Wanting to get started in Trap/skeet shooting....how much will I be spending?

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ian1974

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Hello all,

I went out trap shooting for the first time ever a couple weeks ago. Before this I had never even held a gun. Needless to say I haven't stopped thinking about shooting since. I plan to take the CFSC course in January and obtain my PAL right away. After that I plan to join the Vancouver Gun Club.

My question is, after purchasing a gun (hoping to find a used Beretta 391 since it seems like many people on here speak quite highly of it), how much can I expect to spend monthly on my new hobbie (cost of shells, clays etc.).

My wife already hates my golf and fly fishing addiction so adding this to the list probably won't make her super happy but I'll deal with her wrath later.

Any info you could provide would be much appreciated.
 
It all depends on the range and how fast you shoot. One of the outdoor ranges I belong to in ontario, allows shooters to use their " clay field " when its not being used for the club ( sunday's are exclusively for competition ) providing you bring your own targets and thrower(s)

In an afternoon, I can easily burn through 250 rounds.

Box of 135 clays ( 15.99-18.99 )
Case ( 10 boxes of 25 ) of 12ga clay loads ( 60.94 )
Manual thrower ( 9.99 - 18.99 )
Fun = priceless

Hope this helps!
 
gth said:
That not trap shooting.



Figure it out. Usually $4-$5 per round of trap plus a box of shells $6-$7 depending on where you get them.

So you are close to $10-12 per round.
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Thanks GTH....how many rounds do people generally go through in an outing...1-3???
 
Hi
I just started trap in the spring, after having only shot twice at the game farm where I train my dog. I really wanted to learn to be proficient with a shot gun so I could hunt. I found a trap coach started lessons and was hooked. Just like you I don't think I've stopped thinking about shooting since.

The expenses can greatly vary depending on your personal preferences. In July I spent over 800$ on ammo alone. In august I spent about 5000$ on a 682 gold e trap combo. It's colder now so things have slowed down a bit for me (thank god otherwise I'd be in the poor house soon). I try to get out once a week to the club where I pay 5$ a round for targets (at most of the clubs I've been to targets run 3-8 $) after taxes and everything my shells cost me about 6.50$ a box (25). I'm looking at about 12 $ per round. I usually shoot at least 4 rounds of trap and then maybe play around with some skeet or 5 stand. So the average trip to the club costs me at least 50$. If you plan on competing the cost will also be greater entry fees, accommodations and more. If you want fancy equipment the sky is pretty much the limit.

If you want to distract your wife from the cost of all this I suggest you get her hooked too. I'm a young woman and it was me who dragged my boyfriend to the club for the first time. It might be something you could enjoy together.

And remember if you buy good equipment you won’t have to spend as much maintaining it and it will last a lot longer.

May I also be so bold as to suggest that you really look around and try lots of guns before you buy. Every gun fits everybody differently. If you plan on shooting doubles in the future you might not want a semi because sometimes they have a hard time cycling the lighter trap loads for the second shot ( I'm biased I only shoot over unders, I already have three.)

Good luck from a fellow addict
 
ian1974 said:
Thanks GTH....how many rounds do people generally go through in an outing...1-3???
Click to expand...


When I was really into it I was shooting 4 rounds on Tues and 4 more on Sunday.

I have a familly and other hobbies so reduced it to 4 rounds on Tues only. Now I dont shoot clays at all but I have the itch and may start again when the weather gets better.
 
gth said:
That not trap shooting.



Figure it out. Usually $4-$5 per round of trap plus a box of shells $6-$7 depending on where you get them.

So you are close to $10-12 per round.
Click to expand...


I'd say that's pretty close, other then the annual club membership fee.
 
Thanks to everyone who replied, the information you've provided is greatly appreciated.

SLK: I agree that I would need to try out a bunch of guns before settling. At this point I've only done internet research and that's why I've tentatively settled on the 391, however I could see myself ending up with on an O/U...I guess it all depends on what fits me best.
 
Its not cheap but its only as expensive as you let it get. When I was a kid I used to work at the local trap club on weekends. I would see guys there shooting everything from Ithica 37s to perattzis and ludecks (sorry about the spelling I never bothered to learn it seeing how I cant afford one ;) ) You can shoot cheap wallmart bulk ammo or really expensive competition stuff. A good friend of mine who comes from a trap shooting family recomended to me to get a browning bt-99 Its a single shot but he made a good point to me, until your hitting 90% of the birds in singles doubles is a waste of money. Anyways hope this helps, have fun.
 
