Shotgun reloading
- Thread starter Codeman
- Start date
HTSmith
Silver $$ Contributor
1 ounce = $5.35/box
1 1/8 oz= $5.75/box
Shot is very expensive and powder is hard to find. The only reason I keep doing it is I have all the equipment and I load light loads in 12 Ga that are hard/impossible to find. (3/4 oz and 7/8 oz). It is an enjoyable hobby, but if saving money is your motivation just buy factory loads on sale from Walmart, Dicks, Bass Pro, etc.
Edit 2/23/2024 So I see some folks are looking at this recently. Prices for powder, primers, and shot have almost doubled. Same for the cost of reloads.
1 1/8 oz= $5.75/box
Shot is very expensive and powder is hard to find. The only reason I keep doing it is I have all the equipment and I load light loads in 12 Ga that are hard/impossible to find. (3/4 oz and 7/8 oz). It is an enjoyable hobby, but if saving money is your motivation just buy factory loads on sale from Walmart, Dicks, Bass Pro, etc.
Edit 2/23/2024 So I see some folks are looking at this recently. Prices for powder, primers, and shot have almost doubled. Same for the cost of reloads.
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I agree with the above posts. I reload shotgun but only for 3.5" steel shot and to make some 20 gauge #2 lead rounds for coyote hunting, because I can't find #2 lead 20 gauge 3" loads. The only reason I still reload shotgun is to be able to produce what I need that is not currently being manufactured. Most of the trap and skeet shooters I know quit reloading 12 and 20 gauge and just went to purchasing Noble brand shells in bulk. The price difference is not worth the hassel of reloading.
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
Even at todays horrible ripoff prices you should be able to reload for 3.75 per box. Shame you don't live closer codeman I would set you up right.
kolar55
Silver $$ Contributor
Jon you definitely are on the right track. My most recent calculation came in around $4.50/box for a 1 oz. load. That would be $45/case vs $57/case for the cheap stuff. Not really a fair comparison though. Most of the cheap stuff doesn't use hard shot and the patterns are not as tight as the reloads. I feel my reloads are comparable to the STS or AA and they are around $90/case. But I'm glad there are so many that think reloading shotshells is a waste of time-that eases up the pressure on the components
rkittine
Gold $$ Contributor
I reload 12, 16, 20, 28 and ,410. I happen to find it relaxing and with the exception of the 16 gauge press have owned all the other equipment for years and do not have to amoratize that expense.
28 and .410 reloads are a bargain against store since those two gauges can run $90 to $120 a flat and with less shot, the cost is less than 12, 16 and 20.
As one of the posters said, like reloading your rifle and pistol ammo, you can control shot hardness and consistency, though I know that the results are not as spectacular as they can be working up loads for your BR rifle.
In the 16 gauge,, 1 1/16 oz is dimensionally about equivalent to the 12 gauge 1 1/8 oz target loads and since I mainly shoot skeet, I like to shoot no. 9s, which are no longer available in factory 16s, which usually the closest skeet load being 1 oz, no. 8 game loads.
I also find that most of the promotional shells usually are available in 7 1/2 and 8s fine for trap and sporting clays, but look up the pellet count by size and see why 9s are still the choice in skeet.
If you get in on club buys or are diligent you can get good prices on bulk shot and powder and use loads that call for the less costly Winchester 209 primers as the Remington Premier and STS ones at the most expensive running $50 - 55 a thousand, where I can get Winchesters for $30.00.
Bob
28 and .410 reloads are a bargain against store since those two gauges can run $90 to $120 a flat and with less shot, the cost is less than 12, 16 and 20.
As one of the posters said, like reloading your rifle and pistol ammo, you can control shot hardness and consistency, though I know that the results are not as spectacular as they can be working up loads for your BR rifle.
In the 16 gauge,, 1 1/16 oz is dimensionally about equivalent to the 12 gauge 1 1/8 oz target loads and since I mainly shoot skeet, I like to shoot no. 9s, which are no longer available in factory 16s, which usually the closest skeet load being 1 oz, no. 8 game loads.
I also find that most of the promotional shells usually are available in 7 1/2 and 8s fine for trap and sporting clays, but look up the pellet count by size and see why 9s are still the choice in skeet.
