Sheriff Dill Posted December 31, 2024 Posted December 31, 2024 (edited) When my son started out shooting two years ago we borrowed guns and leather the first two matches as money was tight. By the third match we were lucky enough to be able to purchase two shotguns off of a local shooter and two pistols, rifle and leather off of another shooter for a very good deal. now I am going to use the first set of pistols cause our son now has a set of NMV. Calculating from the very first purchase of guns to the 1911,clothes,leather for cowboy and wild bunch and the presses we just got we have spent about 8 grand for the two of us to shoot. But that’s full gear for the both of us. We found that talking with folks at the shoots and here on the wire is the best way to get all of the gear at reasonable prices that aren’t going to break the bank. Edited December 31, 2024 by Sheriff Dill 1 1 Quote
"Big Boston" Posted December 31, 2024 Posted December 31, 2024 (edited) I'll assume that the choice to participate has been made. And I think the next responsible thing to do is to set yourself a realistic budget. But, there are usually some cost savings that you can capitalize on. Cart: Build your own, thrift store baby stroller, kids waggon, used. I am a PP carpenter, so first it was a stroller, then used. Ammo: I already was set up for reloading, eventually I had to upgrade my presses, and buy more equipment and supplies, but initially not much capital outlay. Clothes: Blue jeans, truck stop shirt, and a $5 hat. Holsters: Used the shotshell belt my uncle gave me, a German Officers belt with leather loops sewn on. Mexican holsters off Amazon. Firearms: Ruger Blackhawks that I already owned, a borrowed Winchester 94 in 44-40, and a borrowed 1897 12 gauge. That was the beginning, got me in the game, and the upgrades came later. But on the cheap: Shotgun: A break action shotgun, used, cut the barrel down and add a big front bead, done. I did trim one coil off the hammer spring so I could thumb the hammer a bit easier. I have a 24" barrel on this one, OAL the same as a 20" on a 1897. The leather band is to keep the forend on when running it hard, see the movie Long Riders, it was a thing in the movie old west. Handguns: A pair of Ruger SASS in 357. Perhaps a bit costly initially but they don't usually need any repairs and if you add a set of Wolff springs, they are "tuned" enough to get you going. Also pictured is my made in Mexico rig. Rifle: This took a bit more thought, but to stay cheap, it has to be 357, there is a cost savings in only having one ammunition. So here I'd go with a Winchester 1873, either the carbine or short rifle as they are the least expensive. I went with a Winchester because out of the box they are more in tune than the rest. Yes, way more upgrade options for the Uberti 73, and if you upgrade to a slicked up rifle, it can be your backup. In order to keep it simple and easy, I'd load in 357 brass, less crud, reliable feeding. I've loaded 38 LC and 38 Spl as well, but 357 is where I ended up. I load a WC for the pistols and a 358665 for the rifle. I usually use some of my other guns for matches, but at the core, the ones above a dead nutz reliable and they have been cheap to run. They are mostly just out of the box, cleaned and oiled. The shotgun has be resurrected, it was a homesteaders barn gun, not fired much but a bit neglected. On the subject of shotguns, the next step up would be a SxS. My SxS is a Stoeger Deluxe Coach in 20 ga. I bought extra chokes and run skeet/skeet for CAS. My go to shotguns are 1897 Winchesters, not cheap to buy and not cheap to run, but they are what I like to shoot. Add spares later, I'm an old racer, and our motto was " A pair and a spare". BB Edited December 31, 2024 by "Big Boston" 1 Quote
watab kid Posted January 1 Posted January 1 i suspect most of us started that way , not a bad thing a good thing as we all had the same beginnings that led us where we are today , i do admit to buying/selling and trading a lot in the early days , ill never ever recommend to anyone to do as i did - it was very costly and less than rewarding , but i did get to try a lot of different things along the way , i still have a fill compliment of rifles from a 60 -66-73-92 and a nice marlin 94 as well as my sharps , ive still got four shotguns , a full length stevens , a coach stevens with hammers a coach stoger [the one i use most] hammerless and an early 1897 [1911] that ive only used a couple times , i have a match set of rugers and a back up set of ruger/taurus , then i jave a set of great westerns and a backup set of berrettas , along with a buntline and a couple pockets as well as a derringer , both 45 colt and 38/357 as well as 22s a pair of cimmirons , one day someone needs to get rid of all this after im gone , but they dont have to worry on all those others ive had and let go of , ive only keept what i really liked so you can see that there has been a lot of mone down the drain , 1 Quote
