cost savings in reloading shotgun

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Longnkrnch

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Ive been reloading rifle and pistol ammo for about 30 years and realize the benefits, both in the ammo cost and quality. Now I am considering loading for shotgun. Mostly defence loads to build a stock. Can anyone give me some idea as to whether there is enough benefit in it, both in cost and quality?
 
Originally Posted By: Longnkrnch Now I am considering loading for shotgun. Mostly defence loads to build a stock.

NOPE. You won't save any money by reloading until you start shooting a bunch. And by "defense" loads I assume you are probably talking about buckshot? Not only will you spend more money, but buckshot loads are probably the most difficult loads to put together and get better results than factory loads. Especially when you can buy good ammo for $7.65 per box here:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/930935/...=ProductFinding

If your main concern is defense loads and prepping, I'd suggest you purchase the above listed ammunition (or similar) and call it a day.
 
I have a stock pile of shotshell goodies for reloading, I guess I am saving them for a rainy day. I have been buying a load of Federal 1 1/8 oz value packs on clearance at walmart for $20 for 4 box sleeve. There is no way I can load shell of that quality for the money, much less my time. I have used them for crow shooting the last few years and I am really impressed with the performance of this "cheap" shell.

Ballistic Products has some great stuff for loading shotshells as well as manuals for loading buck, Hevi, steel, etc. I drool every time I go to their website.

You are not going to save any money, but you will have the satisfaction of "rolling your own".
 
I quit reloading shotshells for trap when i did the math. I was spending a lot of time to break even on cost. It wasnt worth it. Centerfire is a different story, factory basic loads cant touch what i load premiums for.
 
Reloading specialty shells can save you a bunch though. I load 12 & 16ga 2 1/2" soft non-toxics for duck hunting and they cost me about $35/box to reload and retail they are $70/box(25 rounds). Nickel plated shot for my 16ga etc. and 2 1/2" target loads save me money. Loading anything for the 28ga and 410 will save you money.

When you can buy flats of shotshells for around $60 it is hard to beat the price during these days of shot shell powder shortages. I've lucked into enough PB for my hunting loads for the forseable future and I have enough Greendot for target loads for the next year. Hopefully things will break by then.
 
Originally Posted By: John243I have never saw a 2.5 inch 12ga are the hulls special order?

Some very old guns had 2.5" chambers. Some also had Damascus barrels (but that's another topic). I have heard of people making 2.5" hulls out of 2.75" hulls by trimming them down.
 
"Some very old guns had 2.5" chambers"

I resent that remark because it makes me VERY OLD. I have shotguns from the 1940's and 50's from Europe that have 2 1/2" chambers.

2 1/2 chambers are very common on European shotguns, I believe you can still get them on some of the very high end British shotguns. Graf and Sons and Ballistic Products carry both Cheddite and Rio 2 1/2" new hulls. You can also get loaded ammo from B&P, RST, Kent(Gamebore) and Poly-Wad makes a Vintagers brand. Mec makes a conversion kit for the Mec 600 to load 2 1/2" shells.

Mec with 2 1/2" kit installed


Rio 2 3/4" target hulls cut to 2 1/2" and loaded with roll crimped waterfowl loads.


And they are still very effective in these modern times 1941 Husqvarna 12ga 65mm/2 1/2" chambers.




If all goes well I'll be shooting a 2 1/2" chambered 16ga x 16ga x 6.5x58mm Rimmed Sauer drilling for coyote hunting at the PM Hunt this coming Feb. the shotgun side is up and running but rifle brass has been a chore(have 40 rounds now)and with no load data and using a .260 bullet instead of the standard .264 of the 6.5mm I'm just starting to get the bugs worked out and have a pretty good handle on it and it should make a good 200+ yrd coyote round not unlike a 25-35 Winchester(6.5x52R).
 
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Originally Posted By: AWS"Some very old guns had 2.5" chambers"

I resent that remark because it makes me VERY OLD.

Well ..... Ain't WE? I'm right there with you brother!
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thanks for schooling about the shell size. that kinda makes the 3' and 3.5' sound like over kill. but i will stick to the mag loads for predators and turkey. i used the the a 3'non-mag load for pheasants last year and got more for this year cant have anuff bb's
 
I have all the gear to reload shells.. But when i looked at the wads,shot, primers, powder. It doesn't work out.
The price of lead has gone up, it's almost not worth it for 1oz loads for the trap range. The lead is just so expensive.
As for reloading the bigger ones is that you will need the different press for those.

I get the Hornady BB shells for $12-15 and when i see them at these prices i buy several boxes..

For me they have been great, they are not too expensive, and have so far droped coyotes dead..
I would be more than happy to use them on intruders. They won't get far with that load in them..

If possible wait until they are outside, since these are going to make a really bad mess to clean up.
 
Any load in any shotgun will make a mess of an intruder. A load of #9 shot would make a dead guy at those distances.
 
My home defense loads are the same #5 shot that I rabbit hunt with. At across the room distances, it is going to be messy without the over penetration of 00 buck.
 
For me, reloading is an extension of my hobbies of shooting and hunting, so I don't really care if I save $$$.

As has been mentioned, the big savings are in the specialty loads. I load Hevi-Shot for waterfowl at a bit of a savings. Try to buy a spreader load, Pagoda (cold weather) load, or 1,500fps lead loads.

When I hunt, I'll have a variety of loads available as conditions require. Do any of you wear one pair of shoes for everything you do? Why would we think one load could cover all scenarios equally as well?
 
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