Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Shotgun shell prices

I haven't bought any 12 ga. 'heavy load' lead shotgun shells in years. Most of my shooting has been for doves and usually use one of the 20 gauges and then shoot light loads.

I was in Wal Mart the other day and saw for the first time in years (I haven't been looking) Remington 'heavy loads'. I mean 3 3/4 dram equiv. and 1 1/4 oz of lead in a 2 3/4" shell. These happened to be #5 shot. They were stacked in the steel shot section and marked $20.99/box. I couldn't believe this was correct, so I took a box to the counter to check the price. The actual price was $14.99/box.

Now, I'm not sure, but the last box I bought was somewhere around $7-$8/ box and I probably fussed about having to pay that much.

I still got my old Lee load-alls (20 and 12 gauge). Guess I'll have to start using them again.

The cost is not in the hull, powder, wad, or primers. The cost is in the lead. Before you dust off the Lee...go price the lead shot.

Locally the price of a 25# bag of magnum shot is $46 plus tax.

That's a little lower than what I see in my area. Around $50.

Wholesale is $36 where I'm at. Last Feb I paid $53. It all depends on the damn Chinese.

Lead shells are still fairly reasonable.
It's the other kinds of shot that are spendy.
A $50 bag of shot is $2 /lbs.
I hear the bismuth shot is way more,like $10 lb.

With the price of lead shot nowadays, its not worth it to me to load my own anymore ,for dove or quail.

For doves, I usually shoot light loads that I get for less than $25/4 boxes.

I didnt realize lead had gone up that much. I got a full 25 lb bag of #6 shot and most of another. Guess I had better make it last as long as possible.

http://www.jswholesaleinc.com

Click on reclaimed shot link. Done right, it will work for most applications.

That...

Thank God I still have something over 500# left over when I bought a ton at $10.65/bag....

I can't find 16 gauge in town so I ordered a few boxes last week.

Free shipping but 'high velocity' copper plated 4 and 5 shot were $20-25 per box.
(luckily they pattern well)

Case of light load 7 shot averaged about $12/box.



I'd be broke if I shot factory rifle ammo!

the shut down of the Doe Run facility here in Missouri hasn't helped the current lead prices but with the downturn in china's economy maybe prices on raw materials will settle down a bit.

You might want to ask around about local ranges reclaiming shot. You might get it a little cheaper that way too. I wouldn't use it for hunting, but it's good enough for clays.

We used to buy it by the 100lb bucket.

i pay 5 bucks a box for 7 1/2 dove loads buying by the case. steel shoot #4s federal in 3 inch run me $14.

you can still save money reloading ,if its 16,28 or 410 gauge.

I buy reclaimed at about $28 per 25lb bag. Magnum chilled is about $39.
Not sure about online, but if buying a lot, may make sense.
I reload 12g 7/8oz, kills just fine breaks most clays except the ones you would need a telescope to find, but I probably wouldnt break them with 1 1/4oz anyway.

Ha!

Bought 'em for $2.35 box!

You're a youngun!!

For a decent high brass hunting load load or for 16ga loads check out gamalie shooters supply and their noblesport ammo and rio hunting loads. Right now if you buy a flat they ship for free. Another source for 16 ammo is cabelas and their Herters ammo. I had read that some folks experienced some cycling issues in semi autos so only bought a couple of boxes to try. Took them to a dove shoot and the sweet 16 gobbled them up without a hiccup. Also they are those pretty purple color. I'll buy more.