View Full Version : How many rounds do you shoot per year through your M4's?
GeorgiaBoy
12-23-10, 16:10
I usually shoot around 1,000-1,500 rounds a year through my M4's. Not alot, I know, to some of those on this board. :D Thats about 75-80% wolf, so I usually spend about $500 a year on 5.56.
How much do you shoot?
It largely depends on how many training classes i have scheduled for that year. In 2008 and 2009 i ran easily 20k through a few carbines.
2010 was a light year for me as i didnt attend any training classes so my round count was on the lower side with roughly 5k through one carbine.
2011 will hopefully be a busier year for me with both training classes and more range time.
Its really not about how many rounds you shoot each year, its more about what those rounds count for. Every time you press the trigger are you consciously working on something or simply making loud noises? Ammo is way too expensive these days to waste and ive never really understood a desire to simply slap the trigger without looking to improve ones skills.
Forgot 2400-2800 in the pole.
kaiservontexas
12-23-10, 17:40
Expenses hold me back so I voted 600-1000. It used to be more, but alas prices continue to climb. I miss the old days.
morbidbattlecry
12-23-10, 18:20
I try to put about 500 downrange a month. I usually shoot Brown Bear or M855 if i can afford it. But i never get to the 6000 a year i would like. Usually ends up being about 4000. Ammo buying is considered a monthy expence at my house :D
RogerinTPA
12-23-10, 18:31
8K+ for carbine. A little higher for pistol, depending on classes taken in a given year, the number can get higher. That's spread out on 4 ARs and 4 M&P pistols. I've averaged between 15 to 18K rounds fired total, for the past 4 years. That's shooting every Sat or Sun each week, almost without fail. Those 1-5 drill and others can eat up your mags pretty quick, especially when trying to duplicate the drills on the support side as well. I don't do mag dumps and do try to make every shot count.
I ran a similar poll a few years ago. You'd be surprised how many members shot well over 10K annually.
SeriousStudent
12-23-10, 18:41
Is this total rounds, or per carbine?
JeepDriver
12-23-10, 18:43
Main gun, about 2.5K.
RogerinTPA
12-23-10, 18:48
Is this total rounds, or per carbine?
Total rounds expended, spread over 4 carbines and 4 pistols. Some weapons get used more than others.
SeriousStudent
12-23-10, 19:02
Total rounds expended, spread over 4 carbines and 4 pistols. Some weapons get used more than others.
Thank you, kind sir.
The reason I ask, is that some people (like you, Roger!) own a LOT of weapons. :D
jumbopanda
12-23-10, 19:59
Lately I've been going to the range 3-4 times per month, and during each trip I shoot between 100-250 rounds. So that definitely puts me in the 3600+ category, although I'm sure I spend less on ammo than a lot of you non-reloaders out there. :D
GermanSynergy
12-23-10, 22:56
20,000 rds of various calibers thru carbines and about the same with pistol in 2010. Been a rootin,tootin, SHOOTIN year for me.
Because of my "forced" work schedules and whatnot, I'm sadly lacking in "high" round count. :confused:
How much do you shoot?
You are mixing in MIL, LE and civilian shooting, which kind of skews the numbers a bit. There are a group of us here who are paid to shoot, and the ammo isn't costing us anything.
With that in mind, your chart probably doesn't break the numbers down high enough. For example, I've fired over 8k in one day, and while that was belt fed, it gives you an idea what I mean. There is obviously no way that I could afford to do that on the salary of a city cop on my own.
I hit the desert twice a month and shoot 200 to 400 rounds in 5.56. I also shoot pistol while I'm there. It adds up quick. I usually go to the range twice a month, usually 200 rounds of pistol which is the most I can tolerate indoors before boredom sets in. It does help with withdrawal though:D
I did shoot my KAC with Battle comp this week indoors only because I just had to. Did some off hand stuff, which I suck shooting off hand.
Shot with one hand just to watch that muzzle freeze with fire coming out the end of that BC:D
pb
GeorgiaBoy
12-24-10, 01:44
With that in mind, your chart probably doesn't break the numbers down high enough. For example, I've fired over 8k in one day, and while that was belt fed, it gives you an idea what I mean.
I debated on whether to make the poll have more generic numbers (e.g. 0-1000, 1000-2000, 2000-3000) or more specific numbers like I have. For some reason I chose more specific numbers because I had a feeling a lot of people on here either shoot a fairly low round count (2000 or less) or shoot a high round count (for me, above 5000), and more specific numbers would probably be usefull.
