Suggestions for a cheaper shotshell load

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KDS

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Hey guys, I started reloading shot shells last Christmas when a friend got me a bunch of components. I am now out of primers so I started looking to get more and I realized that the cost of reloading isn't much cheaper than what I can buy shells for.

My current load for 12 gauge is Remington gun club hulls (I have a huge supply I got for free so this is fixed) with WAA12 wads, Eagle Magnum 7.5 lead shot, Remington STS primers, and Hodgdon Clays powder. If I do the math, I can reload for around $6.06 per box using Midway USA pricing. I can buy gun club for that price. I am not shooting serious competitions, just shooting clays and trap with friends on weekends. I'd love to reload for cheaper if possible. Is there any way I can get to below $4 per box?

I know many use reloading as a hobby, but I don't have much spare time and I'd rather use it shooting than reloading. If I can't get a significant savings, I will just buy shells.

Any suggestions? Thanks.
 
There is no combination of powder, wads, primers and shot that will get me to $4 a box? Let me also ask this, for those who reload for sporting clays, if it isn't for a cost savings, why do you do it?
 
Alliant Clay Dot is cheaper than Clays $98 per 8lbs (12.25 per pound 18g/shell = 3 cents/shell) , Chedite or Rio primers are cheaper than Remington ($20-$24 per 1000 = 2-2.5 cents per shell). Claybusters wads are half the price of WW ($12 per 500 = 2.5 cents per shell). But even with all these decreases the biggest effect will be to reduce the shot charge. I'm currently paying $37 per 25# bag. You get 400 1 oz loads per bag if you don't spill any (9.25 cents a shell) if you reduce to 3/4 oz you get 533 shells per bag about 7 cents per shell.

Using my load of 18 gr Clay Dot, Claybuster 3/4 oz wad, Chedite primer and 3/4 oz #8's = 15 cents per shell or 3.75 per box

Update: clay dot may have gone up per midway it is $117 / 8lbs or 14.65 per lb = 3.7 cents per shell
Claybuster wad part number = CB0175-12
Fiocchi primers are also $25 per 1000

1 0z load = 18 Cents/ shell or 4.48 per box
 
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As pointed out, the lead shot is the big expense. And, while you can go with a lighter load, since you are shooting clays and trap, I would not recommend anything below 1 ounce loads.

Don
 
First, lose the STS primers and AA wads and go with cheaper components. Clay Buster, DownRange and others make clone wads at HALF the price. Try using Nobelsport or Fiocchi primers at almost half the price. Buy powder by the 8# jug, primers and wads by the cases of 5,000
Drop your shot load to 7/8oz and you'll find your costs start to run closer to $3.50-$4.00 per box.

If you can get reclaimed shot (great for practice), that will cut costs even further. I shoot a 3/4oz 12 gauge load - that gets me 533 loads per bag of shot, or over 5 boxes more than shooting a 1oz reload - I shoot sporting clays, 5-stand and FITASC with these loads, and sometimes the distances can be very great - all I do is choke another .005 tighter and the targets break when the operator does his part.
 
while you can go with a lighter load, since you are shooting clays and trap, I would not recommend anything below 1 ounce loads.
Click to expand...

Why?
 
You can bust clays with 7/8oz loads. Promo powder is probably the cheapest you can get. As was mentioned, there are wads that are much cheaper and work just as well (better, in some cases). Biggest reduction in cost is the lead shot. Other primers are available, Cheddite being one of the cheaper ones.
 
7/8 oz vs 1 oz loads....my primary 12ga load is 1oz at 1225 fps...and I load 1 oz of 8's exclusively for skeet, trap and sporting clays.../ its a load I've used for years in competition and for fun....and just reloading one load, one set of components, one type of hull - just keeps it simple.

But the reality, as I see it, is:

7/8 oz of 8's is about 358 pellets.....and 1 oz of 8's is 409 pellets...so more or less about a 50 pellet count difference.

With the cost of shot heading up to around $40 a bag pretty soon...saving that 1/8 oz of shot will make a little bit of difference...but if you think you're losing targets because of it, then go with 1 oz. 1 oz loads pattern really well....but so do 7/8 oz loads ...

I can't make a rational argument to only load 1 oz over 7/8 oz or even 3/4oz loads ( like a 28ga )..../ and if you're just shooting for fun with your buddies who cares.../ it comes down to what you have confidence in. If I center the pattern, a 3/4 oz load is plenty. The only difference is the pellet count....and while it may take 4 or 5 pellets of #8's to break a clay target....even a 3/4 oz load has about 307 pellets of #8's in it...so if I do my part, that ought to be plenty.

