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Is shotshell reloading worth the effort when you count in all factors, i.e. shot, primers, equipments etc.?

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Tht depends on what you are trying to accomplish. With shot selling for 39 or so a bag a box of trap loads is near 5 dollars. Walmart Federals (Top gun) or Remington Gun Clubs from Dick's will be around $5.50 if you watch for the deals.

That said, I load my Handicap shells because I can produce exactly what I want in a shell. I also load my One ounce skeet shells because the cost drops to 4 bucks with the reduced amount of lead.

Hunting shells cost more yet, and may be worth while to reload. There is an online utility you can use, google "reloading cost calculator".

I have been reloading for 30 years and this is the worst it's been. If I had been smart years ago and bought a skid of shot at 12 dollars a bag I woud be smiling.

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Cost wasn't a deciding factor for me. Every factory 2 1/2" 16 I tried in my A5 had holes and or clumping as big as my fist.


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I started loading for 20 gauge almost 30 years ago. I did it because I could load cheaper than the premium loads, which performed much better than the cheap game loads. Lately I don't shoot many rounds of shotgun ammo per year- the rabbit and quail population has really declined. But since I had the equipment, I kept loading.

Two years ago I bought an Ithaca 37 in 16 gauge and could not reliably find shells for it. I bought a cheap press and am loading for it. If I can find good loads, they are about $15 per box. Hand loads cut that in half and the load kills far better than the cheap game loads which are sometimes available and cost about the same as my premium hand loads.

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Originally Posted by Just a Hunter
Is shotshell reloading worth the effort when you count in all factors, i.e. shot, primers, equipments etc.?


What others have already said. The margins for saving moola are pretty slim these days, especially for the standard 2.75" 12ga. Savings start to look better for the smaller gauges. It galled me fierce to be spending 13-15 bucks/25 for 1/2 oz .410 ammo so I cobbled up some home made tools along the lines of the classic Lee Loader. It is slow but gets the job done until I run into a .410 press that fits the budget.

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Those who do it think so. Those who disagree don't do it. ??

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sometimes it is difficult to buy what you want.I load a lot of 7/8 oz for the 12 and 16 ga that are not always available. and after buying the equipment, it is less expensive to load up quality shells.

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Originally Posted by FredWillis
sometimes it is difficult to buy what you want.I load a lot of 7/8 oz for the 12 and 16 ga that are not always available. and after buying the equipment, it is less expensive to load up quality shells.


Definitely "ALOT" to what Willis is saying, as well as previous posts about making 16-fooder when not available otherwise, or making "exactly [specifcally] what the shooter wants!"

I also have data and the means to make special 2inch 12 or 20-fodder .....

I also like the fact that as long as I have components, NO gooberment THUG, beaurocrapper, or UN-invader will ever deprive me of ammo. wink Makes my 2nd amendment that much more secure. grin

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The only common shell I shoot is the 12. I have 16s and a 10 and one day would like to get a 28. I have hundreds of 12ga shells that I saved and the good 16s are hard to find and expensive. I haven't seen 12ga target shell under $7 for a few years now. Not enough competition here I guess.

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Yes, still worth it, to me, even if I could not save money. It's an extension of my hobby of shooting/hunting.

In addition, I load ammo that the factories can't reproduce, such as spreader loads, ultra-high velocity lead loads, Pagoda Loads, Hevi-Shot and Bismuth (for resonable costs), etc.

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Yup way worth it, between specialty loads for my 10's and 16's. Can just about buy any load you can imagine for 12's and 20's but try to pick up a box of Express 16 ga #5's and see where you are. I think only Fiocchi still loads 5's in the 16 unless you get some Federal hammer loads. Magnum Man

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Quote
Savings start to look better for the smaller gauges. It galled me fierce to be spending 13-15 bucks/25 for 1/2 oz .410 ammo...


Quote
I load a lot of 7/8 oz for the 12...


These two posts sum it up for me.

I used to reload a lot, and for everything.

Lately, I find that I can buy quality factory loads cheap enough in 12 and 20 ga (and I'm not talking Wal-Mart promo stuff). I just got a check back from Winchester for $100 on their recent AA rebate. At ~$6/box, then take off $2/box for the rebate, it hardly makes sense to reload that type stuff any more, especially when you factor in another hundred dollars of equipment that you need to amortize over the number of boxes of shells you load before you even break even.

However... I like to shoot a lot of 7/8 oz loads in my 12 ga, and shoot a lot of 28 ga and 410 bore as well. With their lighter payload, they are cheaper to reload than the 12/20 ga stuff, yet cost two or three times as much for the factory stuff, so I definitely reload those.

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I bought a bunch of stuff before I retired for all of my reloading..with 25 bags of 7 1/2's that I paid about 13$ a bag for, it is worth it for me..otherwise, I don't know..I do enjoy loading specialty loads for some of my 12's and 20's that I could not shoot if I did't reload..Heavier shot seems difficult to find today, unless one wants to pay top dollor for it..In my country, shotguns and ammo are NOT that popular so reloading is a benefit for me..


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Q. for K22hornet- Where are you finding bismuth shot these days. Recent searches found me none. I want to load a 20 ga. SxS w/ bismuth for those times when ducks could wheel in to the marsh edges where the pheasants like to nap.

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Originally Posted by Berettasdad
Q. for K22hornet- Where are you finding bismuth shot these days. Recent searches found me none. I want to load a 20 ga. SxS w/ bismuth for those times when ducks could wheel in to the marsh edges where the pheasants like to nap.


Bismuth is no longer being produced for sale, as near as I can tell. I have a stash of BB and #2 left from when I had sxs's that could not shoot Hevi-shot. I have since sold those sxs and purchased newer ones that can handle Hevi-shot.

Go to Ballistic Products website and look at the ITX shot. Another shot-type is called Nice Shot. Both shot types are safe to use in place of lead.

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I shoot a 16 ga SxS.

So yes, I find it worth it.

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I reloaded 12 gauge for several years. Back then you could save at least 50% versus factory loaded shells, but the last time I priced components around here in Alabama, it would cost MORE than factory ammo to load equivalent rounds. The price of powder, primers and shot is ridiculous anymore.

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Not worth it in 12 gauge unless you load 7/8 or 3/4 oz (surprisingly effective). Better savings on 20s, especially if you load 3/4 oz.

If you have a 16, it's definitely worth it (my favorite gauge). A 28 or .410...absolutely.

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I load 12 ga Trap loads and I find a cost savings, not as much as it used to be, but I still enjoy it. I shoot a 1 oz load for 16's and 1 1/8th oz for handicap. I use 7 1/2 shot that I buy from a guy at the club who makes it. It looks as good as West Coast Magnum shot, and is about $30 for 25#

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A co-worker asked me today, what's it cost to reload a single 12 ga shell. He's thinking about reloading.


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