Shotsehell loading

[MEHavey]

They are slightly larger than 209s, but I've standardized on them so great benefit.
Highly recommended.

 

[Random 8]

The most expensive component, as your post clearly shows, is the shot. I was able to get 20 bags this summer for $40 a bag. Directly from the manufacturer. Not reclaimed shot. That drops a $1+ off of the price of a box.

Care to share your source?

 

[Remington1911]

great responses guys, this has helped a lot. While i do currently reload for rifle and pistol and enjoy the process. i also have quite a few other hobbies and responsibilities. i have 7.5 acres of yard to keep up with, i have a 30x50 shop full of woodworking, welding and mechanics tools that i use for maintaining all of my vehicles, lawn equipment,tractor, sbs etc. i am frequently building something, working on something etc. we also have a camper we take out during the summer along with keeping up with a pool and then there is keeping up with things at the deer camp and hunting this time of year. I did get some free time back this past year when the oldest daughter gave up travel softball. SO i don't really need another hobby but shotshell loading has always appealed to me. but i think for the time being i will hold off on jumping into the shotshell loading. seems there is a bit more involved than i fully understand.

You sound a bit like me, I have a little more land and a few less kids, but the same ballpark with 1000 things going in 1000 different directions. Some people this will just send over the edge, but me having all that going on at once brings me such great inner peace. Now is something NEEDS to be done, or finished then and there ok I will do it, but then it turns into work. If I am allowed to piddle over here, then over there, then back over around the corner, then back to the start. Life is best for me that way. Again the way my brain is wired, there is a clinical term for it and no it is not BSC. But no such useful off topic type things are allowed here.

 

[Saluki91]

Is there any way to come close to being worth the time loading shotshells? Ive never considered it because i dont shoot a ton of shells. I probably average 8-10 boxs of 12 and probably 4-80 boxs of 20 for the kids shotguns per year. I always assumed i would be in the hole doing it however the last couple years have made me reconsider. While i dont need to do it, it does intrest me and would make availability a non issue assuming i had componenents. Talk me into or out of it please.

Short answer - Probably worth it
Long answer - If you are starting from scratch, it will take a while to break even. You will have to recover the cost of the press, as well as the purchase of components in bulk (buying in bulk is the only way to substantially save). You also mentioned time... only you can determine the value of your time. For me, the time I spend reloading is a net gain, as I love doing it. If it is more of a task than a hobby for you, you may want to reconsider.

There are more than a few ways to save money...

• American Reloading sells a some 12ga powders that you can buy in bulk for very reasonable prices. Powder promotions are often 30% off, and include shipping and HAZMAT. Find a buddy or two to share the cost, and buy 32lb!
  
• Reclaimed shot is half the price of the good stuff. If you are OK with that, you can save quite a bit, as shot prices are the single largest cost in loading 12ga.
• If you are willing to invest a little time, very good once fired hulls are easy to find. For example, I can fill a garbage bag with Win AA, Rem Gun Club/STS, Fiocchi, Rio, etc. by simply shooting a round of sporting clays, and picking up what others have left me.
• That being said, if you limit yourself to loading one hull and set of components, you will save more in the long run.
• Cheddite primers are pretty much the only show in town right now, but that's OK... they are less expensive than their competitors, and are a fine product.

My 1oz 12ga costs per round (rounded up):
Hull - Free
Primer - $.07
Powder - $.07
Wad - $.04
Shot - $.09
$.27 per round = $6.75 per box
El Cheapo 12ga target rounds usually run around $8.00 per box in my neck of the prairie. So...
My Sizemaster 12ga press was a gift, but if I had to recoup it's $400 price tag, I'd have to shoot 320 boxes before I broke even. That would take me a while -10 months to a year at current rates.
You mentioned 20ga... Loading 20ga is cheaper than 12ga. 28ga is cheaper still, and .410 is even better! For skeet, I am almost exclusively a 28ga guy now. It is cheaper, easier on the shoulder, the difference in my scores isn't big enough to be a real difference, and it is a TON of fun!

 

[splattergun]

"Worth it"? Worth what? Dollars and cents of target ammo? Maybe not, unless for specialty loads.
But, consider the value of the ability to tune your loads to your shotgun (within published data). Consider the value of the satisfaction of building your own ammunition. Consider the value of scoring well in your competition with shells you assembled yourself. Consider the value of killing game with your home-built shells. It's not just the final product that matters, but the pursuit of its perfection.

