Shotshell reloading on a budget. Help?

[Dave L.]

My PAL finally arrived this morning and after a few phonecalls and a little promising to be careful I think I've made some arrangements for storage.

I have a suitable, sturdy workbench I can convert into a reloading bench. All said and done I decided not to go with a progressive reloader. That way I would have enough money to go with an RCBS rock chucker press and kit to go with it and still have enough to afford a couple guns in the end.

Now that I've got that out of the way I can address the issue of reloading, something I've always wanted to get into. Anyone know if there's a setup I can buy to reload shotshells that wouldn't hit me too hard in the pocketbook? I don't think I will bother with a progressive reloader. At the moment I need something cheap, small, durable, and relatively hassle-free, not some miracle machine that can kerrank out ten billion rounds a second or whatever, although if that was cheap, small and durable I'd be all ears.

I welcome your advice.

Thanks,

- Dave.

 

[Fassteel]

Not too hard in the pocket book? Dave in order to load 1000 shells its going to cost you: Lead $80.00, Primers $30.00,Powder $60.00, wads $30.00, hulls you may find for free, if not your looking at$50.00 for 1000 Win AA.
Reloading was a great hobby for me and I was doing it when almost everything was 1/2 of what it costs today, and now I haven't loaded a shell since I ran out of lead a number of years ago. FS

 

[ben hunchak]

Fassteel is right.....you don't save much reloading for the 12 Ga., and lead shot is expensive and hard to find in places. Rem. gun club ammo can be purchased for $5 a box and i don't believe reloading will save you much, same with reloading Steel. Reloading will save you more if you reload the smaller gauges. If you do decide to reload, it's hard to beat the MEC 600jr. for a starting shotshell press.

 

[sillymike]

Unless you will be reloading buckshots or slugs (and you will also be casting them) I don't think reloading shotshells makes any $$ sense... Unless of course, you are looking for another hobby!

If you still want to get into it, I know of a few guys that had success with the LEE laodall. Otherwise, you cam probably find a nice use MEC at any gunshow (That's what I use).

Good luck,
Mike.

 

[Claybuster]

The only reason I'm still reloading 12 gauge is because I can get ammo to my specifications. If there was a 7/8s ounce target load at 1,300 fps of the same quality and for the same price that I can make them myself I'd probably not reload 12 gauge.

The real saving is 28 gauge and .410. My loading costs are less than half the cost of factory.

 

[aulrich]

Back in the pre-steel shot days (the last I was really into goose shooting) the only shotshells it paid to reload were goose loads. Back then I just used a lee loadall, my boy have been seeing goose hunting on WildTV and they want to try it I guess i'll have to dust off the gear, but $107 for 7lbs of bisthmus ick sure hope the steel shells have improved since those early days.

 

[scotty]

I don;t know why you want to reload shotgun shells. They are cheap enough and can be found that its makes more sense to just bite the bullet and buy them.

 

[prosper]

Lee makes a single-stage shotshell reloader (I forget what it's called) - it's small, comact, single stage, and cheap (~$50)

Still not all that economical especially for birdshot loads. But, with the addition of a mould for slugs, you can turn out slug loads for pennies apiece

 

[python357]

Lee makes a single-stage shotshell reloader (I forget what it's called) - it's small, comact, single stage, and cheap (~$50)

Still not all that economical especially for birdshot loads. But, with the addition of a mould for slugs, you can turn out slug loads for pennies apiece

Probably the only thing still worthwhile reloading is for slugs if you have a cheap source for lead.Primers, wads and powder prices have really gone up and reloading for T&S like many have pointed out, is just NOT economical in time consumed or $$'s spent.

 

[Sako300]

I bought that Lee product called the "Lee Loadall". It is still available through places like SIR . It has all the bushings you'll need for powder, and all the shot bushings too. I loaded hundreds and hundreds of hunting shells with a hot duck load and 1 1/2 oz lead (the old days.)

My buddy bought the MEC 600 jr named above. A better unit- made of metal not plastic like the Lee, but you need extra shot bars, and bushings for each powder load.

Loading is great fun- as the guys say- its a whole hobby by itself. Much like fly tying is for a fisherman. Real satisfying when you use something you created, and great activity on a rainy day. Forget about saving dough.

Thats my $.02

 

[Dave L.]

...reloading for T&S like many have pointed out, is just NOT economical in time consumed or $$'s spent.

Seems like that's the general consensus. I suppose I'll accept it and buy factory loads, then, seeing I probably won't be shooting very much, all things said and done.

Suppose I'll stick with what's for sale locally... seems shotshell ammunition is heavier than I expected.

- Dave.