Posted: 7/25/2018 7:52:58 PM EDT
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So as the title implies. My question is: Is archery or rifle shooting more expensive?
For this example: both sides are using quality stuff with all the bells and whistles, only the gunners arn't reloading ammo. I've heard rifle shooters say that guns are an expensive hobby. I've also heard archers describe archery as an expensive hobby. So just in a general way, which would you say is more expensive? You can pick whatever examples you think are best illustrative of your case. |
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you can get a compound bow set up very nicely for $1200-1400, that including sight, release, rest, stabilizer, and works. dozen of quality arrows - $120-150. good target - $100. if you shoot 50 arrows every day (that's a lot if you are not a competing athlete) these arrows will last 6 months before you will have to replace them, not because of wear but because of attrition - robin hooding, loosing them in the vegetation... if you shoot that much, you will need to restring once a year - $50 for very good set of strings and $50 for setup. you might want to pay $200-300 a year for a bow tune, or you can do it yourself, you can glue your own vanes, and cut your own arrows, if you do it yourself, good bow press is about $150, vane jig is about $50. you might need another target in a year...
That's about it if you are a recreational shooter if you go into it as sport, sky is the limit |
| Well, if you're not reloading your own match ammo... I'd definitely say the rifle shooters. Also take into account the reloading equipment. Even for a real nice decked out bow and nice arrows etc. etc. it seems like it wouldn't take long for the rifle shooter to go screaming past in annual costs. And if he's buying off the shelf factory "match" ammo... even quicker. |
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Yeah, I kind of figured the rifle shooters would be spending more. I've always shot rifles. ARs, bolt actions, Bullpups, etc. They plus ammo, extraneous gear can be expensive. I have recently stepped back from firearms and am moving more towards archery. I got my first bow this summer and have been training with a mentor and have been learning all the technical specifics. The reason I am moving towards archery is not necessarily lower cost (which is but one of the reasons), but also less maintenance and greater simplicity. Rifles require that you use solvent to clean out all the carbon, etc. after each time you go shooting (especially ARs). There are also a whole host of parts that need inspected and replaced. You have to periodically check for rust on rifles that don't get shot as much. I'm shooting a traditional recurve bow, so it's pretty simple. As far as I can tell, the string needs to be waxed periodically, the riser and limbs wiped down maybe. Arrow fletching does require some maintenance and such. But I feel like archery is a far less messy affair and much more simple. At least using a wooden takedown recurve like I am, and shooting instinctively. Also, less noise and legal issues depending on where you live. I can move wherever and shoot in my backyard with a bow. But it just seems much more convenient to me. And I got sick of cleaning rifles. |
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Originally Posted By Frostburg:
Yeah, I kind of figured the rifle shooters would be spending more. I've always shot rifles. ARs, bolt actions, Bullpups, etc. They plus ammo, extraneous gear can be expensive. I have recently stepped back from firearms and am moving more towards archery. I got my first bow this summer and have been training with a mentor and have been learning all the technical specifics. The reason I am moving towards archery is not necessarily lower cost (which is but one of the reasons), but also less maintenance and greater simplicity. Rifles require that you use solvent to clean out all the carbon, etc. after each time you go shooting (especially ARs). There are also a whole host of parts that need inspected and replaced. You have to periodically check for rust on rifles that don't get shot as much. I'm shooting a traditional recurve bow, so it's pretty simple. As far as I can tell, the string needs to be waxed periodically, the riser and limbs wiped down maybe. Arrow fletching does require some maintenance and such. But I feel like archery is a far less messy affair and much more simple. At least using a wooden takedown recurve like I am, and shooting instinctively. Also, less noise and legal issues depending on where you live. I can move wherever and shoot in my backyard with a bow. But it just seems much more convenient to me. And I got sick of cleaning rifles. With that said, I shoot my rifle a lot more than my bow. On my bow my arrows cost $30+( lighted Nock, Arrow, Broadhead) and of course I've lost a few of those... And that gets expensive as well. But at the end of the day, if I only had one choice...And I could either gun hunt or bow hunt, bow hunting would win hands down! 
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Originally Posted By Samal:
you can get a compound bow set up very nicely for $1200-1400, that including sight, release, rest, stabilizer, and works. dozen of quality arrows - $120-150. good target - $100. if you shoot 50 arrows every day (that's a lot if you are not a competing athlete) these arrows will last 6 months before you will have to replace them, not because of wear but because of attrition - robin hooding, loosing them in the vegetation... if you shoot that much, you will need to restring once a year - $50 for very good set of strings and $50 for setup. you might want to pay $200-300 a year for a bow tune, or you can do it yourself, you can glue your own vanes, and cut your own arrows, if you do it yourself, good bow press is about $150, vane jig is about $50. you might need another target in a year... That's about it if you are a recreational shooter if you go into it as sport, sky is the limit You've got a years worth of archery for under $500.00. Obviously if they enjoy it that expense is going to magnify greatly because they are going to start buying higher end gear and upgrade their bow... I'll never forget when my Dad got into bow hunting he bought a cheap bear and cheap aluminum arrows. All his buddies made fun. Then he starts consistently dropping 3-4 deer every archery season with this super cheap rig. Kind of shut them up. 
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Amortized over time, I would bet archery shooters spend more money. I buy a hunting rifle and glass and it's good for a lifetime. Ammo is a nominal expense for hunting as you're not firing that many shots. I've got 20ga slugs that are 5 years old from the 15 pack I bought then and won't need to buy any this year. Lets consider this setup comparing apples to oranges.
Last year I bought a TC Compass for $199. I spent about the same in glass ( got a great closeout deal ). This rifle due to modern quality and manufacturing shoots sub MOA out of the box and will last a lifetime for me. I own it, won't wear it out and now having put a good number of rounds through it, would trust it for any sport or hunting purpose I might ever have. I would be confident taking it on that once in a lifetime safari. Buying a more expensive rifle would be ego not performance based. Ammo expense about $0.25 to $0.50 per shot. Archery hunters are however a different animal. I know guys that will buy a $1k or more bow or crossbow ever other year because something newer or better came out and they can't stand the thought that there is something better than whatever they have. Arrow set up for hunting you are looking at $7 to $10 per shaft and upwards of $5 to $20 per broadhead. Lose a few and it adds up. Also remember that used bows do not retain their value. Thankfully, I'm not that guy. I'm perfectly comfortable with my High Country sniper circa 1993 and my SA Sports Empire Dragon as well as walmart $7 arrows and whatever broadheads are cheapest. Then again, I hunt my own property and never go more than 100 yards from the house to hunt. I don't need the best , lightest , fastest ever to take a deer at 30 yards or less. I might feel differently if I were going on a dedicated trip and spending a good deal of money to do so. |
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