If you read last week’s column, the subject centered on the higher cost of fuel. I have a few suggestions on how you can stay active in the shooting sports, but not pay monthly payments on ammo cost.

Do you remember when all you needed for an afternoon of shooting with the family was a .22-caliber rifle or pistol and a couple of boxes of shells? I remember when we could buy a box of .22 shells for around 75 cents a box. Today we can buy a box of 550 .22-caliber shells for around $28. I will have to admit though that they have risen in cost dramatically over what they cost before the fuel prices went through the roof some years ago. I have to stay focused on today’s cost of merchandise rather than what it once was.

Instead of going out and buying a truck load of ammo at one time, try buying ammo spread out over several weeks and months. This will be easier on your pocketbook and possibly not empty the store shelves so quickly as before.

I have been asked the following question many times. Where do you store your ammo for for long-term storage? I have used many methods to keep ammo from going bad, but there seems to be one way that is better than most. I am talking about using the military surplus ammo cans that can be found at some local businesses, and of course, at gun shows. These cans have gone up in price also, but properly stored, they will last a lifetime. I also want to point out that there are a few things you need to do to help keep the ammo fresh that you store in these cans. I always make sure that the rubber gasket in the top of the lid is in good shape and has not been removed. I try and store these ammo cans in a place where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate up and down. If they are out in a shed where the summer temperature is in the 90s and in the winter the temperature goes down in the 20s and 30s, the lifetime of the ammo in the cans will be drastically lowered. So keep them in a controlled temperature and a dry place.

I have to remind adults to be sure that all ammo is stored away from children. There is one thing children like to do, and that is to investigate what’s in that funny-looking box. I can just hear little Joey say, “Mommy, look what I found.”

There are ways of cutting down on ammo cost, also. I try using the guns that are single shot more than I did before. There are many guns that shoot only one bullet at a time and are still lots of fun. Give them a try, you just might agree.

Parting thought: Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

Roger Sherrill lives in Ringgold. He can be reached at tandemjumper@catt.com.