Is it worth reloading 12 gauge.

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Quiks

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Hey guys,
I love to shoot my lee enfield and reload all my brass. In the dead of winter to clean polish and reload all those rounds for next summer. I use a single stage press(Lee)
I was looking at the (Lee load all II) for shot shell!

Iam torn should I take the leap? To start to reload shot shells?
 
as stated if it's for standard birdshot loads then no, you save very little if any at all. (assuming you pay for shot or the lead to make it)

buck and slugs, then yes it's worth it!
 
Buck and slug becomes equal to the price of storebought bird/target loads, and if you have a source of lead and a mold birdshot becomes worth it as well.

Is it worth it; yes.
 
i do reload my shells but i am shooting itx shot and with new everything im saving 2 bucks a shell. if you are just planing to reload a common steel or lead bird shot for get it.
 
i mould and reload slugs at 30 cents each. that is at the least 70 cents savings per round! i was going to get a loadall2 but i splurged on a mec size master and it was well worth it. if you go with something else and want to resize nickel based shells you will probably need to get a separate resizer. the size master has a collet type sizer so it will size anything.
 
allan92 said:
i mould and reload slugs at 30 cents each. that is at the least 70 cents savings per round! i was going to get a loadall2 but i splurged on a mec size master and it was well worth it. if you go with something else and want to resize nickel based shells you will probably need to get a separate resizer. the size master has a collet type sizer so it will size anything.
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even titanium!?!?!??!?!?
 
I did it for fun and to kinda practice for rifle loading.. Don't really do it anymore the price of a flat is way too low to bother
 
allan92 said:
i was going to get a loadall2 but i splurged on a mec size master and it was well worth it. if you go with something else and want to resize nickel based shells you will probably need to get a separate resizer. the size master has a collet type sizer so it will size anything.
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Why can't you use a Lee LA2 for nickle plated cases? I've done many without issue. Swaging down nickle plated brass isn't as much work mechanically as swaging brass plated steel. If you do the magnet check you will find that many "brass" based shells are actually just brass plated steel.

I've used a Lee LA2 to resize and load every type of metal on a shell I know of and never had any issues. My only complaint is shells with higher than normal brass (Remington high brass are the most common) often need the priming parts removed to push the sizer off of the hull totally.
 
I'm finding it tuff to find buck shot in bulk? Any suggestions guys. Wow you Canadiens are fast on the response! I do live in Québec and guns aren't too popular here!
 
I couldn't find a reliable source for buckshot and precast slugs greatly reduced the savings on reloading. I picked up a $30 Lee melt pot and the Lee aluminum moulds to cast my own 1oz slugs and 00 buckshot. I scrounge wheel weights from auto shops for lead.

If I buy lead shot to melt down I can reload 00 buck or 1oz slugs for $.40 each. With "free" lead from auto shops it's down to around $.28 each.
 
I've considered getting a slug mold and reusing lead from bulk shells to make my own.. But melting lead seems so sketchy to me.. I know it's not, personal phobia
 
Quiks

I agree with LUTNIT, get cheap lee kit and roll your own. If you can't find cheap ww then just go to lebaron and pick up 25lb shot and melt it down to 00buck or slugs.
 
skip1600 said:
I've considered getting a slug mold and reusing lead from bulk shells to make my own.. But melting lead seems so sketchy to me.. I know it's not, personal phobia
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No point lying to you. It can be dangerous. But if you take the proper precautions and use the proper gear it becomes a lot safer and not something you will need to freak yourself out about.
 
LUTNIT said:
I couldn't find a reliable source for buckshot and precast slugs greatly reduced the savings on reloading. I picked up a $30 Lee melt pot and the Lee aluminum moulds to cast my own 1oz slugs and 00 buckshot. I scrounge wheel weights from auto shops for lead.

If I buy lead shot to melt down I can reload 00 buck or 1oz slugs for $.40 each. With "free" lead from auto shops it's down to around $.28 each.
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You best stock pile as many of those wheel weights as you can since in the next couple of years they will be gone. Most of the big automakers have gone lead free now.
 
3macs1 said:
You best stock pile as many of those wheel weights as you can since in the next couple of years they will be gone. Most of the big automakers have gone lead free now.
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I know. I have one friend in a shop that does larger vehicles that only uses lead. He's my only sourse for lead at the moment and he can only get me about 10lbs/month as it's a smaller shop. In the next few years we may end up paying $3+ per pound for lead as the only source :(
 
LUTNIT said:
I know. I have one friend in a shop that does larger vehicles that only uses lead. He's my only sourse for lead at the moment and he can only get me about 10lbs/month as it's a smaller shop. In the next few years we may end up paying $3+ per pound for lead as the only source :(
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I was going to say since the big boys like GM, Honda etc stopped in 2006 where are you fining it. Even the big rigs is going to dry up real quick as you know since the states that have banned lead for weights is growing longer every year.
Check out guys that do roofing many flashings are still lead they remove from older buildings. take care
 
The cost may be comparable or maybe even slightly more reloading 12 ga, but I enjoy reloading (it is not just for cost saving) and the cost would have to be significantly more for me not to consider reloading. The only thing that relieves stress more than shooting is being alone in the reloading room stroking that handle.
 
^ So true, it's like the male form of knitting, if you're into stereotypes... :D

I reload for 3 1/2" steel goose shells, and compared to the Black Cloud or Rem Hypersonics I was buying before, I'm saving around $0.75-$1.00 per load in comparable steel shot, with the benefit of patterning different loads with my chokes to find one I like the best. Plus, I picked up some ITX heavy-shot to try it out in the field, which I can reload for near the same price as the factory loads I was buying.

But, I still buy target loads by the case, not worth my time.
 
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