Shotshell Reloading

[BigDMT]

Is it worth reloading shotshells these days if a person just plans in general bird hunting and plinking? Maybe shooting clays from time to time? The last 3 cases of factory 12 gauge shells I bought cost me $60 each. Thats a lot or rounds for not much money, 750 rounds for $180 to be exact. They are Federal and Estate with 7 1/2 and 6 shot 2 3/4".

Can a guy really save any money from buying all the reloading equipment and components when ammo is that cheap? The one advantage to reloading I see is being able to put whatever I want in the case for shot. Other than that, im not so sure its worth the cost to get set up. Opinions? Thanks

 

[waterfwlr]

It all depends. Depends on how much you get the components for. Shot being the biggest factor. For the price you got the cases of 12 gauge, probably not. The smaller gauges like .410 and 28, it is definetly worth it.

 

[Steve3]

I shot skeet and trap for almost 20 years. Still reload shotshell because I still have bags of shot and lots of hulls. But most shooters now do not reload, not even the older ones. It is my understanding it is cheaper and it probably is. The last time I bought shot it was 13.50 a bag now 40.00. And powder is tough to get hold of, I can't even find my favorite, Clays. If you ever get into it I would suggest just a MECjr. for about 120.00. The MEC is a single stage and you have to move the hull 7 times but I have never had a bad shell with over 100K shot.

 

[jonbearman]

If you are shooting say 400 rounds at 1 ounce you get 400 rounds to a bag add wads ,primers,and powder your talking about 90.00 for 400 rounds divided by 25,that is 16 boxes 5.63 per box .

 

[Hondo]

If you shoot 12G it's not worth while to reload.
If you shoot the sub gauges 20 28 410 there is considerable saving to be had.

 

[tenring]

I have two MEC Jrs for sale; your choice 12 or 20 ga $60 each shipped CONUS with one charge bar and powder bushing. Send PM.

 

[JRS]

There's a number of advantages to rolling your own: loaded to suit your shooting style/needs. Loads will always be more consistent than factory loads. They also pattern better most of the time.

 

[Hombre0321]

I look at reloading as more then just cheap ammo, I enjoy the entire reloading process and know for a fact I turn out a better product in the end. It is how you look at it. The key however is going to be how and when you can find the components.

Back a few years ago when I was shooting ATA trap and some sporting clays I would shot every weekend. If it was a trap weekend, and most were, that is 600 rounds not counting shoot offs. I had a good friend who was in the components business and while I paid the regular price, it was much cheaper loading my own. The price quoted of $60.00 a lb of shot is staggering just to think about it. At that time I was paying $12.50 a bag for shot, so it is easy to see that prices have gone way up.

I do agree whole heartily with Steve about getting a Mec Jr. If you decided to go this route. I have at least two or three of them setting in the shop and have not used one in years. If you do consider doing this drop me a PM and I will give you one for free if you pay the shipping, so see there you have already saved the $120.00 for a press.

Check into the components and see if you can get what you need and want. Its a cool way to spend a few hours and is satisfying as well.

Roland

PS Tenring sorry I did see your post before I made that offer, didn't mean to step on your toes. My offer still stands though.

 

[BigDMT]

Right now 12ga shells go for around $5.99 per 25 and up from there.

My son shoots 410 and those little things are fairly spendy. I think the best price ive found was $13.99 for 25 of the cheap Estate 2 1/2" shells. So i could save some money there.

Im kinda in limbo also because I already load for so many centerfire rifle and handgun rounds. Adding a couple shotgun calibers to the fray may be too much for my limited free time. But I have been keeping all the spent 12ga and 410 brass cases just in case.

Ill check out how much components cost at home before I make a final decision. Thanks fellas.

 

[MrMajestic]

There's a number of advantages to rolling your own: loaded to suit your shooting style/needs. Loads will always be more consistent than factory loads. They also pattern better most of the time.

What he said.

 

[bheadboy]

most gun clubs with shot gun activity, buy shot, powder, primers hulls by the pallet and get significant discounts on everything, including shipping,

The members indicate ahead of time what they will take and the total is added up to make the purchase.

the result is a much reduced price of reloading shot shells.

if you are active in shot shooting then reloading and buying components this way is the way to go, it is very cost effective plus the balancing your loads to your style.

Bob

 

[Judd]

It all depends. Depends on how much you get the components for. Shot being the biggest factor. For the price you got the cases of 12 gauge, probably not. The smaller gauges like .410 and 28, it is definetly worth it.

+1

I started shooting shotguns prior to getting into rifles and when I was shooting 1k rounds a month then yes it was worth it but much less than that it really isn't worth it. I don't anymore...that shotgun press really just clutters up my reloading bench

 

[ridgeway]

The price of shot is outrageous! Progressive is the way to go...you have to shoot an awful lot to get any type of savings. Some pluses is, you can utilize better wads and shoot lighter loads of shot.

 

[medic727]

Lee Load All, $52 at Midway. Nothing fancy, will get the job done. Guage changeover kit $20.

