need help deciding on reloading or stay buying bulk.

happykal

happykal

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I'm trying to decide whether to jump on the reloading band wagon for shells or not. I shoot a lot of shot shells. Whether it's for clays, hunting, or just having fun at the sandpit. I usually buy 12g 7 1/2 (2 3/4) bulk federal top gun for clays and small game with the exception of sharp tail. They get 6's. I realize buying in bulk for #7 1/2 lead ammo might be cheaper the reloading, but what about larger shot size, buckshot, slugs or nontoxic shot for that matter. Not to mention my 20 gauge shells are getting more expensive. I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck...pun intended. I know it will be expensive at first but what about the long run? If you have any suggestions on equipment or have anything to say on reloading steel shot then fire away. If you know of any spread sheet or weblinks that may help with figuring out cost plz let me know. Or if you just know a better way for getting the most out of your money send a post reply or pm.

I would like to be able to hold the figures out in front of me because I don't know where to start in terms of powder, primers, wads, or what shot brands to look for. I don't know whether i should cast or not either. I do know how a macs press works though....youtube lol.

Bottom line is I want to shoot more for less and if I end up with another hobby so be it.
 
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I personally love reloading. It is a hobby in its self to me.

for 7 1/2's there's almost no point unless you can get a deal on shot. For everything else heck ya its worth it! Get your self a slug mold as well! May as well start casting, Mine has payed for its self. its another good hobby!! :)
 
If you want just plain old trap load 7 1/2, 8's or 9's it is hard to beat the price of Federal Top Gun. I can buy it for $55/flat. Or for $2/flat more I can buy Remington Gun Club. Same price for 12 ga or 20 ga. and I can get 1 oz, 12 ga loads with the Remington Gun Club's. The advantage of reloading is if you want to load up some reduced loads like 7/8 oz or 3/4 oz 12 ga loads.

Also a big advantage if you want to load up heavier stuff like SSG, "00"Buck or slugs.

You start to get into bigger savings if you want to load for the smaller guages like 28 ga and .410.
 
:sok2
maynard said:
If you want just plain old trap load 7 1/2, 8's or 9's it is hard to beat the price of Federal Top Gun. I can buy it for $55/flat. Or for $2/flat more I can buy Remington Gun Club. Same price for 12 ga or 20 ga. and I can get 1 oz, 12 ga loads with the Remington Gun Club's. The advantage of reloading is if you want to load up some reduced loads like 7/8 oz or 3/4 oz 12 ga loads.

Also a big advantage if you want to load up heavier stuff like SSG, "00"Buck or slugs.

You start to get into bigger savings if you want to load for the smaller guages like 28 ga and .410.
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I never tried remington Gun Club how good of a shell are they. I'm not to interested in reduced recoil loads or hot loads. Except in 20Gauge I buy "Heavy Load", But it would be nice for slugs and buckshot. I also see you point for the smaller gauges. One of our local hunting shops .410 shells were charging 26 bucks for a box of 25. :sok2 I went to my favorite gun store and they were 17 bucks.
 
happykal said:
:sok2

I never tried remington Gun Club how good of a shell are they. I'm not to interested in reduced recoil loads or hot loads. Except in 20Gauge I buy "Heavy Load", But it would be nice for slugs and buckshot. I also see you point for the smaller gauges. One of our local hunting shops .410 shells were charging 26 bucks for a box of 25. :sok2 I went to my favorite gun store and they were 17 bucks.
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Remington Gun Club hulls are very good for reloading, right up there with Winchester AA. I really don't need 1 1/8 oz loads for shooting skeet. I will be loading up some 7/8 or 3/4 loads once I used up a few thousand more 1 1/8 oz wads.
 
maynard said:
Remington Gun Club hulls are very good for reloading, right up there with Winchester AA. I really don't need 1 1/8 oz loads for shooting skeet. I will be loading up some 7/8 or 3/4 loads once I used up a few thousand more 1 1/8 oz wads.
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Lmao I miss read your post. I thought you were refering to Remington gun club as bulk ammo. I caught that in your reply when you said hulls lol.
 
