Time to reload steel ???????

[dakotashooter2]

The 20 ga has become a favorite of mine for shooting ducks and upland game however it is getting harder to find a decent price on shells. Even more so since the latest price increases. While 12 ga are still discounted I'm not seeing that in the 20 ga shells anymore. Due to an increase in waterfowl hunting I am almost through a stash of steel I had purchase when my son still shot the 20. Most were bought at discount or closeout prices. Running the numbers it seems I could load them for about $8.00 a box. $4 less than the cheapest and $10 than the better stuff. Is anybody loading steel for the 20 and are you satisfied with the loads?

[JRSpicer426]

Components still aren't cheap enough to make it worth it. I'm reloading Hevishot now at a savings a 28cents per shell which isnt much but it passes the time.

[dakotashooter2]

While steel is not my first choice, component wise it is very comparable to lead in cost right now.  While the other non toxics are great in performance  Many people can't justify the cost. Saturday I blasted about $10 worth of steel and unfortunately missed most of what I shot at. One of the other shot options would have cost me $50-$60. $3 is a lot for a miss. Thats quite a difference. If you are hitting every time you pull the trigger it may be worth it but that is not true of probably most hunters. Even if I have to shoot twice as many steel to get results I'm still way ahead in the cost column.

[shotgunner]

I have not loaded 20s yet but 3" 12s. I set up a MEC sizemaster with an adjustable charge bar. I drop the powder, Allient Steel, and then check the weight on an electronic scale. It is not all that slow and I find I enjoy using my own loads. Steel will never be lead, but prices are getting out of sight. I want to know who is using the $4 a shot Hevishot. I have a 20 gauge Beretta 390 that I have used on ducks with factory ammo, I will try some loads for it, later in the year. Let me know how you make out. Shotgunner