Do you reload shotgun shells?
 

Used to reload everything including steel 12 ga, now it’s just some specific 12ga (1-1/4x6@1230)(12x3x1-3/4x5)(20ga 1x6@1250)(410x3x6)

Yes. 12 ga trap loads in Win AA hulls. Cost of components is getting so high that I can usually buy low end factory loads for about the same price...and no time invested.

BP for my 12 gauge hammer guns ,and specialty upland loads for16, 20, and 28.
Cat

No, but I'd like to start again. When I was in gr 8, my dad split the cost of a Ponsness Warren 375 Duomatic with me. He let me set it up in the dining room. I had lots and lots of fun. Back then you could save lots of money. Now not so much with 12 gauge. Smaller gauges you can still save.

Dick, thanks for the good threads you have been posting. Not just your run of the mill 270 vs 30-06 jobbies. Sorry some have gone sideways on you. Don't let that get you down.

I reload a few thousand each 28 gauge and 410 skeet loads every year, because I can save 50% over factory loads. I don't load 12 or 20 gauge target loads or hunting loads.

Where are you guys finding the best prices on components?
I just traded for a Hornady 366, and I've never reloaded anything in my life.
With the price of target loads steadily rising, I'm trying to hedge my bets.

Allan Day out of Carstairs is who I buy components from.. Unless you make your own shot, you won't save any money on 12 gauge target loads.

Even making your own shot had its issues , I have been casting shot for a few years now.
For good trap loads buying bulk is the answer .
Cat

Which brings me to my next question...
Where are you guys getting the best deal on target loads?
As much as I'd like to buy heavily in bulk, I can probably only swing 10 flats at a time.

Talk to other guys at your club combine your orders. Or just wait for a good sale at Cabelas and buy 10 flats. I use 1 oz. Loads for sporting clays, and I usually order 20 flats at a time, but I didn't use my usual amount due to covid, so I will likely just order 10 flats for next spring.

I have loaded 12 gauge Trap loads during Covid isolation, with components on hand.
I routinely load Black powder Trap loads, 16 gauge, and special Upland loads in 20 gauge, where I can save a bit.
I will buy Trap loads on sale, when component supplies on hand run out. With $60 shot, $40 powder and high priced primers, reloading is not cheap.

I was just packing stuff to move to storage, found stuff I didn't know I still had, think it was sometime in the late late 80's the last time I loaded shotshell, 20ga at that. Just getting down into the last box of those. Not sure if the wads would be any good anymore, still have shot, primers and powder and hulls. I've used some of the shot for cast bullets, #2 & #4, being as I have no other use for those two. Once I get settled again, I may set it up to do some and use up what I have on hand.

Back in the day I loaded every shot shell I fired on my Lee Load All, what a great investment at the time. I upgraded to a Hornaday press for my 20ga and a Mec for the 12ga. I recently purchased the tooling to convert the Mec to load 410 as those cartridges are getting a wee bit too costly for this Scotsman. I hope to get some time this winter to load up a few flats of each as I have the components on hand, the 410 will no doubt be a learning curve. D.H.

Shot about 4,500 reloads this summer for trap, have enough components to load about 5,000 more then that's it, cost of components has gone up enough that it's no longer worth it, in fact when I buy factory target loads in bulk it's actually cheaper than reloading, and no work

As Elk mentioned, most Clubs put together large orders with the local distributor or directly with the manufacturers.

I still have some components so I will load until I run out. What do you guys think in way of quality? Do you think your home rolls are bet ter than some of the cheap factory target loads.?

From what I have seen shooting at 3 different clubs is the guys who reload their own shotgun shells are never at the top of the list of contenders. The guys that shoot perfect rounds are predominantly using the cheapest stuff they can find. When going to competitions, it seemed to be a mixed bag of premium target like AA's and cheap promotional fodder.

shotshells
 

I reload all my 28 gauge ammo. Haven't used any store bought for years, and I shoot a few cases every year. I also have my own shot making set up now, which really cuts cost.
I have a few older Brittish classics that are proofed for 2 1/2" 12 ga. loads.
I find that if I save all of the 3 1/2'' goose hulls, I can trim them down to size and not have any of the star crimp left on them. Once I load them up, I roll crimp them with no issue.

reloading .410
 

Is a frustrating experience compared to the other gauges.Mec 600 jr markV as they come in 2.5" and 3 " and a lot of fiddling /parts to change back and forth.I know they make a riser block but still a pain.Most people just load one or the other or get two presses. I'm having a hard time getting mine working properly for 2.5" A brass crimp starter will be purchased as soon as they come in.I may just get a roll crimper kit and use a hand drill and overshot cards.BPI none of my other 3 Mec 600's needed any adjustment what so ever?

16 and 12 slug and buckshot mainly nowadays.
Birdshot now and then.
Buck and ball for my TC Treehawk.

I seem to remember an ad on here once from someone with a shot making setup. They were looking for lead, and they'd give half of your lead back to you as shot.
Anyone know who that was, or if they're still doing that?

I reload 16 ga and 12 ga mostly in 2 1/2" on my lee loadall.

Just chatting
 

Interesting talk. Thanks for the input

buckshot 20ga
 

I loaded some 2 3/4 " #3 buck for a buddy about 250 rds or so.Neat how different gauges and shot size needs to be nested individually sometimes with the wad petals cut off.They turned out great.

If I recall
 

One could buy a Littleton shotmaker and the best shot was dropped into RV anti-freeze not H20.

Not set up for steel. Don't shoot that much anymore.

Target ammo fairly reasonable.

I would actually sell my Pacific (Hornady) 155 , if someone near Calgary wanted it. Bunch of AA hulls, wads etc. Loads for target, field and heavyfield/lighf nagnum set up.

My 12 gauge double has 65mm chambers. So I roll crimp 2-1/2" with a drill press.

This is thee exact set up I use.:)
Cat

There is a guy here in Lloydminster that shoots with us regularly that has a shot maker, makes mostly 7 1/2 for target loads, most of us around here that reload target ammo buy from him, his shot works great.