doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Cost of Sporting Clays Shooting

My friend and I were at the gun club Thursday and had just got done shooting sporting clays and sitting having a drink. I said George I figured out exactly what a round of sporting clays cost us since we both get to shoot two times a month. I told him and he said I wish you had not told me. He said just like hunting, financially if figured the exact costs you could buy prime grade steak at less money.



Fortunately my welfare check is always on time

JOhn
Arrieta

Went to one that was a 3 day shoot you could sign up for .410-8 gauge, 50 rounds each at $1.00 a shot. Hurts my brain to figure that out but you could take the whole family out to the best steak house. And that is not counting the boxes of shells if you needed to buy some.

I shot sporting competitively for some 20 years, attending many weekend tournaments requiring travel. When I first started I was buying White Gold target shells for as low as $28/flat. I stuck with hard it until I made Master class in 2010. I'd hate to think what it would cost to duplicate that journey today. In the last three years I have reduced my clay shooting by an astronomical factor, only shooting now occasionally with friends or shooting a fundraiser on a Saturday. I can still usually shoot in the 90s on an average difficulty course.

My competitive nature has not waned, I have just redirected it. Now I am once again shooting pool, mostly nine-ball, with friends a couple times a week and working hard on improving my game. One friend told me I should consider entering a local monthly nine-ball tournament, not necessarily with the expectation of winning, but with the goal of shooting against people that are much better than myself, with the aim of learning and improving. Sound familiar? Same reason I started shooting sporting tournaments so long ago. My wife says she wishes I shot clays more, like the old days. I replied to her that if she knew the difference in what shooting pool and shooting clays costs today she wouldn't feel that way. I used to think nothing of being gone several days for a big sporting tournament. Never again. Now, I'm planning to go to the Mosconi Cup next time America hosts it (2026).

I've got $300 invested in a used Meucci cue, $400 invested in a used CueTec carbon fiber breaking cue, and it costs me nothing to shoot for three hours at the nearest pool hall on 9 ft. Brunswick Gold Crown tables if I purchase at least a $10 lunch while I'm there. If I enter a "first Saturday nine-ball tournament" it will cost me $60. If I didn't enjoy billiards so much I would likely try to justify the cost of continuing to shoot sporting a lot. But, shooting pool has once again engulfed me with satisfaction, and the cost savings are off the charts.

Depends on the club and it depends on if it's a regular match or something special.

There is a club 30 minutes away that will do 4 or 5 sporting clays matches a year. $20 for 50 birds or $30 for 100 birds. Food is supplied at a moderate cost. They do a nice job given the limitations of the available land, but it's not a match I would drive hours or more to attend.

Once a year Rock Mountain Clays in PA will host a SxS event and for that I drive about 3 hours and stay for a couple of days. It does cost more per clay bird for the match, but some of that goes toward the trophy's for the various categories and overall results. The terrain is also much more interesting and I see shots there that just aren't possible for many of the local clubs here in CT.

I have to add in, figure the cost with club dues.

John
Arrieta
Houston

YOU ONLY GET ONE LIFE, LIVE IT

Everyone here is old, or getting older.
The aging process accelerates. It doesn't decelerate.

Look for reasons to DO, not for excuses to not do.

You'll get plenty of them soon enough.

I shoot at a couple local clubs that charge $38/100 (for profit club) and $33.5/100( member run) but the SxS events I travel to usually around $60/100. At these shoots I see friends I might only see 2x a year. a lot of laughter and some booze, gun shopping, meals out etc. It adds up but at this stage in my life I am not willing to give up these events.

Sporting Clays…..it aint cheap!
That said I’m still in deep. I’ve shot 300 practice birds (.46 cents per bird) the last two weekends and 200 during the week. I’ve fought to remain competitive dealing with eye issues, two back surgeries, and a debilitating injury to my wife. I’ve been in MC I believe 3-4 times since starting in 2010. Currently trying to climb back into AA. I need a few punches.If I don’t make the cut during the year I accept down classing, just seems fair to me.
With all the very talented young shooters in the game, punching up is pretty tough! Good for them!!!A thru D class shooters scoring in the mid 90’s isn’t that uncommon any more. I’m lucky in that I have an shooting partner that’s ready to go at a moments notice. I worked well past retirement age to be able to enjoy my all my shooting sports.
Unlike BB KING the thrill isn’t gone. Rifle matches Saturday, Sporting Clay tourney Sunday!

Ken

We try to get out at least once/week. Our range could be the best bargain the country.

https://gallatinclays.org/

3 courses and 5 stands as well. We started with 20 guys over 30 years ago and built our own small course with donated labor and materials. We outgrew it and leased property for a few years, then bought the property and started with a single course that has now turned into 3 full courses with several accompanying 5 stands.

As an original member I have no dues and pay only for targets with an automated card reader and solar powered throwers. A punchcard for 1100 targets cost me $170.00. It is really a great course at a relatively inexpensive cost…









My granddaughter with her first try…