New to 12ga Reloading - advice needed

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dubya1987

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Vancouver Island
Good day all,

I am new to reloading 12ga... well reloading in general.

I have recently purchased a Mec Jr and I am chomping at the bit to start reloading.

Will mostly be doing skeet and trap shooting

Few questions I have.

1. Where would be a good place to source lead shot? (mind you I am on Vancouver Island)

2. Where is a good place to source powder - locally or online.

Any advice you could give me would me greatly appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time.

Jamie
 
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^^^ Agreed, however most everyone I know has pretty well given up on reloading 12ga. By the time you buy all the components you will see that you can buy them already made for the same price, if you get them on sale. You may be able to develop yourself a load that works better in your shotgun, but I doubt you will see any savings in it.
 
That makes sense, as it doesn't seem like a big savings when adding up the total cost of everything.... This just gives me a reason to be busy when the old lady is pestering me to do stuff... Thanks to both of you for the info.
 
Isn't lead shot hard to come by/expensive nowaday? Someone else here posted about it a while ago, and it seemed like getting a shotmaker (http://www.littletonshotmaker.com/) was the way to go. Other than that I think Henry ( https://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/product-category/categories/shotshell-reloading-components/) is the only place where you'll find lead shots, and price seems rather decent at little more than 2$/pound. He also sells primers, hulls and wads.

Western metal doesn't carry shotgun stuff other than powder I think. But shipping is free.
 
VinnyQC said:
Isn't lead shot hard to come by/expensive nowaday? Someone else here posted about it a while ago, and it seemed like getting a shotmaker (http://www.littletonshotmaker.com/) was the way to go. Other than that I think Henry ( https://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/product-category/categories/shotshell-reloading-components/) is the only place where you'll find lead shots, and price seems rather decent at little more than 2$/pound. He also sells primers, hulls and wads.

Western metal doesn't carry shotgun stuff other than powder I think. But shipping is free.
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Steel shot way harder to come by than lead. No problem at all getting lead
Don't why you would think it is hard to get with hummasons & lawry's not that far away in Ontario
 
I reload metallic already and started loading 12 gauge shells last year, it's great fun and I highly recommend it. As has been said, reloading just target loads won't save you much but you will get the loads you like. I reload slugs and buckshot and there are savings there, especially with slugs as I cast them myself. There are some, but not many from what I have found, places to buy components in Canada. Budget Shooter, Rusty Woods, Bilozir, Sporteque, are good bets. Many powders work, I have had great success with Unique for slugs and 800x for shot.
 
Chas59 said:
I reload metallic already and started loading 12 gauge shells last year, it's great fun and I highly recommend it. As has been said, reloading just target loads won't save you much but you will get the loads you like. I reload slugs and buckshot and there are savings there, especially with slugs as I cast them myself. There are some, but not many from what I have found, places to buy components in Canada. Budget Shooter, Rusty Woods, Bilozir, Sporteque, are good bets. Many powders work, I have had great success with Unique for slugs and 800x for shot.
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IMO 800x has to be the last resort for reloading shotshells. There are so many better choices today
Cheers
 
dubya1987 said:
1. Where would be a good place to source lead shot? (mind you I am on Vancouver Island)
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The lack of a good answer to this question is why so many people have stopped reloading common shotshell loads.

The only place in Canada with reasonable prices on lead shot is Hummason's in Ontario, where I've heard it can be had for $40 /bag. In the western provinces the going rate is $70 /bag. But hardly anybody carries it, because no one wants to pay those prices, so they all stopped loading.
 
3macs1 said:
IMO 800x has to be the last resort for reloading shotshells. There are so many better choices today
Cheers
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As always, everyone's mileage varies. I have found 800x has worked very well for round ball from .690, 00, and #4 buck, no idea how it would work for normal target shot shells but I trust you have tried that without success.
Cheers to you too, happy reloading!
 
3macs1 said:
IMO 800x has to be the last resort for reloading shotshells. There are so many better choices today
Cheers
Click to expand...

I have to agree for target loads there was much better. Now I’m going back 30+ years ago and havent loaded since the late 90’s so no idea what is out there today but back in the day my preferred choices for 12 ga target loads were 700X and Red Dot.
 