So far those shooting under 3600 way outnumber those shooting above it.Though I do wish I had added a number such as 5000+ for those high-volume shooters; 3600 is kind of a odd stopping number. Guess I wasn't thinking :rolleyes:
8-10k per year, matches and training, through the one carbine....it's the only one I've got (at the moment).
3-4k Between my 11.5"BCM/Bushmaster & Glock 17
RogerinTPA
12-24-10, 08:42
You are mixing in MIL, LE and civilian shooting, which kind of skews the numbers a bit. There are a group of us here who are paid to shoot, and the ammo isn't costing us anything.
With that in mind, your chart probably doesn't break the numbers down high enough. For example, I've fired over 8k in one day, and while that was belt fed, it gives you an idea what I mean. There is obviously no way that I could afford to do that on the salary of a city cop on my own.
Agree. Different round counts will occur when none of the cost is on you (Sponsored by companies, Mil or LEA). My ammo expenditure is on my own dime.
Jeff Franz
12-24-10, 09:59
Between classes, competitions and training days, I'm averaging 500 to 700 rounds per month. In December alone, I've taken a low light handgun class, and shot substantially every weekend. I've expended 800 rounds of 9 mm, 250 rounds of 45, and 400 rounds of 5.56. No wonder I'm broke.
About 5000 a year for 5.56/12ga and about 1500 per month for centerfire handguns. I don't track .22's and other rifle calibers (too many / not many)
i'll be luck to get through 500rds a year through my AR. but that is determined by ammo costs and range access (non slow fire, and bench).
however i already have close to that in my 22 trainer, twice that through my bolt gun.
i don't keep that close of track of my pistols.
I didnt realize how many rounds i had fired this year until I started using Rangelog. It has been a good year. Next year they Army is buying the rounds.
I ran 5000+ through the MP-15 and same amount through the MP-15.22
600-1000.:(
I wish that I could get more trigger time but with a job, family and all that other stuff it gets hard to fit good training time into my schedule.
.
I typically shoot about 5k a year.
What is interesting is how many people put under 1500. That tells me that you are not attending ANY carbine schools. :mad:
Save your money and GO TO TRAINING!
C4
A bit over 1K a year through the carbine, not counting .22s through a CMMG conversion unit; 90% of it on a timer.
Once upon a time I had all the pistol ammo I could carry and shoot--but I didn't benefit all that much from it. In those days (!) the revolver still ruled. I did a lot of ball and dummy and a fair amount of that was in a .22 LR version of my duty gun.
I'm retired now, but my usual regimen is only 18 rds of 5.56 per session, or 40 rds .22 LR in the conversion unit. With the handgun, about 15 rds. But I get out 2-3 times a week, and I've been at this a while. After a few decades you do see results...that plus age and treachery has worked for me.
The time I spent in the military was the least shooting I have ever done.
More than 3.600 rounds per year, but I can't say how many exactly. Between 4.000 and 5.000 I guess.
variablebinary
12-24-10, 12:51
Varies. In a down economy, I've been in the 2000 rounds a year range. Prior I was doing 10,000 - 15,000 a year
Failure2Stop
12-24-10, 13:30
My round counts have taken a serious hit due to pre-deployment work-up (sad), deploying, and doing more instructing than shooting.
RedHorseman
12-24-10, 13:45
I shot somewhere in the neighborhood of 7500-10,000 rounds this year with my schedule of training classes. I usually try to float somewhere in the neighborhood of 1500-2000 rounds of ammo in my reserves in case I decide to enroll in a class last-minute. With the economy the way it is, I have not been able to replenish my reserves. In fact, I would be lucky if I am able to shoot more than 2000 rounds next year.
Raven Armament
12-24-10, 13:50
Usually average in excess of 50,000 rounds per year. That's a mix of R&D testing, LE demos, personal training, and personal casual shooting.
Before I moved to NOVA from TEXAS I shoot my AR's every week. Some times 1000 rounds+ and some times as little as 50 rounds to keep my trigger finger and muscle memory in check.
Now that I am up in the NOVA area I seam to have Lots less tome to shoot the AR's and only get out once a month now and most times only get to shoot 200-400 rounds throught my AR's but still try to go once a week to work the Sig 229 at least 100 rounds to keep my skills up.
