Finally Worked-Out My Shotshell Reloading Cost

[RaymondMillbrae]

Well,

I remember a while back, someone asking about the cost-savings of shotshell reloading. And then at another time, I remember someone asking me how much it cost me per shotshell round.

Both times I was not sure, as I had a variety of components on hand that were purchased at different times, throughout a wide time period.

Well, I recently purchased some shotshell components - at todays prices - and decided to sit down and work it out. (Be aware that I also purchase in bulk). I am still working-up a load for 3-gunning, and I will probably be loading the shotshells softer. And if I do...less powder means even cheaper prices.

Anyhoo...below is a list of my reloading components, and at the very bottom, the final cost. If you are interested in doing this yourself, click on the link below.

HANDLOADING COST CALCULATOR

So now you know.

In Christ: Raymond

Powder = Hodgden Universal

Shot = 1 1/8 oz, West Coast Premium No 7.5 magnum shot

Primer = Winchester W209

Hulls = WAA12

Shell = 2 3/4" Remington Premier STS

1,230 fps (This is a starting point, and I am probably going to go softer. Time, and feel, will determine my future load).

Bottom line:

Cost/Round = .254 cents

Cost/50 = $12.72

Cost/1000 = $254.33

[MarkCO]

Exactly why I buy them. With coupons and sale price, I get them shipped, from Cabela's for about $55/case 250, or $.22/round.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Exactly why I buy them. With coupons and sale price, I get them shipped, from Cabela's for about $55/case 250, or $.22/round.

Including the shipping and hazmat fee?

On top of that, are they custom tailored to your needs?

And what about slugs? Those puppies are much more expensive on the market.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: There are different types of shotshells. (Steel, bismuth, 00buck, target, fowl, etc...). And I know some of the stuff is dirt cheap. But see if you can find similar components that I use (at Cabelas, MidwayUSA, etc...), that are even close to reloading prices.

Edited December 5, 2009 by RaymondMillbrae

[A. D.]

raymond

did you use the calculator that you linked to?

it is a center file round calculator and your cost per round seems a little high to me.

try this one from a trap board....

http://www.trapshooters.com/rlcalcadv.htm

if your cost still is in the same area you might try to get the components in bulk.

trap, skeet, and sporting clay shooters in your area will be a great resource....

ymmv

ad

[RaymondMillbrae]

Cool site, AD.

I refigured my cost using the website you linked me to, and it came out to:

Cost/Round = .223

Cost/50= $11.15

Cost/1000 = $223.00

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the cost of living here is pretty high. I usually purchase components after I weigh-out the shipping and hazmat fees, verses the ridiculous 9.5% tax and gas cost to drive and pick up the items. (And that's not including the $4.00 or $5.00 toll bridge fees)!

Sometimes I will pay a bit more to patronize the local gun stores. But if the cost saving is really noticeable, then I will mail-order.

Either way, the whole reloading process is very satisfying, and having custom-tailored rounds is priceless.

I also load for .357 Magnum, 10mm, .45 ACP, and .223.

Thansk again for the cool link.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: I don't usually buy in MASSIVE bulk. But I do buy 50-pounds of shot, 8-pound jugs of powder, bricks (5,000 each) primers, etc... (Nothing like the big boys, but enough to keep me going for 2 or 3 months).

Edited December 5, 2009 by RaymondMillbrae

[MarkCO]

Exactly why I buy them. With coupons and sale price, I get them shipped, from Cabela's for about $55/case 250, or $.22/round.

Including the shipping and hazmat fee?

On top of that, are they custom tailored to your needs?

And what about slugs? Those puppies are much more expensive on the market.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: There are different types of shotshells. (Steel, bismuth, 00buck, target, fowl, etc...). And I know some of the stuff is dirt cheap. But see if you can find similar components that I use (at Cabelas, MidwayUSA, etc...), that are even close to reloading prices.

Yep, a $20 off $150 (better yet $20 off $100) coupon from Cabelas on the $54.99 sale price gets me 3 cases shipped. $164.97 + 16.95 shipping - $20 = 161.92. 161.92/750 = $.216/round. They hit just as well as the ones I reloaded. Slugs, run me about $1 each, but shooting all of 30 or 40 a year, not worth the effort to reload. If you open the Cabela's website today, they have a $20 off $100 purchase right now. I get coupons from them all the time.

On average I save $140/1K reloading pistol, save $200/1k reloading rifle and I lose $24/1K reloading shotgun as compared to the best prices I can buy the ammo.

Edited December 5, 2009 by MarkCO

[LPatterson]

A primary consideration in reloading shotshells is matching components with reloading charts. The fastest way to get in trouble with a shotgun is to decide to say, well the book calls for this brand wad or primer or powder but I have something else that is about the same so I'll just use it. Shotgun barrels are thin steel compared to a rifle or pistol and I would rather not have something come apart in my hands again.

