Trapshooting the Olympic Way
January 2008
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Trapshooting the Olympic Way |
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Lead prices and economical training It was early October as I was thinking about writing this column, and a quick Internet check with the London commodities market the previous day had shown lead prices closing at $1.72 a pound. A year ago on the same date, lead prices were less than 72 cents a pound. Future prices for lead three months out were listed at $1.67, with the 15-month future price being $1.53. Looking back to the beginning-of-the-year forecasts, lead was expected to close 2007 at about a dollar a pound. What is obvious is that the price of lead is 1) completely unpredictable and 2) going to remain high. With lead at $1.72 a pound, the raw material price alone for a 25-lb. bag of shot would be $43 and for a flat of 1 1/8-oz. target loads just a little over $30. No wonder ammunition prices are at record highs. The reason that they are not even higher is that the ammunition and lead companies purchase on future and long-term contracts, which tends to lend stability to the price of their products. Even so, at press time we were being warned to look for another price increase around the first of the year. The simple truth is that shooting is going to be more expensive next year. As a result, recreational shooters may shoot less, while families with junior or SCTP shooters will certainly feel the pinch. And what about the elite competitive shooter, who needs to establish and maintain a high level of proficiency? All who wish to excel will have to find an economic method of training that is not dependent upon the expenditure of high volumes of ammunition but is based upon….[see Page 22, January 2008] Les Greevy operates the Youth Development Shotgun Team at the USA Shooting Regional Training Center in Muncy Valley, Pa., where he provides novice- to championship-level training in the American and Olympic clay target games for individuals and groups with emphasis on visual and mental as well as mechanical skills. Please direct any feedback to this article or questions to Les@Greevy.com or 570-326-6561. |
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02/17/2009, Curtis Magazine Group, Inc.
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