I'd guess about 1000 of 556/223 in '10. Probably another 1000 of 7.62x39, a little more of various handgun rounds, and countless .22lr.
I'm signed up for 2 carbine classes in 2011, so my 5.56 rd count should go up this year.
I am in the category of "paid to shoot" to an extent, but the ammo (other than a few specific cases) all comes out of my own pocket. I'd have to go dig up my logs to see what I did in 2010, but I think I rarely shot a personally owned AR at all this year.
Totally unrelated, but I believe that if one is strictly working on non-mil defensive shooting skills the emphasis should be exponentially weighted in favor of handgun rounds over carbine. Of course, I also believe that personal fitness, good diet, and limited vices should even further exponentially outweigh ANY shooting or defensive training of any kind.
RedHorseman
12-24-10, 21:01
Of course, I also believe that personal fitness, good diet, and limited vices should even further exponentially outweigh ANY shooting or defensive training of any kind.
The number of people that are completely oblivious to this just absolutely amazes me. Shooting and defensive training is good, but not at the cost of being so myopic that one neglects his own physical fitness.
ive shot probably 1000-1500 rounds through my carbine this year. about 500 through my wifes just for familiarization more than anything else. range time is very lacking. i do shoot probably 2-3x as much out of my glocks each. been really getting back into skeet and trap shooting as well so ive put around 1K through my shotgun in the last few months. always fun to outshoot custom skeet guns with a 20" mossberg turkey gun.
2010 was pretty average for me. I generally shoot about 200 rounds a month through one of the carbines, about the same through a couple of Glocks, 20-40 through the 308 precision gun. This year I took 2 carbine classes and 1 pistol class. So I figure about 4000 rounds of 5.56, 3000 .40, 500 308's. Some of this is department supplied.
fivefivesix
12-24-10, 23:32
I shoot 300 rounds in 5.56 a month, sometimes more
And at the indoor range I expend 200 rounds of 9mm every 2 weeks.
When summer comes around 9mm jumps to about 200 a week with the steel plate shoot and the bowling pin shoot.
Great topic, I recently started working at a AR parts manufacturing shop and my co workers talked me into shooting competition and taking formal training classes.
My round count has gone from 1K a year for both pistol and rifle previously to over 3k a year for both for this year.
1600-2300 as I work over seas on a rotation basis. I do try to make it to the range 2-4 times on my rotation home. Could be a little low but about normal.
Magic_Salad0892
12-25-10, 05:34
I put down about 500 rounds a weekend. 250 for pistol, 250 for rifle.
I am starting to consider my M4s to be figments of my imagination. I don't even get to see them, much less shoot them. Look forward to wasting about 1000 rounds this upcoming leave, though.
Suwannee Tim
12-25-10, 07:28
I typically shoot about 5k a year.
What is interesting is how many people put under 1500. That tells me that you are not attending ANY carbine schools. :mad:
Save your money and GO TO TRAINING!
C4
In the tradition I come from no one attends classes. You read, do, ask, listen, do, read some more, do some more and so on. I spend hours and hours every year helping people and consume hours of other people's time. I want to learn the finer points of Bench Rest soon so I can test rifles and loads more effectively. There are some folks on my range who are very good at it and I'm picking their brains. People master their discipline by this method. I'm not averse to a class, I just haven't given it much thought.
How much do I shoot? That varies a lot depending on what I'm doing. I shoot a lot of 22LR now, a good 10K a year and maybe 4K of 556, 2K of 308, 5K of pistol, a thousand 30-06, several hundred 375, 458, etc. When I was doing more big bore I shot a lot less. You don't shoot a big bore rifle a hundred or two hundred times a week. A couple of hundred time a year of a particular big bore rifle would be a lot. I've burned out a couple of 300 magnum barrels over the years, that's a lot of shooting for that kind of rifle. I wore out a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Takes a lot of rounds to do that.
10,000 + per year carbine
15,000 + per year pistol
RogerinTPA
12-25-10, 10:24
In the tradition I come from no one attends classes. You read, do, ask, listen, do, read some more, do some more and so on. I spend hours and hours every year helping people and consume hours of other people's time. I want to learn the finer points of Bench Rest soon so I can test rifles and loads more effectively. There are some folks on my range who are very good at it and I'm picking their brains. People master their discipline by this method. I'm not averse to a class, I just haven't given it much thought.
