Bought 10 bags of lead 7 1/2 for $54 each today. Cheddite primers for $64/1000. Local supplier. Plan to go back for another 10 bags of shot. After covid shortages I'm taking no chances. My 3/4oz 12ga reloads cost about $7.85 per box.

So based on these numbers you’re talking $10 to $10.50 for a 1 1/8 oz load. Assuming my guesstimate is correct. I just paid 9.76/box, including tax and shipping, delivered to my door. These were Federal Top Gun, 1 1/8 oz., 1145 fps.

Rereading my prior post, it sounds like I'm trying to make an argument against reloading. I'm certainly not. Reloading is the only way to go for ,410, 28, 16, 10 and 8 gauges. And 20 and 12 when your going for specialty/specific loads.

Problem is cost and availability of 2 1/2” 16 and 20 ga shells

Agree on the covid shortages. I bought 20 bags of the outstanding Heper shot and the International Clays. If any one is interested I have some Int. Clays 4lb.

And you possess the largest known supply of Nitro 100 NF east of the Mississippi. Me thinks Daryl is in a good place from a powder perspective :bowdown:

Some of us here in Colorado have been wondering the same thing. Not only for the inflationary spike in ammo prices or the scarcity of it but come April first we'll also be dealing with a newly imposed 6.5% excise tax on all ammo sales.

When you add this to the cost of a round of sporting clays, plus your transportation costs to the range, a round can easily exceed a hundred bucks.

I am questioning to what extent these factors will affect the middle working-class guy who simply shoots recreationally? I know for this retiree it has had an impact.

In the 1990's I shot ATA Trap aka Registered targets. I am looking at the cost of doing it today and it's quite expensive. $30+ dollars for each 100 target event plus an additional $7 for ATA and State Association fees on the first hundred. So you drive 45 to 90 miles each way to shoot singles and handicap, that's $67 dollars in registration fees, plus gas. Most shooters like to start the day by shooting a practice round to shake off the drive, add another $7. You will need nine boxes of shells for that practice round and two events. That will be at least $90 to $100 in ammo if your shooting reloads, more if you shoot quality factory ammo such as AA or STS. If you didn't bring a lunch, a burger bag of chips and soda will cost another $10.

So there 's $167 for 200 targets and ammo plus lunch and then add the cost of gasoline. Shoot the third event, Doubles, now the total cost approaches $237 plus gas.

This is just for a small Sunday afternoon ATA event. Go to a State Championship with a 700 target program over three days and your cost in registration and ammo is at least $600. Need a hotel room for 3 nights add that to it. If you want play the Lewis purse, 25 and 50 options and enter the Calcutta keep adding more money to the cost.

Registered Trap and Skeet has truly become the sport of kings.

Is that a Colorado tax on ammo?

I know shooting is becoming more expensive, but I can look back on this forum several years ago and there were a few people telling other people to "Buy all you can now instead of complaining and don't stop buying." That has served me well and everyone should be in full buy mode now. As far as prices, think about the monumental waste of money GOLF is, and that makes the pain of shooting easy to tolerate.

If you must shoot 2 1/2” 16 and 20g shells, you can always cut down 2 3/4” hulls. There are always plenty of 20g empties on the range and when guys toss 16g hulls they are usually 2 3/4”.