If you get in on club buys or are diligent you can get good prices on bulk shot and powder and use loads that call for the less costly Winchester 209 primers as the Remington Premier and STS ones at the most expensive running $50 - 55 a thousand, where I can get Winchesters for $30.00.
Bob
I have loaded 28,20,12 for years, now just 12 and 15/16oz shot,
the big cost as noted is shot, and next is the hull, smaller gages are more expensive and do not last as long as 12ga.
I use a 366 auto advance and can put out 450-500 per hour if I just ramble, the initial cost is easily recovered if you load smaller gages, but takes longer if 12.
I will say the promo factory noted above has never produced the patterns of good hand loads. if you are into skeet/trap comp then reload don't use promo as you will suffer results.
if for hunting, buy the promo.
Bob
the big cost as noted is shot, and next is the hull, smaller gages are more expensive and do not last as long as 12ga.
I use a 366 auto advance and can put out 450-500 per hour if I just ramble, the initial cost is easily recovered if you load smaller gages, but takes longer if 12.
I will say the promo factory noted above has never produced the patterns of good hand loads. if you are into skeet/trap comp then reload don't use promo as you will suffer results.
if for hunting, buy the promo.
Bob
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Codeman said:
I was going to get into it as well but quickly realized that the cost of components wouldn't allow for any savings. I often find 12ga 2-3/4" 6shot or 7-1/2 shot on sale for $60 per case of 250 rounds. That equates to $6 per box of 25 and I don't have to do anything. Normal price where I live for upland game and target 2-3/4" shells is about $70. Still worth purchasing over reloading in my opinion. That little bit of extra money spent is well worth all the time it would take me to hand load that many rounds, not to mention the real estate space I save on my bench and shelves from not having another press and more bulky components. I have accumulated about 1500 (5 cases and some loose boxes) 12ga shotgun rounds to date by watching for sales. That will last me a very long time and I never had a to lift a finger to make any of them.
Midway USA had a sale going a couple months ago where I was able to get my hands on some Estate 2-3/4" 00 Buckshot rounds. I think I paid something crazy like $78 for a case of 250 rounds...It was very cheap anyhow. Shotgun shells are plenty and go on sale fairly often so building a healthy supply should be pretty easy.
coford
Gold $$ Contributor
I couldn't help myself - I went to Midway and priced a pretty standard 1oz. load using 20 grains of Clays and a Winchester 209 primer and a pink Claybuster wad.
Powder at $21.49 a pound= .0614 per round
Shot at $52.00 a bag= .13 a round
Primer at .03849 per round
Wad at $10.29 per 500= .02058 a round
If my math is correct that comes to $6.26 a box at today's prices and that doesn't include the price of the reloading equipment or the hull!
Powder at $21.49 a pound= .0614 per round
Shot at $52.00 a bag= .13 a round
Primer at .03849 per round
Wad at $10.29 per 500= .02058 a round
If my math is correct that comes to $6.26 a box at today's prices and that doesn't include the price of the reloading equipment or the hull!
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Gonzos said:
Or the shipping of components if you can't find all of them locally. Its just not worth it when compared to factory ammo.
If there was an adequate amount of accuracy gained from hand loading shotgun ammo, it might be justifiable. But shotgun accuracy and repeatability is almost completely based on the quality of the rifle and ability of the shooter. Maybe I'm wrong on that, but when my shotgun with a full choke can tumble a pop can at 50 yards with cheap factory 6 shot ammo, that's good enough for me.
I could maybe see hand loading for slugs in a shotgun with a rifled bore that is used for hunting big game. It could possibly make a difference in accuracy. But not for shot
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
JRS said:Thats pretty darn accurate Ledd Slinger. Where I found an enormous difference in my patterns is when a started using Trulock Choke tubes
Its a CZ 712 semi auto with the 28" barrel. Came with 5 factory chokes. Showed up at the gun shop brand new in two pieces. Slapped it together, screwed in the full choke and shot it. It hits wherever you aim every time and recoil is a lot less than my Mossberg pump. If you miss, its your fault. I did a lot of research of competitve shooters opinions and reviews on the CZ 712 and many other shotguns before settling on my choice and I gotta say it is very nice and functions flawlessly with 2-3/4" target to 3" magnum rounds. It is the first and only CZ firearm I have ever owned. My hats off to CZ for making such a nice shotgun at a very affordable price. Really is a pleasure to shoot
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