Thinking about reloading shotshells

Not to tell you it's not worth it- I won't do that. I do reload Target/Promo level shells but that is because it was hard to find any for the longest time. Even now, when available, they are 109/Case of 250 at Dunhams instead of the 50/Case of 250 they were in 2020 and before.
the biggest expense is the lead shot, that is what is driving the cost for me. Your Remington Gun club are actually a decent hull to use as well.
Get a copy of the Lyman 5th Edition Shotshell reloading handbook and you can see which hull/wad/powder/primer combination is available for your components.

I don't save any money really for 250 shells. It's currently a wash, if lead prices come down, then it's a different story.
at this point, I bought another 4 cases at 109/case to get me into June Territory and see if Lead Shot comes down any...so far it hasn't locally.
my 2 cents and based on the prices I found while getting setup for 12 gauge reloading here.

Yes, I think you'll save a bit and have some fun same as with rifle and pistol providing you can find the components you want.

01KLR650 said:

I probably don't need more than 200 shells a month, if that. Is it worth it to reload for 12 gauge?

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No. To actually save money reloading shotgun shells these days, you have to buy components in bulk; Shot by the ton, wads by the case (5000) primers by the sleeve (5000) and powder in 8# kegs, if you can find all of the above.

e rex said:

Yes, I think you'll save a bit and have some fun same as with rifle and pistol providing you can find the components you want.

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I'd be interested to know how you're doing so, without having bought your components years ago.

01KLR650 said:

Winchester AA Target Loads seemed to be mentioned a lot as good candidates for reloading.

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If you decide to start reloading, yes, AA's & Remington STS are the best to load. Remington Gun Club and Clay and Target hulls are also OK, though they have steel bases.

When I reloaded shot shells I found that a Lee Load All was fine for 200-250 shot shells a month.

Also, I would buy bags of chilled lead shot for my loads. I'm told it's superior to the soft lead found in the bargain shells.

Primers for common shells are 209s.
Its the wad that are different.
Get a shot shell reloading manual.
For now, buy a bunch of the same brand & size factory shells.
Look in your new manual to see what wads you need & buy a bag.

As far as a press goes, you can get a Lee Load-All they're pretty cheap.
But I can't recommend them. Their inexpensive, but you get what you pay for.
If I were starting over, I'd save up & get a MEC 600 Jr Mark V in what ever caliber you shoot

Every time i did the math it was going to cost more to reload than to buy.

Starter52 said:

When I reloaded shot shells I found that a Lee Load All was fine for 200-250 shot shells a month.

Also, I would buy bags of chilled lead shot for my loads. I'm told it's superior to the soft lead found in the bargain shells.

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Chilled shot is soft shot. Maybe a little tin.

About a tossup. Unless you have a great source of primers, shot and powder you won't be doing much reloading. Not like the days, not that far back, of $5 shot, $2.50/100 primers and $75/8# of Red Dot.
Powder today, $35 and up per #. Shot, $45-60/25#. Primers, $60-100+/1000.
Factory shells, cheap ones $10+ tax.
I've got about two years of old stuff left after I shoot up what is loaded for this year.
Ain't the best time to start reloading.

I am still reloading even at today's prices as it is even hard to get promo shells for the 2 youngins. Plus better quality control. Using shotshell reloading calculator, 1oz loads are $6.85 a box and 1.125oz are $7.32, assuming free hulls and using the high end prices quoted ab0ve: Powder $35 per #, Shot, $60/25#, Primers, $100/1000. YMMV

It's not really worth it unless you do lots of testing and get cray tight patterns.
Wads are still cheap and plentiful.

You may not save as much as you could have in the past, but for the past few years it was hard to get anything. There is a lot to be said for being able to make your own.

12 ga isn’t really worth it. .410 and 28 ga are another matter.

On e you get the shot, you know you can make shells.

I’ve loaded shotgun since the “70s.”

Back then it was all about producing a duck load that could out perform factory, cheaper.

Then in the “90s” I did it for sporting clays, making load specific for the targets I was shooting.

I got out of it for years since factory was so cheap, and I was busy.

Today, I’m getting back into it. Not to save $$$. But so I can have shells when I need them.

And better shells. My go to chukar load is 1 1/4 oz #6 @ 1350 fps. I can put a gas seal under the wad, gain 100 fps, at the same price.

If you’re serious about this, go to Ballistic Products and get one of their manuals.

I used to be a Win AA or Rem STS guy. When I learned the advantages of a straight wall shot shell case, I upped my game immensely. And the wads available enhance that even further.

That said, I have 2 5 gallon buckets of AA cases I will use someday.

I load for skeet, sporting clays, and a very informal (but FUN) Annie Oakley game. Loading is fun, and allows me to tailor my rounds to my needs. It also saves me a bit of $, but...

1 - I was very fortunate to have been gifted some MEC Sizemaster presses, so I don't have to factor the expense of that equipment into my rounds. You can recover those costs after a bit of time, but it will take a while...
2 - I don't factor in the time of loading, as I consider it recreational. Others may feel differently.
3 - Reclaimed shot is the key to savings. Without it, loading vs. buying cheap target loads by the flat is essentially a wash.