Robmcleod82 said:
Its not cheap but its only as expensive as you let it get. When I was a kid I used to work at the local trap club on weekends. I would see guys there shooting everything from Ithica 37s to perattzis and ludecks (sorry about the spelling I never bothered to learn it seeing how I cant afford one ;) ) You can shoot cheap wallmart bulk ammo or really expensive competition stuff. A good friend of mine who comes from a trap shooting family recomended to me to get a browning bt-99 Its a single shot but he made a good point to me, until your hitting 90% of the birds in singles doubles is a waste of money. Anyways hope this helps, have fun.
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Nice point about the single shot. Your have definitely given me something to think about.
 
Can be pretty cheap. I shoot trap with an 870 Wingmaster with fixed modified choke. Counting shells, I think I'm out about $12 a round at my local club. The 870 is probably not the best plan ever, but I usually break 22 to 24 out of 25 with it (and usually it's only the last couple I ever miss -- I think I choke up with the excitement of getting close to a perfect round!). It's a lousy skeet gun, though. Much prefer to borrow my buddy's over/under with hardly any choke to speak-of, when I get suckered into playing that game.
 
You said......

"Wanting to get started in Trap/skeet shooting"

Before buying any gun at all....you may want to decide just what exactly it is that you want to get into.

A single shot may be fine for Trap but if you want to get into other games.....like Skeet...it won't be much good to you.

An O/U or auto loader will at least give you the flexibility to try them all to decide which you prefer and wish to pursue.
 
Neera said:
An O/U or auto loader will at least give you the flexibility to try them all to decide which you prefer and wish to pursue.
Click to expand...
That was a lesson I learned the hard way having bought a single-barrel trap gun and then an autoloader and an o/u. :redface:
 
That's the reason that I was originally leaning towards an autoloader. I believe at some point I will want to have a decent all-round gun to dabble in trap and skeet....the fella that took me our recommended the Remington 1100 as a good entry level gun (it's the gun I used the day I went out). But after much research it seems like the Beretta 391 and Browning Gold might be a better option if I can find a used one at a decent price.
 
run from the browning gold at all costs RUN!!!!! And make sure. The beretta fits you well. If is uncomfortable like having to push your face hard into the stock to line up the beads it's not for you. There are many die hard spaghetti gun owners on this website. But my opinion for someone starting out an older browning citori with 30" barrels or an older like 1980s and older Remington 1100 they are cheap, pattern well, have a good poi, and fit 85-95% of people out there.

My 2 cents.

My first gun was a browning citori plus trap. Followed by a 1100, beretta 682 with kolar tubes, a .410 1100, beretta dt-10 with briley tubes, krieghoff k-32 briley tubes, another 1100, browning cynergy, and I'm thinking of either getting a new krieghoff or kolar. Haven't decided yet.

Best of luck
 
When I started shooting Sporting Clays, I got a little red note book and wrote down every dollar I spent, every mile I traveled, Every target I shot (at). When I got to $4000, I threw the book away and swore I would never do that again!!!
There are better ways to meet people, but there are no ways to meet better people.

Jason
 
Robmcleod82 said:
Its not cheap but its only as expensive as you let it get. When I was a kid I used to work at the local trap club on weekends. I would see guys there shooting everything from Ithica 37s to perattzis and ludecks (sorry about the spelling I never bothered to learn it seeing how I cant afford one ;) ) You can shoot cheap wallmart bulk ammo or really expensive competition stuff. A good friend of mine who comes from a trap shooting family recomended to me to get a browning bt-99 Its a single shot but he made a good point to me, until your hitting 90% of the birds in singles doubles is a waste of money. Anyways hope this helps, have fun.
Click to expand...

I disagree with the doubles point. Doubles is a great way for a singles shooter to learn rhythm and swing (and I'm not talking about dancing). Muscle memory and reflex are other good reason to shoot doubles.

When I first started I shot both. I would say about 80% singles and 20% doubles. In fact, I would say that Doubles shooting helped me to get to 90%. I found that Doubles was a nice compliment to Singles. In competition I shoot 16 yard, handycap, and end it off with doubles.... Its the most fun.

Do yourself a favour and try it.

In terms of cost... slk is right on the money with everything she said. If you are planing on being an addict like most of us, go and purchase your "last gun" first... and make it a combo. While your at it, buy your wife a gun too and find a coach in your area. If you cant find a coach, your club will have someone that will be happier than a pig in a prom dress to take a green-horn under their wing. Be sure to watch some people shooting your favorite discipline before you ask. Don't be surprise if you're wife whoops your but too.

Go to your club and look around, I'll bet you see more Break-Action than Semi. Hmmmmm, I feel another poll coming on!
 
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply. Your comments have been very helpful.

I've only shot a semi-auto. From what I've read the felt recoil in a semi-auto is much less than the break-action. Given that there is less felt recoil with the semi's why do more people shoot with break-action? (Sorry if this is a stupid question....I am a total noob).
 
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