Ammunition is expensive, so how much do you use?

[bowji john]

It

from mine and others’observations, marksmanship is poor. Downgrading tests to ensure a higher pass rate was the ‘solution’.

Often seen as a box that needs ticking there is a totally **** approach, insufficient ammunition procured as too difficult to return unused to stores, other ‘concurrent activities’ while shooting goes on, the weaker shots given multiple chances to retake (but not train in advance) while those that pass first time are not permitted to also improve. Some pass irrespective of score.

If it was fitness training, an easily organised and measurable activity, and the same methodology was employed we would have 80% of the army injured or fat lardasses.

I blame it on two things in the main, the SASC who are useless at developing marksmanship standards and are a safety school (but without the grey matter to judge risk), and the reduction of range availability - Landmarc etc.

What doesnt help is the fundamental lack of pride in individual marksmanship standards vice section and platoon firepower and the realisation of what is required to achieve acceptable standards.

Truly shocking

I've heard a lot of reports along the same lines

I work with an outfit that teaches SERE to current troops - it can range from just a video to annual survival stuff

I don't get involved in the top end (Evasion and resistance to interrogation) for downed pilots, SF etc, but some of my colleagues do

Some of the lads and lasses that I see come through the training that I’m involved with remind me of the Dutch conscripts of the 80's !!

 

[VSS]

Ideally, for me, the number of centrefire rounds fired in a year = the number of deer put through the larder in a year. Obviously it doesn't always work out like that as there's the occasional zero check, follow-up shot, miss or fox, but l like it to be somewhere close.
Practice can be had through dry firing or by using 22lr or air rifle.

 

[Reloader708]

Well there's some healthy numbers there!
How do people feel about a minimum usage?
I'm sure I remember being told if you weren't putting enough ammunition onto your ticket you risked loosing it.
I know some have no interest in range time but practice is never wasted, and if we did all burn through more ammunition I'm sure the overall price would come down and we'd be more competent for it. The less we shoot the less we'll be able to shoot!
Also as Mr caberslash pointed out, there seems to be a political unwillingness to improve the nation's shooting prowess, can you imagine having a rifle range at a school now!!
I remember reading somewhere that it was mandatory to practice with longbow on Sunday in the interest of national security, we have probably never been so vulnerable as a nation.
Also interesting to hear the police and armed forces have so little trigger time, I imagine there's many a self taught rifle man that are actually better shots!

 

[Foxyboy43]

Err, ahem, I also forgot:-
12 bore - 300;
20 bore - 150.
That completes the voting of the NI jury. Unless you want airgun pellets of course?
I really must get more shooting in…….

 

[njc110381]

I reckon I probably fire 1000 rounds per year. That number used to be much higher, I've been pretty lazy recently!

What that equals in monetary terms I'm not sure? A day at the range with my .416 costs a bit more than the same day at the range with my .22lr or .357 shooting bullets I've cast and loaded myself.

 

[timbrayford]

Well there's some healthy numbers there!
How do people feel about a minimum usage?
I'm sure I remember being told if you weren't putting enough ammunition onto your ticket you risked loosing it.
I know some have no interest in range time but practice is never wasted, and if we did all burn through more ammunition I'm sure the overall price would come down and we'd be more competent for it. The less we shoot the less we'll be able to shoot!
Also as Mr caberslash pointed out, there seems to be a political unwillingness to improve the nation's shooting prowess, can you imagine having a rifle range at a school now!!
I remember reading somewhere that it was mandatory to practice with longbow on Sunday in the interest of national security, we have probably never been so vulnerable as a nation.
Also interesting to hear the police and armed forces have so little trigger time, I imagine there's many a self taught rifle man that are actually better shots!

This minimum usage scenario is pure political meddling intended to deprive the law abiding of their lawful activities. Within the context of being "fit to be entrusted" as the law requires and using your firearm only on an occasional basis in what way is this any different to more frequent users?

 

[Sonicdmb73]

This minimum usage scenario is pure political meddling intended to deprive the law abiding of their lawful activities. Within the context of being "fit to be entrusted" as the law requires and using your firearm only on an occasional basis in what way is this any different to more frequent users?

You can use your firearm without actually firing it. In the sense that some stalker’s fox shooters etc. Will go out but not find their quarry.
I had more than one rifle that looked like it had had very few rounds through it. Prior to my owning it, at least one it was confirmed that the previous owner had put less than a hundred rounds through it in some iirc twenty ish years.
So did he justify it through use ie the number of trips/days out with the rifle? Or with the number of bullets fired over the years?

Meddling, probably.

 

[badmolassesaccident]

Well there's some healthy numbers there!
How do people feel about a minimum usage?
I'm sure I remember being told if you weren't putting enough ammunition onto your ticket you risked loosing it.
I know some have no interest in range time but practice is never wasted, and if we did all burn through more ammunition I'm sure the overall price would come down and we'd be more competent for it. The less we shoot the less we'll be able to shoot!
Also as Mr caberslash pointed out, there seems to be a political unwillingness to improve the nation's shooting prowess, can you imagine having a rifle range at a school now!!
I remember reading somewhere that it was mandatory to practice with longbow on Sunday in the interest of national security, we have probably never been so vulnerable as a nation.
Also interesting to hear the police and armed forces have so little trigger time, I imagine there's many a self taught rifle man that are actually better shots!