 

[BigDMT]

We do have a trap club. Might have to look into it and see if they do bulk component purchases.

I was kinda wondering if reloading could make a difference in performance so thanks for that input fellas. I always thought they just go boom and start to spread out in the general direction you are aiming controlled only by the choke on the barrel. As you can tell, Im not much of a shotgunner...yet.

I really want to get into shooting clays and bird hunting now that I picked up a really nice CZ 712 auto loader. It is much more enjoyable to shoot than my Mossberg pump and has re-sparked my interest in shooting shotguns.

 

[Hopkins]

Performance is the best reason to reload shotshells. Even 12ga. target loads are loaded to a minimum of 10,000 lup. so they will reliably cycle autoloaders. Lower pressure loads generally deliver more uniform patterns at the same velocity. If you are shooting an OU or any non autoloader you can load for them at target velocities in the 8,000 lup range.

 

[dickn52]

Biggest expense after buying the press and components is the cost of lead shot. Last time I reloaded it was 34.00 per 25#. That cost has gone up I think. If you are loading 1oz loads, that's 16 per pound for 400 rounds a bag. 1.8 flats (?) My 12g 1oz loads were about half of what they cost from factory at that time. Remembering of course that you cannot use reloads at any major shooting comp in Sporting Clays. So you would be building practice ammo or club shoot ammo if you shoot a lot of SC tournaments. Yes, you can save some money reloading most likely.

 

[DaveMarine1]

I shoot about 5000 shot shells trap shooting each summer, my dad about 7000. We reloaded exclusivly. But, thats because we really enjoy the 1 oz load and settled on a velocity that we liked.
However....the past 3 years about, if you look through out the year and especially now before the shooting season starts (up here in ND that could be god knos when) you will find cases of Remington Gun Clubs or Estates with 1 or 1 1/8 oz load with 7 1/2 or 8 size shot. Like stated in other posts, you can get these for $55-$60 a flat. So....long story short, now days, we buy factory as much as we relaod, its now only a couple of dollars a box at best, and we figure our time is worth something. Just my two cents.

 

[BigDMT]

I shoot about 5000 shot shells trap shooting each summer, my dad about 7000. We reloaded exclusivly. But, thats because we really enjoy the 1 oz load and settled on a velocity that we liked.
However....the past 3 years about, if you look through out the year and especially now before the shooting season starts (up here in ND that could be god knos when) you will find cases of Remington Gun Clubs or Estates with 1 or 1 1/8 oz load with 7 1/2 or 8 size shot. Like stated in other posts, you can get these for $55-$60 a flat. So....long story short, now days, we buy factory as much as we relaod, its now only a couple of dollars a box at best, and we figure our time is worth something. Just my two cents.

That's kinds how I'm figuring it.

My time is short and can be better spent. We don't shoot the 410 much and I dont plan on getting any other shotgun calibers. Heck, I even bought a pile of 223 ammo, and still have it, because I didn't think it was worth my time when I could buy 200 rounds of match grade ammo for $70. However, I do reload the 223 now for accuracy reasons.
Same for my wife's 9mm handgun when I could buy 100 rounds for $10, I just didn't see the point. You know what Im saying. I'll be lucky if I shoot 1000 rounds of 12 ga in 5 years time.

Thanks again for all the input

And thank you couple of fellas for the generous reloading press offers, but I think I'll pass on reloading the shotguns.

 

[bobinpa]

It is definetly less expensive to reload but it probably isn't worth it unless you are a dedicated shotgun shooter. Most serious shotgun shooters, (trap, skeet or sporting clays) are not going to shoot the $5.99/box Remington Gun club or Estate shotshells. Most serious shooters will tell you those shells are inconsistent in velocity and the patterns are not near as good as Winchester AA, Remington STS or similar shells. Winchester AA or Remington STS shells are up to $8.00 - $9.00/box.
In trap, if you are only shooting club level shoots from the 16 yard line the $5.99/box shells are fine. Once you get serious and start to work your way back to the 27yard line you will notice the difference and you will want the $9.00/box shells. Thats when you will start reloading your hulls, because:

$40.00 per 25lb bag of shot giving you 400 1 oz loads $.10 each load
$4.00 per 100 primers $.04 each primer
$10.00 for a bag of 500 wads $.02 each wad
$22.00 for 1 lb of powder that gives approx 400 loads $.05 each charge

At $.21 per shell or $5.25/box you get tailor made target loads. If you buy your reloading components in bulk, like we do, you can easily get your shells for less than $5.00/box and it is well worth it to reload. My friends and I buy our components in bulk to save a few more dollars. We buy shot by the ton (only 80 bags in a ton), primers and wads by the case and powder in 8lb jugs. My shells cost me about $4.50/box. All of these numbers are for 1oz 12 gauge loads and go down considerably when you reload for sub gauges like the 28ga and 410. Those little shells use a lot less shot. Just my .02 worth.