Cost for 12 Ga. reloads?

[flypops]

With a moderate amount of investment in reloading equipment and supplies, what should I expect the cost to be for reloading a case (100) rounds of 12 ga.?

I realize much of the cost is due to buying supplies in bulk but again, what should I expect the cost to be if I was to invest say $1000 in reloading equipment and a beginner stash of supplies?

I am retired and want to get back into clays but the last time I bought any 12 ga. ammo it was at Walmart and a 100 rounds of Federal could be had for under $25. Obviously that is no longer the case.

I am thinking a MEC Jr. for reloading. I have plenty of time and don't necessarily need to reload 1,000 rounds at a time. I'd be happy with a case an hour.

Thanks in advance for any insight you guys (or gals) can offer.

[ar15barrels]

First off, a case is 250 rounds as that's the standard sized carton that ten 25rd boxes come in.
Wads often come in 250ct or 500ct bags as well.
It's won't be possible to get to Walmart prices if you are buying hulls to reload but if you have a good supply of GOOD hulls, you can get close.
GOOD hulls are NOT the ones that came in those walmart loads though.
Think Winchester AA or Remington Gun Club hulls at the bare minimum for reloading.
The crappy hulls that came in walmart loads can sometimes be used to reload once and then leave them on the ground, but won't stand up to multiple loads like GOOD hulls will.

So you can load cheaper than you can buy ammo that comes in GOOD hulls as that ammo is more expensive than walmart ammo but don't expect to beat old walmart ammo prices.

At a similar price to walmart shells, your reloads made in GOOD hulls will be better quality because you will be re-using the GOOD hulls multiple times.

[BIGOX]

I think a used MEC 600jr is a great idea for most people. Prices are very affordable. If Shotshell 209 primers are an issue buy so cheddites (slightly larger than American 209s so you wont be to use others after) from ballistic products. Once you start loading buckshot and slugs the savings jump way up. But the best part is making a load tailored to our needs or wants.

[LeadPilot]

http://ecsc-skeet.com/linked/shotshell_reloading_cost_calculator.htm

[BIGOX]

I know how to count. I'm at $0.20 for a 7/8oz 12g load. So $5 a box of $25

[flypops]

Thanks for the info guys. I've been looking over in the for sale section for a MEC. If I can get the cost of a box down to around $6 I'd be more than happy and could get to the range for at least a few rounds a week.

[bigbossman]

I am thinking a MEC Jr. for reloading. I have plenty of time and don't necessarily need to reload 1,000 rounds at a time. I'd be happy with a case an hour.

Thanks in advance for any insight you guys (or gals) can offer.

The last time I did a cost breakdown, it was about $4.50/box of 25 for me to reload. At the time, "value pack" ammo was about $5.00/box, so I wasn't saving much. But, I was getting MUCH better ammo for my buck, and I had ammo on-hand at all times. That was very convenient.

I used to reload on a 600jr, and later moved up to a MEC 650. I can tell you with all confidence that you will not get 1 case/hour with a 600jr. A case is 10 boxes of 25, and using a 600jr you will get about 1 box (25) every 20 minutes or so.

[flypops]

The last time I did a cost breakdown, it was about $4.50/box of 25 for me to reload. At the time, "value pack" ammo was about $5.00/box, so I wasn't saving much. But, I was getting MUCH better ammo for my buck, and I had ammo on-hand at all times. That was very convenient.

I used to reload on a 600jr, and later moved up to a MEC 650. I can tell you with all confidence that you will not get 1 case/hour with a 600jr. A case is 10 boxes of 25, and using a 600jr you will get about 1 box (25) every 20 minutes or so.

Yeah, I mis-spoke on the case. I was meaning 4 boxes of 25. I used to buy those Remington 4-pack at Walmart which was 4 boxes of 25.

[AAShooter]

If you are happy with the performance and availability of 12 gauge promotional loads at Walmart, I would not bother reloading for the money savings. Reloading is a fun hobby on its own but your saving will be minimal.

