The driving factor behind the cost of bagged lead shot and a partial reason for the ridiculous cost of high quality shotshells is the cost of the base metals used in shot manufacture. To a lesser extent, the cost of transportation plays a role.
Lead hovers around $1 a pound and has done so for quite some time.
Antimony, used to harden the alloy, is currently at an all time high. The primary source is China.
Depending on grade and location, antimony can cost between $10 and $50 a POUND.
The Shanghai metals market shows as of today $22,522 per metric ton (2205 pounds) for 99.65% Sb ingot.
A bag of 6% antimony shot would have roughly $15 of this now precious metal along with about $24 of lead.
Add to this the cost of processing, transport, honest profit and scalping and we have the situation we're in today.
Don't expect this to get anything but worse.
A partial answer would be to switch to chilled shot which SHOULD be dramatically cheaper on the market right now than 'magnum' shot but of course isn't, at least yet.
The skeet shooter and 16 yard trap shooter would be doing business as usual, but of course the handicap trap shooter and those who thrive on 40 yard crossing SC targets would be, well, handicapped.
As a general rule promo loads are loaded with softer, and thus cheaper, shot. As mentioned in another thread, the Federal Top Gun is currently an exception measuring very high antimony for the price. This can't continue.
It's a sad state of affairs. Add to that the fact that apparently the prime source of nitrocelluose is (drum roll)... also China.
