Expense?

Vern

Vern

Morethan1waytoskinacat
I was recently talking with a friend who has transitioned from short range center fire benchrest to also doing rimfire.
I have held the opinion that the reason that CF BR has dwindled is the great expense.
I have been considering ANOTHER additional shooting sport that has even more matches.
I have only shot 1 long range match, that with a friends rifle and took first.
But I know the expense is every bit as much as SR CF BR.

I thought because of the lack of loading expenses that rimfire might be less. HOWEVER my friend told me that the cost for shooting Rimfire was much greater than CF BR.

Is this true. I dont want to doubt my friends word but from what little I can accertain I dont see how.

I know the guns are every bit as expensive. His partial explanation was that even though you dont have the same reloading expense that the ammo expense is even greater.

Is the overall expense greater.
I do like the idea of being able to shoot more and loading less.
 
Dave I am not quite sure how that equates.
Is that $31 for a 50 round box?
If so I can understand the ammo cost diff.
But on the other hand not having to load and unload all of that extra gear might be worth it.
 
Vern

Ammo costs $8.50 to $17.50 per 50 rounds depending on what Ammo you choose. Eley Tenex is not worth the money for $17.50 per Box of 50. You can do just as well perhaps better with Eley Match Black Box for $12.50 per Box of 50. And there is some good Lapua Center X out there at $8.50 per Box of 50. So I don't see how Rimfire is more costly than Centerfire!

Mike
 
Hay Vern,
Look at Bruno's and a few other's that sell rimfire ammo. I don't think Graf is selling 2 boxes for $31.00, it run's around on a average of $24 to $25 a box of 50 round's. Eley tenex is around $19 a box. You can find it cheaper than Graf's or Midway for sure. Rambo
 
Mike,
I've shot it all that's Eley 10X, Black box Match EPS (I think the Match EPS shoot's better than the 10X), blue box Team (does real good also)RWS R-50,R-100 & Fed Ultra Match Wolf ME & Target, SK Std Plus, Match. I've had pretty good luck with it all. The Lapua X-Act cost to much and it did'nt impress me any saying it would shoot one hole group's as told by them at a Shot show afew years ago. The Center-x and Midas ammo shoot's better to me than X-act. Just my 2 cent's on this, Rambo
 
Check Dan Killoughs website for "better" ammo prices on good ammo. Dan is an advertiser on this site and has a very nice website. Great website and a Great guy to deal with too!
 
Vern, I had a similar post a while back in another forum and here is a really good experienced answer I got to the price of top quality ammo if you want to get into match shooting.

Unfortunately there is little price variation when looking at match grade ammunition. The range per brick will typically be lesss than $20. The choices you have are:

Champion Shooters Supply - They carry all lines with the exception of X-Act

Champions Choice - They carry all lines

Bert's Garage - Great selection of Eley and where I buy my ammunition from

These dealers will offer you the best choices in terms of lots and pricing. If you purchase through Midway or a similiar company you will pay a premium. The range for match grade ammo is as follows:

Eley Tenex - $1,750 range per case, $180 per brick
Eley Match - $1,240 range per case, $130 per brick
Eley Team - $1090 range per case, $110 per brick

Lapua X-Act - $2,230 per case, $240 per brick
Lapua Midas + - $1,450 per case, $155 per brick
Lapua Center X - $900 per case, $100 per brick

Federal Top Grade $1,500 pe case, $160 per brick

Wolf ME and SK Match - $660 per case, $70 per brick

Several items to consider when purchasing match grade ammunition

- Ammunition while expensive is actually the cheapest part of the game when you consider transportation, food, match fees, lodging, etc.
- Like many items in life you get what you pay for and with that in mind you best bets will be Eley Team & Match and Lapua Midas and Center X

Each year when I go to Camp Perry someone laments over the price of ammunition and like many I am not happy with the prices. However, when I look at the following it puts it into perspective:

- Drive to Perry - 1000 mile round trip - 5 tanks of gas approximately $200
- Lodgiing - $400
- Food - $300
- Entry Fee - $275
- Incidentals - $250
- Ammo (Eley Match) - 700 rounds at $12.50 a box = $187

I hope this answers your questions and also puts the price into perspective. Like you I am not happy paying today's prices, however unlike center fire there are not many choices when it comes to match grade ammunition.

Personally, I like dealing with Bert's Garage and their selection as Eley commands approximately 85% of the worlds market which should be a sign as to where to start when choosing your ammunition. Greater selection and used by the most shooters in posiiton, prone and benchrest.

Bill
 
So,,,, thus far based on the original post would you as rimfire shooters especially those that shoot both SR BR say its cheaper, more expensive or the same to shoot rimfire than it is to shoot short range centerfire benchrest?????????????????????????????????????

Sorry Dave we posted at the same time.
I consider all the other expenses, ie travel food etc the same for either.
I am considering only the actual shooting aspects. Ill finish reading your post before I put my foot any further in my mouth.

One of my problems is to shoot its 1.5 hours away... thats not so bad but to even practice its the same 1.5 hour drive. I can practice rimfire most any where in this area then go to compete and still have the same enjoyment of competition so that is one of the many reasons of adding or replacing SR CF BR.

All I need is some real encouragement and more money or maybe even a total change.
 
