Thinking about reloading shotshells

[mokin]

I go back and forth on this. I got into loading shot shells six or seven years ago. At that time, it was less expensive to buy cheap ammo and toss the hulls. Over the course of a few years though, I've managed to accumulate a couple thousand Remington STS hulls and find a couple recipes I like. At this point, I think I save money on one ounce loads and I have them available.

Buying in bulk and using reclaimed shot will save a lot of money.

 

[Skeptic13]

A friend gave me a MEC 600 a few years ago so I started reloading 12 ga. I really enjoy reloading for shotgun but I don't necessarily do it to save money. I do it more for the flexibility it offers me for picking shot size, load weight and powder charge. I also think that I get more consistent loads. I have been able to find all of the components I need with a little effort and plan on continuing to reload for shotgun.

As far as hulls go it took me a little time researching to completely understand the differences in hull construction because I thought that all hulls were created equal. And boy was I wrong. I ended up ordering a bunch of once fired Winchester AA hulls which are fairly easy to find on the internet and I do all my reloading with them. I know there are a few others of equal quality so just do your research before you start reloading.

 

[RealGun]

Not the best time to find shotshell primers. I wouldn't spend any money on reloading shells until you have primers in hand.

 

[Fishtales]

Agree with Real Gun on primers. Gunbroker sometimes has them. If you should decide to go for it, a single stage unit like the MEC 250 I bought in 1970 is a good place to start as it is one operation at a time-deprime/resize, prime, drop powder, you insert the wad and push it down with the reloader, drop shot and crimp. This way you can watch every step of the way (Igraduated to MEC 650 20 gauge in 1985 and 12 gauge in 1986 when I found good deals on them). Make sure you buy a shotgun handloading book to refer to its reloading tables-do not overload the recommended powder weights. Lyman's books are usually readily available. I have reloaded 12 and 20 gauge shells (AA only) since starting and most of my accumulated hulls have been from the 70's-80's era (I inherited several thousand once fired hulls when a serious trap shooting friend from that era retired from shooting, but will probably never get around to loading them). Some of the 20's have been reloaded 10-15 times (yes I was poorer then than I am now). Since most of my loads were heavy, 1 oz for 20 and 11/4 oz for 12, I used Herco and Unique. Those powders are much more difficult to find these days. The guys that shot clays usually loaded Green Dot or Red Dot for their 11/8 oz loads. I have seen more of those powders on the web (such as Gunbroker) than the other two. Used 7.5 shot for birds (including pheasants) and clays. Bought two bags of Eagle Brand shot about 8 months ago. Not cheap but bought two so I didn't have to pay freight which would have added another $30.00 to the cost of one bag. Price has dropped somewhat since then, but not by much. Claybuster wads are available. One does not save the money on reloaded shells like one used to (think $5.00 per bag of shot in the old days), but for the past 2 years reloading has been (almost) the only way to have ammo on hand. Once you get started and get the hang of it you will find it is a great hobby. Be safe.

 

[01KLR650]

Agree with Real Gun on primers. Gunbroker sometimes has them. If you should decide to go for it, a single stage unit like the MEC 250 I bought in 1970 is a good place to start as it is one operation at a time-deprime/resize, prime, drop powder, you insert the wad and push it down with the reloader, drop shot and crimp. This way you can watch every step of the way (Igraduated to MEC 650 20 gauge in 1985 and 12 gauge in 1986 when I found good deals on them). Make sure you buy a shotgun handloading book to refer to its reloading tables-do not overload the recommended powder weights. Lyman's books are usually readily available. I have reloaded 12 and 20 gauge shells (AA only) since starting and most of my accumulated hulls have been from the 70's-80's era (I inherited several thousand once fired hulls when a serious trap shooting friend from that era retired from shooting, but will probably never get around to loading them). Some of the 20's have been reloaded 10-15 times (yes I was poorer then than I am now). Since most of my loads were heavy, 1 oz for 20 and 11/4 oz for 12, I used Herco and Unique. Those powders are much more difficult to find these days. The guys that shot clays usually loaded Green Dot or Red Dot for their 11/8 oz loads. I have seen more of those powders on the web (such as Gunbroker) than the other two. Used 7.5 shot for birds (including pheasants) and clays. Bought two bags of Eagle Brand shot about 8 months ago. Not cheap but bought two so I didn't have to pay freight which would have added another $30.00 to the cost of one bag. Price has dropped somewhat since then, but not by much. Claybuster wads are available. One does not save the money on reloaded shells like one used to (think $5.00 per bag of shot in the old days), but for the past 2 years reloading has been (almost) the only way to have ammo on hand. Once you get started and get the hang of it you will find it is a great hobby. Be safe.

Thanks for your reply. I found a case of #8 AA shells today, so I'll have some hulls to start reloading. I have some Red Dot, Unique, and Clays on hand that I bought before everything got crazy, so it sounds like primers are the big problem.

Did you get your shot from Rotometals? I saw that they have a free freight offer on two 25lb bags. Like you say, not cheap.

 

[Saluki91]

Thanks for your reply. I found a case of #8 AA shells today, so I'll have some hulls to start reloading. I have some Red Dot, Unique, and Clays on hand that I bought before everything got crazy, so it sounds like primers are the big problem.

Did you get your shot from Rotometals? I saw that they have a free freight offer on two 25lb bags. Like you say, not cheap.