Buy components in bulk ( 8 lb kegs of powder, wads by the case ( 50,000 to a case), primers by the case ( 5,000 to a case )...and even with shot going to $40 a bag pretty soon my :
1 oz loads are $ 4.54 a box
7/8 oz loads are $ 4.08 a box
3/4 oz loads are $ 3.63 a box....
and the cost of shot makes up 55% of our cost to reload....

consider reclaimed shot, consider buying shot by the ton ( 80 bags to a ton ) and sharing it with some of the guys at your club...

If you don't spill any shot......

1 oz loads ....gives you 400 shells out of 1 bag of shot ....or 16 boxes...
7/8 oz loads ....gives you 457 shells out of 1 bag of shot....or 2 more boxes...
3/4oz loads ...gives you 533 shells...out of 1 bag of shot....or 6 more boxes...
 
I'm busting clays on the skeet range and 16 yard trap line with 3/4 oz reclaimed shot and am at $3.40/box.

Primers are $27/k, Powder is $128/8#, wads are $9.70/500 and reclaimed shot is $22/25#. These are after tax prices for quantities listed, not big bulk quantities. I know I can do better with the powder if I used something like Promo instead of Clays, but the big savings are in shot. You don't need 1-1/8 oz shot to smash a clay bird at an average 25 yards (sometimes a lot less). If you are on target, the bird breaks, you don't get extra points for smoking it. If you are off target, a pound of shot isn't going to break it. You can still use 1 or 1.125 oz for important shoots if it gives you more confidence, but knowing that you are getting an extra 12.5 shots per box (or even 7 extra shots per box if you use 7/8) feels pretty good.

If you talk to some of the regular shooters, ask them where they buy their shot. Sometimes clubs can get reclaimed shot by the 55 gallon drum for a good price and split it up.
 
The easiest way to shave off costs is buying in bulk like others have stated. Also, there are plenty of Winchester replacement wads out there for half the cost, the savings add up fast there if you buy by the case. I'm a little under $4 a box using Red Dot, Win Primers, Claybuster wads (didn't buy by the case, just a few bags when they were on sale), and that's even with having to buy lead by the 25lb bags for $40 as I can't find a local lead source. So it's quite possible to get to your target figure.

While USSR brought up not going under 1oz, I am comfortable running 7/8oz all day in my guns, but it took a while for me to find the perfect load that patterns the same in all of them and gave me the pattern I wanted to bust clays. To each their own I guess.

BTW what press are you using to load up these? Just curious what your time usage is currently.
 
I am loading Rem gun club and STS hulls with one ounce loads to keep my cost down. Using Cheddite primers and 18g of Red Dot powder and Claybuster CB 1100-12 wads (WAA12SL)
I buy in bulk when I do. Usually 16# of powder and 5K primers and watch for sales.

One oune loads gets me about 2 more boxes out of a 25# bag of shot.
 
Thanks for all the comments. Lerk, I am using an old MEC reloader that a friend gave me. I'm not sure what model it is but it works pretty good. My time is limited because I work full time and am going to school. That said, I have enjoyed the reloading I have done so far and will continue to reload, but one of the justifications to the wife was saving money. I want to keep that promise if I can. I plan to order powder by the 8 lb can and primers 5000 at a time. Do you have to pay separate hazmat fees if you order primer and powder at the same time from the same place?
 
Clay Buster wads for sure. Also, once you drop below 1 oz (if you have a semi auto, you will want to function test because they may not cycle), 7/8oz and 3/4oz are very soft shooting rounds. My scores didn't drop much either. You can shoot what amounts to a mid range 20ga round while using the more available 12ga Hull out of a less constricted tube. I've been quite happy with this setup. Also, wad, shot, and powder selection can remain a fixed constant. Buying el cheap-o target rounds can be a crap shoot.
 
I use reclaimed shot and it brings the box price down considerably. But I get my reclaimed extremely cheap, $10.00 - $15.00 per 25 lb bag when available, and we have to provide our own bag. They don't sell to anyone other than club users. When I lived n Sioux Falls our local club out there did the same thing, so maybe check around for a club in your area that does this too? It's become a pretty common thing.

GS
 
Unlike centerfire reloading most shotshell reloading isn't done for the money it saves but for how accurate the shotshells are and being able to custom load exactly what you're looking for. Of course that's only my opinion but it's what I've seen over the years.

