reloading for a shotgun?

[menohearclicksound]

I have been reloading for pistols for sometime now and enjoy the fact I get to shoot more. I like reloading and find it enjoyable, plus like I said I can shoot more for the same money. So my questions are... How hard is it to reload for a shotgun? i.e. 12ga.? I know the price has gone up alot on everything and 12 ga. is catching up. So how much do you save when you reload? Also what is a good press for a (right now moderate) shotgunner? And what is the start up cost? I bit the bullet on the pistol press and did the 550, which I am very pleased with. I am just not sure if I want to jump that far into the shotgun yet.
P.S. I want a good press that is reasonably price and produces quality.

 

[Matt Dillon]

I'm afraid that with current component prices you might not save much by reloading shotgun shells, but if you decide to go ahead, I recommend purchasing a used Lee Loader. It makes quality ammunition and doesn't cost very much.

 

[12Bravo20]

With current prices, there isn't much savings in reloading 12 or 20 gauge but a lot of savings reloading 28 gauge and .410. Both the Lee Loader and MEC reloader are good.

 

[Zoomer]

I've had a MEC-650 for years. It used to pay to reload - but I'm not sure if it still does. I used to be in skeet leagues and was good for 15 or so rounds of skeet a week. Not sure what the presses and components go for now (I was paying $17 for a pound of red dot and 20 bucks for 25 lbs of 9 shot if that gives you an idea of how long its been....). The MEC was a progressive reloader. The completed shell kicks out, load a spent one in, hold the wad over the charged hull and pull the lever. I could crank out 1,000 rounds in a few hours. I preferred "heavy" loads usually 1 oz or sometimes 1 1/8 oz of shot and 3 dram eq's. Used to load red AA's but found everything runs much better and hulls crimped better with Remy STS hulls or my favorite the Winchester grey hulls. I used claybuster or Winchester wads. I found it much easier than reloading rifle ammo, although after 1000 rounds you will hate the thought of holding another wad in place and pulling that handle. Not to mention that if you screw up the order you get 500 or so little lead bb's rolling around the floor.............

Now I shoot the shotgun recreationally, and can get by with Wallyworld value paks. I always carry 100 or so rounds of the Winchester Heavy target/sporting clays (Grey hulls) in case someone wants to go for $$ on the range.

 

[NCsmitty]

With the price of shot almost triple the cost of a couple years ago, 12Bravo20 is right about not much savings in the larger gauges because you can still get good deals on 12's and 20's in factory case lots. Not so with 28's and 410's so much, and it's absolutely necessary to reload them if you shoot a lot. You'll need a Mec or the more expensive brands for the smaller bores. The only advantage of reloading the larger gauges is customizing the shot load and the personal satisfaction of shooting your own shells.

NCsmitty

 

[nambu1]

I used to shoot trap and reloaded 12 ga. AA hulls. I still have 1/2 case left. I have not figured the cost to reload them lately. Since pistol and rifle cost have risen, so has the componets for shotguning.

 

[VegasOPM]

Reloading for shotguns has become a bit of a break even deal, to be sure. I have switched from reloading for skeet and trap to reloading for USPSA 3 gun. The skeet loads are almost as cheap to buy as to reload. However, the #4 loads that I use for USPSA are a LOT cheaper to reload than to buy. Plus, I don't need heavy powder charges to knock over poppers- but the #4 shot helps. I haven't been able to find low recoil, #4 loads.

 

[machinisttx]

A few months ago I figured up what it would cost to load a box of standard trap/skeet loads. The component prices then figured up to around $8.50 a box if you had to buy hulls and only a couple of bucks less if you already had hulls. Factory ammo has gone up again since then, but I think at best it would only be a break even proposition.

 

[scrat]

ok now to answer the question. Shot gun reloading is the easiest to reload. so so easy. you can actually reload shells with a 3/4 inch dowel. a long penny nail. a 3/8 nut. 3/8s rod. Only hard part is the crimp but if you go old school you would cut the plastic and use an over the shot card with a small amount of elmers glue. If you want to get a loading kit. best to get a 12 guage lee loader deluxe on ebay. the deluxe has the starter crimp for the shells which is really important. Only problem is like what others have said. the cost on the components is soo sooo high.

 

[menohearclicksound]

Thanks that is what I thought, I was just looking for other opinions from people actually involved in reloading. I guess if I start to hunt alot and need a ton of game loads or steel shot I might invest in a reloader, but that isn't likely. Or maybe its a reason to get an odd ball gage gun. But who knows I might give it a try just cause. Thanks for the replys

 

[12Bravo20]

I pretty much use my .410 for all of my shotgun shooting and it pays for me to reload. I have been reloading .410 shells for about 12 years now and my MEC 600Jr does just fine.

 

[scrat]

i think thats all i would reload for is .410 right now. When shells are on sale for 12 guage at walmart its cheaper to buy them by the 100. As for .410. That size is just getting a little tooo high. i need to get some more wads for .410.

 

[snuffy]

i think thats all i would reload for is .410 right now. When shells are on sale for 12 guage at walmart its cheaper to buy them by the 100. As for .410. That size is just getting a little tooo high. i need to get some more wads for .410.

Yeah, but those promo shells by the hundred, use the cheapest soft shot, AND the cheapest hulls. Anybody really concerned with the actual performance,(pattern quality), of their shotgun would find those cheap shells don't pattern worth a hoot!

You COULD also load your own with that soft,(chilled) shot and the cheapest wads, powder. But get the magnum hard shot, good wads/hulls, you can duplicate the premium shells from the big 3. Those will give you the best, most uniform, patterns and the hard shot breaks targets, or penetrate game better.

As for the press, you simply can't go wrong with a MEC 600 jr. The mark 5 is their newest one, but an older one used is still a good buy. If you ever want to load faster, MEC makes several progressives that turn them out FASTER than your dillon 550.