How much do I shoot? That varies a lot depending on what I'm doing. I shoot a lot of 22LR now, a good 10K a year and maybe 4K of 556, 2K of 308, 5K of pistol, a thousand 30-06, several hundred 375, 458, etc. When I was doing more big bore I shot a lot less. You don't shoot a big bore rifle a hundred or two hundred times a week. A couple of hundred time a year of a particular big bore rifle would be a lot. I've burned out a couple of 300 magnum barrels over the years, that's a lot of shooting for that kind of rifle. I wore out a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Takes a lot of rounds to do that.
I hear you. The bench rest / precision folks (which I have competed for many years) often don't do any tactical shooting at all and many are dead set in that type of shooting. Most would be perfectly happy shooting 20 to 30 rounds in an hour precisely, where the majority of us would be happy going through 200-300 rounds in the same time frame where a less precise, but effective level of precision is good to go.
I hear you. The bench rest / precision folks (which I have competed for many years) often don't do any tactical shooting at all and many are dead set in that type of shooting. Most would be perfectly happy shooting 20 to 30 rounds in an hour precisely, where the majority of us would be happy going through 200-300 rounds in the same time frame where a less precise, but effective level of precision is good to go.
I still consider myself to be a precision/long range rifle guy. Since I put a lot of work into loading my own .308, I don't really get into sending a ton of lead down range. I get more satisfaction from tiny groups, and first shot hits at uknown ranges. However, since I've acquired some of my carbines, I'm shooting somewhere around 1500 centerfire rounds a year.
oddballmkg
12-25-10, 14:28
This year 12,000 rounds of .223 and about 8000 rounds of 9mm. I Did 4 rifle class this year, Magpul, Pat Rogers, Larry Vickers and a Mark Graham class.
FChen17213
12-25-10, 15:16
Rougly 15,000-20,000 rounds a year. Mainly all 9mm. 45ACP and 5.56 probably take 2nd place. Then I'll sprinkle some 357, .40, 308 and 10mm too. I have to say that I am a little surprised at how little most people shoot. This makes me even more ashamed since I truly suck at shooting and expend more rounds than many on this board. It's not like I go and just make noise downrange either. I do take many great classes from reputable training. I just don't have much aptitude for shooting. :(
MustangGreg66
12-25-10, 15:32
I usually shoot around 3-4000 rounds of pistol in a year between competition and practice. I just started in the carbine arena and I've taken a couple classes so that puts me in the 1600-2300 range for the year. Thats mostly Wolf and Gunshow Reloads. I just bought a case of .223 bullets to reload myself this year so hopefully that number will grow :D
Logbooks say I've put 8400 rounds through two carbines, on my own dime. Frankly, I'd thought it to be less than that, add last year was around 12k.
I love being single.
This year 12,000 rounds of .223 and about 8000 rounds of 9mm. I Did 4 rifle class this year, Magpul, Pat Rogers, Larry Vickers and a Mark Graham class.
Dude, you are tearing it up!!!
Smuckatelli
12-27-10, 11:14
I'm not sure which catagory I fit in. I bought a 6721 in Mar 09, 6920 in Jun 09 and traded the 6721 in Jul 09 for a National Match rifle for the 15 year old daughter at that time. Since Mar 09 we have expended 9,500 rounds of .223/5.56 between the two rifles. 5000 rounds of it has been BH 77 gr match ammo.
With the CZ 452 Scout that we bought for the younger kids in 2010, we have gone through 1000 rounds of 22LR.
I received a pistol for Christmas, I took the oldest daughter to the range yesterday. So far we have expended 250 (op check 150 rds of that a couple of weeks ago) rounds through it.
The initial rifle was purchased as 'therapy' for me while our 8 year old was fighting cancer. He completed his 3 yr, 2 mn treatment on 09 Nov 10 so I am wondering what the round counts will look like for 2011. I'm thinking that they will go up.
I haven't attended any classes but my range time consists of static (100 yards), no rest, mulitiple positioning drills mixed with one eye and both eyes open. The daughter runs the standard NRA highpower shooting; 200, 300, and 600 yards. During the summer I open up to 600 yards.
tracker722
12-27-10, 11:21
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QuickStrike
12-27-10, 15:27
This thread makes me feel ashamed. I haven't fired the AR's for probably over a year...
