There’s no better time of the year than hunting season. The feeling you get from tracking and killing prey is out of this world! That’s why the United States approves more than 15 million hunting permits each year.

But, when hunting season is over, you don’t want your shooting skills to fade! Many hunters keep their skills sharp at the gun range.

The cost of ammunition and range fees have gone up. That’s why we came up with some tips to help you save money at the shooting range. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know.

Important Eye Protection Savings

Have you noticed the price of the eye protection they sell at the gun range? Did you know that you can get the same level of protection at a fraction of the cost? 

If you go to your local home improvement store, they have lots of eye protection options that would work well when you go recreational shooting. When deciding which pair to get, look for options that have an ANSI certification so you know your eyes won’t get damaged by wayward brass.

Using Recycled Bullets on the Shooting Range

One way to save a huge chunk of change and help the environment is to used recycled, or once fired rounds. Ammunition manufacturers collect used rounds, process them, then they make new rounds out of the processed rounds. 

Using once fired rounds for your practice shooting helps you save a ton of money without having to reduce the number of shots you put down range. On top of that, you can feel good about using recycled bullets because it’s better for the environment than always using brand new bullets.

Inexpensive Hearing Protection Options

Some people tell you that hearing protection is the most important piece of saftey equipment at the gun range. Even when ecreational shooting, you’ll want the best hearing protection you can afford so you don’t lose your hearing down the road.

Check out sporting goods stores as well as your local home improvement stores for quality hearing protection. The best way to save money on these essentials is to watch for sales and coupons to take advantage of. You’ll often see good sales on hearing protection in the fall before hunting season opens.

Inexpensive Gun Range Bag Alternatives

Another huge expense for avid shooters is the bags they use to carry their guns and shooting gear. But portable gun storage doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg! 

Did your child get a new backpack for school even though the old one is in perfect condition? Recycle that old packpack and turn it into a great range bag! These are great because you can keep both hands free as you enter the range to get set up.

Other great options are old tool bags, laptop bags, messenger bags, and any other bag large enough to carry all your gun gear. Keep your eye out for a creative solution and you can save a ton of cash!

Spend Less on Range Targets

Every one of the 32% of Americans who own a gun should take it out to practice every now and then. When you practice shooting, you need something to aim at!

We all love the fancy targets they sell you at the range, but you don’t need to spend all that money on paper you intend to riddle with bullet holes! Instead, try buying a pack of paper plates and using a black sharpie to mark the center of the plate.

You can also print out free images of targets onto regular printer paper and bring those to the range. They look like the ones you buy from the range at a much lower price point.

Rent or Borrow Equipment

If you’re unsure what kind of equipment you want to buy or if you’re new to shooting, you might also want to consider renting or borrowing shooting equipment. This way, you can experience several types of equipment without having to invest a ton of money on it!

Many gun ranges offer eye and ear protection rentals to anyone who shoots on the range. Make sure to sanitize this equipment before and after use.

If you have friends and family who like to shoot, you can ask them if you can borrow their equipment so you can visit the gun range. You can get a feel for their recommendations and decide if you want to invest in that kind of equipment.

Sharp Shooting without Spending Your Life’s Savings

Having a shooting hobby is expensive enough between the cost of ammo, licenses, and guns. Why would anyone want to spend more on the gun range than they have to?

Keep this article in mind when you go to buy your shooting supplies. That way you know you’re not overspending on the things you need to keep your shooting sharp.

We hope you loved reading this article and that you learned all bout saving money on the shooting range. If you have any questions about this article or if you need quality ammunition, contact us today!