Experienced pistol/rifle reloader, mulling the idea of shotshell reloading... would appreciate some insights

[cosmic]

OP - Looking at your costing, I note that:
1) Your primer pricing is high - Cheddite can be had for ~ 80$/1000
2) Lead can be had for ~65$/bag.

A lot of this pricing is location dependent. Here in Southern Ontario, a fella has access to some major suppliers/manufacturers. Additionally, you can buy flats of Federal or Challenger for ~ 110$. Dont bother making a comparison to AA's, they aren't worth the premium.

 

[jreba]

used to reload alot I have a lee load all in 16 ga and 20 ga and will get a 28ga when available here in Canada as well a mec jr in 12 .Lee are great for low volume reloading but if your gonna reload lets say a flat a week or month then invest in the mec line.Cost wise I dont think your saving much if anything doing 12 ga anymore 16 and 28 410 it still pays to reload cost wise and availability.20 ga I still reload I never seem to get the good deals on flats of those so just load them.It helps that I can drive to hummason to buy shot.

 

[XLNC]

Are you sure about these numbers? Shot is the most expensive component, so why does your 1/2oz .410 save only $1.40 compared to a 1oz 12ga? And why would a 7/8oz 20ga cost more than a 1oz 12ga? There is less shot, and the wad cost should be the same. It will use a different powder, but they are mostly priced similarly.

Numbers are correct, but I could have also stated any cost of a hull is not included. Powders are not priced similarly nor are they all using the same grains per load. Perfect Pattern is, relatively, a very inexpensive powder and also a very efficient powder by grains/load for 12ga 7/8 and 1 oz loads.

 

[Longstud]

OP - Looking at your costing, I note that:
1) Your primer pricing is high - Cheddite can be had for ~ 80$/1000
2) Lead can be had for ~65$/bag.

A lot of this pricing is location dependent. Here in Southern Ontario, a fella has access to some major suppliers/manufacturers. Additionally, you can buy flats of Federal or Challenger for ~ 110$. Dont bother making a comparison to AA's, they aren't worth the premium.

Where would you be purchasing flats of 12 gauge for $110?? Thanks this is good news

 

[Munkey1973]

Where would you be purchasing flats of 12 gauge for $110?? Thanks this is good news

Right?

 

[Licensed to kill]

Locally, the trap shooters will buy their shells in bulk through a club group purchase. From what I have heard (I don't shoot any shotguns now), the cost of factory shells negates any cost savings for them. Finding shot locally is near impossible so there is alot of extra cost is sourcing and shipping.

I did try reloading shotshells back in the day... gave up and just bought the bulk box of 125 shells from walmart or can tire. The 7.5 and 8 shot patterned as well as anything I ever made.. but it did kick more vs my reduced loads.

YMMV

Jerry

100% for 12 and 20ga.

 

[maynard]

After spending so much time at your loading bench loading for F-Class, loading for shotgun will be a breeze. No annealing, case weighing, primer pocket uniforming, primer pocket cleaning, trimming chamfering, weighing each charge to .02 gr. Weighing bullets and sorting by ogive etc, etc.

12ga and 20ga are not really worth the time and effort when you can buy flats of cheap ammo for about $130/flat. Now if you want to shoot say 7/8 oz or 3/4 oz 12 gauge loads then it is worth your time and effort.

The big savings on loading shotgun ammo is when you are loading 16 ga, 28 ga and .410.

 

[Munkey1973]

After spending so much time at your loading bench loading for F-Class, loading for shotgun will be a breeze. No annealing, case weighing, primer pocket uniforming, primer pocket cleaning, trimming chamfering, weighing each charge to .02 gr. Weighing bullets and sorting by ogive etc, etc.

12ga and 20ga are not really worth the time and effort when you can buy flats of cheap ammo for about $130/flat. Now if you want to shoot say 7/8 oz or 3/4 oz 12 gauge loads then it is worth your time and effort.

The big savings on loading shotgun ammo is when you are loading 16 ga, 28 ga and .410.

Yep, I used to do each and every one of those extra steps for each relaod session... plus with new brass I also flash-hole uniformity and neck turning. Whole lotta OCD. If I do end up reloading for the super spicy trap loads, there will a lot less fussing around.... ljkely even less than my pistol reloading days.

 

[Munkey1973]

Oh... almost forgot... I also use to watch my Auto-trickler and see if it measured out to 42.8 grains...if so, then take the tweezers and add one individual kernel of Varget to get the perfect 43.0 grain charge. LOL... oh, also, I used a timer on my co-ax for, primer seating, bump sizing and bullet seating.... gotta have consistent dwell times or i wouldn't be able to sleep that night LOL

 

[rembolt]

I am going to let you in on a secret. Skeet Trap and Sporting Clays is every bit as expensive as rifle shooting . I am speaking from the experience of shooting sporting clays near 20 years . At one time a fellow could load shells on pare or maybe save a couple bucks on bulk ammo price . And have the satisfaction of breaking targets with ammo you made yourself. Now days there is no savings in 12 and 20 gauge . Here locally a bag of shot is 85 bucks plus the taxes . For an other 40 bucks I can buy a flat of shells (250 rounds). My advice is go the bulk ammo route . If your not loading for sub gauge guns .