Has anyone else done the math?

[Bullseye]

I have been fooling around loading shotgun shells for about 15 years.  I did the math last night and based on the price of components I can buy shells for shooting skeet for the same price as reloading (cheaper if you buy the cheap shells).  I gave up loading hunting shells years ago since I only use a couple of boxes a year.  I used to think that my shells were better, and they probably are with the harder shot and so forth.  But since my skeet shooting is at a local range with my own thrower, the cheap shells break skeet just as well.  I think I will retire the MEC and stick with metallic reloading where the big money savings is at.

Just curious about anyone elses thoughts.

[Questor]

You're absolutely right. There is practically no payback if you're using the promotional loads like the Federal Walmarts and the Winchester Walmarts. I only got a MEC shotshell reloader because I wanted low recoil loads for my kids to shoot.  It was worth it for that purpose. I do get better patterns with reloads though. I think it has something to do with my using good wads and magnum shot instead of using the chilled shot.  

Ironically, my target ammo is good enough to hunt with, so I do.  The promotional ammo isn't (holey patterns, Batman!)

A lot of the trap shooters around here use the Federal Walmarts.  

It's definitely not like cartridge loading, which does have a payback.

That Winchester Walmart ammo is the cleanest burning ammo I've ever seen. You can shoot a box of it and hardly tell you've fired a shot when you examine the bore.

[warf73]

For my dove load would be close to same price as Wal Mart shells but my dove load is my sporting clays load as well and the patterns are way better. But I also load spreader wads which I haven’t seen at Wal Mart.

Now for my crow and pheasant loads Wal Mart can’t event come close to the price of reloading.

Now duck hunting loads I do buy them by the flat in Arkansas from a Kent dealer $85.00 for 10 boxes. Very nice shells.

Goose hunting I break out the Mec single stage and load a box of 25shells for $12.00 a box way cheaper than $23.00 or more (I shoot a 10ga.)


I can reload for $3.00 a box it doesn’t matter if its 11/4oz. Loads or 11/8oz loads as I use the same powder charge. The only thing changing is wad and shot weight.

25lb shot-$14.00
Wads box of 5000- $78.50
Primers 5000- $80
Powder 8lbs. $90.25

So it really depends on what you shoot and how much you shoot if you save money or not.

[ricciardelli]

Well, a long, long time ago, when Jesus and I were standing on the trap line wearing sandals, I used to do a lot of shotgun reloading.

I was shooting, on an average, 500 rounds a week.  That was when shotgun shells came in boxes of 25, and 20 boxes to a case.  the cost for Winchester AA shells was around $50 per case ($2.50 per box).

My reloading costs for 1-1/8th ounce of 7-1/2 shot, 3 dram loads of Red Dot, using WW primers and wads was 85 cents a box.  I probably could have saved a few cents a box by using different primers and wads, and saved even more if I used reclaimed shot ... but that wasn't for me!

Was reloading shotgun shells worth it?  You bet it was!

I have no idea what it costs to reload shotgun today, what with the rediculous shipping and hazmat fees (I used to buy shot a ton at a time, primers and wads 10,000 at a time, and powder 24 pounds at a time.)

[Questor]

Ricciardelli:

The relative costs are about the same in reloading vs. purchasing trap loads.  But now we have the Walmart factor.  When you can get 4 boxes of shotgun shells for $10, it doesn't pay to reload, as long as you're happy with the load they are selling.

[HWooldridge]

In addition to Wal-Mart, the component manufacturers have gotten smart and raised prices on powder, shot, wads, etc.   I often watch the paper and try to buy from people who have lost interest or from estate sales.  With additional regulations, many dealers are carrying less and that has also decreased competition so prices go up accordingly.  I primarily hunt with a shotgun and do not shoot many clay birds so I reload shotshells simply because the patterns are better.

[Castaway]

Agree totally.  Used to reload a lot then did some calculator work.  Can't approach the price at WalMart.  I inherited 50 lbs of shot and when that's gone, I'll probably retire my MEC.

[james]

Yep, I came to the same conclusion as you guys,  The only reason I stll have the Mec is to save a little on 410s occasionally.  I would imagine the 28 ga shooters can still  save a little money too or at least have an ample supply of ammo.  But I can't beat the price at Wally World for the 12 and 20.
James.

[ricciardelli]

Okay, you guys got me wondering what it would cost me to shoot trap today!  (Hope the hell you are happy!!)

My trap loads are 2-3/4 inch, 3 dram, 1-1/8 ounce of 7-1/2 shot

Boxed factory ammo:
Winchester AA - $4.45 box/25   17.8 cents each
Winchester "White Box" - $3.19box   12.76 cents each
Challanger - $3.68 box/25  14.72 cents each

Reloads using: Red Dot Powder, Winchester AA White Wads, Winchester 209 primers, chilled/hardened 7-1/2 shot:

$2.222219196428571428571428571428 box/25
8.8888767857142857142857142857 cents each

Reloads using: REX I powder, Windjammer wads, Winchester 209 primers, chilled/hardened 7-1/2 shot:

$1.958523839285714285714285714285 box/25
7.8340953571428571428571428571 cents each

So...there is still an advantage to loading your own shotgun shells, if you do any real shooting.

[Questor]

You're right. But I'd have to shoot much more than I do now to make it worth it.  I used the same calculator you did, or one like it, and figured I'd have to load several hundred boxes of ammo to pay for the reloading gear. Then there's the question of time.

There are also other factors, like where you're getting your hulls. If you've got a good supply of AA or Remington target hulls at zero cost or low cost, that saves a lot.  If you're like me and you buy a new flat of shells, then reload them until failure, then the cost goes up.

Another factor is that for the the price of Walmart cheapie ammo I can make premium ammo that definitely patterns better.

Although it pains me to say it-- because I'm usually the first and most vocal to despise the hassle and time involved in reloading-- I do get better ammo as a result and I personally feel it's worth the effort.  

Now here's a twist on this whole discussion: Hevishot. I checked into the cost of buying the manual and components to reload hevishot for waterfowl loads. It's cheaper to buy them already made.  Those buggers are expensive, but reloading definitely is not a way of saving money with them. They've got so many loads available now that you can get just about any shot size for any chambering you might want for waterfowl, except maybe 16 gauge.

[MnMike]

I agree with Questor. I load only because I can make 1/2 oz 12G loads for kids. While I have everything out, I may make a box for myself, but it doesn't really pay.

mike

[Bullseye]

I am happy ricciardelli...... that is the longest response I have ever seen from you to any post. :grin:

I do not know what quantities of supplies that are purchased for those that said it is cheaper, but based on the quantities that I buy things in (lb of powder, 25 lbs of shot, 250 wads and 1000 primers) my cost comes out to $4.50 a box.  That is for a load using 700X, Winchester wad, Winchester primer and hard shot (And I did check my math).  I have a cheap reloading supplier in my area, but I am sure that I could buy cheaper in larger quantities, I just do not shoot enough to justifly that.

Very interesting comments by all.