If you are attempting to reproduce competition shells, speciality shells, or are reloading some of the sub-gauges, the savings can be much higher in those cases.

[ar15barrels]

Thanks for the info guys. I've been looking over in the for sale section for a MEC.
If I can get the cost of a box down to around $6 I'd be more than happy and could get to the range for at least a few rounds a week.

Using today's prices from Phillips Wholesale and including sales tax, I can reload 3/4oz 1250fps 12ga loads with titewad, CB0175 wads and cheddite primers for $7.39 according to the reloading cost calculator above if I already had the AA hulls.
If Phillips has once fired AA hulls on hand, I think they are 10 cents a piece so that would add $2.50 per box, getting you to about $9.89 per 25ct box of finished loads.

[RNE228]

I've seen MEC 12G loaders on Sacramento Craigslist with some frequency. There's a few up right now if you search on "reloading" or "MEC".

Thanks for the info guys. I've been looking over in the for sale section for a MEC. If I can get the cost of a box down to around $6 I'd be more than happy and could get to the range for at least a few rounds a week.

[golden240]

First off, a case is 250 rounds as that's the standard sized carton that ten 25rd boxes come in.
Wads often come in 250ct or 500ct bags as well.
It's won't be possible to get to Walmart prices if you are buying hulls to reload but if you have a good supply of GOOD hulls, you can get close.
GOOD hulls are NOT the ones that came in those walmart loads though.
Think Winchester AA or Remington Gun Club hulls at the bare minimum for reloading.
The crappy hulls that came in walmart loads can sometimes be used to reload once and then leave them on the ground, but won't stand up to multiple loads like GOOD hulls will.

So you can load cheaper than you can buy ammo that comes in GOOD hulls as that ammo is more expensive than walmart ammo but don't expect to beat old walmart ammo prices.

At a similar price to walmart shells, your reloads made in GOOD hulls will be better quality because you will be re-using the GOOD hulls multiple times.

Good advice. Unless you can really cut corners with components you really aren't saving a while lot. The advantage of reloading is you don't have to worry about what's on the shelf, other than components from time to time, and you can fine tune your loads. If you shoot TSS or waterfowl loads it makes a bigger difference and costs can be a factor.

[flypops]

So in reality I'm not going to save a nickel but will rather end up spending much but the whole point is to get back into shooting. Before the pandemic and all the other crap that took the ammo off the shelves I could walk into almost any Walmart and in 5 minutes I'm back in my car with 100 rounds of 12 ga. for under 25 bucks.

Today my local stores don't even stock it and BPS or Big 5, if you can find it get $12-$18 bucks a box. That's a helluva lot more than I can afford if I want to shoot on a regular basis. Once the initial investment is made it sounds like I can easily load a box for 8 bucks or less. Plus as many of you have pointed out, I'd get much better quality and more consistent loads.

Thanks again for all of your input.

[AAShooter]

So in reality I'm not going to save a nickel but will rather end up spending much but the whole point is to get back into shooting. Before the pandemic and all the other crap that took the ammo off the shelves I could walk into almost any Walmart and in 5 minutes I'm back in my car with 100 rounds of 12 ga. for under 25 bucks.

Today my local stores don't even stock it and BPS or Big 5, if you can find it get $12-$18 bucks a box. That's a helluva lot more than I can afford if I want to shoot on a regular basis. Once the initial investment is made it sounds like I can easily load a box for 8 bucks or less. Plus as many of you have pointed out, I'd get much better quality and more consistent loads.

Thanks again for all of your input.

A couple comments that might seem contradictory. One, reloading consumes time. So it may cut into your shooting time. Two, nobody saves money reloading, they just shoot more ammo.

[BIGOX]

To save money buy powder and primers in bulk. You can buy reclaim lead shot. Buy a used press. Reload slugs and buckshot.