Reload or no reload?

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elkhuntingfool

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Starting to shoot clays quite a bit - so is my son. We are going through a case a week - maybe a week and a half. I'm finding cases for around $35-40 per case. However, I'm wondering if reloading is going to be cheaper?

Opinions?

Thanks!
 
Not a shotgun reloader myself, thought about it and did some word of mouth research. Some of the old dogs who had been reloading for decades claimed it's now cheaper to buy them loaded. The only advantage I see is the ability to monkey with the loads...
 
Shot is hard to find in Kansas right now. A dealer friend says he expects it to be selling for around $50 a bag by the time he can get another shipment in.
And he doesn't know when that will be!

With Estate target loads still under $35 a case, I can't afford to reload them anymore.

1224.jpg
rcmodel
 
Well, the Catch-22 is this.

12 Gauge ammo is cheap to buy and easy to find. It's probably the most expensive to reload, except for the hulls, which you can get for free if you're even slightly resourceful. But 1 1/8 oz. of lead costs more than 7/8 or 3/4, and 20 grains of powder costs more than 15, plain and simple.

28 Gauge ammo is so expensive to buy, and so much cheaper to reload, it's a no-brainer, regardless of component prices.

12 isn't, though.

I reload 12 for trap league. I can load competition-quality loads with top-quality shot for the price of bulk shells at Wally World. But not for significantly cheaper. They're just better.

Unless you have a job making 50 cents an hour, it's just not worth it, when you figure the time it takes. It could be a fun thing to do with your son, but it also might take away from other "quality time".

I'd run the numbers, to be sure. Comparing apples to apples (STS Nitro's vs. high-end reloads), yes reloading is cheaper and you can get EXCELLENT loads tailored to your gun.

However, you have to ask, "Do I care?" My trap loads will bust clays with authority with an IC choke 50-60 yards away. But so what? For having fun on the weekend, do you need perfect patterns? Or can you just change chokes and accept a slightly worse pattern? Will you even notice?

I can't say that I really notice, when shooting. I shoot an after-work trap league, though, and loading my own gives me a bit more confidence when shooting, and it takes away something I could blame if I miss.:) For casual fun shooting, who cares?
 
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Do some research on what you can buy components for and then use this calculator to figure out if you will save enough money to make reloading worth it. http://www.trapshooters.com/rlcalcadv.htm
Click to expand...

Ran the numbers - around $7/box to reload versus <$4/box from the store. These are target loads - not hunting loads. I have been able to find 6 shot 20ga for $3.99/box - not bad.
 
Well, there are better sources for components than whatever you used to get those numbers. Even STS Magnum shot, which is the top-notch stuff, isn't that expensive. And you learn quickly what powders really give you bang for the buck. A lot of them are silly expensive for shotshells. Also, there are really good wads that aren't Remingtons or Winchesters: these two charge too much for wads.

All of that said, you'd have a hard time reloading good shells for less than $4/box with current lead prices, and that's not considering the price of the reloading equipment. That's what I was trying to say.
 
I hear you on the other places to buy components - I'll have to keep digging around. Lead prices are going up - I think I'll just start buying the components and reload anyhow. More for the fun and trying diffrent loads.

I have been hearing that ammo prices are going to jump tremendously in 2008.
Rumor has it that a case of 12ga could jump to $50-55/case. :what::what:
 
Already paying $50 a case at my club , and that's the cheapest in town.
That's for estates, rio's, and gun clubs depending on what they have from week to week. Outside that all the stores around here are getting 6.50 to
$8.00 a box.....that's an average of $70 a case. It's went from $35.00 to $50. at the club in 1 yr and their still the cheapeast around town.

If they dont stop the escalation soon it's gonna be a rich mans sport.
As for reloading, I did the research and found the savings to be minor. Talked to the reloaders and most say you cant save much on 12ga. although there are still a few that say they save a buck and a half a box.......I think those guys dont want to do the math or are using stuff they've had stored for yrs.