There is Home Office guidance to the police on this. 3 times per year, per firearm. However it is not set in stone and that is where the FEO may ask you about your shooting, not when one of your slots gets pulled. There are also reasons why you would shoot less, for example if you have a .460 Weatherby magnum for the purpose of shooting mole rats on hunting safaris in Africa, you would not be expected to undertake 3 African hunting safaris per year. I do not recall seeing a minimum amount of ammunition usage, however if you are not using much ammo then you risk having your allowed holding reduced on renewal.

 

[martin_b]

in 2021

12bore 3000
16bore 140
.22LR 1200
6.5CM 547
7.5x55Swiss 240

 

[glasshalffull]

CF=<50
RF=<150
12g=>1000
20g=<100
Blanks=>1000 since my vasectomy

 

[timbrayford]

You can use your firearm without actually firing it. In the sense that some stalker’s fox shooters etc. Will go out but not find their quarry.
I had more than one rifle that looked like it had had very few rounds through it. Prior to my owning it, at least one it was confirmed that the previous owner had put less than a hundred rounds through it in some iirc twenty ish years.
So did he justify it through use ie the number of trips/days out with the rifle? Or with the number of bullets fired over the years?

Meddling, probably.

Contrary to the HO guidance what the Firearms Act actually requires is "Good Reason", regular usage doesn't come into it.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Contrary to the HO guidance what the Firearms Act actually requires is "Good Reason", regular usage doesn't come into it.

Exactly my point. Someone owned one of those rifles for twenty years. At a time when renewal was three years. So a couple of hundred rounds (if that) over five or six renewals.
One of the advantages of home loads. Questions about round count are mute.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Exactly my point. Someone owned one of those rifles for twenty years. At a time when renewal was three years. So a couple of hundred rounds (if that) over five or six renewals.
One of the advantages of home loads. Questions about round count are mute.

Moot?

 

[Reloader708]

CF=<50
RF=<150
12g=>1000
20g=<100
Blanks=>1000 since my vasectomy

Blanks, is that 1000s or a 1000? Congratulations on reaching that particular milestone if so.

 

[Pine Marten]

It's not really the cost of ammunition that stops me shooting more, it's the absence of any easily accessible centerfire ranges. Whenever I want to practice, check zero, shoot for fun, which I very much enjoy, I have to take at least half a day at the weekend to go to the BSRC at Bisley, and that generally comes into conflict with domestic arrangements. Neither can I pop over after work in the summer when it's light for longer because Bisley closes at 5pm. So unfortunately, I only go when either I really need to (test a load, check zero) or REALLY want to participate in an event like the Chamois Shoot or a club match. But it's not enough. I can't remember the last time I used my .22 on the running boar. I have been doing more clay shooting through because there is a clay ground 20 minutes away from me so the odd weekday lunchtime excursion is possible. The West London Shooting School has a 70 or 80m range that you can book by the hour for a small fortune and shoot supervised, but you can't just turn up for a casual practice session.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Moot?

That’s the one. Spelling was never my strongest subject.

 

[paul o']

Range rifle 1000-1200 +.
Stalking 150-200

 

[Kjf]

About 3 million a year



Through a plastic straw , the bog roll is cheap if you get it from Costco though lol lol

Beat that all you willy wavers lol , lol

Joking aside ,

I have no idea , if I need it I buy it ( I could look at my ticket for exact numbers ) but I ain't that anal

Buy it , shoot it ,

If Running low

Buy more , shoot it

Kjf

 

[MarinePMI]

When I was competing, in a year I'd expend:

4,000-5,000 rds of 6.5CM (so a new barrel about every 8-9 months) Club one day matches every month and one or two National level two day matches, plus practice.
1,000rds of 9mm (pistol and PCC)
600-1,000 CF varmint (.223Rem/.224Valkyrie)
400-600 misc (oddball stuff; 300Whisper, 22Hornet, 17 Hornet, 20 Tactical, 40S&W, 44RemMag, 5.7FN, etc)
6-8 rds of 6.5CM for hunting (5rds to confirm zero each year)
200-300 12ga (depending on how many tactical shotgun matches there were)

These days (post surgery):

1,500 of 6.5 CM
~600rds of 9mm
600-1,000 - CF varmint (.223Rem/.224Valkyrie)
500rds .223 ball (carbine drills)
6-8 rds of 6.5CM for hunting (5rds to confirm zero each year)
200-300 12ga

I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff, but this is a good ballpark number...

 

[User00040]

It's not really the cost of ammunition that stops me shooting more, it's the absence of any easily accessible centerfire ranges. Whenever I want to practice, check zero, shoot for fun, which I very much enjoy, I have to take at least half a day at the weekend to go to the BSRC at Bisley, and that generally comes into conflict with domestic arrangements. Neither can I pop over after work in the summer when it's light for longer because Bisley closes at 5pm. So unfortunately, I only go when either I really need to (test a load, check zero) or REALLY want to participate in an event like the Chamois Shoot or a club match. But it's not enough. I can't remember the last time I used my .22 on the running boar. I have been doing more clay shooting through because there is a clay ground 20 minutes away from me so the odd weekday lunchtime excursion is possible. The West London Shooting School has a 70 or 80m range that you can book by the hour for a small fortune and shoot supervised, but you can't just turn up for a casual practice session.