October 9, 2012, 09:13 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2005
Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch
Posts: 1,266
|
Getting started.
One of the guys here at work wanted to start ML hunting this year, and asked me what he needed to get started. After I told him, he went home last night and ordered the stuff he needed. He just brought the list in this morning, and what a surprise I got.
Rifle $479.99 Bullets & Sabots $21.99 per 30 Blackhorn 209 $31.99 per 10 oz. Caps #54.99 per 1,000 Scope $149.99 Scope Mount $34.99 Sling $30.99 Flask with measure $69.99 Nipple wrench $12.99 Patches $14.99 per 200 Ramrod cleaning kit $14.99 Canvas carry case $56.99 This all came to $974.88 total, and he still doesn't have a possibles bag, quick-loaders, and some bits and pieces of other stuff that he will want as he goes along. I'm sure he could have made some cheaper choices, but all in all, he came up with what he needed. I have been accumulating stuff for 40 or so years, and had forgotten just how much money you can spend just getting started. I had been wondering why there seems to be less hunters in the sport in the last several years, and had chalked it up to the economy, but now I can see that it may just be the enormous cost of just getting started in todays market. When I put a pencil to all the stuff I have, I came up with an embarrassing amount that I have spent over the years. I figure my meat is costing somewhere around $40.00 a pound. How much do you guys have invested? |
October 9, 2012, 09:32 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 16, 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 8,783
|
Hard to measure this Great Adventure
Wild Bill
I really haven't measured it this way. Since starting out back in the early 80's, I'd say that I have spent thousands but all well spent and have gotten more back in enjoyment and money. I really feel that I am ahead of the game and again, can't measure it in dollars. .... Be Safe !!!
__________________
'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing. |
October 9, 2012, 10:10 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 19, 2008
Posts: 4,678
|
$4,279.53/lb. .
. |
October 9, 2012, 10:15 AM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: September 8, 2012
Posts: 63
|
Hello, money; probaly in the thousands, enjoyment and memories, priceless, even to this day i spend, spend, spend, but i cant stop, rich
|
October 9, 2012, 01:16 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 15, 2005
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 3,166
|
About $32.50 per shot, but it keeps changing just like the national debt!
|
October 10, 2012, 06:27 PM | #6 |
Junior member
Join Date: February 10, 2009
Posts: 974
|
i hope they used some lube on that friend of yours.
just about everything except the powder and sabot bullets he got, is well 50% overpriced. |
October 10, 2012, 08:14 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
|
When I got my first muzzleloader, I managed to get along without most of the things on that list.
The essentials, you need powder, bullets, and caps. The rifle's ramrod can double as a cleaning rod. You can buy patching material at cloth stores, just avoid polyester or other synthetics. You can measure powder with empty rifle casings, there is a whole thread in this forum about what each rifle case will hold when used as a powder measure. Here's the link to that thread http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=432112 Last edited by B.L.E.; October 11, 2012 at 06:38 PM. |
October 10, 2012, 11:04 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 5, 2008
Location: Sunny California
Posts: 1,281
|
Yep, I just use a gun, powder, ball and patches and caps.
Thats all you need.
__________________
There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people. |
October 11, 2012, 09:35 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2005
Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch
Posts: 1,266
|
When he asked me what he needed, I didn't think about him ordering everything so fast, or I could have cut the list down considerably. I was thinking more along the lines of accumulating all these things, a few at a time.
He ordered everything from Cabela's, so I'm sure he paid a premo price, that I could have helped him save on, but it's to late now. One good thing is, since he ordered the best of everything, he has everything he needs to get started in style. |
October 11, 2012, 02:09 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 24, 2008
Location: Naples, Fl
Posts: 5,440
|
I am an embarrassing tightwad
I cast my own bullets from wheel weights I get for free.
Revolvers don't need scopes, scope mounts or slings so I saved a bit there. I cut my own wads. I made my own nipple wrenches because I am too cheap to buy one and after having spent my allowance on nipple wrenches previously which either didn't fit or didn't last, I gave it up. I made my own cleaning rods Made my own range box and I throw the revolvers on the truck seat next to me. I buy powder and caps and now that I am reloading cartridges I buy the empties, primers and powder for that too. I am not a hunter and never have been. There are several people I'd love to shoot but I bear no malice against any four legged critters. I really keep my meat costs down by buying ribeye at the commissary.
