Your recommendations for the lowest cost light target loads?

[Capybara]

Hi all:

I am afraid that I am not yet into the world of reloading yet, although I am definitely heading that way. What are your recommendations on the lowest cost light target loads for Trap? I love the Winchester AAs but the cost is ridiculous. Does Federal or anyone else make a low cost light trap load or do all of the ammo manufacturers figure that only rich people shoot trap?

I would welcome your suggestions and yes, I know that reloading is the way to go, just need to clear the garage, buy all of the gear and materials and learn how to do it. But in the meantime, I need some low cost loads that won't kill my shoulder.

Thanks,

Dan

[mjsweims]

For 12 or 20 gauge, if you are not concerned in developing a particular load for your shotgun there is no cost savings by reloading. You can get Federal value packs and sometimes Winchester and Remington shells from Wallyworld for cheap to use for trap. At times you can also do a couple of cents cheaper online. Some of these won't cycle an autoloader though.
As far as killing your shoulder, if that is happening with the Federal loads, then you or your gun is to blame. You should be able to easily go a couple hundred rounds with the cheap loads mentioned above.

[Capybara]

Looking for 12 ga. I have found that when I warm up with 2-3 rounds of Trap, then go shoot 100 rounds of Sporting Clays, it's not that my shoulder gets sore exactly, it is just that I develop a flinch if I am shooting heavier loads, I suppose from fatigue and not shooting often enough.

I shoot a Ruger Red Label SC with the 28" barrels, great gun but when I shoot a lot of dual purpose hotter loads, it gets tiring quicker than when I shoot a lot of light target loads.

I have nosed around on the Internet and found a new cheap line of Winchester target loads for as little as $5.97 a box, not bad.

Thanks,

Dan

[shellslinger]

For 12 or 20 gauge, if you are not concerned in developing a particular load for your shotgun there is no cost savings by reloading. You can get Federal value packs and sometimes Winchester and Remington shells from Wallyworld for cheap to use for trap. At times you can also do a couple of cents cheaper online. Some of these won't cycle an autoloader though.
As far as killing your shoulder, if that is happening with the Federal loads, then you or your gun is to blame. You should be able to easily go a couple hundred rounds with the cheap loads mentioned above.

+1, Walmart has the federal birdshots for $22 per 100 rounds at my location.

[evorider]

I am new to clay shooting but I have been using Estate Target Load.

[Capybara]

Shellslinger, I suspect those are the field/target loads though, right? I have a few cases of those laying around and they work fine but after some of the more experienced shooters handed me a handful of light target loads, I was sold. I even like the 7/8 oz. low recoils with 2 & 3/4 dram loads. To me, I only want the hot loads if I was hunting or maybe for the more challenging shots on the sporting clays course. But for 16 yard trap, gimme the light stuff.

I'll check those out too evorider.

Thanks,

Dan

[shellslinger]

^ Yeah those are the field/target loads.

[BigDogatPlay]

Wal-Mart local to me has been stocking a lot of the Federal 'Top Gun' target loads, they have an orange clay on the box label, in both #7 1/2 and #8 shot. I've been getting very good results (22 or more per round) with the 3 dram 1 oz. #8 load in my 1100, but most recently I've been using 2 3/4 dram with 1 1/8 oz #7.5. It's a very soft shooting load and has given me good results.

They've been running around $5.75 per box at Wal-Mart.

If you want to mail order, Remington Gun Club in a variety of loadings is usually available for around $60 per case, Estate target loads in the same price range.

[Capybara]

Thanks for the tips BigDog!

[ElToro]

check the pricing on individual boxes of target loads at wally. on occasion i have seen 4 boxes total cheaper than the 100 packs. not often tho.

[RayPDA]

+1 to Fed top gun targets:

my local Wally carries those 1oz loads (7.5 or 8) at $4.77 a box normally. 1 1/8 oz loads run 5.47. Winchester Super X target loads run 5.67-6something -there are a couple of 1oz loads available. When they're available I stock up, because they always run out pretty darn quick.

[Capybara]

Thanks Ray, good tip. I will have to make the WalMart pilgrimage to see what they have.

Dan

[Capybara]

Ugh, finally stopped at the local Wally, they were out of almost everything, just a few boxes of Remington Target loads at $7.97 per box and a few boxes of Winchester AAs for $10.97 a box. No bargains there. I have found some decent stuff online as cheap as $5.69 a box, guess I will order a couple of cases.

I need to learn how to reload if I am ever going to get serious about clays.

Dan

[Thefeeder]

[Dark Mod]

I dont shoot trap and ive never shot these but heres the cheapest i could find

http://www.natchezss.com/Ammo.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=ROTLT328&prodTitle=RIO%2012GA%202%203%2F4D%201%201%2F8OZ%20%238&CFID=22049627&CFTOKEN=34772522

$210 per 1000