oneounceload
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Well, as long as you are using PUBLISHED recipes....if you aren't THAT would be very BAD advice
Well, this is dissilusioning (reloads vs. commercial pricing)
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Well, as long as you are using PUBLISHED recipes....if you aren't THAT would be very BAD advice
Sure, you can load quality rounds with a 600, just like you can load good rifle-specific rounds with a neck sizing die. But if you have multiple guns in the same bore, with slightly different chamber sizes, particularly repeaters, you'll have a fun time... BTDTHTTS.
The extra money for a Sizemaster is well worth it to get to-spec shells every time, effortlessly, that's what I'm saying. And a friend of mine with a Mec without the collet sizer ended up getting a separate one -- which costs more than the price difference between the presses. Now it's a separate process to size his shells. No thanks. But they finally do feed in all his guns.
The extra money for a Sizemaster is well worth it to get to-spec shells every time, effortlessly, that's what I'm saying. And a friend of mine with a Mec without the collet sizer ended up getting a separate one -- which costs more than the price difference between the presses. Now it's a separate process to size his shells. No thanks. But they finally do feed in all his guns.
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Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
For what I spend upon components, I can buy Gun Clubs. But, mine are better loads by far. A 7/8 oz load of mine outperforms the Remingtons and kicks less, always a factor when your shoulder's been on the receiving end for more than fifty years.
AB, my reloads work in all six 12 gauge shotguns here. And I use a 600.
AB, my reloads work in all six 12 gauge shotguns here. And I use a 600.
WRT the accounting...
I can't load quality shells for $3.07 a box. Maybe I haven't tried hard enough, but I'm looking at $3.50 minimum and more like $4.00. But I'll take $3.07 as my working number. The closest Sporting Clays range to my house charges $35 per 100 rounds. To go farther just burns up a lot of gas, which costs $3.00/gallon. So let's take $35/100 as the price to shoot Sporting Clays. At $3.07/box, that's $12.28 per 100 rounds, or $1228 for 10,000 rounds. That 10,000 rounds would cost $3500 to shoot, if it's Sporting Clays. Skeet is cheaper, but I believe we're talking about Clays. Add at least $200 for tips.
Total cost $4928 for 10,000 rounds, round numbers would be $5000.
So, if I pay $4.80/box, that's $18.60 for 100 rounds, or $1860 for 10,000. $3500 for tickets, $200 for tips.
Total cost $5560, round numbers $5600.
600 bucks is 600 bucks, but we're looking at a 12% savings here. That might be worth it, or not, but it's a fact that someone who is looking to reload in order to shoot for a dramatically lower overall cost will be disappointed. And that's worth looking at, before spending too much money on equipment.
Personally, I think there's genuine value in understanding what's inside a shotshell. Experience with handloading has intrinsic benefits. That doesn't necessarily mean that loading every round I shoot has a good cost/benefit ratio. YMMV.
And Fiochhi's 7/8 oz. loads work great IME.
As I said, I haven't seen STS shot for sale in a while at any price. That stuff performs quite well. I'd reload if I got the stuff for a good price. If I'm loading mediocre shot, I can do as well with other loads. I haven't shot Gun Clubs in a while. Federal Top Guns work pretty well, as do some others, and I haven't paid more than 5 bucks a box for any of the few hundred boxes of practice ammo I have at home right now. Haven't tried the Kents yet, but they sure work well for the guys who have -- very good shooters.
I can't load quality shells for $3.07 a box. Maybe I haven't tried hard enough, but I'm looking at $3.50 minimum and more like $4.00. But I'll take $3.07 as my working number. The closest Sporting Clays range to my house charges $35 per 100 rounds. To go farther just burns up a lot of gas, which costs $3.00/gallon. So let's take $35/100 as the price to shoot Sporting Clays. At $3.07/box, that's $12.28 per 100 rounds, or $1228 for 10,000 rounds. That 10,000 rounds would cost $3500 to shoot, if it's Sporting Clays. Skeet is cheaper, but I believe we're talking about Clays. Add at least $200 for tips.
Total cost $4928 for 10,000 rounds, round numbers would be $5000.
So, if I pay $4.80/box, that's $18.60 for 100 rounds, or $1860 for 10,000. $3500 for tickets, $200 for tips.
Total cost $5560, round numbers $5600.
600 bucks is 600 bucks, but we're looking at a 12% savings here. That might be worth it, or not, but it's a fact that someone who is looking to reload in order to shoot for a dramatically lower overall cost will be disappointed. And that's worth looking at, before spending too much money on equipment.
Personally, I think there's genuine value in understanding what's inside a shotshell. Experience with handloading has intrinsic benefits. That doesn't necessarily mean that loading every round I shoot has a good cost/benefit ratio. YMMV.
And Fiochhi's 7/8 oz. loads work great IME.
As I said, I haven't seen STS shot for sale in a while at any price. That stuff performs quite well. I'd reload if I got the stuff for a good price. If I'm loading mediocre shot, I can do as well with other loads. I haven't shot Gun Clubs in a while. Federal Top Guns work pretty well, as do some others, and I haven't paid more than 5 bucks a box for any of the few hundred boxes of practice ammo I have at home right now. Haven't tried the Kents yet, but they sure work well for the guys who have -- very good shooters.
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rbernie
Contributing Member
The 600 Jr has a base sizer that returns the hull's base to specification without fail; it's just not a collet style sizer. The 650, on the other hand, has neither.
I'm guessing that you typed 600 when you meant 650.
The 600 sizer mushes down the base, and sizing with the Sizemaster isn't a separate process. It just plain works better with no nuisance, and IMO it's worth spending a few more bucks, particularly if you want to scrounge hulls that have steel bases. When we're talking about loading shells at what amounts to less than minimum wage, the quick, easy, and PERFECT results from the Sizemaster are the way to go IMO.
I had a couple of 650s once. Those really did suck, for more reasons than that. Definitely go for a 9000 if you really think a progressive is the way you want to go, or get something fancy like a P-W, but man these days it would take a long time for that to pay off. It'd be wonderful in 28, though.
When we're talking about loading shells at what amounts to less than minimum wage, the quick, easy, and PERFECT results from the Sizemaster are the way to go IMO.I had a couple of 650s once. Those really did suck, for more reasons than that. Definitely go for a 9000 if you really think a progressive is the way you want to go, or get something fancy like a P-W, but man these days it would take a long time for that to pay off. It'd be wonderful in 28, though.
oneounceload
member
You probably won't get to my number, AB, because I am loading 3/4 oz loads - that starts to get the savings in there - but I also do it because I hate recoil as does my wife who is just starting to shoot sporting (those spouses DO make up over 50% of the population, we need them to have this survive). She currently shoots the most expensive gun in my household - a $1400 Beretta semi (all of my guns have been bought a while ago) and my 3/4 oz loads work that gun - even with it's 3-1/2" chamber - and she is having fun - I can't BUY 3/4oz loads in 12 gauge, so reloading is the best option. I am going to try a flat of the Kemen 7/8 that just came out - only 1200 fps and not the International speed - and will see how they do.
Even at ONLY $600 dollars savings - for me, at $30/100 - that is 20 more times to go sporting, or a good chunk to pay off her gun!..
Even at ONLY $600 dollars savings - for me, at $30/100 - that is 20 more times to go sporting, or a good chunk to pay off her gun!..
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