shoot is a 10 minute drive. I could walk to the grocery store, but it is hard carrying a load home. My wife and I can both walk to work.

When I lived in Phoenix I was driving 40-50k miles per year. Since moving to Florida I am driving about 5k per year. My truck gets 12-15 MPG.
I have been using rental cars for all of my out-of-state driving. I rent one of those little compact cars; they buzz like hell on the freeway, but the gas savings pays for the rental and some.

Almost every year. West Virginia for deer season. Bradford, PA in the summer.

Dastook · Post by **Dastook** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:59 am

The prices of everything in any way involved with hunting or shooting will continue to increase more rapidly than most everything else. This is being done by design by those trying to take away these God given rights.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:23 am

dgr416 wrote:.....The rest of my farm is in planted timber which is unsuitible for a range. ....

Where there's a will there's a way. Can't you clear some scrub/schrub and make at least a narrow shooting lane in the timber? Maybe even cut down one tree to do it. Even a 50-yard range would be ok but I'd think you could make at least a 100-yard range. Hell, even a two or three foot wide lane would do the trick.

EDIT:

Got a neighbor that shoots too. Ask em if you can set up a range on their place. You do all the work building/setting up the range in exchange for being allowed to shoot on their place.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:36 am

Remington is one of the worst if not THE worst companies ripping us off. Last April a box of 20 Remington .444 Marlin 240gr SP bullets from MidwayUSA was right at $29.00 and change. Today it is right at $52.00 and change. That's one hell of an increase in just 9-months. None of the other manufactures that sell .444 Marlin have increased there prices anywhere near that amount. Same with the Remington HD shotgun ammo. Way above any other brand of like ammo. I've quit buying anythin Reminton and it's too bad for me as I'd like another two or three Model 870s but I'll just go to Winchester or Browning for them.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:32 pm

Well ...i have cut down on shooting a lot....
I used to shoot 250 to 300 clay targets every weekend..
now i am down to 75 to 100 targets every other weekend...
I shoot my rifles about once a month.......
If i want to shoot ...I will do without something else or work over time...
But there is one thing I will not give up...and that is hunting.
I dont care how much gas goes up...Im still gonna go...
and i will stay in camp longer...to make it worth the road trip...
Besides,.... shooting, hunting and fishing are my
sanity maintenance

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:36 pm

RIHMFIRE I agree 100%. Hunting and Fishing is my sanity maintenance as well.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:46 pm

Sounds to me like the only logical reaction is to boycott ranges that do not let you police YOUR brass upon completing the range. Once they figure out that it take sufficient customers to pay the bills and that their brass salvage is minimal, they might reevaluate their policy.

dgr416 · Post by **dgr416** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:53 pm

When its the only outdoor 100 yard range for 100 miles its hard to boycott it.I would have never thought things would come to as they are on this range.The other public range which is closed until further notice was trashed.People shot old tvs computers and left all the trash.I guess the state saqw the clay targets as trash and stopped them also.I thought about joining the private range but $1500 is too much for my budget just to shoot.The hunting clubs are just as bad its $1000-$5000 for most hunting clubs and they want no kids.Trophy management has hurt hunting in general in my opinion.The kids get tired of waiting for trophy bucks and most dont eat what they shoot.You have to teach kids how to dress and cook deer.I spent about $2000 on gas hunting this year and that was reducing my trips and driving a car that got 23 mpg.I just hope for our kids things turn around.

WHELENATOR · Post by **WHELENATOR** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:40 pm

Guys, I feel for all of you, and I too am concerned for our kids. And I don't even have any yet. This is all scaring me to death I'll be perfectly honest. I live here in alaska, and financially, yeah, I can cut out some beer and some niceties to more afford gas for huntin, and bullets for shootin. but it's definitely getting to where we don't go as much. I want to get my wife into the range 2 times a month, but I don't want to afford buying the bullets, or the powder and stuff. I have been hording and my wife thinks I am crazy. She keeps wondering aloud why in the **** I need yet another box of them bullets for. I just got 4 boxes of those in the mail the other dayQ@$%@^^#$&
As for hunting, dang, it's been hurting up here for quite a long time already. In Alaska, if you can't drive or ATV to hunting, you have to fly out to it. If I told you guys what a fly out caribou DROP OFF hunt was, you would have a stroke. a couple years back, a Dehaviland Beaver was running $500 per hour. if you have to fly out for a half hour to the hunting area, that's a grand. Keep adding. It'll keep hurting... That was at least 3 years back, and I haven't priced it since. Haven't been abl to afford the time nor money to go.
Ok, enough ranting from me. Good luck to all of you.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:23 pm

dr walker wrote:I am spending more on ammunition components than I would like , but stock up now it is only going up. This is the "good old days"

I've got it pretty good for now. The range I shoot is a 10 minute drive. I could walk to the grocery store, but it is hard carrying a load home. My wife and I can both walk to work.

