I’ve been shooting a lot of Trap lately and I’m wondering if anyone finds it much cheaper to load your own shells versus just buying the cheap ones at Walmart?
Is loading shotgun shells worth it?
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MacEntyre
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I have everything I need to load everything I choot except .22 ammo... but I won't load 9mm or 223 until the prices go up. You have to be choosy.
Chihuahua Floyd
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I found the cost was close to the same, with reloads being cheaper. However, with reloading I could ease up on recoil with a 3/4 ounce load for my daughter in a 12 ga. Something I can't get from walmart.
I was shooting a 7/8 ounce load
CF
I was shooting a 7/8 ounce load
CF
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I agree with the above statements. For 12 ga and 20 ga It only works if you want something you cant buy. Now for 410 and 28 ga I would reload. Some say you can load a better shell than the cheap Walmart stuff. While that may be true, at my skill level I cant tell the difference.
I used to reload 12 gauge when I hunted a lot. I used one and an eighth ounce #9 loads. They were really expensive to buy them that way. I don't hunt much anymore so I just buy what I need now.
Crunchy Frog
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The cost of lead shot is the problem. I use factory loads when I shoot clays, which is probably under 500 rounds in a year.
I do load my own “low recoil” shells for cowboy action matches. I use reclaimed or “craft” shot which is a little more than half the cost of new shot. I can duplicate a factory shell that retails for about $9.00 per box. I shoot at least two matches per month so I’ve probably recouped the cost of the press.
Sometimes I shoot black powder ammo. Factory ammo is available but it is VERY dear. All of the “Frontier Cartridge” shooters I know load their own shotshells.
I do load my own “low recoil” shells for cowboy action matches. I use reclaimed or “craft” shot which is a little more than half the cost of new shot. I can duplicate a factory shell that retails for about $9.00 per box. I shoot at least two matches per month so I’ve probably recouped the cost of the press.
Sometimes I shoot black powder ammo. Factory ammo is available but it is VERY dear. All of the “Frontier Cartridge” shooters I know load their own shotshells.
Maybe off topic, but since it is being discussed or mentioned a few times...
What makes a shotgun sell "better or worse" than another of similar guage? What makes a $5 box of Estate not as good as a more expensive, or even self crafted? I can fully see the personalizing powder load to make a lower recoil round...but as long as the shot is round, the wad is present, then what really effects the "ballistics" of a shotgun shell shooting birdshot?
I also understand reliability...you have more control over knowing each shell is powdered and crimped properly.
Disclaimer: I am only asking about birdshot...I can se where buckshot/slugs are different.
What makes a shotgun sell "better or worse" than another of similar guage? What makes a $5 box of Estate not as good as a more expensive, or even self crafted? I can fully see the personalizing powder load to make a lower recoil round...but as long as the shot is round, the wad is present, then what really effects the "ballistics" of a shotgun shell shooting birdshot?
I also understand reliability...you have more control over knowing each shell is powdered and crimped properly.
Disclaimer: I am only asking about birdshot...I can se where buckshot/slugs are different.
I dont load shotty shells but my friends do and they say as to comparing $'s to $'s you cant do it but it's just like pistol and rifle reloading, for accuracy or in the case of shotgunners, most load for reduced recoil. As for Estate, WW Supertarget and other non premium shells, IMO they dont hold a candle to WW AA. My scores are always higher with AA's. The cheaper shells stick in my Ruger Red Labels as well.. The cheap Remy shells do not reliably cycle my Remy 1100 20ga. Ironic.
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Chihuahua Floyd
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Same reason I was doing the low recoil stuff. We only shot one match a month,usually, did load black a few times. The five foot flame out the barrel was a hoot.
CF
And my press was free.
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the quality of the shot, wads and hulls are what makes one shell better than another. Quality target loads like Winchester AA uses harder "magnum" shot and quality wads and hulls the Promo game loads use a cheaper lighter weight hill and softer "chilled ' shot some of them use flimsy wads (ever notice what looks like confetti when shooting "Dove and Quail" loads ) the other loads fall in between
Thank you for this! I assume it’s a case of “for a novice, it doesn’t matter, but for a more experienced shooter the difference is apparent.”
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An extremely wealthy, as in multiple homes, yachts and airplanes rich, was a Club champion skeet or trap or whatever guy for years. Owned all the fancy, expensive shotties and toys. He reloaded everything he shot in competition. I'm betting it wasn’t to save a buck.
It was cheaper with the low recoil 20 ga or 9 shot if I wanted them. But shooting 12's, I don't bother now. If you can get a box of shells at a reasonable price you won't beat it reloading. And that's even when I got the presses for about $60 for both the 20 and 12. And free wads. Still not worth it. I went back to RIO because they just pattern so dang well out of my gun. Sporting clays score went up almost 10 birds. So my QC might have been a bit lacking too.
There was a time that loading your own was cheaper, by a tad bit, and if you shot trap or something else all weekend it would save you money.
The price of lead is what hurts the cost now.
But if for economic reasons are the only reason you are reloading anyway, then you can buy cheaper loads.
Most people I know load because they want to know exactly what they are shooting and are better shots than me.
But, as someone said earlier, you will shoot more if you do your own reloading, whether it be shotgun rifle or handgun.
Right now, unless it is some wildcat round or load, you can buy cheaper then load your own.
I think this would be a good time to stock up on cheap ammo for every gauge and caliber you own. Remember the .22 rimfire shortage a while back?
The price of lead is what hurts the cost now.
But if for economic reasons are the only reason you are reloading anyway, then you can buy cheaper loads.
Most people I know load because they want to know exactly what they are shooting and are better shots than me.
But, as someone said earlier, you will shoot more if you do your own reloading, whether it be shotgun rifle or handgun.
Right now, unless it is some wildcat round or load, you can buy cheaper then load your own.
I think this would be a good time to stock up on cheap ammo for every gauge and caliber you own. Remember the .22 rimfire shortage a while back?