Been shooting glocks and the new 1911.
Within this past year, I put 2883 rounds through my primary carbine's latest upper. The rounds through the secondary carbine's upper are not available to me at the moment, however, that is less than 1000.
Suwannee Tim
12-27-10, 16:43
This thread makes me feel ashamed. I haven't fired the AR's for probably over a year...
Been shooting glocks and the new 1911.
Several years I have fired no firearms. Airguns, no firearms. I didn't have time. I was paddling my ass off. One year I spent 90 days and 75 nights on the water not counting travel. Can't do everything.
8-10k per year, matches and training, through the one carbine....it's the only one I've got (at the moment).
"Beware of the man with one gun." I don't think there's a thing wrong with owning one gun and completely knowing how to use it.
Last year I only shot about 2000 rifle rounds and maybe 4K total. This year I decided to take some classes and train a bunch more. I switched to Wolf to maximize my ammo budget. It works. This year I shot much more, about 12K total count. I shot almost 8K rifle, but through at least 3 different carbines. I just don't think I got as much from my training as the guy shooting only one gun.
The more guns I buy; the less I shoot each. So, I'm pedaling backwards - fewer guns - more ammo & training. I am getting rid of excess baggage and consolidating platforms. I'm selling off my half-assed sticks, ones I don't shoot real well or no longer fit my needs. I want to shrink down one dependable high-quality: AR carbine, precision rifle, 12ga. shotgun, 9mm pistol and rimfire rifle & pistol. That's probably still more guns than I can master with the time & money I've got. But it's a start.
m1a_scoutguy
12-27-10, 23:14
Bottom line,,,,not nearly enough !!! :( I know for sure this last year I shot around 3K,,which isn't bad,,& that was through 3 different ARs. I know "Last" Winter I had reloaded 1500 rds,,,gone by late Spring, early Summer,,I had about 800 Wolf,,,gone,,it was mixed in with the above Reloads. I also shot a box of Re-manufactured Ammo,,,Main Cartridge Company,,box of 50,,I used it for the precision stage in the early Spring at a Carbine shoot ! I reloaded another 600 rds to get through a few more Carbine shoots and In general plinking & Sighting In New Optics during the Summer & Fall,,after that I did up anopther 500 rds of reloads,,,,,I think I have 150 left,,,I actually shot about 50/60 rds today !! Hmmmm,year isn't over "yet" and its supposed to be 45 degrees on Friday,,,,:D:D & for Central NY,,thats gonna feel like Spring,,,,I will be at the range,,,LOL !!!!
I shoot many different guns, so my count this year with the ARs are 600 or so. Just enough to keep me familiar with them.
Suwannee Tim
12-28-10, 05:24
"Beware of the man with one gun." I don't think there's a thing wrong with owning one gun and completely knowing how to use it.....
Firmly agree. The question is whether you want to be a specialist like you or a generalist like me. A specialist knows more and more about less and less until eventually he knows everything about nothing. A generalist knows less and less about more and more until eventually he knows nothing about everything.
Not exactly sure how many rounds of 5.56 I have fired this year but I know that since my carbine was built in the summer of 2009 that I am up to 900 rounds. Most of them were shot in this year though.
Ordered 500 rounds for myself for Christmas and looking at ordering another 500. Will wait til after the New Year before I start shooting so I can keep a more detailed round count for the upcoming 2011 year.
I would definitely shoot more but finances dictate how much I shoot. I am amazed how much some shoot in a years time, must have deeper pockets than what I have.
Although I'm not at the range very consistently; I shoot roughly 2K-4K a year through the M4's, and about the same, maybe a bit less through the AK's. I would guess 5K-7K in the pistols/wheel guns each year.
I will usually put about 1000 rnds of 9mm down range, 1000 rnds of .223/556, 500 rnds of .45/40/10mm, 500 rnds of 7.62, a couple hundred rounds of oddball revolver/Russian ammo and an equal amount of .22LR down range through my various training guns equaling a total of 6-8K per year. Obviously this number goes up and down depending on classes and if the government is paying for the ammo. My shotgun really feels unloved at this point.
Got my first newborn this year, so I kind of expect these numbers to drop this year :(
Of course, I also believe that personal fitness, good diet, and limited vices should even further exponentially outweigh ANY shooting or defensive training of any kind.
I completely agree.
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