__________________
Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath. |
October 11, 2012, 05:22 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 6, 2012
Location: Berkshire Hills
Posts: 741
|
I believe your friend spent too much. But if he is happy, so what? My first venture into the world of muzzle loading was about 10 years ago. $200 rifle, $30 powder, $4 primers and $20 bullets. Less than $300 total. It got me hooked. I refuse to even think what this hobby has cost me overall.
If your friend doesn't mind dropping $1K on his first gun, that's cool. He is invested in the sport. That's a good thing. Hopefully he loves it and gets others into shooting.
__________________
NRA Patron Member SAF Life Member GOAL Member |
October 11, 2012, 06:16 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
|
There's no way I would buy a 1000 primers or caps without trying out a box of 100 first to see if I like them.
|
October 11, 2012, 07:33 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 24, 2008
Location: Naples, Fl
Posts: 5,440
|
B.L.E.
You are right, Pard.
I made that mistake with some Winchester WLPs for .45 Long Colt. I got 1 misfire out of six rounds and I am almost certain the problem is the primers. I have struggled through 400 of them with 600 left and I can't get Winchester on the phone. Hrumph!
__________________
Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath. |
October 11, 2012, 08:59 PM | #14 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
|
Quote:
I'm wondering if counterfeit primers are being sold at gun shows etc. My workplace got stuck with a bunch of counterfeit ball bearings, they were junk. You don't have extra light hammer springs on your revolvers, do you? Sometimes when people lighten up the springs too much, the gun can be picky about which primers are soft enough to work. Last edited by B.L.E.; October 11, 2012 at 10:06 PM. |
|
October 11, 2012, 09:13 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 19, 2008
Location: High & Dry in Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 2,113
|
Quote:
__________________
Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee - AKA Man of Many Colts - Alter ego of Diabolical Ken; SASS Regulator 28564-L-TG; Rangemaster and stage writer extraordinaire; Frontiersman, Pistoleer, NRA Endowment Life, NMLRA, SAF, CCRKBA, STORM 327, SV115; Charter member, Central Ozarks Western Shooters Cynic: A blackguard whose faulty vision see things as they are, not as they should be. Ambrose Bierce |
|
October 11, 2012, 09:39 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 16, 2007
Posts: 712
|
robhof
As stated above the cost per shot may be relatively high, but the fun factor outweighs that and if I didn't spend on shooting and toys, I might be foolish enough to spend it on a politician!!
|
October 11, 2012, 11:29 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 2, 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 3,876
|
Spendy
With those B/P rifles I just had to have. And their accoutrements. 4-5000.00 I suppose at today's prices.
|
October 12, 2012, 05:47 AM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 24, 2008
Location: Naples, Fl
Posts: 5,440
|
B.L.E.
Technically, the jury is still out on those Winchester Primers.
I bought a bunch of Federals but have not shot them yet, so it is technically not proved that the Winchesters are at fault. (I may have spoken too quickly.) These Winchesters were not purchased at a gun show, I bought them from a local gun shop. Same place I bought fifty of the factory loads which worked perfectly.
__________________
Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath. |
October 12, 2012, 07:28 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,188
|
CCI are my favorite primers with Winchester a close second.
|
October 13, 2012, 12:25 AM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 11, 2012
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 140
|
Jeez and to think last week I was complaining about having to buy nipples...
|
October 13, 2012, 04:15 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 24, 2008
Location: Naples, Fl
Posts: 5,440
|
Yes.... I am finding....
....That cartridge reloading has a long learning curve.
(Which is a problem when one is a slow learner like me.)
__________________
Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath. |
October 13, 2012, 04:26 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
|
Doc Hoy
Do the misfires have a normal firing pin indentation in the primer? A gun with too much headspace can let the case move too far forward for the firing pin to reach. Some CAS pistol tuners go a little too far in weakening the mainspring for ease of recocking. This can result in a gun that won't function with the harder primers. |
October 13, 2012, 04:35 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 24, 2008
Location: Naples, Fl
Posts: 5,440
|
B.L.E.
I would say it is normal.
It is essentially the same on both of the revolvers. And both revolvers act the same way with regard to misfires.
__________________
Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath. |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|