Costs for reloading 12 gauge shotshells

[Skinnedknuckles]

I've seen much debate about whether it is cost effective to reload 9mm and I have convinced myself that it is for me. I'm starting to shoot trap and I'm having more trouble justifying reloading 12 gauge for trap and skeet. Best I can see, for the powder, primers, wads, shot, and overwad cards it seems to be about $190-$200 per 1000 1-1/8 oz 12 gauge shells. Since 100 shell boxes at Wal-Mart sell for $22-$23 (a little more than Federal Champion 100 packs of 9mm) I seem to be looking at $20-$30/1000 savings, maybe less. With 9mm I save about $70/1000 over the Wal-Mart pricing (and I was already loading .38 Special so I just needed $35 worth of new dies). Am I missing something about the 12 gauge?

 

[Josh45]

I have heard it is pretty hard to save for 12 Gauge especially since your comparing the bulk pack at wal-mart. I think if you used the premium stuff as your price point then you would be able to justify it more. I also have heard that you cannot substitute componets as much as you can in metallic hand loading.

I am not 100% on this but it is what I have read before. I don't reload any 12 gauge or shot shell for that matter so take my opinion with a grain of salt

 

[JLDickmon]

think green..

when you throw away a thousand of those aluminum-hulled Wally World rounds, you added to your carbon footprint.

When you reload, you at least save the planet the plastic and the brass..

sounded good anyway...

shot is EX-friggin-SPENSIVE right now..

 

[cfullgraf]

I also have heard that you cannot substitute componets as much as you can in metallic hand loading.

Right, it is recommended to stick with the published recipes and not substitute components.

But, most of the published data have recipes for a range of components, maybe not al the components ever made, but enough of a range to provide the reloader with the ability to match a recipe.

It is tough to match the cost of Walmart Blue light special shotshells when reloading. But, you have to wonder if the Walmart stuff matches the performance of the premium ammunition. It is cheap for a reason.

One can reload at a good cost versus premium ammunition. Also, one may wish to load something that is not commercially available, or easily commercially available. Then the cost difference is irrelevant.

I load 7/8 oz 12 gauge shells and i do not see many of them at Walmart.

 

[oneounceload]

OK, maybe we need a sticky regarding shotgun shell reloading and component substitution.

YES, many components are substitutable with other brands. Several brands of hulls are, as are several brands of wads, most primers and even a few powders.
Yes, you can save a lot of money, even reloading 12 gauge for trap - but it is done by buying in bulk - that means primers by the sleeve of 5000 minimum, wads by the case of 5000, powder by the 8# jug and shot by the hundredweight or ton. Want to save even more, and save your shoulder? Drop your shot charge to 7/8oz for trap in a load running 1200 fps - you'll increase your number of reloads per bag of shot by a lot

355 per 25# bag with 1-1/8 loads versus 457 for 7/8 oz loads - that's 4 boxes of ammo more from the same bag of shot

I have been reloading shotgun shells for almost 35 years and I can still reload for almost half what store bought ammo costs, matching quality (or cheapness) with similar components, PLUS I get to tailor my loads to MY liking

 

[Stormin.40]

I am with cfullgraf the savings would only be worth it if you wanted to load specific loads to meet your needs. When I shoot skeet and sporting clays I like 7/8 or 1 oz. loads these are hard to find unless you pay premium prices 7.99 - 8.99/box that's $32-$36/100 rounds.

I don't reload 12 gauge but if I started to shoot more often I would strongly consider it.

 

[tlen]

Last fall I priced out what the difference would be in reloading 12 GA 3-1 1/8-8 Dove loads. I discovered, due to the exceedingly high cost of shot, I could at best save only 25-30 cent a box reloading over comparable quality factory loads on sale at Cabela's or WMT. I ended up just buying 20 boxes of shells on sale and skipped reloading.

 

[fecmech]

As others have said it depends on what load you want. The "promotional" loads at Wally world etc tend to be fairly high recoil loads whether they be 1 oz. or 1 1/8. The 1 oz are 3 3/4 dr loads running 1300 fps and the 1 1/8 run 1200fps+. This translates into a pretty good whack on your shoulder. You can load the 1 oz. load to the target velocity of 1150-1200 fps and have a much more pleasant load to shoot and not give up a bit of target breaking ability. To buy loadings like that will increase your costs about $2./box over the promotional stuff. This is where the savings are at. If you don't mind the recoil, the promotional stuff is fine and good ammo. The main difference between it and Premium stuff is better shot which to a point you can compensate for by going 1 choke tighter (till you run out of choke).I have patterned over 500 patterns over the years and the cheap stuff runs about 10% more open in a given choke then AA's or STS's. So by going 1 choke tighter with the cheap stuff you can pretty much duplicate the "good" stuff, until you run out of choke.