[RaymondMillbrae]

LPatterson,

I totally hear you.

Shotshell loading is SOOOOOOOOOOO much different than pistol or rifle reloading.

Every single component you change is a possibility for disaster.

As an example: we swap Large Pistol Primers all the time on our pistol reloads. But you cannot do this on shotshell reloading.

If you are loading two different shotshell rounds, and everything is EXACTLY IDENTICAL - except for the primer - they may "feel" the same when shot. But in actuality, the pressures of one may be waaay beyond the safe levels.

I pretty much stick to manufacturers load data. About the only "tweek" I will do is reducing a charge by maybe 1 or 1 1/2 grains. But even then I keep a good eye out, as reducing it too much may feel nice...but it may actually foul your shotty like you wouldn't believe.

Thanks again.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: Oh yea...by the way...I guess when I reload for shotshell, I don't need discount coupons or sales. I reload shotshell at sale and discount prices every day.

Edited December 5, 2009 by RaymondMillbrae

[MarkCO]

PS: Oh yea...by the way...I guess when I reload for shotshell, I don't need discount coupons or sales. I reload shotshell at sale and discount prices every day.

BUT, I still pay less per round and I can shoot while you have to reload everyday. I just can't see realoding at a loss of $24/1K AND however many hours it takes, my time is certainly worth more.

Edited December 5, 2009 by MarkCO

[RaymondMillbrae]

OK.

In Christ: Raymnd

[D.Hayden]

We usually buy most of our shotgun ammo while we're at 3 gun matches.. Montana, Oregon, no sales tax.. and we can actually find it. WalMart Federals at $22 per 100..

I'd rather have the factory crimp for running 3 Gun, I used to reload for trap/skeet, but now it ony matters based on the price of lead shot.

Now.. I don't bother.. PW press is collecting dust.

Reloading slugs would be more price beneficial, but so far, I haven't seen one that could hit a plate consistently at 75 yards. Maybe more because of the low numbers of re-loaders.

Reload some, and group them.. see how they work..

[RaymondMillbrae]

I agree,

the test is in the pudding.

You have to weigh-out the cost/time of reloading shotshells, verses the benefits.

If you can make shotshell slugs that group very well, and have very manageable recoil...then you are ahead of the game and reloading shotshell is worth it.

But if you get no added benefit, then I hear ya.

As for target shot...it's the same. Make loads that are strong enough to take down the steel plates at specified distances, yet still have manageable recoil.

It's all a balancing act. Just be able to justify what you are doing...and all is well.

Shoot with a purpose.

In Christ: Raymond

[Chills1994]

Raymond...dude... I guess in some respects you would have to consider yourself at an ADvantage shooting a pump...whereas, if you were shooting a semi-auto, you could theoretically make too whimpy of a reloaded shotshell and not have enough gas or umph to cycle the action.

And as far as I know... there is NO power factor for slugs and or shot. Hint... hint...

Bring on the bunny fart loads...

Edited December 10, 2009 by Chills1994

[hitman]

One of the old skeet tricks is to use a 1 oz bar, drop a spent primer in 1 1/8 oz wad.

Seems 1 1/8 wads are cheaper but 1 oz of shot is cheaper so its the best of both cheaps.

[sargenv]

Actually, powder factor for slugs and shot must be 520,000.

That would be 1 ounce of shot or slug at 1190 fps, give or take a few fps.

I reload slugs mostly because I can cast them for nearly free.. and practice slugs cost me very little over what people are paying for loaded slugs even when they get a discount I can usually beat that by about 1/2.. I'm still trying to find the load that'll rival factory slugs on accuracy, but for practice loading and shooting, ya can't beat home rolled on slugs.

Most times for matches I'll buy shells since I don't want to give up my good reloadable hulls. I'll practice with reloads but will use factory for matches. Sounds bass ackwards.. but it works for me.

It is even difficult to load steel shot as factory loads are making higher velocity loads these days than I can load for a reasonable price. Back 5-10 years handloading was the only way to make your shot make 1400fps plus. With Kent Fast Steel making 1550, well, it's almost pointless unless you want something that is unavailable. I keep components for that specialty reloading for when the local marts are out of the non toxic stuff and I am going hunting soon.

Edited December 11, 2009 by sargenv

[Chills1994]

Okay, thanks!

It must have been me confusing that with not having a calibration procedure for poppers hit by shotgun payloads.

And/or no minimum gauge required for the slug... i.e. forstner type slugs vs. sabot type slugs.

Who knows.... that might have changed too.

Has anybody actually had their shotgun ammo chrono'ed at a match?

[sargenv]

Minnimum gauge is 20..

[Chills1994]

^^^ Oh, yeah, I understand that, but AFAIK, there is no minimum dimension for the slug that comes out of your shotgun's muzzle.