Free advice being worth what you paid...
1 - Primers
Federal 209 are starting to pop up with regularity on Brownells, Powder Vlley, etc. However, they are pretty proud of them.
Cheddite 209 are available much more consistently, and comparatively speaking, at a reasonable price. Ballistic Products seems to be a reliable source, and often runs a discount on shipping or Haz Mat. That being said, my LGS has them on the shelf right now. Shop around locally before you buy from an e-tailer.
Rio and Fiocchi have also started to appear.
I haven't seen a Winchester 209 for sale in a few years.
2 - Shot
Check with your local clubs about reclaimed availability. You may get lucky. If not, ask at the same clubs about group buys. Several guys can go in together on a pallet of shot, and save $$$. They may also be able to direct you to smaller vendors, gunsmiths, etc. who sell reloading components, but may not have the same public profile as the big name stores. I was shocked to learn how many guys within 100 miles of my house sell components out of a home shop. The bulletin board in clubhouse at my skeet club is a treasure trove of information!

Good luck!

 

[entropy]

I haven't seen a Winchester 209 for sale in a few years.

And you won't for at the minimum, a year.

 

[cfullgraf]

When I was shooting skeet competively in the 1990,s, reloading shot shells allowed me to practice more. I reloaded 12, 20, and 28’guages as well as 410 bore. I’d shoot factory in the matches to generate hulls for practice.

I enjoy reloading as a hobby unto itself so even though cheap factory ammunition is available, I prefered to “roll my own”.

One advantage to reloading is you can load shells and loads that are difficult to find regularly in the commercial market.

I focus on one brand of hull for each gauge. Having a bunch of different brands of hulls is a pain as it requires some adjustment of the press for each hull and wad change. When I was competing, I used 20 ga Rem RXP hulls, 28 ga WAA hulls, and WAA 410 hulls. Today, I use WAA hulls in 20 ga.

When I was shooting competively, my 20 ga averages were better than my 12 ga averages so I shot 20 ga in the 12 ga events.

In any case, follow the published recipes. Shot shell reloading is not as flexible as metallic reloading.

The current component shortages interferes with reloading at present untortunately. Primer shortage seems to be the main issue at present. Primers are the only place that I will make a substitution from the published recipe as long as my desired load ends up some where in the middle of the published data range.

I have MEC 600 jr for all the sizes of shells I shoot. Good reloaders particularly for beginners.

I bought a Dillon SL900 a few years ago and it is a great reloader.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I mainly load 28 gauge.
I do have loaders for 12 & 20 gauges
I use the same shot (#8), and primers ( Cheddite or Federal ) for everything.
Mostly reload Winchester AA's, Fiochhi in 28 gauge.
I can still get shot, primers and wads fairly easy ... Shotshell powder is harder to find, especially for 12 gauge.
I can load 500+ rounds of 28 gauge per pound of powder ....

 

[RealGun]

Free advice being worth what you paid...
1 - Primers
Federal 209 are starting to pop up with regularity on Brownells, Powder Vlley, etc. However, they are pretty proud of them.
Cheddite 209 are available much more consistently, and comparatively speaking, at a reasonable price. Ballistic Products seems to be a reliable source, and often runs a discount on shipping or Haz Mat. That being said, my LGS has them on the shelf right now. Shop around locally before you buy from an e-tailer.
Rio and Fiocchi have also started to appear.
I haven't seen a Winchester 209 for sale in a few years.
2 - Shot
Check with your local clubs about reclaimed availability. You may get lucky. If not, ask at the same clubs about group buys. Several guys can go in together on a pallet of shot, and save $$$. They may also be able to direct you to smaller vendors, gunsmiths, etc. who sell reloading components, but may not have the same public profile as the big name stores. I was shocked to learn how many guys within 100 miles of my house sell components out of a home shop. The bulletin board in clubhouse at my skeet club is a treasure trove of information!

Good luck!

Shotshell load data is specific to a brand of primer. If substituting, a reloader is starting over testing.

 

[RealGun]

Free advice being worth what you paid...
1 - Primers
Federal 209 are starting to pop up with regularity on Brownells, Powder Vlley, etc. However, they are pretty proud of them.
Cheddite 209 are available much more consistently, and comparatively speaking, at a reasonable price. Ballistic Products seems to be a reliable source, and often runs a discount on shipping or Haz Mat. That being said, my LGS has them on the shelf right now. Shop around locally before you buy from an e-tailer.
Rio and Fiocchi have also started to appear.
I haven't seen a Winchester 209 for sale in a few years.
2 - Shot
Check with your local clubs about reclaimed availability. You may get lucky. If not, ask at the same clubs about group buys. Several guys can go in together on a pallet of shot, and save $$$. They may also be able to direct you to smaller vendors, gunsmiths, etc. who sell reloading components, but may not have the same public profile as the big name stores. I was shocked to learn how many guys within 100 miles of my house sell components out of a home shop. The bulletin board in clubhouse at my skeet club is a treasure trove of information!

Good luck!

Ballistics Products has specials on items no one wants. Best to read fine print on what is excluded.

 

[Fishtales]

Thanks for your reply. I found a case of #8 AA shells today, so I'll have some hulls to start reloading. I have some Red Dot, Unique, and Clays on hand that I bought before everything got crazy, so it sounds like primers are the big problem.

Did you get your shot from Rotometals? I saw that they have a free freight offer on two 25lb bags. Like you say, not cheap.

Sorry for the late reply, but just got back to the site. Yes to Rotometals. Shot was Eagle brand. Last price I saw was $15.00 less per bag than when I bought it. Congrats on the AA's-after shooting them you now have the hulls. When we started with AA's in 1970 they were #9's. Great on doves and quail (over dogs). Then found that every now and then we encountered pheasants and been reloading 71/2 ever since. Sounds like you have some of the right powders as well and are just about ready to go. Good luck and be safe.

 

[slickracer]

It hasn't really paid to load shotshells at least 20 years. But I still like to load my own since I have the equipment.

 

[Fishtales]

It hasn't really paid to load shotshells at least 20 years. But I still like to load my own since I have the equipment.

When the store shelves are empty, reloading (of any ammo) comes in mighty handy.