Reloading for Shotgun...

[LostintheOzone]

Most people don't even bother to reload shotgun shells anymore unless you shoot thousands of rounds a year.

The fact is you can buy a flat (250 rds) of just about any shell you desire for the same price it would cost you to reload it.

Actually I just figured prices for reloading one ounce decent target ammo with local prices (from the gun club so definitely cheaper). A "flat" of good target loads would cost me right at 37.50 with magnum lead shot. I can make my own shot making my reloads even cheaper. Any decent 12 ga target loads will cost you at least 6 dollars or more a box so it is still cheaper to reload. I know many local people that do. Go to 20 28 and 410 ammo and it is much cheaper than factory ammo. Buckshot and slugs are very expensive and to be honest can be loaded cheaply also. Buckshot can be reloaded to be as good or better than some factory loads. Slugs??not so much...and I tried.

Making my own lead shot to save money never really appealed to me. It might to some however.

I haven't looked at any prices lately so I did some research. Seems there is some savings to reload 12 ga.

The price of lead shot that I saw was about $2/lb. after shipping. That's for a 1000 lbs of shot shipped to your gun club. A pound of shot gives you 16 (1) oz loads. Shot costs per load is 0.125.

A good powder charge is 18 grains. 7000 grains in a pound. 389 loads per pound. $20 per pound of powder. Powder cost per load is 0.05.

Primer per load .03

Free pick up Hulls.

Per load costs is about 0.21.

Your factory ammo cost about 0.15 per load.

0.06 savings per load.

Yes, you can save 0.06 a round if you reload or about 28%

Not enough for me to bother with and if you have to buy the gear up front you might want to reconsider. 5000 rounds later you break even.

For what it's worth, I reload all of my rifle and pistol ammo to save money. The cost is about 50% of factory ammo. About twice the savings of loading shotgun ammo.

All because the price of shot doubled.

 

[Gamecock]

Reloading is financially important if you shoot subgauges.

My 28s have substantially less components than 12 gauge, but cost more. It's like .380 costing more than 9mm. Less is more.

 

[Skeet 028]

Winchester AA or Remington STS target loads are actually over 7 dollars a box locally...heck even the cheap junk Dove and Quail loads are 6 dollars a box. Serious trap shooters would never shoot the junk loads. My reloads are as good as most good target loads. In fact I broke more hundreds with the 410 with reloads than I did with factory shells. 410(and 28 ga) factory shells are over 12 dollars..Reloads are slightly over 3 bucks. Love shooting the 410...just wish I could do it better. Even a 30% savings is significant. My equipment is long paid for as is the metallic equipment I have. Making shot is easier than casting bullets and since I have a few tons of lead I am good to go. I have very little money(about 10 cents a pound) in the lead I have anyway so I have to use it for something.

 

[tops]

Not enough for me to bother with and if you have to buy the gear up front you might want to reconsider. 5000 rounds later you break even.

.[/QUOTE]

If a person is half way interested in shotgun sports that means in 10 weeks his reloading equipment is paid for. Larry

 

[LostintheOzone]

Not enough for me to bother with and if you have to buy the gear up front you might want to reconsider. 5000 rounds later you break even.

.

If a person is half way interested in shotgun sports that means in 10 weeks his reloading equipment is paid for. Larry

Don't forget the primer and powder shortages that are bound to show up again.

Best have about a year supply of those on hand if you reload. Some say 1 year isn't enough but I'll go with that. For a 500 a week shooter that's about $2K in powder and primers.

I'm setting on about 15 lbs of powder and 20K primers just for my metal cartridge reloading. That's about $1K worth of components.

Another expense to figure in if you reload.

 

[joeraf]

Is Clays a good powder for 12 gauge light loads?

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have always had good results using this brand of rifled slugs.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Is Clays a good powder for 12 gauge light loads?

Yes, Clays is very good for 12 gauge! Do not confuse that with other powders in the "Clays Family" (Universal and International).

Clays isn't position sensitive, so it works very well in light loads for big pistol cases too. I loaded 44-40 and 45 Colt "Cowboy" loads for SASS shoots.

Ivan