12ga reloading costs

[Mike Phelps]

I was thinking of getting into reloading 12ga and I did the math and it seems my per round cost is not worth it.

Am I off base for reloading costs? Here is what i had estimated for 1k rounds.
$38 1k Primers
$18 1k of wads (i think they were CBs)
$275 5 11lb bags of 7 1/2 shot
$88 4lbs of powder

Assuming hulls are free (2 1/2" RSTs or similar), that works out to $0.42 per round. I can buy a flat from RST shipped for $0.51 per round and could get Winchester AAs a bit cheaper.

Does that sound about right given what people have seen for component pricing over the past year?

[Kensal Rise]

Mike:
You are probably not far off. But... the "savings" in reloading for old doubles is (1) creating a load you can't buy -- like a 3/4 oz 1110 fps one, and (2) "saving" abuse to your gun and shoulder. The money is about a wash.

It's your choice.

[Marc Retallack]

Mike,

Your shot cost seems very high. You state 5 11lb bags. Are you loading nickel or copper plated shot? 7 1/2s are easily found in 25lb bags for $35-$40 bag locally here in PA. If you switched to magnum or soft shot, you would have a considerable savings even if you had to have it shipped.

Marcus

[C.O.B.]

A 1oz load will give you 400 shells from a 25lb bag of shot. Lets say the shot cost you $40/bag. 400 Win 209 primers max cost $20, wads are about $8 bag 250 per bag so $16 for wads and you have some left over. Powder is $25 per lb. I don't know how many grains are in a pound but I can easily get 400 shells/lb. I believe my reloading cost is about $5/box compared to $10/box for new RST. IF you shoot alot reloading is the only way to go IMHO. I'll reduce my cost this year by going to 7/8 and 3/4 oz loads in 12,16 &20 guage.

[paul stafford jr]

my reloading costs about 5.00 dollars a box , but at my club I'm paying 46.00 dollars a 25 pound bag of shot , non members pay 56.00. I wish I could find some of that 38.00 dollar a bag shot, i'll take 20 bags please.

[PML]

Originally Posted by Mike Phelps

I was thinking of getting into reloading 12ga and I did the math and it seems my per round cost is not worth it.

Mike,
If you decide you are going to reload to save some money then I suggest you practice the 10 year rule. This rule states that you always reload with components you purchased at least 10 years ago. It also helps to be a scrounger / hoarder of components when found at a discount to further decrease your cost. If you practice this method then in 10+ years you will be reloading at $3-4 a box when AA’s and RST’s are $25 a box or more. If your hair is already grey then this method may not work for you. I know one old fart using this method who is reloading at 1960’s component prices.

Patrick

[DoubleDown]

My experience in loading 1oz 12ga rounds is much like COB's, I'm using Remington 209 Primers and i'm just over $5 per box of shells compared to buying RST's at $10 or more per box, and then having them shipped. After shooting some of Daryl's 3/4oz loads earlier this year, I've switched to reloading those pretty much exclusively for my rounds of sporting clays. I haven't done the math, but I'm sure it's saving me money compared to the 1oz loads and they are much easier on me and the guns. Considering I only paid $50 a piece for the used Mec Reloaders I have (all four of them) it was not expensive to get started. I do enjoy reloading my own and experimenting with different loads. I'm interested in loading some Federal Papers and possibly some spreader loads next. I've also just found a local resource who makes his own shot, and I can get bags for $30 which should reduce my cost even more.

Mike

[wayne goerres]

There are 7000 grains to a pound. And there are lots of them OLD FARTS on this foruim.

[charlie cleveland]

in reloading i dont load to many light loads but in loading the high brass shells you can save from 5 to 10 dollars a box of 25..and if you shoot the short ten ga shell or the 8 ga you can save a pile of dough..i too can not get lead shot cheap bought a bag of 25 lbs and it was 53.50...hard to get shot in my parts...charlie

[6pt-Sika]

Dealer cost from the three distributers I usually use are $42 a bag for Magnum grade shot and chilled is maybe 50 cents less !

Usually with shipping figured in as well as a little markup we sell Magnum for about $46 a bag .