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?

[John Campbell]

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

[Rich Anderson]

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.

[Patrick Lien]

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

[Mike.Smith]

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

[CraigThompson]

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 .

[Jerry Harlow]

Someone here shared this so I'll share it again.

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

On the small end, .410 2.5 inch shells with only 1/2 ounce of shot can be loaded for less than a third of the cost of new off the shelf ammo.

Never could understand how a box of 3" .410 shells can cost close to $20. Guess they don't like to make runs of them.

[Mike Phelps]

Thanks all for the comments. I've been reloading handgun\rifle for quite some time and doing multiple calibers has certainly helped.

I'll have to start looking for better component pricing. That was nickel plated shot. It also seems my conversion for lb of shot to # of rounds was a bit off. I had used a guide I found on mec's website.

Lastly is there any issue in using the adapter for a mec press to reload 2 1/2" shells? I'll have to keep on eye on ebay\craigslist.

[Rich Anderson]

Mike the adapter for the short kit assuming your using a single stage press is available from Mec for about $30. Some presses will adjust far enough to use the 2 1/2 inch shell without it. I have a single stage 20ga press that I didn't need the adapter for. You might ask the people here if they have one they would part with. I know someone who has one for a 16ga press (I don't know if there guage specific) and I doubt he has started loading short 16's.

Mike I like Daryl's 3/4 oz load as well and have loaded up 500 for the 20ga. I doubt your saving much as you have increased powder, primers and wads but your net cost is still about $5/box....and they are fun to shoot.

[John Dallas]

For target loads, I think there may be a modest savings versus promotional shells bought at Wally World but I think the big advantage is in pattern performance. I'm using harder shot and I suspect a better wad and slower burning powder which results in better downrange performance.

[John Farrell]

I haven't looked at powder cost lately, but the last 8 lb keg of Promo I bought was $90 +/-
and primers around $20 a K. So I think your estimates are off by those errors or you're being skinned by your supplier. Are you buying at Cabela's? Or BPI?

[Paul Harm]

J.A. That was a post I got from somewhere - I keep it bookmarked. I only load 3/4oz and you'll see the $/box goes down rather quickly the less shot . We buy wholesale at my club so it cost me about 3.43 a box to reload. The wife and I are shooting between 12 and 20 boxes a week, so every penny counts.

[Mike Phelps]

I reworked my costs and shopped around a bit more. I came in at around $5 to $6 a box for a 3/4oz load.
1750 rds in 4lb of titewad - $64 +16
2k primers - $60
2k cb0175-12 3/4oz - $48
533 rds in 25lb bag of shot - $55 = $220 for 2k rounds
.20 per round (2k) - $408 - $5 per box
.25 per round with $100 s&h - $6.25 per box

Supply costs came mostly form midway usa.

I'd have reload about 1700 rounds to recoup equipment costs. If i can find a used press, that would be less.

[Gary Laudermilch]

Mike,

Buy in bulk for max. savings. I buy 5000 primers(a sleeve), a case of CB wads (5000), and nothing smaller than 8 pouner of powder. Shot is the real expensive part. I shop for a good price for quality shot constantly. The prices fluctuate throughout the year. When I find a good deal I buy 20-25 bags. My most recent shot purchase (this fall) was at $37. I don't buy cheap components but by buying in bulk my current 7/8 oz. 20 ga. cost per box is $4.15. The performance is equal to premium target loads. You have to ask around the range to see who the biggest volume dealers are. They will have the best prices. Even if you must drive some distance, you can get the cost down. I drive 100 miles for the best prices but several shooters put together an order and make the trip. Keep in mind that these components do not have a shelf life if properly stored.

[Rich Anderson]

I'm trying something different this year in that I bought 30 25lb bags of reclaimed shot for $30/bag. Three of us went in on the shot to reduce cost.

[paul stafford jr]

say rich , a lot of guys at my club shoot reclaimed lead but we mostly shoot skeet , it seems fine in 20ga and up not so good in the smaller gauges, to much large shot in the stuff, they got it from the wayne county gun club , so I am told. they paid 25.00 a bag. if there was a easy way to sort out the shot size I think the guys that do the reclaiming would do it. it would sure make it easy to use for skeet and trap shooters.

[Rich Anderson]

Paul I think it will be fine for sporting clays and as I shoot mostly 16 guage I hope I don't have to many misses, maybe that one (ok two) flyer will break a target for me....you know that golden pellet:whistle:

[paul stafford jr]

heres some bad news... the associated press . the only lead mine in the U.S. is closing. the E.P.A. is the cause. that should be a real kick in the wallet for us shooters.

[Rick Losey]

well, its a smelter that is closing, not a mine, was announced a while ago

i expect most of our lead now comes from China - where they don't have an EPA, or an environment

[paul stafford jr]

I did read the hole story and if they are not refining ore why mine it. I have never seen any bags of shot with MADE IN CHINA on them, all of my bags of shot say made in the USA on them