Is It Cheaper To Reload 12 Gauge

[shootinforfood 18]

as the title says, is it cheaper to reload 12 gauge shot gun cartridges, or is it cheaper to just buy them.

 

I reload .303 for my dad and that works out a lot cheaper and a lot more accurate. I know accuracy probably wont be affected with shot gun cartridges though, but will it save money?

[andyf 144]

Simple answer NO, only starts to make fiscal sense for 'odd ball' shot sizes, and big/small bores (i.e. 410 or 8/10 bore).

That said I load all my own 12g Fox shells using home cast AAA shot.

I have been loading my own centrefire ammo for years, and started shotshells more out of interest than necessity.

I have a Lee Loadall but I don't use the crimper, I use a rolled turn over tool, as the crimps my loadall makes are a

bit oversize and the finished shells don't drop into the gun chambers, they have to be pushed in lightly. This has no effect

on the cartridge they work fine, but I don't like it.

Also I now always use new cases, not reloaded fired ones, the reloads are ok but the new cases are better, and they are cheap as

chips.

AndyF

[Hawkeye 1 0]

Sorry Andy i do not agree with you i make all my own shotgun cartridges size 7... 28grm for clay shooting and size 6 .....30 grms for pigeons and also crows..

 

We make all our own shot and my mate has costed it out it only costs us just over £100 per 1,000..

 

The trick is make your own shot all the lead is given to us from a mate who is a roofer we then add antimony to harder the shot..

 

Cases we get from the clay grounds free.........primers we buy in bulk 10,000 at a time wads we buy 10,000 a time thats between 2 of us and powder we buy in 20 kilo tubs

so if you buy in bulk it can save you a lot of cash..

 

Forgot to add my mate uses a ponsness warren and i use a Mec 9000 g and can knock 300 + per hour easy...

Edited September 4, 2013 by Hawkeye 1

[andyf 144]

OK Hawkeye, point taken, but free lead, a shot maker and a 'proper' multi station loading press are not a given for most people, leave alone the set up cost.

I think the original poster would be using a 'normal' amount of shells (maybe 200/400 a year maximum), so under those (and my) circumstances

reloading 12g shotshells is simply not 'cheaper' than buying factory loads even when you buy 2 boxes of 25 at a time. Probably take you 10 years to cover

the cost of the reloading gear.

More fun, a good way to learn and understand ammunition and ballistics yes, the best angle I find is loading shells that cannot be bought, i.e. 3,5" Magnum

with a full load of No 9 shot!

I reload for the quality of the components and in Rifle ammo precision and repeatability not cost.

CHEERS

AndyF

[Hawkeye 1 0]

Hi Andy i can see your point if i was only using a few 100 per year it would not be economical to reload except for the pleasure but i use a few 1000 shells per year..

My MEC 9000 cost me £300 from the states (second hand ) postage was included (£100) in the £300..that was about 2009..

As you say you can get a lot of pleasure reloading your own... We have the advantage that there are 3 of us so we can buy in bulk that can give you a good saving...

Like you i also reload my C/F rifles 223 and 243 and they are more accurate than factory rounds ...

[shootinforfood 18]

cheers guys, looks like I will be better of buying than reloading. most will be used for birds, some on foxes and a few days a year at clays so not huge numbers