When I lived in Phoenix I was driving 40-50k miles per year. Since moving to Florida I am driving about 5k per year. My truck gets 12-15 MPG.
I have been using rental cars for all of my out-of-state driving. I rent one of those little compact cars; they buzz like hell on the freeway, but the gas savings pays for the rental and some.
Almost every year. West Virginia for deer season. Bradford, PA in the summer.

Where do you live in Florida?
I'm in Daytona, so is Duff-l-Bagg, and CrawdaddyJim is in Deland

Wrangler John · Post by **Wrangler John** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:58 am

Yeah, I just went to the store with the Mrs.. Loaf of French bread cost $4.00. Diesel cost $3.89 a gallon - that's the winter blend with less energy and mileage. Beef is going between $6.00 and $9.50 a pound - at Costco! Inflation is at 7% I read somewhere, except the Govt. cooks the books, to keep it low (i.e. Greenspan changed the deal to track hamburger price instead of steak to keep the figure low).

What happened is that the Fed took all the value out of the dollar, it's just fiat money with no intrinsic value. Then credit buying and deficit spending sapped the strength of America, allowing foreign investor to buy up the debit. Add that to the craze for ethanol, which drives up feed costs, (ethanol can't be shipped by pipeline it has to go by tank car or truck adding to the cost) add high fuel prices from a lack of refining capacity, which drives up transportation costs across the entire manufacturing and distribution process, high cost of electricity due to lack of new power plants, high taxes and the cost of environmental regulation (California passed a law prohibiting the purchase of electricity from out of state coal fired plants), and you have set the stage for disaster. I know, let's tax those evil corporations! Except corporations don't pay taxes, they pass it on in prices of their goods or services, we pay their taxes. Then we gotta compete with China for the raw materials. Getting to the point where we may not be able to afford government. With all that, I'm thinking ammo costs are least of the problem. Cure? It isn't going to be easy- like taking cod liver oil. Makes you wonder who's in charge here?

Jason_W · Post by **Jason_W** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:10 am

Maybe this will good for us as a nation. Maybe we'll start learning how to be frugal again.

I know my fiance and I need to work on it. We tend to end up with a lot of spoiled food in our fridge. With prices being what they are, that's simply unacceptable.

Ages of excess (and from the mid 20th century until now has been an age of excess IMO) simply aren't sustainable in the long run.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:16 pm

all the above is why I'm shooting as much as I can now. If I learn to shoot well, learn my equipment, then in the future I won't have to shoot as much and can hunt with confidence.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:02 pm

Fortunately I am within five miles of two complete ranges, one private that charges me $50 a year and the other that is public but charges a $96 unlimited season pass (they have multiple ranges from 25 m to 300 yards, plus trap, forty acre walk through 3D Archery with twenty five stations). If that becomes too much, I'd have to walk across the street from my house and use the field where I set up my 500 yard shots. Just figured out how much it cost per round on my .44-40 using used brass, 8 grains of Unique, #200 CCI primer, and cast 200gr LFN's w/SPG lube (store bought, $16.99 for a 500 ctn box), every time I pull the trigger, it costs me .072!

As far as the rest of my world, this months gas utility bill was $300 US...2 1/2 times more than just two years ago! My family health insurance bill, through work but I pay this much: $1577.00 monthly, two years ago it cost me $526.00, plus my employer pays $450.00 per month. And of course, since I put over 40 thousand miles on my vehicle in the course of my business, the $3.00 per gallon fuel cost is really inhibitive. That being said, I have not had an increase in income from my employer in over 3 years! They say because of their increased costs and because of "global" economic pressures, they need to retain more of the revenue created by increased sales!

dgr416 · Post by **dgr416** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:03 pm

And this is during the bush years when we are supose to be flying high .Its gonna get way worse if demirats get in which I hope they dont.I dont see any more ranges being built.One city I lived in want to donate the old dump to the sportsman club to turn into a range.They declined because it would be their responsibility to clean up the old dump then.There are fewer and fewer ranges staying open because noise and too many houses.I think the NRA should look into buying up land to make more ranges.I know they use to help pay for a few I shot at.I helped build benches at two ranges but they go closed from development.Its bad times when they start running after you empties before they hit the ground.I use to get tons of brass at ranges now it seems its a thing of the past.I use to get a bunch of brass in Nevada but now that range bans picking up brass.Its getting more expensive to reload that there goes the only free brass around.Its a shame to see perfict brass go to scrap also.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:41 am

You mean I did something right when I stocked & stocked during the go-go years?
The girlfriend says I have too much stuff, I do not have too much stuff; I have too little space

WinM71 · Post by **WinM71** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:52 pm

Just took a look at the Winchester website. .348 ammo now lists at $79.99 per box of 20. .356 is $61.76, .358 is $61.79. Guess you're pretty lucky if you chose a .356, you save 3 cents a box!

