The dreaded "Is shotshell reloading worth it" question

[Cold Spring]

Just a comment on availability of reloading presses. Three weeks ago I decided to buy a new Ponsness for 12-gauge and with a 20-gauge interchangeable head. Delivery was quoted at 3-4 months and went ahead with the order since my old MEC 9000 progressive still works ok though I have to keep tinkering with it. Last evening I was on the P-W website and delivery of new presses has gone to 5-6 months. Good time to be in the reloading press biz!

[Richard Flanders]

I find the Lyman shotshell loading manuals to be about as good as you can do for learning general reloading procedures; they lay it out pretty well. It helps to get their older editions for loading older hulls you might obtain, especially paper, and for older powders that might not be made any longer, but are still in circulation amongst folks like in the PGCA.

[Jay Oliver]

I also like the Cheddite Manual from Ballistic Products since I reload a lot of RST shells.

Pete is right about reloading the short 10 as well. I forgot about that, you need to be reloading to enjoy that gauge and there are so many wonderful Parker 10s out there.

I do still buy RST shells for most of my Parker Gauges for a variety of reasons. For example I just bought a case of their 16 gauge made for the A5(which are nice and I didn't feel like duplicating this recipe) and some fiber wad 20s(because they were in stock and I wanted to try them), but then reload the empties.

You'll figure everything out faster than you think.

[Andy]

I just looked at what I have in powder. I have 3 unopened canisters, 4lb each of Red Dot, American Select and Bullseye and see if I can use any of these. I'm going to try piece by piece to get things together. I appreciate everyone's help on this.

[Researcher]

Through my competition NSSA skeet shooting career I lived by the Winchester Western Ball Powder Loading Data --

Ball Powder Loading Data.jpg

Filling my compression formed AA hulls with the loads that had the * next to it indicating it duplicated the factory AA. Still using them for my old 20- & 28-gauge AAs and my supply of compression formed 16-gauge UPLAND and Dove & Quail hulls.

In recent years the powder companies have put out these combined manuals.

Combined Reloading Manuals January 2009.jpg

Often stacks of them at local gun clubs and reloading component stores.

My beloved 7/8 ounce 12-gauge load in the Remington STS hull and 3/4 ounce 20-gauge in the STS or Gun Club hulls from here.

Got my 7/8 ounce 16-gauge loads from the 16-gauge site --

http://www.16ga.com/forum/index.php

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

Through my competition NSSA skeet shooting career I lived by the Winchester Western Ball Powder Loading Data --

Attachment 92638

Filling my compression formed AA hulls with the loads that had the * next to it indicating it duplicated the factory AA. Still using them for my old 20- & 28-gauge AAs and my supply of compression formed 16-gauge

]

We pretty much went down the same road it seems ! I’d go to Fairfax R&G in January or February each year and buy 40 bags of shot a case of wads for each of the skeet gauges initially all WIN wads then changed over to PC knockoffs . A ten pounder of 452AA a ten pounder of 473AA an 8 of 540 and an 8 of 296 . As well as 10,000 WIN 209’s . Later when WIN brought out the AA16 and WSF that got added as well but most of that came from Green Top in Glen Allen ,

[Andy]

OK so I'm popping about our basement and found 4 bags of Lawrence Brand Chilled Lead Shot #7 1/2. So I have 100 lbs of that. I totally forgot I bought it YEARS ago for $10 a bag only to use as ballast on my Lead Sled. Is this better for bird hunting rounds or clays? I know it's between magnum and plated shot from the Ballistics Products web site. Certainly would like to use it up. Sorry but this is all new to me.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sacco

OK so I'm popping about our basement and found 4 bags of Lawrence Brand Chilled Lead Shot #7 1/2. So I have 100 lbs of that. I totally forgot I bought it YEARS ago for $10 a bag only to use as ballast on my Lead Sled. Is this better for bird hunting rounds or clays? I know it's between magnum and plated shot from the Ballistics Products web site. Certainly would like to use it up. Sorry but this is all new to me.

At normal shotgun ranges I have never worried much about chilled vs. magnum shot. If I am shooting long range handicap trap I would stick with magnum shot but other than that chilled shot works great.

[Harold Pickens]

7 1/2's are fine for clays or small upland game like grouse. Currently 4 bags of shot would probably run you $150 or more. I use 7 1/2's or 8's indiscriminately for sporting clays or grouse. 7 1/2's a little more downrange effective

[Richard Flanders]

I use #8 or #9 shot for all my closer in clays shooting but sometimes put a #7-1/2 load in the left barrel if I'm letting a clay go wayyyy out there where #8 will just chip them but #7-1/2 will break them. Same with grouse hunting; a central body hit with a single #7-1/2 pellet will kill a ptarmigan out to at least 50yds. For longer range trap shooting I'll use #7-1/2. And Harold is right; you'd pay a hefty price for that shot now, up to $42/bag up here I think.