The cost of ammunition over time can exceed the cost of the shotgun so the team works hard at making ammunition reasonable. The team buys pallets of ammunition then sells flats (250 rounds) at cost. This defrays the cost of ammunition by as much as 33%.
A flat of competition ammunition at your local gun shop or purchased on line will cost around $110. The team is able to sell the same flat for around $70 to $80 depending on current ammunition prices.
Annual team dues are $125 per athlete. Athletes who participate in Give It A Shot may apply the cost of the program to their first year's dues.
Cost Frequently Asked Questions
Hearing protection can cost as little as $1 for disposable foam ear plugs. Many shooters wear electronic hearing protection that costs about $40. This permits shooters to easily hear the coaches will continuing to protect their hearing.
Dues are currently $125, which includes membership in several national organizations, a requirement of some competitions we attend.
Team members wishing to compete in ATA events will find many opportunities to do so at local trap ranges.
The cost of building and maintaining bunker ranges requires a little more travel. There are three bunker ranges in the State of Florida; ours, one in Palm Beach, and one in Gainesville. The team also shoots at national competitions in Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Arizona, and Puerto Rico.
The team tries to subsidize the travel as funds permit by paying for registration fees and paying for hotels or AirBnB lodging. Any costs not paid by the team are the responsibility of the athlete.
Suitable eye protection can be purchased for $10 - $15. As the athlete progresses, they may choose to invest in specialized shooting glasses with high quality lenses with tints that cause the color orange (the color of our targets) to stand out much more than other colors. This lets the athlete acquire the target much soon, which can be a competitive advantage.
Through a subsidy from the team, athletes enjoy very low target prices. One round of 25 targets costs $3 for team members. By contrast, a person not associated with the team will pay $8 - $10 per round on average.
Success in this sport does not depend on having the most expensive shotgun and you cannot buy your way to the top. With diligent shopping, you can purchase a used, quality, 12 gauge competition double barrel shotgun in the range of $1,000.
As you progress, you may decide to invest in higher quality firearms. New, top of the line shotguns can be found for as much as $20,000. However, most experienced team members use shotguns that have been purchased in the $2,000 to $5,000 range.
TAMPA BAY CLAYS Youth Clay Target Shooting Team
No. We would much rather be shooting than fundraising so we pour all of our energy into one fundraising event per year. The team hosts a Sporting Clays fundraiser at our home range, Tampa Bay Sporting Clays. The event also includes raffles for a wide variety of items such as new firearms, high end coolers, and wreaths of raffle tickets. All team members are required to provide items for the raffle and work at the fundraiser.
Our team members are our best advertisers. Many times, participants in the fund raiser have donated even more money to our team because they are so impressed with the maturity and politeness of our team.
We are fortunate to receive donations from individuals and businesses who want to preserve American heritage sports.
We also receive yearly distributions through an endowment from the Midway Foundation, which often matches donations to the team.
1. How much does a competitive shotgun cost?
2. How much does ammunition cost?
3. How much does eye protection cost?
4. How much does hearing protection cost?
5. How much do targets cost?
6. Will we have to do fundraisers all year long?
7. How much does it cost to compete?
8. How much does it cost to be a member of the team?