Inexpensive (per lb.) bulk shotshell powder?

[the86d]

I just pulled the trigger on Amazon's $60 gift card back (when opening a line of credit, which will be paid off before this month is over), and decided to treat myself to a Lee Load All II NIB, horked box for like $54ish.

Want to start shotshell reloading, and desire to have some powder for a start w/for component acquisition.
(Better if it can be used with 9mm, and/or .38 SPL too, but not a big deal...)

What say my Internet fiends?

[Dooder]

I use Hodgdon Clays and Ramshot Competition for my 12ga, 9mm, 38spl, 40s&w, 44spl, 45 colt, 45 acp loads. Works awesome and it's cheap. Check out Hodgdon and Ramshot's web pages for the recipes.

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[the86d]

Right now I just found 2 Ramshot Competition 4LB jugs for less than an 8lb jug.
This seems to be the best price-point option for starting in bulk.

[bigbossman]

I use Hodgdon Clays and Ramshot Competition for my 12ga, 9mm, 38spl, 40s&w, 44spl, 45 colt, 45 acp loads. Works awesome and it's cheap. Check out Hodgdon and Ramshot's web pages for the recipes.

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Pretty much the same for me, except I use 700x. Cheap, and always available.

[Bumslie]

Promo and 700x

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[JagerDog]

Depends on performance level (payload& speed) you seek in the shotgun and the pistolas.

[hntnnut]

I always had used Red Dot and 700x.


Richard

[whutsup40]

I'm confused! is this for shotgun or pistol and rifle? If for shotgun then you need to figure out a hull your are gonna shoot and look up the recipes for powder and wads, THIS IS NOT just pick your powder and reload whatever.

[whutsup40]

Feel free to IM for any help that you need.

[Tom-ADC]

Many many years ago I used to share reloading cost and we shot a lot of Bullseye powder, Bob died of a stroke and now I had a lot of Bullseye powder, was looking for other calibers or what ever else I could use it up in, then I get a issue of American Rifleman and they have a great article on using Bullseye powder in 12 ga. I sure broke a lot of clays using it up.
Moral of the story if shotgun reloading is high on your list do a little research to see what else that powder works in, I also used Clays as noted above.

[bigbossman]

I'm confused! is this for shotgun or pistol and rifle? If for shotgun then you need to figure out a hull your are gonna shoot and look up the recipes for powder and wads, THIS IS NOT just pick your powder and reload whatever.

Many "shotgun" powders are very versatile, and can also be used for pistol loads with great results. some have been mentioned here - 700x, Clays, Ramshot, Red Dot, etc. and you can add Green Dot, Blue Dot, Herco, and 2400 to the list.

For example, 700x is a great powder for 12 and 20 gauge, and also works very well for .45acp, 44mag, 9mm, 9mm MAK, .38spl, 38-40, 44-40, 25-20, 32-20, and a few others that I forget off-hand. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the OP's desire to economize by efficiently using a versatile powder. Many of us do it, with great results.

[CGT80]

Red Dot and Herco work for shotgun, pistol, and lighter rifle loads. Red dot is just fine for 9 and 38/357 lighter to mid loads. It is a relatively fast pistol powder. Herco is a bit slower. Magnum pistol loads use even slower powder, which doesn't really line up with shotgun powders, but you didn't mention magnums anyway.



x2 on shotgun loads being more particular than pistol, so start there.



Last time I checked, I could not buy components to load shotgun shells for less than what run of the mil 12ga birdshot loads cost........maybe things have changed or you are loading something more unusual. It has been a few years since I bought shotgun or 22 ammo, and reload everything else.

[bigbossman]

Last time I checked, I could not buy components to load shotgun shells for less than what run of the mil 12ga birdshot loads cost........maybe things have changed or you are loading something more unusual. It has been a few years since I bought shotgun or 22 ammo, and reload everything else.

This is certainly true for 12 gauge and usually 20 gauge as well. Value packs work out to about $0.50 more per box than reloading your own, so hardly worth the trouble unless you like having stock on hand and want to tailor loads for specific purposes.

However, you can save a lot of money if you reload for a less popular caliber, say 16, 28, or 410 gauge.

[682beretta]

You have to buy right to save money on 12 ga shells. 5000 wads, and 5000 primers, at a minimum.
Go to a big shoot and buy from the vendors. Trapshooters.com has a shotshell cost calculator. Plug in your values and see how you stand.

[checkenbach]

I’m using American Select in .38 Special, my bro uses it in 12 gage reloading too. Super clean and bulky. Doesn’t meter well through my Hornady LNL, so I use a Redding 10X powder measure. A burn rate just a bit behind TiteGroup, but much cleaner...