I’m going with cost of travel, with a caveat. I’m new to carbine shooting and probably wouldn’t qualify for a LAV level class. So I’d like to find a good beginner level class to get a bit more up to speed to get the most out of a high end class. The challenge there is finding someone near by that I can feel confident in to get me ready for a better class. The nearest classes I’ve found are 9+ hours a way. Which for now is a bit far to travel for my skill level.
Lol, time traveling posts.
Poll as a result of the responses in this thread
Unlike the other thread, there is an option here for “I don’t need any/more training”. Feel free to make use of that.
There is no “other” option. If your primary reason for not seeking out training is not listed, please either pick your next reason down the list of simply post with “other” at the top of your post and explain.
[ul]
[li]Cost of tuition[/li][li]Cost of travel[/li][li]Cost of ammo[/li][li]Cost of/Lack of guns/gear/support equipment[/li][li]Time away from work[/li][li]Time away from family[/li][li]Physical limitations (disability, injury, etc.)[/li][li]Fear/Dislike of the unknown (or perceived known)[/li][li]I do not want/need any firearm training[/li][/ul]
Can we change the poll to allow multiple options to be selected?
No, that’s the whole point. I’m interested in the primary reason, not the cumulative reasons. Feel free to spell out or further discuss your secondary and tertiary reasons in your response to the thread though.
I picked cost of tuition, because it’s the most easily influenced. Cost of ammo is right up there though. Travel cost isn’t as much of an issue, because I can usually find quality training in the Tulsa area.
Ammo cost.
I chose the cost of travel, because the classes I want to take are not local. That being said one of the classes I want to take probably cost more than the travel. I have taken a local defensive handgun courses and look forward to taking more in the future… I do want to take a basic carbine course, but as I am more likely to deploy my handgun I tend to focus my efforts there…
I guess if I am being accurate… It’s seeking out MORE training and not my normal 2-3 classes a year.
Time away from my business.
I really wish I could select multiple options. I understand your point in not allowing that, however I think that limitation pigeon holes people into slots they don’t necessarily belong in. The reasons why I haven’t attended any training yet are (in no particular order):
cost of tuition
cost of travel/lodging/meals
cost of ammo
The problem with this poll for my particular situation is that no single issue I listed above is THE reason I haven’t attended any training. Rather it’s the combined cost of ALL of those reasons.
+1 for me too. The compounding issue with it is that it constrains and concentrates funds that I would otherwise use on more routine practice: one day of training costs me what I’d spend on several days practice on my own.
Let me try to explain why I did it the way I did.
One way to approach it would be to look at which expense is, or you perceive to be, the largest and choose that one.
For example an average 3-day carbine class for me is ~$600, ammunition is another ~$300, and travel, room & board is another ~$200. So if cost was my limiting factor it would be the tuition that would need to be addressed. If someone were not as lucky and was only interested in 2-day classes (~$400) but had to fly to where they were going, rent a car, etc. and travel expenses are going to be more than tuition.
Hope that helps make sense of it. If the issue is literally “I do not have any money at all for training” then I’m not sure I have a solution to the poll issue. I suppose if one were laid off or whathaveyou that might be more of an issue that I didn’t consider when creating the poll.
I think it’s just a difference of perspective. I don’t tend to look at it this way:
I tend to look at it this way:
Total = ~$1100
It’s not the cost of any aspect in particular that’s held me back, rather the total. To me this makes more sense because I can’t eliminate any one expense without eliminating the entire experience. I tend to view it more as a ‘package deal’.
For the record, I’m not trying to be argumentative here. Like I said, I think it’s just a difference of perspective.
So if someone gave you the class for free, you could or couldn’t go? What if you didn’t have to travel and could stay in your own bed? What if there was an ammo fairy that gave you ammo?
See what I’m getting at? This is why I suggested using the most expensive aspect. But if you can’t vote you can’t vote. It’s not the end of the world, and nobody knows if you did or didn’t, or how you vote if you do. If you can pick the best answer then please do, if not it’s no big deal.
Time away from my family.
Travel costs and time away from work/family, plus trying to rationalize the expense when I have one in college, a roof that needs replacing and a new deck I have been putting off.
I was kicking it around a bit from this perspective and was coming back to post again, but you beat me to it.
It would be fair to say that if someone gave me a class for free then I could cough up the rest to go on fairly short notice. So in that vein I’ll say the cost of tuition.
ETA: I should add that I’m thinking of a facility that’s within driving distance, and not somewhere that’s so far away I would have to fly.
Oh look…my post is out of sequence again.
Cost of tuition and/or time commitment. Ammo isn’t a big deal as I figure I would be buying and shooting the ammo at some point anyway so I usually have enough on hand. Would rather put it downrange at a class than at a local IDPA shoot.
For me, it was the time away from family, combined with overall cost.
Luckily for me, though, I discovered I have an excellent facility in my own backyard that brings in top instructors from all over the country. I don’t feel it’s very well publicized.
I can sleep in my own bed and take time off from work to attend during a weekday, meaning I never miss any appreciable time with my family and don’t have to spend money on travel either.
Time away from work!
I think the cost of the tuition vs the quality of instruction is right on for me. I’ve been selective and trained with the same folks multiple times. DeFoor with 3 different organizations, USTC, and TS.
Ammo cost is to me part of the tuition in a sense. It’s a fixed cost generally speaking. The round counts are closely on par with the course descriptions.
It’s the gas, food, lodging that sucks. A two day course in VA requires a total of 4 days. I have over the last 4 years developed some freindships with guys I’ve trained with and now we can share some of these expenses.
I just save as I can and then plan selectively. Only way to do it.