If I consider only components, my 1 oz 12GA costs are:

Reclaimed Shot - $.09
(compared to Eagle - $.18, West Coast - $.19)

Powder:
WST - $.10
700X - $.06
Vectan D20 - $.07

Down Range or Clay Buster Wad - $.03 - $.04

Cheddite 209 Primer - $.05

Hulls - $0.00 (I get all I need from the skeet and sporting clays ranges)

Have fun!

I have loaded 12 Ga Federal Gold Medals with #8 for about 7.00/25 shells, but I have found the real savings is in 00 buck and slug shells (I cast the 00 and slug myself). I can easily produce 1 oz slug shells for .22 each using the same hulls.

I was about to flip the switch on the shot reloading about two years ago, and we all remember a couple things happening a couple years ago. At the time the wife was shooting sporting clays at a tune of ~100 rounds per outing, Two outings per week and it added up real quick. Then lies about russian collusion to cover up the truth about another guys russian collusion and some over blown virus and that all got put on hold.

We still have not been back to shoot clays but once in that two years. Just too hard to find anything.....real shame.

At the volume I was shooting it would have been worth it at those prices, at current prices it would still be worth it, but at current availability it is just not possible. We have a few years to go.

About 16 months ago, I made the decision to resume reloading for rifles. Did so out of concern that chronic shortages of factory ammo could become permanent. If one has the components and ability to reload, you would always have ammo to shoot. Same now goes for shotguns, which I started doing nearly 50 years ago.

So about a year ago, while looking for rifle powder, bullets, etc, I dropped by Full Circle Reloading in St. Charles, MO. A year ago, they had very little for metallica, but had all you wanted for shotguns. Wads, primers, powder and shot. Fast forward one year, and that has all changed. Reloading is now cheaper than even the promo stuff and owner tells me every guy with a loader has pulled it out of the closet, dusted it off and is looking for components, so those have now been wiped out.

In modern era, reloading for shotgun seems to be borderline chaos. The promo stuff is all over the board.......plus factor in what folks refer to as "the Euro trash". What used to be reliably sized durable brass heads are now odd sizes of thin steel heads. Primers may or may not fit......base heights all over the place. Wads no longer offered by Win, Rem or Federal and instead are made by 3rd parties as clones (Claybuster or Downrange) and even those are not to a standard size. Only modern era US primers I've seen are Federal 209A, which are a bit larger in diameter and a snug fit in most US hulls. A possible sub is from Cheddite.....an Italian made primer but now to US specs. That is if you can find them.

As to OP's question........in modern era.......Remington STS or Nitro.........appear to be the best made hulls for reloading. Federal is said to be offering a new shell called High Overall (HOA) that comes off same line as Rem STS and is said to be identical except for color of plastic and headstamp These premium hulls can be reloaded many times. Perhaps 8 to 10. What WAS also the case with Win AA compression formed hulls. These days, Win AA HS are better than the promo stuff, but not as good as the CF once were. Load data suggest some crossover between AA CF and AA HS, but don't count on it. The Rem stuff appears to have a smaller diameter hull. So wads that fit those best (DownRange) are a loose fit in Win AA. Stack heights all over the place. Not all primers fit Gun Clubs easily, etc.

So, having said all that.......if you stick with one brand of hull.......say Rem STS.......find the right primer and powder that works, wad that works, stock up in bulk........stock up on shot...........you can reliably reload these for a long, long time, and currently do that for less than factory. In case of STS, about half of what those currently cost.

Otherwise, stick to the cheap promo stuff, if you can find it......and leave those empty hulls on the ground. Assume those are one and done. They are intended to be cheap, flimsy one use hulls, so treat them accordingly.

The problem with shotshell reloading is you don't need to until the store bought supply isn't there. So I learned during COVID. Not as hard as it would seem. I even learned how to cast my own double oh with good results.

As long as I'm not LOSING money, I'll continue to reload 12 ga. I also reload 410. I consider reloading a separate hobby and enjoy the fun and relaxation of reloading.

Where you come ahead is when your loading premium ammo. You still have to buy in bulk to get the best pricing. The security is you can load for when none is available. Like it's kind of been for the last 2 yrs. Price does not mean a whole lot if you can get it.

I was going through my dad's stuff and found some old 109 primers, almost a full brick. Don't know if I will ever use them. May make a good propellant for wax/plastic bullets.

It depends on the load you want to shoot. Twelve gauge reloads cost me at least as much as Walmart value packs, but that's not what I load. My preferred loads mimic the performance of much more expensive STS loads. I can tell the difference between the two types in my scores at trap and sporting clays. In addition, I enjoy making my own ammo and being able to do so regardless of the supply/demand conditions at the retail level. Not to mention that it gives me yet another excuse to accumulate preposterous stocks of supplies during the good times.