doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Reloading costs vs factory loads

For those of you that reload, can you give me an idea of what it costs to reload 1 ounce 12 gauge shells vs. purchasing factory loads. I had been buying Gun Club loads and now are purchasing flats of RST loads but I am considering reloading again. I was at the gun club for a few rounds of clays yesterday and a couple guys mentioned that finding components for reloading is getting difficult and expensive, at least in the Wisconsin area. What do you feel you save by reloading? Thanks.

Savings in reloading shells is not what it use to be. There are plug in apps. that will give you to the penny cost based on cost of each inputs to make a shell. Search the Trapshooters.com version and play with the numbers. For those of us still living in the past and using components purchased years ago we still save a bundle. I am using $11.00 shot not the 40 dollar stuff you have to buy today. My primers are 15 not 40. Powder is running out so instead of 12-15 dollars a pound it now bumps 20-25 per pound. My current cost is $3.84 per box of 12's less for the smaller shells. But if I had to buy new stuff it goes up to $5.49 a box. Still a lot cheaper than factory but not the sub three dollars stuff I loaded for decades.

I reload to get pressure down to desired level or for a specific shot size and payload combo or even to get velocity that I need for a gun to be fun to shoot. Any cost savings are soon eaten up in increased shooting. Unless you have a major supplier or a club that can supply what you need at reasonable cost reloading is just a labor of love these days. But if you save ten percent you could always increase you shooting level to get rid of the extra savings.

Tom,

As KY Jon pointed out, the cost of reloading shot shells is not what it used to be. I believe it's still cheaper than buying factory loads tho.

For me, and I suspect other shooters of older side by side doubles, I like to load my own because the light loads I shoot are not available commercially.

I shoot a 108 year old early A grade 12 gauge Fox, a gun that I've owned for 46 years. I shoot sporting clays and skeet, mostly for fun with not much consideration for high scores. The heaviest load I shoot is 3/4 ounce 12 gauge. For in close targets, I shoot 0.5 ounce or 0.6 ounce 12 gauge loads.

Alliant recently came out with their Extra Light shot shell powder that is intended for light 12 gauge loads. I have had my 0.5 and 0.6 ounce 12 gauge loads tested are they produce under 6000 psi pressure and the speed is around 1300 fps. For in close shooting, if I hit the target, they break. Not many so called "diesel smoke" hits but hits are hits. They sound great, burn clean and my 0.5 ounce loads using about 14 grains of Extra Light powder will yield 500 rounds per pound of powder. Other components are pretty much standard stuff.

Right now, looking to replenish my supply of Extra Light powder which seems to be on the scarce side for the time being.

And I enjoy reloading.

Hope this helps.

Jolly

Tom, as Ky John says, reloading isn't as cheap as it was a few years ago but still edges out almost anything you buy off the shelf. Most of my gums are vintage and require special care so reloading is a huge saver when comparing to ammunition such as RST's. The other day I figured some of my 7/8 oz 16's and came up with a box pennies short of $6.00. That's with pressures in the low 7,000 psi range and running about 1175 fps. And to top it off, it's so darned much fun to run off a few hundred.

At my current cost of components through my club with free hulls picked up at the club I can load 12 gauge low pressure for $4.23 per box. Small bore are even less because they use less powder and shot. My equipment was paid for long ago as I've been reloading rifle, pistol and shotgun for 42 years. RST is now about $11-$15 per box. I like RST ammo but my reloads cost much less.

I've also enjoyed reloading as a hobby for 42 years and reload for 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 gauges and .410 bore plus 14 metallic cartridges. My wife also shoots shotguns so someone has to keep us in cartridges and I reckon that it will continue to be me.

There's still money to be saved, even on 12 and 20 gauges, especially if you already have the equipment. But if you don't enjoy reloading then buy factory and stop grousing about the cost. In the meantime I'll be in my basement chucking 6 - 8,000 a year out on my Sizemasters - plus several thousand rifle and pistol rounds a year and, yes, I cast my own pistol and 45-70 bullets.

Retirement is quickly approaching so I will have more time 12 months from now. I brushed off and lubed my 30 yr. old Sizemaster and I may start to test some reloads and see how they compare to RST factories. Thanks for the info guys.

My big motive for reloading is having a constant supply of the load I prefer - a 7/8 oz charge of hard #7 1/2. These are excellent for breaking clays even at long distances, and easy on my decrepit neck. I'm similarly keen on a 3/4 oz charge in the 20 gauge. Price is my motive in loading 28 and .410.

My reloading costs not counting reloader (Mec Grabber) are as you can see.
Cost of loading one shell (free hulls)
Loads consist of:
� oz. shot at @ $.070
Claybuster wad @ $.017
Red Dot-16.8 grs @ $.042
Win. 209 primer @ $.028
Total $.16 a shell x 25 = $3.93 a box.

The Red Dot powder listed in the cost was from a 1 lb. container when I first tried this load, I have since switched to TiteWad but have not figured out price. The 4 lb. jug was $56.99 when I bought it in 2013. I just finished with that and stated on a 8 lb. jug but have not figured out a price yet.

The price now would be a little more, but I don't think it would be over $4.00 a box.

My 12 ga. 1 oz. reloads are $4.20/box, this using $38 shot and Promo powder. My 7/8 oz. 20 ga. reloads with Unique are about $3.50 (that one surprised me).

I have always figured there's about a $2.00 savings per box, if that's important. But, hey, I enjoy reloading and it gives me the latitude to soften the loads a bit from the factory stuff.

I reload because I can't buy the loads I like to shoot. Any savings is frosting on the cake.