1. The license and club membership
The first step to legally practice sport shooting is to obtain a license from the French Shooting Federation (FFTir).
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Annual FFTir license : approximately 90 to 100 € (federal rate, varies according to age).
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Club membership fee : it depends on the region and the available infrastructures. There are clubs in 120 – 150 € per year for the most modest, but some exceed 250 € if the facilities are modern or have multiple shooting ranges (10 m, 25 m, 50 m, 100 m and more).
Count on average 200 to 300 € per year for license + club.
2. The weapon and basic equipment
Purchasing a weapon is not mandatory at the beginning: many clubs lend equipment (especially for 10-meter air rifle shooting). However, as soon as you want to advance, it becomes worthwhile to invest.
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Entry-level handgun (Category B) : between 500 and 900 € (e.g., Glock, CZ, Sig Sauer).
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.22 LR rifle (category C) : starting from 400 €, but a match rifle can exceed 1,200 €.
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High-end competition weapon : 2,000 – 3,000 €, or even more.
In addition to these, the essential accessories I am trained on data up to October 2023.
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Noise-cancelling headphones: 20 – 50 €
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Protective goggles : 15 – 50 €
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Holster / carrying case : 30 – 100 €
The initial budget can therefore vary between 600 € to start modestly and several thousand euros for complete equipment.
3. Ammunition: A Major Expense Item
This is probably the most recurring cost for a sports shooter. Prices vary greatly depending on the caliber.
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.22 LR : approximately 5 to 7 € for 50 cartridges. It is the most economical caliber, ideal for training.
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9x19 mm (9 Para) : between 13 to 18 € for 50 cartridges in manufactured goods, or €0.30 to €0.35 per shot.
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.45 ACP : approximately €25 for 50 cartridges.
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More powerful calibers (.357 Magnum, .308 Win, etc.) : prices are rising at 30 – 50 € per box of 50 or more.
Concrete example:
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An average shooter consuming 200 cartridges of 9 mm per month spends approximately 60 € monthly only in ammunition, which is nearly €700 per year.
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In .22 LR, the same volume would only cost 25 € per month, so 300 € per year.
Many enthusiasts therefore choose to practice Reloading to reduce the bill (initial investment of about 300 – 500 € for the equipment).
4. Travel and Side Aspects
A frequently overlooked factor remains the route to the club. If the stand is located 20 km from home, with two sessions per week:
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40 km round trip × 2 = 80 km per week.
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Over a year: more than 4,000 km traveled, which is approximately €600 of gasoline (at the current average price).
It is also necessary to add:
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The competitions (registrations: 10 to 30 € per match, not including hotel and meals if traveling long distances.
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The maintenance of the weapon (cleaners, oils, spare parts: 50 – 100 € per year).
5. Annual Budget Report
For a "classic" shooter practicing once or twice a week with their personal weapon, the annual budget can be summarized as follows:
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License + club: 250 €
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Ammunition (200 rounds of 9 mm/month): 700 €
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Movements: 500 – 600 €
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Maintenance + accessories: 100 €
Average annual total: 1,500 – 1,700 €, not including the initial investment in the weapon.
A shooter exclusively using .22 LR can reduce the bill to about €800 – €1,000 per year.
Conclusion
Sport shooting remains an accessible discipline, but its cost depends greatly on the chosen caliber, the frequency of practice, and the place of training. For a beginner, it is better to start with a .22 LR weapon and take advantage of the equipment loan at the club before gradually investing.
Passion obviously comes at a price, but many shooters consider these expenses as an investment in their hobby, personal discipline, and sometimes even their safety.