Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Does Anyone Reload Shotshells Any More?

It seems it is no trick at all to find shotgun target loads at WalMart or Dick's for about $5.00 per box--or less--if you buy in bulk. 12 or 20 gauge.

At those prices, it hardly seems worth reloading. A friend of mine calculated that it costs him $4.00 per box for reloading components to reload 12 gauge.

Yes. My father still does. At his height - it was about 20 to 30,000 rounds of 12 gauge alone a summer - according to the empty primer trays.

He still reloads - just doesn't shoot that much. Reloads 12, 20, 28, and 410.

At some point tho - it's actually just cheaper to buy them by the pallet.

My MEC 600 Jr. still gets a workout for 2 or 3 days each winter, until I run out of empty hulls in 3 gauges (12, 16 and 29).

Have not in a while, still have the components and equipment though. When prices start to rise, I'll probably dabble in it.

It's still worth reloading some specialty stuff. I load steel shot for waterfowl in 10ga & 12ga. Also load lead BB's in the 10 for varmint calling/ fall turkeys. If I could find some Bismuth I would load some of that for my double guns. I keep enough stuff on hand to make it a while just in case. You never know when you may need it, or prices go crazy. It's not worth reloading light dove/quail loads, I buy those. I found D&Q loads for $3.99 the other day, so I make sure I have a year or two supply when I find it. I can't reload those for that $ right now.

I reload 28, 20, and 12 ga.

While you can pick up the cheap promo loads for not a lot more than reloads, I'll take my reloads any time over them.

Better shot, wads, hulls, etc. All equal better, more consistent, performance and patterns.

A more valid comparison would be the cost of AA's or STS's, rather than the cheap dove loads. I can reload for half, or less, the cost of what would be a more comparable factory load.

I do.. Costs me (for now) about $2.90/box..

Besides, reloading allows me to tailor my loads to my specific needs.. Can't do that with factory stuff..

Love my 7/8 oz loads in the 12 ga for an afternoon of sporting clays!

I don't, but get the promo deals. At Academny Sports, they were $39.95 a flat, Winchester 20 ga. 7/8 Oz field loads. Which is cheap, maybe not as cheap as reloads, but cheap enough. And I don't have to scrounge hulls.

Where i would consider it is in 16 ga. shells.

I do as my loads run better with the better components making dove loads that shoot like the old style pigeon loads, can tailor target loads down to take less lead and manufacture steel and pheasant loads that surpass the base field and economy loads.

And I can do that with savings.

I still reload about 7or 8,000 rounds a year for trap shooting.
I can match the good stuff that sells for $7 or more a box for about half that. I make my loads to fit my needs, not what' on sale.
It's also very relaxing hobby for me.

I load for my 12 gauges for trap and skeet. I know the Promo ones are only a little bit more cost, but I still enjoy the reloading process. I also load for 28 and .410 too. There is a definite savings in those two rounds with reloading.
I know that I keep hearing the old "my time is worth something" I always found that a laughable statement. If your time is so darn valuable, why even waste the time and gas driving to and from a range, not to mention the cost and additional time lost actually waiting to shoot and shooting.

I'd imagine if you are shooting a 29 gauge, you just about have to reload.

I gave it up years ago and never regretted the decision. My reloads were only as good as factory ammo.

Now...metallic rifle ammo is a different story.

Just a necked down 28 ga is all.

Kinda like the Ackley version of shotguns.

Surprised it's not more popular with the AI loving crowd here!

I hear ya.. I went to 1 oz. #8 @1150 fps for 16 yard trap and they just SMOKE clays.. Sure makes for a less-tiring day of shooting..

I am not convinced anyone can make better loads than they can buy. But if you think you do, well that'll help your shooting to some degree. I don't load 12's anymore, don't have one I shoot! I do load 16's as they can be hard to find and I load 28's. Not only hard to find but expensive to boot. Bought a flat of Rem 28ga target loads just for the hull's. Target loads by the flat cost me just over $11 a box!

I do still find 16's on sale once in a while but selkection in shot size is really limited, at least around here.

Maybe not necessarily better, but for an "equal" quality load (quality target type stuff, not rock bottom promo loads), I can load that same level of quality at a lower price.

And then as you mention, when you get outside the 12/20 ga stuff, it really starts to show an advantage!

Oops!! Well, the "0" is right next to the "9" on the keyboard, and I am clumsy...

I have for years reloaded some moderately hot 1 3/8 loads of copper plated #5 shot loads just for varmints. I happened across about 100 lbs of this shot several years ago in a deal for a Mec 650 Jr. along with several thousand primers, 8 lb of Winchester 540 some wads and a few empties.

The loader was set up to use these components, and I had an empty spot in my armory to kill skunks armadillos and possums.

Sadly I am down to just a few lbs of shot, I will have to see what will suffice in its stead.

I have dispatched more skunks than I can count out to 80 yards with my extra full choke Remington 1100. Several coyotes on the run, and about 15 hogs have also fell to the deeper penetration and persuasiveness of this load.

You can�t get those kind of kills using Dove & Quail loads.