FWIW, Just ran the numbers on my present generic 1200 fps 1oz. 12ga. target loads. NOT 'low' pressure. $3.60/box
That's using clean re-claimed shot, Alliant Promo powder, Clay Buster wads & Winchester 209 primers at what I have to pay for those components, when available, today. Changing to any other powder causes a small price escalation.
If I use new West Coast Magnum lead shot, my cost goes up to $4.41/box
If you load 7/8oz. loads [adequate for most clay target purposes] cost naturally goes down some as it does if you can take advantage of a sale on wads or use less expensive primers.
As a side note, reclaimed shot has larger interstices between the pellets than new. For me to get an honest 1 once/28 grams of reclaimed shot from my MEC charge bars, I have to use the 9/8oz./32 gram bar. All I am saying is that reclaimed shot bulks up more for the same weight in new shot and the amount of antimony used in the shot & its size also affect what you may get as a final thrown weight. Another factor can be the shot's source. You need to weigh it to find out exactly what your equipment is doing with a given type of shot.
In the end, the choice to reload or not gets down to personal time, money and expectation issues. I find it enjoyable, most of the time. .410's can sometimes be a good deal more challenging to load than any of the larger shotgun cartridges. Biggest savings is clearly with the small bores.
I've loaded non-toxic rounds for waterfowl and still hunt those birds a lot during most seasons, but I've found it more expedient for my needs to just buy new as even with multiple days afield the numbers of rounds consumed isn't great & I'm not confronted w/having to explain to a Game Warden why I have no-tox rounds in hulls that were originally loaded w/lead .. spent hulls in particular, could become problematic.