Unless the prices for 12 ga trap shells go crazy it is cheaper to just but the factory ammo in bulk. By the time you buy all the components your price per shell is about the same.
As stated above, for the smaller gauges there can be a significant saving by reloading. Also as others have said, as a hobby it can be fun to try different loads to find what suits you.
 
formerfarmer said:
Unless the prices for 12 ga trap shells go crazy it is cheaper to just but the factory ammo in bulk. By the time you buy all the components your price per shell is about the same.
As stated above, for the smaller gauges there can be a significant saving by reloading. Also as others have said, as a hobby it can be fun to try different loads to find what suits you.
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The whole idea behind me reloading is that I like to shoot a lot, but during the winter I don't get to go out as much. So if I have all the components I'd have shooting during spring and summer for shooting and training my gundog, hunting in the fall and reloading in the winter. I'd reload 12 gauge slugs, buckshot, nontoxic shot and 20 gauge shells of all shots and sizes.

My father in law has all equipment I need for reloading rifle cartridges. All i need is the bullets, primers, powder and dies for .308. So getting another Hobby is fine by me. Also the savings is there.
 
sounds like you want to get into slug and buckshot casting! and then reloading them, huge savings for me that way, about 25-30 cents per slug or buck load for me

I reload my spent remington gun club hulls with buck and slugs, got 2 reloads per shell no problem, can probably get a few more before wearing them out

seriously the price of shot is way too high to save any money right now, you will probably pay more reloading shot, and lose the time too. (unless you cast your own shot, but need specialized equipment for that)

happykal said:
The whole idea behind me reloading is that I like to shoot a lot, but during the winter I don't get to go out as much. So if I have all the components I'd have shooting during spring and summer for shooting and training my gundog, hunting in the fall and reloading in the winter. I'd reload 12 gauge slugs, buckshot, nontoxic shot and 20 gauge shells of all shots and sizes.

My father in law has all equipment I need for reloading rifle cartridges. All i need is the bullets, primers, powder and dies for .308. So getting another Hobby is fine by me. Also the savings is there.
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luke s said:
sounds like you want to get into slug and buckshot casting! and then reloading them, huge savings for me that way, about 25-30 cents per slug or buck load for me

I reload my spent remington gun club hulls with buck and slugs, got 2 reloads per shell no problem, can probably get a few more before wearing them out

seriously the price of shot is way too high to save any money right now, you will probably pay more reloading shot, and lose the time too. (unless you cast your own shot, but need specialized equipment for that)
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So where do I find said molds for slugs and buck shot. Where do you get you lead. tire shops? What size of buck you load?
Buck shot has always been a mystery to me. I cut one open and it was 9 pellets and what look like salt in it. I wonder if jig molds would work lol 9 pellet minnow jig shot lol
 
happykal said:
So where do I find said molds for slugs and buck shot. Where do you get you lead. tire shops? What size of buck you load?
Buck shot has always been a mystery to me. I cut one open and it was 9 pellets and what look like salt in it. I wonder if jig molds would work lol 9 pellet minnow jig shot lol
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lee makes slug and buckshot loads, few dealers on CGN stock both of them - I load "00", buckshot can be tricky and loads are not all that easy to find, the stuff you find between the balls is called "buffer"

lead - got to buy from tire shops or recyclers or get lucky
 
luke s said:
lee makes slug and buckshot loads, few dealers on CGN stock both of them - I load "00", buckshot can be tricky and loads are not all that easy to find, the stuff you find between the balls is called "buffer"

lead - got to buy from tire shops or recyclers or get lucky
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I noticed the slugs are not rifled can I fire them through a choked barrel?
 
luke s said:
I never have and dont plan to, but if you make them with soft lead, might be able to

as far as I have found, no one makes a rifled slug mold for some reason
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Wow Luke thanks for a quick reply. Yeah I haven't found a rifled slug mold either. It's really discouraging when I try to find materials, like good non toxic shot, and I cant' find anything. Lot of unanswered questions and things i'm kind of sketchy on. I might join the gun club this year and if so I'll ask other members for advice. But for now I'm going to go by dies for my .308 and use my father in laws equipment. Now to find the right load for a browning BLR 81 .308. lol
 
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