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  #1  
Old 08-06-2019, 02:23 PM
citysfs citysfs is offline
 
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Default shotshell reloading

Anyone up on costs to reload 12 ga
1) trap loads
2) field loads for migratory
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  #2  
Old 08-06-2019, 02:41 PM
saskbooknut saskbooknut is offline
 
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It costs more to load 12 gauge target loads than buying them on sale. Setting up to load steel waterfowl loads is expensive, so you cannot beat the sale price of Score or Challenger waterfowl shells.
Lead shot costs $60 a bag landed in the West. Powder is $30 a pound in bulk jugs. Primers $50 a thousand.
You can save money loading 28 gauge and .410 but you have too load a lot to pay for the reloading equipment.
Sorry, but those are the sad facts of shotshell loading.
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  #3  
Old 08-06-2019, 02:55 PM
Salavee Salavee is online now
 
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The current price of lead shot is ridiculous. Back when it was $18.00 /lb it was hardly worth it to load 12 ga.target rounds .
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  #4  
Old 08-06-2019, 03:02 PM
Northwinds Northwinds is offline
 
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12 gauge trap loads 1 1/8 oz 3 dram currently cost $7.55/box to reload.
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  #5  
Old 08-06-2019, 03:24 PM
Gear guy Gear guy is offline
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Thats almost as much to just buy them. Not worth reloading much at that price
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  #6  
Old 08-06-2019, 04:00 PM
saskbooknut saskbooknut is offline
 
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My quick calculation was 8.87 a box at current prices.
$60 shot, $30 powder, $5/100 primers and $12.50/250 wads. You can buy wads cheaper but add postage from Ontario.
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  #7  
Old 08-06-2019, 09:59 PM
Northwinds Northwinds is offline
 
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to get prices down,bulk buying is the only way to go.Wads,20,000 or more at a time.Powder,6-10 kegs at a time.Shot...well start at a couple tons.Group buys will get some discounts to help get the prices down there but it's still more costly to load than cheap factory ammo,however,the quality of the handholds is on par with premium brands and is about the same for cost as the premium ammo.Long and short of it is,I hand load cause I like to and like what top of the line ammo does for me downrange.
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  #8  
Old 08-07-2019, 02:43 AM
32-40win 32-40win is offline
 
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Cabelas had federal target loads on for 64 or 65.00 a flat this last weekend.
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  #9  
Old 08-07-2019, 06:28 AM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
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I load 28 gauge and 410 target loads, as the savings are about 50%, which paid for both presses the first year. I wouldn't even consider loading 12 or 20 gauge target loads.
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  #10  
Old 08-07-2019, 10:58 AM
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Sashi Sashi is offline
 
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I load 16 ga. 2 3/4", 16ga. and 12 ga. in 2 1/2", also 12ga. black powder. For specialty needs reloading easily still pays off. Shooting older guns is fun when your not paying an arm and a leg for shells.
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  #11  
Old 08-07-2019, 11:28 AM
saskbooknut saskbooknut is offline
 
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Just try and find a Black powder shell in Canada. Now that's worth loading.
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  #12  
Old 08-07-2019, 12:33 PM
kilgoretrout kilgoretrout is offline
 
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I think at the end of the day its a lot like tying flies not really any cheaper unless you are loading for tough to find gauges but you get better loads the same as you get flies that don't fall apart...... and personally I enjoy the process that goes with it.....
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  #13  
Old 08-07-2019, 02:37 PM
32-40win 32-40win is offline
 
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Ya, for stuff you can't buy, or get what you need readily, or for a reasonable price, to keep old guns or cartridges going, is when it makes sense. Just have to be willing to make the commitment to doing it for those old guns or cartridges.
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  #14  
Old 08-07-2019, 03:09 PM
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SHORTMAG SHORTMAG is offline
 
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kilgoretrout kilgoretrout
Thumbs up Shotshells

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUOTE[ I think at the end of the day its a lot like tying flies not really any cheaper unless you are loading for tough to find gauges but you get better loads the same as you get flies that don't fall apart...... and personally I enjoy the process that goes with it..... ]QUOTE


^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^


We get Rem Gun Clubs, Challenger and Federal target loads from The Gun Dealer here in the east coast...for 75 bucks a flat...taxes in...2 3/4, 3 dram and handicaps are all the same price !

Not even feasible now to get outfitted and buy all the new stuff to reload target loads...
BUTTTTT.....heh heh , but I DO still roll my own from time to time
once a reloader...always a reloader
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  #15  
Old 08-07-2019, 10:44 PM
colroggal colroggal is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elkhunter11 View Post
I load 28 gauge and 410 target loads, as the savings are about 50%, which paid for both presses the first year. I wouldn't even consider loading 12 or 20 gauge target loads.
I used to load .410's - mostly for grouse and practice for grouse. All my other shotgunning is 12 gauge and it's been a few years since that made sense to reload. But even the .410s, for the amount I shoot in a year, just not worth having the set-up any more.

Elkhunter11 probably spends more time each year shooting shotguns than I spend on the privy, so it makes sense. But for the few hundred rounds I'll shoot in skinny gauge for a dozen Bush chickens and a bit of exercise it ain't hardly worth it.

...

But yes, reloading is like tying your own flies - it's not always the cheapest route, but it is definitely the best way to get a quality product with the most satisfaction, and for a lot of us, a trigger pull is best enjoyed when it takes more than a tenth of a second.

Colin
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  #16  
Old 08-08-2019, 09:08 AM
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nimrod nimrod is offline
 
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If any body is looking for a duomatic model 375 progressive 12 gauge loader, I have one
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  #17  
Old 08-08-2019, 09:40 AM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colroggal View Post
I used to load .410's - mostly for grouse and practice for grouse. All my other shotgunning is 12 gauge and it's been a few years since that made sense to reload. But even the .410s, for the amount I shoot in a year, just not worth having the set-up any more.

Elkhunter11 probably spends more time each year shooting shotguns than I spend on the privy, so it makes sense. But for the few hundred rounds I'll shoot in skinny gauge for a dozen Bush chickens and a bit of exercise it ain't hardly worth it.

...

But yes, reloading is like tying your own flies - it's not always the cheapest route, but it is definitely the best way to get a quality product with the most satisfaction, and for a lot of us, a trigger pull is best enjoyed when it takes more than a tenth of a second.

Colin
I don't bother loading my 28 gauge hunting loads, I only use a few boxes per year, but I shoot 3000-4000 each of 410 and 28 at skeet, so I save $1500 to $2000 a year by loading them. I also shoot 1000 -1500 20 gauge, and 4000 to 5000 12 gauge, but I use factory loads, it isn't worth the time to load them, and to be honest, my skeet/ sporting scores are no different with factory or handloads. I typically only use 10-20 boxes of waterfowl loads, so I don't bother with them either. A fully progressive press runs around $800 delivered, and I can't be bothered , if it takes years , just to pay for the press in savings.
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  #18  
Old 08-09-2019, 08:39 PM
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Huntsman Huntsman is offline
 
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I reload buckshot and slugs. The odd game bird load.
Same Lee Load All bought back ‘89.
I also load 16g with a Lee Handloader.
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  #19  
Old 08-12-2019, 12:30 AM
petew petew is offline
 
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The only thing I load now is 410 in brass magtec cases and FFFG black powder for the Grand Kids. I de-prime and prime on the rifle press , and use a wood dowel to seat the felt wad by hand. . This is dirt cheap loading at it's best , basically a 410 muzzle loader load in a modern gun with brass cases.

It just doesn't pay to load 12 or 20 target loads, and steel loads are insane to try to load.
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