IMHO, the issue is not cost. Do you enjoy producing a 'product' with your hands? I do, thus reloading (rifle, pistol and shotgun) makes sense to me. I consider it a beneficial use of my time. If you don't enjoy 'building' things then skip the process and buy factory ammo.
Reload savings
- Thread starter team_realtree
- Start date
I enjoy spending my time producing a product,if I can measure the advantage of doing so.With rifles,or handguns, I can measure the difference in group size, as I fine tune a load for a specific gun, and I can select a bullet for hunting that has the expansion and penetration charateristics that I desire.With target loads for my shotgun,unless I can see a difference in my scores by using handloads,I won't bother spending the time to handload.
If the targets are breaking,I don't really concern myself too much with other details for a target load.
M12shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- East St. Paul, mb
The powder in the Top Gun ammo looked like Unique but can't determine that for sure. Often "dirty" shotshells are a result of low chamber pressures but IMO Unique and other former Hercules powders always left lots of barrel residue.[/QUOTE]
I thought that some of that dirt and certainly the smell (which I like) might come from the paper base wad.
I thought that some of that dirt and certainly the smell (which I like) might come from the paper base wad.
M12shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- East St. Paul, mb
I like the paper base wad smell as well....kind of a wee tinge of the paper shotshell days of yesteryear....
I'd be surprised if they used Unique in Top Gun. In 12 gauge loads Unique usually requires a larger powder charge and when the companies are making cheap ammo the less powder the better.
M12shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- East St. Paul, mb
I agree, looked like Unique and it was a bulky flake type but I never did weigh the charge before disposing of it.
With target loads for my shotgun,unless I can see a difference in my scores by using handloads,I won't bother spending the time to handload.
If the targets are breaking,I don't really concern myself too much with other details for a target load.[/QUOTE]
The saving aside. Reloading Shotgun is no different than reloading rifle. I have been reloading all gauges from 410 to 10ga steel for almost 40 years and spend a lot of time developing the best target loads I can in the 4 gauges and do a lot of paper shooting.When in competition I would easily shoot 30,000 rounds a year.. I know if you checked some of the factory target loads that are breaking your targets you will get quite a shock. Some will have holes in the pattern you could toss a cat through. I break targets with factory loads but smoke them all with my reloads.
It also nice to be able to load what ever you want for hunting for example this year I did 8 different 10ga duplex loads all buzzing over 1500fps, BBB over BB etc . Loads that you cannot even buy. After paper testing however I kept only two for actual hunting.
When I need some 16ga or 28ga they are at my finger tips for under 5.00 a box. I cannot even find a box of 16ga in my town anymore.
If the targets are breaking,I don't really concern myself too much with other details for a target load.[/QUOTE]
The saving aside. Reloading Shotgun is no different than reloading rifle. I have been reloading all gauges from 410 to 10ga steel for almost 40 years and spend a lot of time developing the best target loads I can in the 4 gauges and do a lot of paper shooting.When in competition I would easily shoot 30,000 rounds a year.. I know if you checked some of the factory target loads that are breaking your targets you will get quite a shock. Some will have holes in the pattern you could toss a cat through. I break targets with factory loads but smoke them all with my reloads.
It also nice to be able to load what ever you want for hunting for example this year I did 8 different 10ga duplex loads all buzzing over 1500fps, BBB over BB etc . Loads that you cannot even buy. After paper testing however I kept only two for actual hunting.
When I need some 16ga or 28ga they are at my finger tips for under 5.00 a box. I cannot even find a box of 16ga in my town anymore.
At one time I shot in skeet leagues, and I did attend skeet shoots, and I actually did quite well at the provincials.However these days,I shoot only to have fun, and practice my shotgun skills for hunting upland birds.As such,if I was to miss a bird or two because of poor loads,it isn't a big deal to me.If I was to lose several birds per round, because of the quality of my ammunition,I would reconsider.
I am more fussy what I use for hunting shotshells.For that reason,I had Prophet River bring me in flats of Fiocchi Golden Pheasant loads with nickel plated shot in both 20 gauge and 28 gauge.I am sure that those loads will do me just fine for upland birds.I don't hunt waterfowl at all anymore,so I don't require specialty loads for them.Given my situation,it just isn't worth the expense of purchasing another progressive press,or the time to load the shot shells.
I just wanted to clarify to the originator of the post that reloading of shotgun shells is equally as important as reloading rife and should be considered. Especially if he is planning on becoming involved in competitions.. That one or two birds you miss due to a poor factory reload in almost all cases in competition is the difference between winning your class or losing it or a clean kill on a bird when hunting.
What you do works for you and your requirements would not work for me but that is fine since to each his own.
I have never shot or patterned the loads you hunt with but knowing Clay he doesn't sell junk. I still would pattern them just to see how and more important where they hit. take care
What you do works for you and your requirements would not work for me but that is fine since to each his own.
I have never shot or patterned the loads you hunt with but knowing Clay he doesn't sell junk. I still would pattern them just to see how and more important where they hit. take care
Good Stuff. Makes a big difference knowing what you are putting out there.
I forgot to mention I cannot afford to miss the girls get too pissed off at me when I do.
Huh? I have never ever checked a load that has broken a target. That goes for reloads as well as factory loads.
