I am looking at buying a lee reloader to do 20 gauge target loads. I am wondering if it is worth the trouble? Will this save money? How much does it cost to reload with 17gr of powder and 7/8 oz lead per shell? I can buy a case of shells for 30 cents each.
Is it worth it????
- Thread starter gordfry
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ultimate_monkey
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- victoria BC
it really depends how much you feel your time is worth..
the cost of the end product will be cheaper then store bought BUT if it takes you and hour to load them and you think your time is worth X amount of dollers per hour, you might want to factor that in..
i personally dont bother to reload shot gun, i can go to the store and buy 250 rnds of 12g for like 70 bucks... my time is worth about 30 bucks an hour to me, and i know it would take me more then 2 hours to load that many.. and factor in the cost of all the components it would likely cost me more to reload then buying them so its just easier to buy them...
shot gun isnt like loading for rifle, there isnt really a barrel node to hit for the greatest velocity and accuracy
the cost of the end product will be cheaper then store bought BUT if it takes you and hour to load them and you think your time is worth X amount of dollers per hour, you might want to factor that in..
i personally dont bother to reload shot gun, i can go to the store and buy 250 rnds of 12g for like 70 bucks... my time is worth about 30 bucks an hour to me, and i know it would take me more then 2 hours to load that many.. and factor in the cost of all the components it would likely cost me more to reload then buying them so its just easier to buy them...
shot gun isnt like loading for rifle, there isnt really a barrel node to hit for the greatest velocity and accuracy
17gr powder is 411 loads per pound of powder. 7/8oz shot is 457 shots per 25lbs powder.
Primers are about $4 per 100 so .04/shell. Shot at $40 is .088/shell. powder at $30/lb is .073/shell. Wads are about $6/500 or .012/shell. Add it up it comes to 21.3 cents each. Prices for powder, shot and wads will vary and your time to reload is not included. 12 gauge is closer to factory cost, but smaller gauges are more likely to be cost effective to reload.
Primers are about $4 per 100 so .04/shell. Shot at $40 is .088/shell. powder at $30/lb is .073/shell. Wads are about $6/500 or .012/shell. Add it up it comes to 21.3 cents each. Prices for powder, shot and wads will vary and your time to reload is not included. 12 gauge is closer to factory cost, but smaller gauges are more likely to be cost effective to reload.
Listen to DFarmer I only recommend reloading 12 & 20ga shotgun when you are doing specialty rounds: someone I know reloads for a couple of his own older non-steel-capable goose guns he has, so it works for him. Otherwise, most factory stuff is too cheap.
If you want to reload 10, 16 & 28ga and .410 bore... that can be different. When a box of shells for .410 bore is 63 cents each (Win AA #9 at Wholesale Sp. website) reloading them for 30 cents each is a bit cheaper as long as you like sitting down made custom rounds listening to your favorite movie/ songs/ animal calling instruction CD....
I reload SLUGS only. normally its $1.00 plus HST for slugs, but with my lee load all, its only $39 - $41 cents per shot!
For shot (target, just buy walmart cheapo 1 1/8oz bulk.) THEn save the once fired hulls and get lee slugs
works great!
For shot (target, just buy walmart cheapo 1 1/8oz bulk.) THEn save the once fired hulls and get lee slugs
works great!OP, you cannot beat the 12ga factory prices, however, that is not what you asked.
I reloaded several hundred 20ga shells a year for about 4 years when I was a kid. Friend had the loader and components at first, then I bought the next round. We shot grouse, rabbit, pheasant, and raccoons ALL the time. Actually, at sixteen, I shot my first deer with a slug round I had made.
I believe that you can and will save money loading your own. I have 2 Lee Loaders now, one in 12ga and one in 20ga. I also have two 600 Mec Jr's. One set up for 20ga and the other for .410. I reload everything! Wife allows me to use a portable bench I made in the living room and loading shotshells is fairly safe to do while "attending" a movie with her and the kids.
I reloaded several hundred 20ga shells a year for about 4 years when I was a kid. Friend had the loader and components at first, then I bought the next round. We shot grouse, rabbit, pheasant, and raccoons ALL the time. Actually, at sixteen, I shot my first deer with a slug round I had made.
I believe that you can and will save money loading your own. I have 2 Lee Loaders now, one in 12ga and one in 20ga. I also have two 600 Mec Jr's. One set up for 20ga and the other for .410. I reload everything! Wife allows me to use a portable bench I made in the living room and loading shotshells is fairly safe to do while "attending" a movie with her and the kids.
I reload 12, 20, and 28. I dont see a huge savings for either the 12 or the 20 for normal target loads, so I normally only load specialty loads for them. But the 28 is where I really see the savings. The cheapest I have seen any 28 loads was at Bass Pro for Winchester AA HS for $129/250, so that is $12.90/25 whereas I can duplicate those loads for under $5/25. So yes there is substantial savings there. Plus, I can load specialty loads that are not easy to find for the 28, like my go to pheasant load...1oz #6 nickle plated--it drops the pheasants with amazing authority.
Plus you can work up loads that pattern better, or that are somehow oddball. I have a lee loader, and don't shoot a heck of a lot, therefore my global time loss is not so bad. If I was shooting thousands a year, and had the dough, time might be an issue. I just do it because I can, and for the quality.