If one can cast their own slugs (Lee or Lyman mould), and reload their own slug shells and get so so accuracy, more power to 'em.

Now, if they could tinker around, and cast a spitzer type of bullet that would be used in...oh... I dunno a .375 H&H, for example, and stuff it into a sabot type of wad and wring even more accuracy out of it and longer range, that would be even cooler.

[sargenv]

^^^ Oh, yeah, I understand that, but AFAIK, there is no minimum dimension for the slug that comes out of your shotgun's muzzle.

If one can cast their own slugs (Lee or Lyman mould), and reload their own slug shells and get so so accuracy, more power to 'em.

Now, if they could tinker around, and cast a spitzer type of bullet that would be used in...oh... I dunno a .375 H&H, for example, and stuff it into a sabot type of wad and wring even more accuracy out of it and longer range, that would be even cooler.

Well, the only way to really do so with any repeatability is to have a fully rifled slug barrel. In 3-gun, not so likely. For hunting, very likely but the issue there is that bullets designed for 375 H&H will be much too hard to be used at the very low velocities useful in the 12 gauge or even 20 gauge. Remember, those bullets are designed to somewhat stay together at over 2400 fps. A shotgun might be able to muster about 1700 fps at the muzzle, but not much more.

The BRI sabot slugs were 50 caliber 1 ounce slugs that used the plastic sabot's but to realize any accuracy, they had to be fired in rifled barrels. Otherwise you use one of the specialty slugs usually with some kind of attached basewad to give a shuttlecock effect. Heavy up front, hollow based in back.. so they tend to fly forward better after exiting your smoothbore.

I've been reloading for a bit over 20 years. lead, Steel, and now tungsten-iron (Very effective on waterfowl albeit expensive). I've been loading slugs on and off for a few years, my own slugs since March.. I haven't found the right load yet, but with duck seaon on and the weather being lousy, I've kind of let that go by the wayside until weather improves. They are certainly easy to cast, just a tad more difficult to make fly right.

Edited December 12, 2009 by sargenv

[D.Hayden]

Has anybody actually had their shotgun ammo chrono'ed at a match?

I've never seen it..

There was a thread here, before the 3 Gun Nats at Albany 2006 (I think, could have been the 2005 Vegas Nationals) that they decided they wouldn't chrono shotguns, but the rule is still there. I seem to remember, a lot of shotguns wouldn't make the PF with low-recoil slugs.

But until then, there was talk they would, I know a lot of people were chronoing slugs locally to make sure.

[Chills1994]

^^^A'yup, that is the catch I am hearing with sabot'ed slugs...ya gotta shoot 'em out of a rifled barrel.

Me personaly...being so close to the Show Me state, I would like to see it with my own two eyes... how the groups compare with a smoothbore, forstner vs. sabot .

And the flipside is trying to shoot birdshot with a rifled barrel....

I saw somebody try to do that at a shotgun side match once....

If a person or a compay could make a plastic sabot wad that had folding fins like the "frag 12 grenade", you might be onto something.

See here at about the 2:09 mark in this first video about the AA-12:

Yeah, I know...we are going way off tanget here....

I might buy a Mec 9000G in the very near future just to be able to have my own supply chain. I already make my own birdshot and cast my own boolits... and Clays is a powder that is used for both shotgun and .45 ACP and .40 .

I remember it wasn't that long ago, just like 3 years ago, where Wally World had the 25 count pack of Winchester AA's in 12 gauge for about $4.50 a box. Now they are creeping up to $8.00 a box .

The guys who shoot 28 gauge and .410 for skeet... I don't know how they could shoot that much without reloading.

[sargenv]

.410's are a special beast. I bought a press since it was so cheap to load them. I was about tearing my hair out since it was so touchy about this and that. I finally gave up, sold my compoents and press and will buy 410's.. if you get em by the pallet you can likely get a deal. Otherwise I shoot the 410 seldom and choose to just load 12 and 20.

I have yet to own a 28 but I've always liked the Ruger Red labels in 28. I may one day find an 870 in 28 that I just HAVE to have.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Cool thread, and good info.

And just in case you're interested...there's a fellow CalGunner who is selling-off a bunch of 20-guage presses for dirt cheap.

Check em out.

CLICK HERE

In Christ: Raymond

[RaymondMillbrae]

Sargenv,

I was just meditating on what you wrote earlier (post #15), and I think I like your idea.

It makes totally good sense to shoot your trap reloads for practice, and then shoot factory for matches...as this way you will not lose your precious hulls.

For slugs, my reloads will have to be used for both, as my weapon will be zero'd for my personal rolls at distances.

I have thought about this in the past, and reading your post kicked it back into mind again.

Hmmmmm.

Thanks.

In Christ: Raymond

Edited December 23, 2009 by RaymondMillbrae