Can you reload shotgun shells cheaper

R

rickyb

New member
I bet some of you reload shotgun shells also. I just went to buy some #6 heavy loads and they are 10.50 a box. You talk about sticker shock. I almost passed out. I shoot between 5 to 7 cases a year on sq and crows. I have thought about reloading for shotgun anyway, but now maybe more motivation. Rick
 
You think shells are a shock...go look at the price of shot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif (Sportsman's Warehouse wants $37/bag!!!)

I've reloaded shotshells for 40 years. Go buy a used MEC 600 since they are simple and good quality. Then look in a loading manual for the loads you want to achieve. Shotshells are simple to reload. Use good hulls like Win AA or Rem STS.

I just started buying 12ga target loads this year since I can't save much by reloading when shells are $4/box and shot is $27 for a 25# bag. I still load 20ga 7/8oz target loads since I have stock piled components over the years.
 
Can't save much, if any, loading "el cheapo" target loads you can find at the various "Marts". However, if you want to load to duplicate the premium stuff, yes you can save a bunch of money, particularly with buffered lead loads. And, if you load for the 10ga. you can save even more by loading your own.
 
I can't find it at the moment but somewhere I have a link to a decent "calculator" that quickly allows you to enter component costs by hand to see if loading "pays". If I find it I'll post it. Sure you can do it by hand but this link is neat....

I suspect that you'll find that maybe you can save money on the heavy loads but it is almost impossible to compete with the price of target loads these days, even the STS's and AA's, etc...

The last time I checked (early summer) the cost was right at what you could buy target loads for. Lead has gone up since.

Anybody else notice that the current AA hulls are junk?
 
Ok I appreciate your input. I am only interested in loading for the heavy loads. The deals that some stores give on the light loads here are around 3.50 a box thats 7/8 to 1 oz shot. I did pay 45.00 a case on light loads with 11/8 oz shot. Rick
 
Quote:
I can't find it at the moment but somewhere I have a link to a decent "calculator" that quickly allows you to enter component costs by hand to see if loading "pays". If I find it I'll post it. Sure you can do it by hand but this link is neat....




I have this one, you can run it by clicking the link or right click and save to your computer

Shot Cost calculator
 
You can save some not counting your time investment, but it is like rifle reloading. You can shoot more for the same money with better ammo. If you are loading that many rounds I would suggest looking at a progressive instead of a single stage reloader. I load in an hour what it used to take me all night loading on a sizemaster. I still have the sizemaster for waterfowl loads though.
 
Like rifle shooting, I have found that the best part of loading shot shells is loading loads that I can't buy.

I load 3" 12 gauge with 1-7/8 of #7.5 for high crows, and 28 gauge shells with #11 shot for shooting starlings and large bees.

.
 
I reload for shooting sporting clays, trap, skeet and hunting. I don't save as much money as I used to, but I do save some money and I reload what I want to shoot. I don't shoot 1-1/8 oz loads anymore at targets and I have never seen good quality 1 oz target loads at Wal-Mart. Most peoples reloads are a better shell than the cheap stuff at Wal-Mart is. If you don't get good prices on your powder, primers, wads and shot reloading will not be cheaper. Check out the prices on Hevi-Shot shells or Remington Wingmaster HD shells and it will make your 1-1/4 lead loads look like a much better price.
 
Quote:
Cat.....great idea for my off season...BEES!!! What fun. Now I have the excuse for a 28. My wife hates BEES!!!




Jag... I love the 28 Gauge. My first one was a Browning O/U Skeet gun. I was a big dummy and sold it.

A few years ago, I bought a Remington 28 Gauge "Sporting Clay" 1100. Beautiful little receiver, with very fancy AAA+ wood.

We have some kinda large bee in my area, a little smaller than the size of a 45 Colt auto round, and they are a blast (a pun), with a 28 Gauge.

I use a Ponsness Warren 375-C loading machine - it take no time to change it over from one gauge to the next.

.
 
I missed my chance at a $100 Red Label in 28. I friend popped a cap and stuck the wad while we were dog training. A little later he threw a bird for a quick training event for the dog with out remembering that the barrel was plugged. It bulged the barrel. I few minuted later he said he would sell it cheap, even $100. As I was pulling the money from my pocket another friend chimed in about how they could be pounded straight on a mandrel with a skilled gunsmith for about that same amount
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif
So much for my cheap 28.
 


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