 

[BushMaster-15]

It's a NO brainer for ME ,as I have 2725 lb. of lead shot in various sizes #12- #2 mainly # 7.5- 8 and fairly heavy on #5 & 6's Upland game birds NO dog !.
As I've honestly loaded in excess of 275,000 shotshells 12 , 20 & 28 gauge and have ALL necessary components for the remainder of MY life ,I can't afford NOT too !. Win 209 primers ran Me $14.00 per 1K ,bags of shot $7.00-12.50 a bag for premium Lawrence, Curry and Diamond .
NO I CAN'T replace them for the cost but I CAN LOAD them , for far far less than I could ever buy them .

Someone else needs to decide ALL factors associated with reloading before jumping into that rabbit hole ,especially with current cost of said components verses consumption .

 

[CWTISME]

Soon you will start seeing all those guys who bought due to pandemic fear and had no real desire to load will start selling their stuff. Also my wife went to an Estate sale and bought me more wads & Hulls than I will shoot for about half the cost or less. I have found good deals at gun shows too.

 

[Fishtales]

Is there any way to come close to being worth the time loading shotshells? Ive never considered it because i dont shoot a ton of shells. I probably average 8-10 boxs of 12 and probably 4-80 boxs of 20 for the kids shotguns per year. I always assumed i would be in the hole doing it however the last couple years have made me reconsider. While i dont need to do it, it does intrest me and would make availability a non issue assuming i had componenents. Talk me into or out of it please.

How many hulls do you have? If you have to buy those, you are looking at at least $12.00 per 100 plus shipping for once fired ones according to a website I looked at last yesterday. Two years ago, the ones that reloaded had ammo because the stores didn't have any. Now that some stores have been resupplied look at what the cost is. Unfortunately, reloading components today are just as bad, but if there is another ammo crisis at least you will have ammo. When I started more than 50 years ago I bought 250 once fired 20 gauge AA's for $5.00 plus freight and including that cost with other components from those days I could load a box of shells for $2.50-less than that after shooting them because the used hulls didn't cost anything. In those days a new box of AA's was around $4.95. You shoot 8-10 boxes a year and the kids shoot 4-80? (is that a typo). I have two MEC 650's (12 and 20) so you would have to buy those. If shells are $15.00 a box (that's a guess as I have no idea what they are these days) and you shoot 20 boxes a year (assuming 80 for the kids is a typo) that is $300.00 for the year. After a cursory look on the internet I cannot find a 650 for sale. Other progressive reloaders (such as the 9000) I see are close to $500.00 and you should get one for each gauge since you are going to be reloading for both gauges at the same time (instead of getting a conversion kit). The last component is how long are you going to reload and how long are the kids going to be shooters in order to justify such an investment? That is my synopsis of reloading.

 

[BushMaster-15]

How many hulls do you have? If you have to buy those, you are looking at at least $12.00 per 100 plus shipping for once fired ones according to a website I looked at last yesterday. Two years ago, the ones that reloaded had ammo because the stores didn't have any. Now that some stores have been resupplied look at what the cost is. Unfortunately, reloading components today are just as bad, but if there is another ammo crisis at least you will have ammo. When I started more than 50 years ago I bought 250 once fired 20 gauge AA's for $5.00 plus freight and including that cost with other components from those days I could load a box of shells for $2.50-less than that after shooting them because the used hulls didn't cost anything. In those days a new box of AA's was around $4.95. You shoot 8-10 boxes a year and the kids shoot 4-80? (is that a typo). I have two MEC 650's (12 and 20) so you would have to buy those. If shells are $15.00 a box (that's a guess as I have no idea what they are these days) and you shoot 20 boxes a year (assuming 80 for the kids is a typo) that is $300.00 for the year. After a cursory look on the internet I cannot find a 650 for sale. Other progressive reloaders (such as the 9000) I see are close to $500.00 and you should get one for each gauge since you are going to be reloading for both gauges at the same time (instead of getting a conversion kit). The last component is how long are you going to reload and how long are the kids going to be shooters in order to justify such an investment? That is my synopsis of reloading.

WOW ; We used to pay trap boys and girls $2.00- $3.00 per hundred way back ( when you could buy Premium STS or AA gray hulls for $5.25 a box by the half cases aka 250 shells . Sometimes when they were bored ,you'd get a deal 1K clean hulls $7-8.00 and hulls were everywhere for sale . I can remember going to numerous shoots league included and office signs Hulls for sale see such and such . Bags of #100 ,#500 or 1K .

 

[Thomasss]

Ever think of getting the kids in loading their own?
I start young, my youngest was still in diapers when he started, now 39, and now the grand kids load for dad and me. Ages 4(boy) and (girl) 9. They just marvel at watching my MEC progressive press and how it works.

 

[bearleft]

I'll never forget my first shotshell reload courtesy of Mr. Bill Edger when I was around 12. To me it's not about cost, but the satisfaction of being self sufficient. Just like Venison and vegetables are after a fruitful kill or harvest!!