Shotgun reloading
- Thread starter Codeman
- Start date
If anyone reads this and is near Cherry Point North Carolina or Camp Legeune Jacksonville North Carolina they do Skeet and Trap shoots on base three days a week and the dumpster next to the range is PACKED with hulls I used to go and get plastic lawn leaf bags full for friends that loaded shotgun.....I know this is a long shot but heck most any good size Military base has this on it and they are there for the taking by the truck loads. And I would never tumble them with a cement mixer 
Very Respectfully
Very Respectfully
rkittine
Gold $$ Contributor
Even CIA Headquarters at Langley has skeet fields. Just don't take the wrong turn onto a restricted road! 
When I lived in Nashville, we shot at Fort Cambell all the time.
Bob
P.S. - On group buys I get hard shot for $31.00 per bag, primers for about $30.00 / 1,000 wads really inexpensive and have been able to get shotgun / pistol powders in 4, 8 and 30 pound (mostly 8 pounders) containers at really good prices. The place I go to is a long drive and only takes cash, but no Haz Met fees and great inventory and prices.
When I lived in Nashville, we shot at Fort Cambell all the time.
Bob
P.S. - On group buys I get hard shot for $31.00 per bag, primers for about $30.00 / 1,000 wads really inexpensive and have been able to get shotgun / pistol powders in 4, 8 and 30 pound (mostly 8 pounders) containers at really good prices. The place I go to is a long drive and only takes cash, but no Haz Met fees and great inventory and prices.
rkittine
Gold $$ Contributor
The group buy is the only way that I have found to cut down on the cost. I no longer have my FFL but one of the guys I shoot with does and since he is also a reloader, he will order and supply at cost, what he has access to. When you buy a few tons of shot at a time or a 55 gallon drum, you can save some money on the product and the total shipping costs.
You can buy reclaimed shot, but I do not want to give up any quality and get more erratic patterns etc.
The Recipe will make a difference too as some powders are less costly than others and some after market wads are less expensive.
Bob
You can buy reclaimed shot, but I do not want to give up any quality and get more erratic patterns etc.
The Recipe will make a difference too as some powders are less costly than others and some after market wads are less expensive.
Bob
bobinpa
Gold $$ Contributor
It depends on what you want. Promo type shells, meaning Rem gun clubs or Fed top guns can be purchased for not much more than reloads BUT they are not the same as good reloads. If you just want to shoot and you want to do it inexpensively as possible, just buy the promo shells.
IF you are taking the shotguns sports seriously and you want/need good shells, meaning harder magnum shot, good wads, accurate powder charges and good hulls that can be reloaded several times, then by all means, reload.
My reloads are comparable to premium shells like Rem STS, Win AA and Fed Gold Medals. So, since those shells are now $8.00 - $10.00 a box, I reload.
The guys I shoot with buy in bulk. Meaning we buy a ton or so of shot at a time and all the powder, wads and primers we can get. We get better prices that way. Usually $38.00 - $40.00 a bag on magnum shot for example.
This way we get premium shells at about a 50% savings. I would suggest you bite the bullet and get 2-3 flats of premium shells, shoot them and then reload them several times or look around and see who is selling them once fired and buy a bunch. I get the most reloads out of the Rem STS's.
I hope this helps.
Bob
IF you are taking the shotguns sports seriously and you want/need good shells, meaning harder magnum shot, good wads, accurate powder charges and good hulls that can be reloaded several times, then by all means, reload.
My reloads are comparable to premium shells like Rem STS, Win AA and Fed Gold Medals. So, since those shells are now $8.00 - $10.00 a box, I reload.
The guys I shoot with buy in bulk. Meaning we buy a ton or so of shot at a time and all the powder, wads and primers we can get. We get better prices that way. Usually $38.00 - $40.00 a bag on magnum shot for example.
This way we get premium shells at about a 50% savings. I would suggest you bite the bullet and get 2-3 flats of premium shells, shoot them and then reload them several times or look around and see who is selling them once fired and buy a bunch. I get the most reloads out of the Rem STS's.
I hope this helps.
Bob
rkittine
Gold $$ Contributor
I agree with Bob that you can load more consistent loads then the promos. I shoot Factory AAs in competition and reloads when practicing. Many registered skeet shoot require factory shells. If you are not on ShotgunWorld.com, you should register. There is a lot of data on the differences between Promo Factory and Premium factory such as pattern size, density and consistency.
In 28 and .410 the prices all go up Estates and Rios are not as high as STS and AAs, but much higher than their promo load equivalent. No Remington Gun Clubs in those gauges.
During this time of the year, you can also buy up to 50 boxes of AAs and get a $2.00 per box rebate. If you can get them for $85 a flat (12 and 20) then you net out at $6.50 a box and you have some great hulls to work with. You will probably see 28 and .410 AAs when they are on sale at about $115.00 a flat. So, $9.50 a box net and with the lower shot weight, these will have a considerable cost reduction when reloading.
Bob
In 28 and .410 the prices all go up Estates and Rios are not as high as STS and AAs, but much higher than their promo load equivalent. No Remington Gun Clubs in those gauges.
During this time of the year, you can also buy up to 50 boxes of AAs and get a $2.00 per box rebate. If you can get them for $85 a flat (12 and 20) then you net out at $6.50 a box and you have some great hulls to work with. You will probably see 28 and .410 AAs when they are on sale at about $115.00 a flat. So, $9.50 a box net and with the lower shot weight, these will have a considerable cost reduction when reloading.
Bob
A few years back when I hunted Waterfowl, I used to reload my own Hevi-Shot 3” shells. I loaded 0-BB AND #2s. I got the shot from a guy in Oklahoma from a guy named Gene Sears who has since passed. Really pleasant man to talk to by the way. Ten pounds cost 96$ compared to 110$ for 7 pounds through
Ballistics Products where I purchased all my specialty wads and other components. At that time it was costing me 1.13$ per round compared to 2.50$ factory loaded. Hevi-Shot is now 84.00$ for 2 pounds of shot only. Don’t see how they’re staying in business. Can’t believe how high regular old chilled lead is now either….ridiculous. Definitely a deterrent to newbies.
Ballistics Products where I purchased all my specialty wads and other components. At that time it was costing me 1.13$ per round compared to 2.50$ factory loaded. Hevi-Shot is now 84.00$ for 2 pounds of shot only. Don’t see how they’re staying in business. Can’t believe how high regular old chilled lead is now either….ridiculous. Definitely a deterrent to newbies.
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