Disassembling Walmart Promo Shotshell Loads

[jkpq45]

Let's be honest--shotshell reloading components are high-priced; promo shotshells from federal/winchester/remington at walmart are cheap.

Has anyone torn apart these shotshells to harvest the powder, shot and primers? I figure it's got to be cheaper than buying components individually. You'll probably booger up the wad getting it out, so I'll count that as trash.

My walmart sells 1-1/4 oz. 12 ga promo loads for $22.97 plus tax (works out to $24.81 around here) per 100 rounds.

That gives 100 x (1-1/4 oz) #8 or #7.5 birdshot = 7 lbs, 13 oz shot (would cost $12.50 @$40/25 lbs)

Also gives 100 x (conservative estimate of 22 grains powder per shell) = 0.3143 lb powder (would cost $3.93 @ $100/8 lbs)

Also gives 100 x (209 primers) = 100 primers (would cost $4.00 @$40/1000)

Also gives 100 x hulls = 100 hulls (would cost $5 @ $0.05/each once-fired from my supplier)


Sooooo, even counting the wads as trash, we can harvest some value out of these promo loads; shot, powder, primers and hulls total up to $25.43 worth of components (after tax, we've only spent $24.81 on the case o' shells).

This method allows reloading shotshells at low cost--without the initial investment of buying 8 pounds of powder, 25 lbs shot, 1000 primers and a bunch of hulls--especially if, like me, you're a fan of the 7/8 oz or 26 gram 12 ga loads that only take 10-15 grains of powder each.

Some food for thought....

 

[rcmodel]

You ever tried to take apart factory crimped shotshells in large volume?

Unless you saw them in half with a bandsaw, my guess is you will give up after about three or four.

The thing to do with cheap promo loads is to take them out and shoot them.

The cases are reloadable.

rc

 

[Bush Pilot]

I got a headache just thinking about doing what you suggested. Just do what RCM said, the shells were made to shoot, not be torn up for components.

 

[Uniquedot]

You can buy 7/8 oz loads by the case cheaper than you can load them especially if you consider the time it takes to salvage the shot from the promo's and the powder that is used in those 1 1/4 oz loads is too slow for 7/8 loads anyway. I don't buy factory shells because i still have plenty of shot and other components, but at today's prices i couldn't save anything by reloading shotshells except with specialty hunting loads.

 

[ATAShooter]

?????

 

[Chawbaccer]

Shotshell loading is not like metal cartridge re-loading, the data is very specific as to what components to use, no substituting.

 

[brickeyee]

And the powder is not going to be canister grade.

 

[cougar1717]

The time involved negates any material cost savings. Plus, as a reward for your hard work, the components that are harvested are the very, very cheap.

 

[snuffy]

This HAS to be the worst idea I've ever seen. As RC said, it's no easy task to get a shotshell apart. The crimp will resist removal of the wad and the powder is of an unknown type that can't be loaded with any data available. The caution to follow a load given in data exactly is very true.

The shot used in those promo shells is very soft "chilled" shot. If it were premium magnum shot, you'd be paying 2 X the price. Pulling the wads through that hourglass restriction left when you pry open the crimp will certainly trash them. (The crimp only irons out nice and smooth like you see in a fired shell WHEN IT'S FIRED!) The heat and pressure open the crimp quickly and leave it open. So loading that shell won't be possible, even with a new wad.

That leaves you with a powder that CAN'T be used, a shell that can't be loaded and soft shot. You COULD de-cap the live primer and rescue that, but I'm sure the panty waists will come out of the woodwork saying ya'll blow yer hed off!

 

[35 Whelen]

I admire your effort to save money, but here's something to remember: you can handload good quality shotshells equivalent to premium target loads (AA's, STS's etc.) for about the same price as you pay to buy the promo loads. The key is to buy good, high antimony(hard) shot.

35W

 

[gatesbox]

My curiosity is what would you load with all these harvested goodies, you are left with the same quality components, that you started with, without the benefit of a factory crimp... I'm lost as to the benefit even if there was a savings... What would the goal be in the end product, what type of load would magically be created from the carcasses of these cheap loads.....???

About the best I can think to do is save my hulls and simply cut off the top crimp and do elmers glue on top of my over shot card to save a buck or two on hulls...

 

[BeerSleeper]

This method allows reloading shotshells at low cost--without the initial investment of buying 8 pounds of powder, 25 lbs shot, 1000 primers and a bunch of hulls.

You can buy powder in single pound cans, therefore your minimum practically purchasable component order is 1k primers, 1# powder, 25# shot, and wads. If this is level of component inventory is too much for you, you are not a viable candidate for this hobby. If you want to play the game, you gotta pay the ante. It's not high.

 

[BluegrassDan]

Time is money.

 

[chhodge69]

I can get change for a dollar at Walmart too but I haven't gained a thing.

 

[jcwit]

Breaking down assembled factory shotgun shells for the components if foolish IMO.

Might as well go out and purchase components to start with.

Time is money.

This is true only if one is giving up money making time to attempt to save money.

I time money spent watching a football game, or do you cut your lunch time in have so as to make money? Does one give up 4 hours of sleep so as to devote the other 4 hours into a productive cash asset program?

 

[W.E.G.]

This HAS to be the worst idea I've ever seen.

I dunno.

Seems to be running pretty close with the fella who was decapping 9mm range brass by hand so he could cash it in for recycling.

 

[jcwit]

I don't know, there isn't much demand for 9mm around here for reloading. But why deprime it, the primers are brass also.

 

[Master Blaster]

first you need to buy a good shotshell reloading manual and read it twice.
Please do this before you embark on any reloading efforts. The fingers eyes and gun you save may be yours.

 

[JoeMal]

So you are taking apart perfectly good rounds...just to put them back together.

Go shoot, please

 

[brickeyee]

But why deprime it, the primers are brass also.

The scrap yards are not usually very happy with live primers in the brass they purchase.

A few will not even purchase shells for fear of getting a live round or primer.

 

[glenns]

What do you not like about the factory loads?

 

[JohnM]

I think the OP understands that his idea isn't going anywhere.

 

[jcwit]

The scrap yards are not usually very happy with live primers in the brass they purchase.

But range brass is usually fired brass with an inert primer, no?

 

[Bush Pilot]

I think the OP understands that his idea isn't going anywhere.

This is the time we all come together and pile on, it's a tradition.

 

[apachejack]

If everyone will notice, he didn't say he did it,,,,, I think he did exactly what his intentions were. He stirred the pot to see what would come to the top.