Dapper Dave Posted January 1 Posted January 1 If it was money spent to enjoy a hobby, and you enjoyed using them, then the money wasn't really down the drain. It's the same as people going to the casino, and making sure they have only $40/60 or whatever to blow, and chalking it up to entertainment. You'd spend the same money at a fine restaurant, so if you don't get a huge return, is it wasted, or did you have fun using your money? I lost a lot of guns over the years due to my ex wife, but there was only one where I really thought I wasted my money, a CZ 100 .40SW with the worst DAO trigger I ever tried. I wanted my dollar back. Yes...$1, the other guy hated it too. My wife and kid already know what I want them to do with my guns when I take the dirt nap - do whatever you want, I won't be there to complain. 1 Quote
Sheriff Dill Posted January 1 Posted January 1 For me the money isn’t wasted because my children will use them far longer than I will. Plus seeing the growth,smile,excitement in our sons(middle son)face when he shoots a stage well gets his outfit on 😁 and the time we get together is worth every penny. 4 Quote
Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 Posted January 1 Author Posted January 1 9 hours ago, Dapper Dave said: My wife and kid already know what I want them to do with my guns when I take the dirt nap - do whatever you want, I won't be there to complain. A friend told me years ago his biggest fear is when he died that his wife would sell all his guns for what he told her he paid for them! Randy 5 Quote
Dapper Dave Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Wow, I never saw one that cheap - the Old Randall was the cheapest I found. 1 Quote
Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life Posted January 2 Posted January 2 On 1/1/2025 at 9:18 AM, Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 said: A friend told me years ago his biggest fear is when he died that his wife would sell all his guns for what he told her he paid for them! Randy Can’t hide the prices from SWMBO because we keep my insurance spreadsheet on the home computer that she sometimes uses. Once when getting stuff ready for the insurance guy she turns to me and says “when you die I’m gonna be rich!”. Not sure if that is a promise or an observation! Still try to go to sleep after she does though! Regards Gateway Kid 1 5 Quote
Sheriff Dill Posted January 2 Posted January 2 11 minutes ago, Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life said: Can’t hide the prices from SWMBO because we keep my insurance spreadsheet on the home computer that she sometimes uses. Once when getting stuff ready for the insurance guy she turns to me and says “when you die I’m gonna be rich!”. Not sure if that is a promise or an observation! Still try to go to sleep after she does though! Regards Gateway Kid Always remember even if you sleep on the outside they can sneak out of bed without being detected 😁 2 Quote
Dr. Zook Posted January 2 Posted January 2 3 hours ago, Sheriff Dill said: Always remember even if you sleep on the outside they can sneak out of bed without being detected 😁 just sprinkle some Lego's on her side of the floor --- you still may not survive but you will get an early warning 🤣 6 Quote
watab kid Posted January 3 Posted January 3 prices have changed a lot since i started 20 years ago , my first revolver was about $150 - it was a slicked up SS taurus that i still have , it still runs fine and its my go-to backup should a main match revolver go down .............oh BTW , do plan on a backup revolver someday when you can , at the first roundup in bismark ND i had three revolvers go down - luckily i had two spares and a friend with a spare so i never missed a beat , but that is the match that inspired me to get rid of the faulty ones and buy a matched set of rugers - ive shot them ever since and never needed my backups [i have two] i believe everyone should have at least one just so you never need it if nothing else , i also have a main match set of 38s and a backup for each of those f i decide to shoot other than my 45s 1 Quote
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