Shot shell reloading (12 gauge)

Croats

Croats

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I have not reloaded anything in over 10 years and thinking of getting back into it seeing I am getting a bit past the normal consumer when it comes to trap and skeet shooting so it is time to look at a decent press preferably a progressive or something that will do most of reloading in as quick as possible with as few pulls of the handle as possible but I also can not afford a munitions factory set up neither.
If all the shot calculators set up out there are even close to right I could save plenty on shot shell reloads.

I have looked at a Dillon shot shell progressive but the $1200 plus tax and shipping kind of deters me.

Ok I guess some info:
want to load (mostly) trap and skeet loads with # 7.5 or # 8 shot (Lead) / 2.75" shells / 1 1/8 Oz shot (no idea on powder or how much yet)
Maybe someone can point me in the right direction for a decent press and a good load for trap and skeet loads????? Preferred powder etc????????

No a lee load all << had one of those awful things years ago and still think it is a piece of crap just like I did then.

If the calculators on line are right theoretically I should be able to load a box of 25 shot shells for around $1.65.......... ummmm hello reloading again!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
 
$1.65 for a box of 25 shot shells seems way low. I checked some prices on the Budget Shooter Supply and Higginson Powder websites, as follows:

1000 Cheddite 209 primers - $35
2 x 500 Claybuster CB1118 wads - $22
3 x 25lbs. Eagle #9 shot (approx. 1050 1-1/8oz shot charges) - $135
2.5 lbs IMR700-X (1000 17.5gr powder charges) ($86/4lbs 700-X) - $53.75

TOTAL = $245.75 for 1000 rounds = $6.14 for 25 shot shells

If I've got the math wrong, I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct me.
 
Almost no one reloads trap rounds anymore as it's just as cheap to buy target loads from wally world or other places. Shop around, I'll bet you'll find a great deal on factories somewhere.
 
Please tell me where you are sourcing components to reload that cheap. I'll drag my presses out of retirement and start loading again.
 
And those prices quoted, accurate as they are for Ontario, are significantly lower than those obtainable in the West.
Best prices I have seen lately are $40 per thousand plus two taxes for primers and $60 per bag of shot, when any shot is available.
If you put any value on your time you will restrict your loading to non-toxic shot like Bismuth, high performance plated shot pheasant rounds or Black Powder loads which are unobtainable otherwise.
 
Otto V said:
$1.65 for a box of 25 shot shells seems way low. I checked some prices on the Budget Shooter Supply and Higginson Powder websites, as follows:

1000 Cheddite 209 primers - $35
2 x 500 Claybuster CB1118 wads - $22
3 x 25lbs. Eagle #9 shot (approx. 1050 1-1/8oz shot charges) - $135
2.5 lbs IMR700-X (1000 17.5gr powder charges) ($86/4lbs 700-X) - $53.75

TOTAL = $245.75 for 1000 rounds = $6.14 for 25 shot shells

If I've got the math wrong, I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct me.
Click to expand...

Damn well then I must have calculated something very wrong starting with I used per one 25lb bag of shot and hulls as free, Hnag tight I will find site and copy and paste the results it came up with...maybe I forgot something or forgot the local price of powder...not sure that is why when it came up with $1.65 a box of 25 I almost had a fit.

colt45cz75 said:
Almost no one reloads trap rounds anymore as it's just as cheap to buy target loads from wally world or other places. Shop around, I'll bet you'll find a great deal on factories somewhere.
Click to expand...

That is what I thought but as mentioned maybe I calculated wrong...damn I always miss out on deal on a flat or 2 :(

hillbillyreefer said:
Please tell me where you are sourcing components to reload that cheap. I'll drag my presses out of retirement and start loading again.
Click to expand...

I might have made a mistake, going to go look it up again.I will post info here soon.

KND said:
Tag for interest, since sometime I shot like 200 rounds in 2 hours for just skeet alone.
Click to expand...

Ok well I will do some digging and post shortly.
 
A bunch of guys I shoot skeet with are using either 7/8 or even 3/4 oz loads in their 12 ga. You can save a little on the price of the shot by shooting these light loads.
 
Ya unless you go light loads, i reload 7/8, bulk powder and everything runs me $5.17 per 25, if i make my own lead with a dripper, just primer, powder and wad runs me like $2-$2.50 per 25. If you reload standard 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 then its better to buy it by the flat when i can find them for $56-60 a flat. runs about $6.22-6.77 a box. I also reload mostly for custom hunting shells, like turkey, cause those are alot cheaper to reload for then spend $15/10 pcs. I also cast slugs 1oz and that runs me $0.17 a round. I use the lee and for the amount i shoot, maybe 100 on a weekend it works prefectly fine, ive heard alot of good things about MEC reloaders, about $250 but you need to buy a diff shot and powder bar for each thing.
 
"...for around $1.65...came up with $6.64 a box..." Reloading shotgun ammo isn't about the price any more than it is for brass cases. You're still looking to be using the best possible ammo that is tailored for your shotgun. And $6 - $7 a box is still cheaper than factory.
 
sunray said:
"...for around $1.65...came up with $6.64 a box..." Reloading shotgun ammo isn't about the price any more than it is for brass cases. You're still looking to be using the best possible ammo that is tailored for your shotgun. And $6 - $7 a box is still cheaper than factory.
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for aid and advice and to Sunray 6-7 $$$ per box is what I am paying for factory loads so no point in reloads for trap and skeet, but now if say I was reloading buck shot or slugs then it would be well worth it.
At least according to that calculator for shot price if I did the calculation properly.
 
Croats said:
Thanks everyone for aid and advice and to Sunray 6-7 $$$ per box is what I am paying for factory loads so no point in reloads for trap and skeet, but now if say I was reloading buck shot or slugs then it would be well worth it.
At least according to that calculator for shot price if I did the calculation properly.
Click to expand...

you did, and it is worth it for slugs/buckshot.
 
forget about it for birdshot, its only worth it on slugs and buck.
you can get a 30$ LEE slug mold and get into your money in a couple of hours. for buckshot check of LEE or SharpShooterUSA.
 
Unless you're reloading for sub gauges (20, 28 & .410), you will not save a lot.

But if you shoot a ton (2+ flats per week) and compete, then it may be worth it to make custom tailored ammo whenever you need it.
Don't have to worry about such and such a store running out of stock and getting the "check back next month" BS.

Why I choose to reload.
 
Thanks all for input I will re-think this a bit and digest it before I run to store to buy a new press.
As is I think I am going to hold off on reloads for 12 trap and skeet loads.
 
If you do decide to buy a reloader, consider the MEC 650N. I've been using an older MEC 650 for about 25 years for all my 12 gauge shells. No problems or hickups to date. Pretty easy to pump out a couple hundred rounds in an hour.
 
As an indicator of the economy of reloading 12g unless you are tailering specific loads. It is difficult to sell 12 gauge reloaders. About 5 years ago I sold a MEC 600g with wads 50lbs of lead shot aa hulls, tool for filling boxes, two charge bars. The press alone sells for around $700 I got $350. Two years ogo at the Kamloops gun show a MEC 600 single stage and a MEC 600g, wads, about 4 lbs of powder $250. This was at the end of the show with no interest shown during two days. I guess what I'm trying to say is try to buy used.
 
as others have mentioned....... huge savings on buck and slug, especially if you cast your own

also on gauges other than 12. lead is just to pricy to make shot reloading worthwhile. buying is cheaper, no need to spend $$$ on a press when flats of 250 cost $50-60, not to mention the time wasted reloading (unless time is not issue)
 
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