How To Be Thrifty In Your Hunting Hobby

By Author: Eric Clements
Total Articles: 12
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Are you a hunting enthusiast? Regardless of whether you're one, I'm sure you'll agree that hunting is a rather expensive interest. Particularly with all that purchasing of hunting knives, rifles scopes, rifles, accessories etc. And not to forget, those self financed safaris. But before you cast away your interest in hunting, here are some alternatives you can use to alleviate the situation.

(1) Get Used Rifles Besides Brand New Ones

other innovative ways to cut down the cost of your hunting hobby is to buy used rifles. That can add up to the savings specially if you're doing it the right way. A new rifle can cut you back by at least couple of hundreds and of course, branded ones can be more expensive.

To cut down this cost expenditure, you'll need to find a dealer that distributes used rifles. Doublecheck to ensure that the rifle was legally used before it was resold. Remember, always insist on an inspection. Some used rifles look good in the pictures but when handled, are actually nothing more than a piece of worthless metal.

Be aware of a few things when you're inspecting the used rifle. First, ...
... ensure there's no rust around the firing pin area. Otherwise, the rifle you're considering, probably wasn't well taken care of by its previous owner.

Next, check to see if the bolt's working. You can give this a test by pulling the bolt backwards and let it slam forward. The firing pin will still be intact if it's a good rifle. Last but not least, ensure that the grooves in the barrel has no rust and the rifle's bore is clean too.

For those of you thinking of buying such rifles online, you may want to reconsider. Such is heavily regulated and weapons bought online has to be sent to a Federal Firearms License holder for a detailed examination before it's releaseto you. This may delay the entire purchasing cycle. A service fee will also be levied by the FFL holder, offsetting the savings you actually get from buying the used rifle in the first place.

(2) Buy Rifle Scopes & Other Hunting Accessories Online

Unlike buying guns over the internet, getting accessories such as rifle scopes and other hunting stuff is relatively hassle free. You may also find better prices in some renowned online stores. After all, such stores' adminstrative & operational costs are much lower and hence it's not diffcult to see why they can afford to offer such great bargains.

If you compare the price of A Nikon Monarch Matte BDC 2.5-10x42 for instance, you'll realize that it can be almost 30% cheaper online than what you'll probably get from some of your local retailers! For better bargains, take a look at what some of the sellers are offering on eBay. Don't be surprised to find some great auctions at $0.01! Trust me, you'll definitely save more than 30%!

(3) Join Group Safaris

We all know how expensive a solo hunting expedition can cost. Several thousands of dollars. Maybe even tens of thousands. Pooling resources with your hunting mates can help you save a bundle on guide fees, lodging and other travelling expenses! In fact, there are many agencies that offer special group safaris at lower prices.

Doing away with the expense of a guide can help you save more, especially if you're a seasoned hunter and are pretty familiar with the remote surroundings. But for the hunting newbies, getting a guide may actually be better for you! As it can help you cut down wasted time and hassle!

Regardless, it's important to always conduct your own independent research and use your discretion. At the end of the day, what's feasible for others may not be for you. Nonetheless, there's definitely no harm to just hunt around. Who knows? You may just find a better catch!
Eric Clements does freelance writing and enjoys hunting in his free time. Read his other writings on hunting and rifle scopes. And also, check out these Burris Rifle Scopes or Leupold Rifle Scopes offers if you're interested.