Shotshell reloading here?

[Pauliedad]

Do any of the usual suspects here who reload also bother with shotshell?

I saw a YouTube video that was a guy loading on a $51.00 Lee machine.

Got me thinking....

[rsrocket1]

Depends on your loads and especially what you pay for shot.
Here's a cost calculator:

http://www.losttarget.com/costcal.htm

Here's one with the cost of the reloader amortized so you know how many boxes you need to load to break even:

http://www.ewrg.org/sscalc.html

Examples
At worst:
18g for powder @ $31/pound
1-1/8 oz shot @ $50/25#
$15 for 500 wads
$35 for 1000 primers
=$7.12/box of 25 <- not a very good deal if you are just shooting trap/skeet
it's even worse if you go out and buy hulls.

At best:
18g powder @ $120/8 pounds
3/4 oz shot @ $22/25 pounds reclaimed shot
$10 for 500 wads
$30/1000 primer

= $3.25/box <- a good price even compared to cheap walmart ammo

You recoup the cost of the Lee machine in 20 boxes. Most shotgun reloader people reload because they shoot a lot and use a progressive or at the very least, something more sturdy like a Mec press. With a progressive, you get a shell every pull instead of 6 pulls per shell. A $500 progressive setup would take close to 200 boxes to break even, but a lot of shooters do that in less than a year. After that, it's well worth it for the convenience of 20 minutes for 4 boxes of shells.

If you are a low volume shooter and want to load hunting loads, buckshot or slugs, a Lee loader will be fine.

[Cheep]

If your not going to load in volume, compare the Lee with a MecJr, you can pick up a good used Mec for not much more than the Lee and it's way more substantial.

[CSACANNONEER]

My first press was a $10 Lee Load All. Not a Load All II but, and original Lee Load All Jr. Now, I tend to use MECs and load more .410 than anything else but, I just got a 28g press so, that might change.

[koehn,jim]

I load my own 12ga and have since the late 70s. The true savings is not in cost versus cheap shells, but the fact that I can load quality shells for what I would pay for wallyworld stuff. If you shop around you can load them for about 6.00 a box, not cheap but quality never is. I am partial to Winchester aa and I can shoot them for far less than I could buy them. The Lee Loadall is fine for a few boxes but as someone pointed out get a used Mec jr instead.

[wild_weasel]

I have an original Lee Load-All in 12GA, I paid $12 for, and it works great, but with bulk shells so cheap I hardly us it anymore. I may set it up again, for specialty loads, if I get the Lee slug and buckshot molds.

[at_liberty]

Just got a Mec for .410 and have bought all the components. I have a 12 GA too but no plan to shoot it enough to reload.

[alfred1222]

I use a MEC9000 for everything, and im probably going to buy another one for 28ga soon. Its not that its cheaper then cheap, its that i make way better ammo

[FLIGHT762]

If you're going to reload to save money, then it's probably not the best investment at least in 12 or 20 ga. shells. You will save on reloading 410 and 28 ga. shells.

I reloaded shot shell for many years. I used a MEC Grabber, a good progressive machine. I finally loaded all of my components up and sold the machine. For me, my time is better spent on reloading rifle ammunition for hunting and for precision rifles. I do a good bit of shotgun shooting in sporting clays / Skeet and do a fair amount of Duck, Goose and Dove hunting.

I used to reload a great 1-1/8 oz. Dove load @ 1300 + fps. At the time, there was no factory loads that were similar. Over the years, with the Sporting Clay sport getting very popular, the companies started producing my Dove load. I now just buy that same load.

When I was Duck hunting in the 70's and 80's, I loaded my lead Duck loads and produced a great 1-3/8 oz. # 4's @1300+ FPS load that worked really well. When we were forced to go to Steel shot, that took care of that. I didn't make the change over to reloading steel, I found buying factory ammo was best for my time spent.

We all reload as a hobby. If reloading shotgun shells makes you happy and keeps you busy, then do it. If you are going to reload 12 or 20 ga. to try to save money, then it's not the best option.

I don't reload shogun shells anymore and I have no regrets that I stopped.

[bigbossman]

I load my own 12ga and have since the late 70s. The true savings is not in cost versus cheap shells, but the fact that I can load quality shells for what I would pay for wallyworld stuff.

This.

For 12 and 20 ga, you can usually buy "value" sleeves at Xmart stores and save money, but your hand loads will be higher quality. For any other gauge like 410, 28, and 16 reloading will save you a lot of dough in a hurry.

If your not going to load in volume, compare the Lee with a MecJr, you can pick up a good used Mec for not much more than the Lee and it's way more substantial.

This, again.

MEC 600jr's commonly sell on CL for between $50 and $125, and are world's better than the Lee Load-All (which I like, BTW). Every once in a while MEC 650's pop up for $100 - $150, and those are nice progressive presses for the casual reloader.

[pdq_wizzard]

My dad gave me one of these that he found at a Garage Sale for $20

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/Ponsness-Warren-375C-Du-O-Matic-shotshell-reloader-for-12ga-20ga-2-3_4/productinfo/1611220/

[iroquois]

I'm casting and loading Lee drive key slugs and 00 Buck using the Lee Load-All 2.
After reviewing the cost per shell for bird shot loads, it's not worth the time & money unless you reload a hybrid loads.
I've talked to some shotshell loaders that do a hybrid load of #8 shot mixed with 00 buck.

Slugs and buck shot are definitely worth it.

[stonefly-2]

after i had no place to shoot ducks with lead anymore i got a mec size master to roll my own with bismuth. since then iv'e gone to ITX shot and you can sure save money making your own 12 ga. if it's for waterfowl loads. i scrounged up a lifetime supply of activ shotshells and load 1 5/8 oz. (recipie calls for lead) @1250. some i buffer, with 6's, 4's and buffered 2's you can do it all pretty much like lead and still shoot the old guns.
it's not so much for the hobby, handloading is just what i feel i need to do to continue killing ducks cleanly. they say the new shots kill much better than than steel used to....... i wouldn't know if that's so or not.

[repomanNWP]

I reload pistol and rifle, but not shotgun. I am starting to shoot a lot of trap, but the economics and my time just don't tip in favor of reloading. For now, I'll keep buying 12 and 20ga in bulk for around $6 / box.

[Solus]

check it out I broke my load all 2 base just by reloading regular shells. BUY A MEC! I have 2 Mec 600jr and I reload on that thing faster than my buddy can reload on his mec 650(progressive). I converted 1 to reload 3" steel loads. you need a press that sizes and the mec 600jr will size for you. They need a little fine tuning but once you get it tuned in you will have zero problems. As with the lee load all 2 its a pain in the but and there is no adjustments. Good luck if you have any questions feel free to ask or pm me