Last edited:
What is the barrel life of a RF? In CF, at least in group shooting with a 6PPC, you have to consider barrels as a consumable just like ammo.
 
Rimfire Shooting Tx.

Hi Vern,

Couple of options to think about Boerne shooting club host 2 ARA BR. matches per month. Dan Killough, KSS, place is located in Winters TX. and he has a nice place to test ammo lots when he gets a order in, yes some lots shoot better than others and it helps not having to just order some and be stuck with it. There's other options for shooting ARA in TX. Waco, Ennis and KSS besides Boerne. There's IR 50/50 unlimited matches San Angelo and Gatesville. There's also some rimfire events over towards Houston, but not sure what org. it is.

Les
 
SGJennings said:
What is the barrel life of a RF? In CF, at least in group shooting with a 6PPC, you have to consider barrels as a consumable just like ammo.
Click to expand...

I have a two groove benchmark with about 90,000 rds on it, and it recently shot a 250 23x. So they will last if cleaned right.
 
Vern,
So now you want to terrorize another group of shooters? :) Send me your address and I will get that DVD to you(I'm itchin' to spend that $10.00)
Best,
Dan Batko

"Where are we going and why am I in this basket?"
 
Basically 50 rounds of rimfire ammo costs the same as 50 centerfire BR projectiles. For the cf you then have to add brass, powder and primers so you can see that rf is cheaper to shoot a match. You will be spending some money on lot testing so that is an expense you don't have in cf unless you just can't resist testing the bullet of the week or the powder of the week.

I have almost gotten to the point that I despise shooting cf because of the noise, concussion and recoil and also because the match lasts twice as long. A good rf rifle is a joy to shoot.
 
Not sure if compairing cost of 22 ammo against just the bullets for center fire is fair. In most centerfire matches they will only shot five 5 shot strings in a day plus sighters. Most rimfire BR matches a single target has 25 shots plus sighters and I have seen some shoot 5-6 targets in a day.

Paul
 
I did a bit of math. I assumed .223 loads using 30 grains of powder, a primer and Barnes bullet. I also assume you can get ten loads out of a new .223 case. I used the following costs; Powder $24/pound, Brass $25/50, Primer $32/1000 and bullet $26/50. Each round assembled then will cost; Powder $00.103, Brass $00.05, Primer $00.032, Bullet $00.52. That comes out to $00.705 per round. $00.705 X 50 = $35.25 per 50 rounds loaded. If you have to fire form cases then the cost will go up some, and I did not calculate that expense.

The most expensive .22 rf ammo today is Lapua X-act at about $25 per box of 50, or $00.50 per shot. Eley black box is $12.50 per 50 or abut $00.25 per shot.

You need to also consider the amortized cost of your reloading equipment somehow. Your time might be worth something if like me you absolutely hate to make ammo. According to Tony Boyers' book a cf competition barrel is good for about 1500 rounds. Many rimfire barerls can go for 100,000 but lets be reasonable and say 15,000 before you wear it out. If either costs you $800 installed then the rim fire barrel is less expensive by a factor of ten.

As pointed out before, in a match you shoot much less in CF than RF. You have to decide how much less. Consider practice and sighters too. Any way you do the math, rimfire is less expensive on a per shot basis. CF might be less on a per season basis if you don't shoot much, someone gave you all the reloading tools and you don't change your barrel too often.

So, the bottom line answer: It depends. It depends on how much you shoot, how and if you price in your time and how you amortize your loading equipment expenses. Bottom line; Shoot what you like and as often as you can and enjoy the experience. bob
 
Last year I shot my 30BR in both our group and score matches so my bullet costs are more than for a 6mm or 22 cal centerfire, .34 cents per round. At our cf matches we shoot 5 targets at 100 and 5 at 200 for 50 record rounds. I usually shoot 80 to 100 rounds total in a cf match. I usually get home at 4:00 or 5:00 depending on how much BR [ bench racing ] we do after the match is over at 3:00 or later.

At our rf matches we shoot 3 cards for 75 record rounds. I usually shoot 3 to 4 boxes of ammo per match. The match is over by noon and depending on bench racing I get home at 1:00 to 2:00. When I get home my stuff is ready for the next match whereas for cf I still have to reload all the brass and depending on the number of firings it may need annealing which is something I personally believe in.
 
Couldn´t resist to jump into a good thread. Vern, You have a good question, but it is irrelevant until You specify Your goals. Nobody reaches the national and international top unless putting all they have earned and stolen into the game.If You are satisfied with local club shooting then You will have more fun for the money in rf-shooting than with CF. The reason is that You have more time to spend with Your shooting fellows in rf-shooting.No loading,less cleaning gives You time to float around beeing a nice guy.
You can have a good time with less expensive ammo , if You don´t go shooting at least two or three times a week You will never be able to tell the difference, for sure. A lot of people think that the price of the ammo is related to accuracy, it´s not unless You go to the very bottomline of ammo, and thats ammo we should not discuss on a benchrest forum.
The best thing about rimfire-shooting is that it helps You becoming a better CF shooter. Those who have been in centerfire shooting have a good base going into rf. I shoot both, I recomend both but rimfire gives more value for the money if You spend them wisely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top