On the other side game loads with more powder, more shot and illegal velocities for trap can be had a lot cheaper here (as much as a buck and a half a box). So is it really components or is it supply and demand?

I was tempted a few times to buy some game loads , but the thoughts of 11/8 loads backed by 3 1/4 drams of powder had my shoulder aching before I got near the cash register......
 
Lead is the reason why the prices are going up - allegedly :)

I think I'll just start buying the components and not worry about the cost per box - just load and have the rounds available at my disposale. Plus, with me, my son and now my two daughters asking to shoot - I may need the extra ammo for them.

And yes, the news that two of my daughters want to shoot and go bird hunting has made my year!
 
I posted this: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=301989 about a week ago.

12 ga AA's and STS/Nitro's up here are around $60 for a flat (10 boxes) when on sale. I can reload the same quality shell for right around $40 per flat. Savings are a little more on 20 ga (which my daughter shoots). You can buy the cheapie/value packs for aournd $4.00 per box, but you get what you paid for: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=293797

Buy in components in bulk, avoid OEM wads (Nothing But Dust are better WAA12 and WAA12SL wads and are less expensive too.)

Lighter loads (1 ounce and 7/8 ounce) work just as good as 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 ounce loads, once you pattern your gun(s) and if need be change chokes. For just causal shooting, reclaimed shot works just as good as new for anywhere from half to 3/4 the price of new.

As I stated in my other thread. Reloading is another hobby or another aspect of the shooting sports. Great way to spend more time with the kids. If you like to "tinker" (Please use and follow only published recipes from manufacturers) you can find a recipe that works "best" in your each of your gun(s).

Lead prices will come down eventually, probably within the next year.
 
There's a local guy here that shoots a LOT of trap. Buys shot by the ton and divides it up with other shooters. While a ton sounds like a lot, if you shoot a lot and do the math, it works out.

Depending on your loads, it would do between 1,333 and 2,000 boxes. When I go to the clays range, we'll use 6-8 boxes apiece for just casual shooting for one round and some practice. There are some shooters that shoot 5-6 rounds a weekend.

I checked costs. I don't think you can go into the local store, buy shot by the bag and come out ahead.
 
With the increase in shot prices, I am about at break-even on the costs for reloading. However, you can reload a better variety of shells than you can afford to buy.

I am reloading 7/8 oz. target loads for 12 ga., and they are very soft shooting. I can also reload 1 oz. loads and vary the fps for shorter and longer shots. I can reload 9's for skeet and 8's for trap, etc. You get the picture.

The cheapest shells at Wal-Mart and Dick's are not always the shells you want to shoot. I shot some 1 oz. 3.25 dram dove loads for skeet when I ran out of shot to reload, and they kicked pretty hard.

Danny
 
elkhuntingfool,
For practice and breaking clays I would say keep buying by the case when you find a good sale since they are cheaper than you can reload right now. At lease you will end up with plenty of hulls for reloading. For hunting I think you are always better off with the ammo you reload. (of course, if it's done right) When it will count, count on your reloads and you will have a better hunt IMO.
 
Too expensive to reload with the cost of lead now. a 25# bag will cost me $50.00 which is more than I can buy my 1 oz loads for and $4.14 a box.
 
I reload 12Ga mostly because I like to. The factory promo stuff is priced such that there's not much financial incentive to do so. My stuff might be a hair better but I'm not in a position to appreciate the difference.

The progressive I use to reload .41 magnum sits next to the shotshell reloader. The amount I save on metallics carries the freight for the shotshell reloading hobby.

When I was school, I think we used to call that sort of reasoning "rationalization" or "tortured logic". .41 mag savings, even with premium components, can amortize an XL-650 in a couple hours. Paying off the SL-900 with shotshell savings is timed on a scale more appropriate for glaciers or plate tectonics.
 
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