Weighing Equipment vs Ammo vs Training

[Jellybean]

I did not vote in the poll, because there doesn't seem to be any right answer with the options there...
BUT... I get this dilemma, because it has been my exact dilemma since the day I got into guns. I have never had the money to just fling at this stuff that some people apparently have.
When I got my first "good rifle" shortly after I joined this site, it took me a literal YEAR to save up for it. I saved pennies from the Walmart parking lot, I shit you not...
Then when I got that rifle and some ammo, I had ZERO money left for a light, red dot, etc, etc. I ran the gun irons-only for about 2 years before I could finally afford a well-discounted PRO from the EE here... #poorsclubrepresent
And now anyone that knows me understands my dire hatred of irons, and fellow "poors" who cheap out on their shit because they "gotta have it now"...
It was a forum shoot I attended a long time back that finally convinced me a red dot wasn't just a "want" it was a "need". Actually it convinced me an SR25 with a Leoupld CQBSS was a "NEED" but that's another story...

I would NOT give up a spare upper right now, given the political climate.
Given that, I think you may have answered your own question;

2). I can afford to consume 500rds rifle and 800-1k pistol a month, while replenishing it, and while saving up for at least couple professional classes a year.

That's roughly $300 current market prices.
Skip a month, buy your red dot. Unless you're trying to get a T1/MRO/etc a lightly used PRO can be had for $280-325 right now (hell, you just missed mine for sale), or visit our patron saint of "cheap optics that still work reasonably well" Primary Arms.

*Personally*, while the PRO is going to get you into Aimpoint territory for a reasonable expenditure, having run them exclusively for the last 8 years...I don't want another one, and I sure as hell don't want it on a lightweight 10.3 pistol... It's a beast of a red dot, and for the weight, you are getting no capability other than just another zero-mag dot.
If you peruse the EE, Tacswap, and maybe Ebay if you dare, if I wanted another RDS, I would get a simple non-QD T1 mount (like a DD), and stick a PA T1 clone on it.

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-...-red-dot-sight
With the Fortis mount in the selection options you'd be in a whopping $200, and the dot has a lifetime warranty...
You'd still have $100 to burn in ammo this month, or half the money for a second optic...
Or if you hate it, you send it back and move on...

Or if you WANT to put a 1lb or so optic on your rifle/have astigmatism/hate batteries, etc, you could check out their 1-6x SFP LPVO or one of the prisms like the Cyclops.
I am trying a 1-6 SFP right now, and so far it seems nice. We'll see in time for sure.
BUT anyway, that's just my $.02

[Wake27]

1. Are you debating selling you’re only spare upper? So you’d be down to one complete AR if you do sell it?

2. What red dot are you looking at?





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[SeriousStudent]

Professional training opens the door to better choices. It leads to informed choices on equipment, and better practice.

Doing practice sessions with incorrect performance or poor drills does not increase one's skills. Frequently, they just reinforce bad habits.

You already learned that lesson, based on the way you are incorporating the lessons from the Vickers class into your range sessions.

There are a lot of good local trainers all over the country. I'd sell the upper without regret, and pursue additional classes.

Hope that helps.

[SteyrAUG]

Ammo - You can't train without it. You can but most practical training requires live fire. That said don't overlook dry fire drills and other forms of shadow boxing. You can work on form and movement without having to go to the range.


Training - Keep in mind that includes simply practicing what you have been taught. A lot of people take a lot of classes without mastering any of what they were shown in the last class. Your twice a year class schedule is realistic.

Equipment - Weapon lights are more important than RDS and if you learn with irons, you learn how to shoot. That said, RDS are really, really nice and you should get a good one when you can afford to.

[flenna]

How long is America's rifle and it's parts going to be available to us non-governmental citizens? Would it be better to stock up now while it's a buyer's market and forego other pursuits? Just something to think about.

[MegademiC]

Edit:

Take 3 months off shooting
1. Dry fire everything you learned in class
2. Dry fire everything else (trigger, weapon manipulation, malf clearence, ready-up, draws, rifle-pistol transition, target transitions, etc.)
3. But rds, light, sling, pistol support gear if required
4. Live fire and verify training/make gains.
Then repeat every couple weeks.

If you dont dry fire every day, live fire once a week is a waste IME.

[grizzlyblake]

Are there any devices that reset the hammer on an AR for dry fire practice like the striker reset devices for Glocks?

[Arik]

I would consolidate to the point of having one handgun, one rifle. Period. Not a new concept

At that point I would either layaway or slowly save up for the red dot. You already have sights on your rifle, and they work. People have done amazing things with iron sights and nothing but practice.

You need a rifle, obviously. You need ammo and mags. You need a sling. Everything else you can do without.

I can't throw money at things like some can. I have no ego. I just want to be a little better every day even if I'm dead last. I don't care what others do, only what I can do with what I have

[SteyrAUG]

Edit:



If you dont dry fire every day, live fire once a week is a waste IME.

Not sure I'd go that far. Dry fire is good for things like practicing draws and movement. But live fire once a week is hardly a waste of time, especially when you factor in recoil, noise, smoke and actual rounds on target. For a beginner who is getting things down, dry fire is especially beneficial. But for a RKI, once a week is actually a lot of shooting.

That's sort of like me suggesting that anyone who doesn't do force on force with airsoft is wasting their time at the range. While there is a valid point in there somewhere, the entire statement isn't quite true.

[grizzlyblake]

I would consolidate to the point of having one handgun, one rifle. Period. Not a new concept

At that point I would either layaway or slowly save up for the red dot. You already have sights on your rifle, and they work. People have done amazing things with iron sights and nothing but practice.

You need a rifle, obviously. You need ammo and mags. You need a sling. Everything else you can do without.

I can't throw money at things like some can. I have no ego. I just want to be a little better every day even if I'm dead last. I don't care what others do, only what I can do with what I have

Agreed. I would rather have one high quality factory 16" rifle with a spare bolt and LPK, a few Gen 3 Pmags, an Aimpoint, and a BFG or Magpul sling. Then a G19 with a Glockstore survival kit, good holster, and a half dozen mags and call it good.