Shotgun Reloading

[Trigger Time 23]

I shoot trap in a league and I was considering starting to reload for this. I reload most of my rifle and pistol, but always thought shot shells where not cost effective to reload for. I typically buy shells for $5/box or less. Is it worthwhile to reload for this??? Thanks.

[sandman76]

Depends on how much you shoot. Trap league you will go through 50 rounds or maybe 75 or 100 if you shoot some practice. Registered ATA shoots more like 300 depending. Kind of like other reloading you can create your loads for what your gun likes at different yardages. Probably save a little money once you get set up but it takes a little doing. Shotgun primers and powders were pretty scarce a while back. Shot can be expensive, probably the most expensive component.

I started doing it like twenty years ago cause it was fun and interesting and I wanted to. But back then you could save some dough. Real good shotgun target loads like Remington STS and Winchester AA(reloadable hulls) are not for sale for $5 and your reloads can compare with those once you get the technique down.

I've got an old MEC JR and a MEC Grabber presses that you could get started with for a real good price. The JR is a single stage and the Grabber is progressive.

[Hoser]

When lead shot was $12-15 a bag it was more than worth it. Now days it is still worth it, but not quite as much.

If you shoot anything other than 12 and 20, it is for sure worth it.

I have a Spolar Hydraulic loader for 12, 16, 20, 28 & 410 and it is awesome. But expensive. Once Mother Air Force closed the shotgun range on base, my shotgun shooting went waaaaay down.

[DFBrews]

I have a Mec semi progressive and suits my needs i shot quite a bit of ata last fall and it kept up

[Colorado Osprey]

I have a MEC 9000gn progressice and I HATE it. I know lots of people who like them but I hate it.

(of course I hate it because shot shell loading isnt clean like running my 650. I want to try the Dillon sl900, everything else they make is great)

I find I save some money loading shotgun.(not a ton) I do use reclaimed shot most of the time. The ability to tailor loads is a good reason.

I have the same and love it. With a helper (some one putting in empty hulls and someone else putting in wads and pulling the lever) you can easily load 250 shells in 15 minutes. By yourself it will take closer to a half hour. The danger of loading this fast is running out of powder or shot and not noticing.

The real bonus of loading shells is being able to load premium shells for a cost not much over promo load shells.

You can't tell me that when you shoot promo shells you have not had a miss that you just don't understand. You swear you should have blown up that bird. That was most likely caused by cheap lead shot deforming and causing a hole in your shot pattern. Using premium hard magnum shot those holes just about disappear. Now use a premium wad and that hole is gone. Now use a premium powder like clays and you gun seems cleaner after shooting 500 rounds than after 1 box of promo loads. All of these premium features can be had in reloading for cost not much more than promo loads as apposed to premium shell pricing.

You decide. It might not be worth it to you.

[thedave1164]

There is a BNIB MEC for sale in the trading post, just sayin

[whitewalrus]

Last I calculated it, I "save" about 50 cents a box when loading vs the cheap shells. I load 1oz 12 ga loads. So it will take quite a bit of time to get the equipment investment back. However, as others said, you are making a premium load much like the Win AA or Rem STS for this price. Hunting loads you can save a lot per box.

Use a calculator to figure out how much it will cost you:
http://www.ewrg.org/sscalc.html

To me loading is a good way to get rid of some stress, so I would do it even if breaking even.

[spqrzilla]

I did some shotgun shell reloading when I was a teenager, (we hunted pterosaurs back then), but haven't since. I did not think it was worth it then, when the difference in cost of components and loaded shells was greater and my time worth less. Don't miss it at all.

Just for contrast, I enjoy rifle/pistol caliber reloading a lot. Once bought a stupid French pistol in an obscure caliber just to be able to reload that caliber.