.38-40 is $85 per box of 50. .218 Bee is $97.32. A hunderd bucks for a box of .218 Bee ammo. No way that makes sense.

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:33 am

Yep mod71alaska, the price of fuel (and fuel oil!) hasn't been below
$3.00/gal in awhile in Maine. My GMC does about like your Dodge - but what else are ya gonna drive in a foot of snow, or if ya gotta haul a ton of something like manure or wood? In the warm weather I
fill the motorbike up and have a cuppa, and there goes a twenty. A TWENTY!! I used to be able to run that machine on pocket change - literally. No more my friends...... Fillin' the oil barrel is the better part of a GRAND!! It's nuts.

The range I use let's ya pick up brass - at least no one says much.
'Course, the good stuff is usually long gone by the time I get there!

donw · Post by **donw** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:09 pm

congress and state/local govts are going to do nothing about the high costs of any and everything. they reap the benefits of PERCENTAGE taxes...the higher the price, the more revenue they rake in. why would they want to cut it down?

make no mistake about it...they have no intentions of "lightening the load".

ohio hunter · Post by **ohio hunter** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:20 pm

It's bad and only gonna get worse. Sacrifice a gun and use the cash to stock up on powder, lead and primers. Get a woodstove and spend some time cutting wood, your body will thank you. If your in the city, I recomend getting out.
My Dad talked about his dad farming, working a fulltime job for the county and running traps all night long just to barely keep his head above water and then the depression came!! Like another poster said "These are the good ole days" J

tman · Post by **tman** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:00 pm

the price of a gallon of gas is the key. until it comes down to a sane price, our economy will suffer. wages no longer keep up with inflation. gas prices increase grocery prices and everything else. this has if not caused, has certainly helped along the mortage and credit card failures. our president could help. he DEFINITLEY has ties , and benifets directly from oil company profits. tax rebates won't help. our president needs to step up, be a leader, and do something about the price gouging. no stimulus package, no blaming the enviromental wacko's. no blaming 9-11, or the war on terror. it's time to step up and save the economy.

dgr416 · Post by **dgr416** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:36 am

With the price of scrap brass way up you are going to have a hard time finding any brass on ranges.I picked up 4 wheel borrow loads of brass a few years back mostly pistol stuff and 308 and 223 military stuff.I couldnt hardly give it away when I moved.Now its selling for about .07 each at least and more.I like caliobers which can be made from other common calibers.The 375 winchester can be made from 30-30 brass.The 25-35 can be made from 30-30.The 35 whelen can be made from 30-06 brass.The 264 win mag can be made from cheap 7 mm rem mag brass .I have formed alot of brass.I couldnt find any 250-3000 brass.I found a bunch of new 22-250 brass cheap I necked it up .Its work but worth it.I once bought 1200 rounds of 416 weatherby I deloaded it not easy which took about 10 wacks each in a rcbs deloader and a special wrenck to get cases out.I took the bullets 410 gr woodleighs and used them in my 338-378 weatherby.I used the Norma mpr powder in my 264 win mag,338 and sold a bunch of it.I paid $25 a box on clearence and got my money out of it and still had all my brass whick I had to neck down twice to 338-378.I had to but extra 378 weatherby dies but it was well worth it.You can reload these cases about 17 times.Norma brass is well worth the price.I now have a life time supply of 416 bullets and 338-378 brass.It was alot of work and alot of money at first but I got all the cases done.The result I can load my $1 each brass with bullet powder and primer for about $30 a box.The second load about $10 a box.That compairs to $96 a box for factory stuff.I do the same with my 416 rem mag rifles.I reload as much as possible.I cant justify the 22 mag rifles I want because I can reload 223 cheaper than 22 mag ammo.I hope the price of metal and ammo goes down but I dought it very much.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:09 pm

It's getting so bad the cops are sweeping up their own brass to sell for scrap. I haven't had the time to pick any up this year but the pickings are slim overall.

I'll be shooting more this year to develop my silhouette loads, but once that's done I'll probably settle down to shooting 50-100 rounds a month. Time off is more scarce than bullets. Some of my best days shooting I only fired off 20 rounds.