Chas59 said:
As always, everyone's mileage varies. I have found 800x has worked very well for round ball from .690, 00, and #4 buck, no idea how it would work for normal target shot shells but I trust you have tried that without success.
Cheers to you too, happy reloading!
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Worked well?? Compared to WHAT???
Has nothing to do with mileage for me it has to do with using just about all types and makes that is/was out there for 50+ years of shotgun reloading in all gauges
800x is the worst metering powder out there for shotgun reloading and dirty to boot. If you had any real experience with reloading shotgun you would know it is for heavy field loads and handgun not shotgun target loads. Nobody uses it for that if they use it at all
Hope you are going to weight every drop since you have to with it all over the place
800X
31 bushing
23.0
23.4
22.7
23.2
22.7
22.6
22.9
Cheers

As the experts say
The general concensus of 800X is that it is one of the poorest metering powders in existance. It has the consistancy of miniature cow patties, burns dirty as any you ever saw.
 
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the spank said:
I have to agree for target loads there was much better. Now I’m going back 30+ years ago and havent loaded since the late 90’s so no idea what is out there today but back in the day my preferred choices for 12 ga target loads were 700X and Red Dot.
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Lots of guys still using 700x for their 12ga target loads, a few red dot still but ,many use clays, clay dot, promo, wst, etc etc
Cheers
 
Agreed, currently using Titewad, but also use Red Dot(when available) & 700-X, have used Clays, Titegroup, Green Dot in the past. 800-X only shines in 20ga, 28ga and real heavy field loads, as mentioned in meters poorly and is dirty. In 12ga their are many better choices.
 
Lead shot can be ordered from Hummason with a minimum of 16 bags to make shipping worthwhile.
Lots of clubs put in bulk orders of loading components for their members.
 
3macs1 said:
Worked well?? Compared to WHAT???
Has nothing to do with mileage for me it has to do with using just about all types and makes that is/was out there for 50+ years of shotgun reloading in all gauges
800x is the worst metering powder out there for shotgun reloading and dirty to boot. If you had any real experience with reloading shotgun you would know it is for heavy field loads and handgun not shotgun target loads. Nobody uses it for that if they use it at all
Hope you are going to weight every drop since you have to with it all over the place
800X
31 bushing
23.0
23.4
22.7
23.2
22.7
22.6
22.9
Cheers

As the experts say
The general concensus of 800X is that it is one of the poorest metering powders in existance. It has the consistancy of miniature cow patties, burns dirty as any you ever saw.
Click to expand...

Reading comprehension is not a strong suit on CGN, I may not have reloaded shotgun shells for 50 years but for the 'heavy' loads, as I said, I have found 800x to be great FOR ME compared to a number of other powders I tried on slugs and buck, I never said I do target loads. For the OP, use what works for you, always be careful reloading anything you do, and don't always listen to the 'experts' who tell people what they are doing is 'wrong' even though they have success.
 
Chas59 said:
Reading comprehension is not a strong suit on CGN, I may not have reloaded shotgun shells for 50 years but for the 'heavy' loads, as I said, I have found 800x to be great FOR ME compared to a number of other powders I tried on slugs and buck, I never said I do target loads. For the OP, use what works for you, always be careful reloading anything you do, and don't always listen to the 'experts' who tell people what they are doing is 'wrong' even though they have success.
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Never said wrong . I said
IMO 800x has to be the last resort for reloading shotshells. There are so many better choices today
I ask again what have you compared 800x to for your slugs and buck shot, hs-6, blue dot,longshot etc etc
Cheers
 
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...good choice on your Mec Jr...have used the same for almost 40 years...with the addition of two others for shot shells...i use Unique for trap loads...it's lack-lustre but it does the job and i use it for plinking loads in rifle calibres as well like my 45-70 as well as a nice light load for my 303 brits with lead

...looked up my most recent receipts...10 years ago... - .08/primer, .16/ powder, .10/wad, .26/steel - price per load (not counting hulls) = $.56 ...i have enough to last 1,000's rounds

...and if you buy now then you don't reload on future costs, you reload on today's costs and i have no doubts the price of commercial ammo will continue to rise...but i have been wrong before as my wife reminds me

...enjoy your reloading...something good about making your own
 
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