It costs too much. I conceal carry and I am a big believer that it is negligent to carry a firearm and never practice with it. I consider the minimum practice to be about 200 rounds a month. (100 rounds of practice every other week.) This is to cover the absolute basics of grip, trigger control etc. I pay $0.17 per round of 9mm for a monthly budget of $34. I shoot IDPA. We have practice sessions twice a month and a match once a month. 120 rounds per practice session and 300 per match. 540 rounds a month. Now we are up to 740 rounds a month and a cost of $125.80 I'm thinking of getting into USPSA/IPSC. The local club practices once a week and has a match once a month. That is another 750 rounds a month if I get into it. All of a sudden we are talking about $253.30 a month just in 9mm ammo. Add in the couple rounds of Trap and Sporting Clays per month, the occasional brick of .22lr when I take the kids to the range, and an assortment of 5.56, .308 and 30-06 when I go to the rifle range and I'm looking at $300-$325a month. I'm not exactly hurting for cash but I have had car payments that were smaller. When I calculated my monthly cost this really made think. /rant