I also agree you're using very expensive components and there's money to be saved finding less expansive components. There are very good parts out there for less money.
 
KDS- No, it odesn't matter if you mix and match components on your Hazmat fee. You pay the Hazmat fee once, it covers so many pounds worth of hazardardous goods (something like 75libs is covered IIRC). So as long as you do not buy enough poundage to go over that limit, you're golden. If you do go over the limit, then you simple having to pay for another license. Specific items on it do not matter, all it is concerned with is the total weight.
 
Lerk said:
KDS- No, it odesn't matter if you mix and match components on your Hazmat fee. You pay the Hazmat fee once, it covers so many pounds worth of hazardardous goods (something like 75libs is covered IIRC). So as long as you do not buy enough poundage to go over that limit, you're golden. If you do go over the limit, then you simple having to pay for another license. Specific items on it do not matter, all it is concerned with is the total weight.
Click to expand...
That's not always true. Stores like Midway USA don't stock powder and they have the powder drop-shipped. They have to charge you 2 hazmat fees because you are shipped two packages. You are correct for stores who ship everything you order from their warehouse.

NOTE, Midway will charge you $27.50 Hazmat and $9.99 drop shipping fee when you order powder from them and another $27.50 plus S&H on the primers you order too.
 
Find a local range that will sell reclaimed shot, Might need to tumble it with some graphite powder or buy it already classified and graphited. Buy the largest lot you can afford to amortize the shipping across the most weight. You'll be paying for weight not space as 70# of shot is half of a medium flat rate box. Buy it by the pallet or half-drum at a time.

Rotometals sells reclaim shot that is washed and graphited already...1000# reclaimed shot in 25# bags is $1599 including freight.

Use the cheapest primers you can get- $25/k for Fiocchi iirc.

Alliant PROMO powder is $10 a pound in 8# JUGS at my local gunstore in stock- no hazmat or shipping- with their 10% off discount they run annually. I buy 8# every year. Loads to Red Dot data by weight and works fine in shotshells and pistol.

Use the cheaper wads you buy in bulk. Claybusters or the cheaper white label wads. Look on Craigslist and garage sales for people getting out of reloading. Post a WTB ad at your range.

Get your hulls for free from the range.

You can get under $4 a box that way.
 
Quote:
while you can go with a lighter load, since you are shooting clays and trap, I would not recommend anything below 1 ounce loads.

Quote:
Why?
Experience with both sports friend, experience.
Click to expand...

I use 3/4oz for practice and save the 1oz stuff for factory loads at registered shoots only. Since I shoot 3X as much practice as factory, the savings are substantial, and the targets break fine

Do you have to pay separate hazmat fees if you order primer and powder at the same time from the same place?
Click to expand...
No, UNLESS you order from Midway. Midway does not stock powder - they have it drop shipped from Powder Valley, so you will get hit with two Hazmats - HINT - just order from Powder valley.....or Gamaliel...or too many others to list
 
Thanks everyone, this was very helpful. I will take all this info and see what I can come up with for a load that works in my semis.
 
My dad mentioned working with guys who use .410 inserts in their over/under 12 gauges in order to cut the cost of reloading components (I think that's why they do it anyways).

I googled it and I think I found what he's talking about:
http://www.hi-vel.com/Catalog__25/12_ga__to__410___20_ga__Adapte/12_ga__to__410___20_ga__adapte.html

My dad and I quit reloading over the cost. We could make a box of reloaded AA's or XX can't remember for about $1.85 or so back in the mid 90s. That made it worth it. But when we quit (1998 or so) it was about the same price as a box of Walmart low brass Federal or Winchester cheapies.
 
Yeah but now finding a box at Walmart is next to impossible (at least in my area in California). The whole ammo stock is wiped out. When they do get shotgun shells in, they are gone in an hour. 22 are even worse. I think people in California are so scared of the libs taking their guns/ammo away, people are hording and buying up everything in site. This is the reason I'm thinking about reloading for my 12 gauge. I already reload for my 9mm, 38, 44 magnum. Right now about my only option is buying shotshells online and then paying a heavy shipping fee. 10 boxes with shipping is around $100. Makes thinking about reloading shot shell attractive.
 
oneounceload said:
. I shoot a 3/4oz 12 gauge load - that gets me 533 loads per bag of shot, or over 5 boxes more than shooting a 1oz reload
Click to expand...

I dont want to nitpick here but if you are shooting a 3/4 oz load...shouldnt you change your screen name?:scrutiny:
 
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