I've reloaded 10's of thousands of game and target 12 gauge loads. "Back in the day before Obama" you could be gun clubs or Gamebore for $3.50 to $4.00 a box if you looked around and could buy several flats at one time. I loved shooting Gamebore with the shiny shot
This has always been a big argument, and at the end of the day, the answer is going to be "it depends." I don't know the current price of components, but let's say that in a best case you save $2.00 a box, and let's say on the average trip to a SC clays course you use 5 boxes (100 targets, practice, do overs). You have saved $10. That's the value of your time. If you are going to parse it out, you are probably better of putting in an extra hour of work and buying your shells.
My personal decision was that at the end of day, it was cheaper to wait for sales and buy a bunch, even at today's inflated prices.
Now that said, it's an interesting hobby and that's not to be discouraged.
I'll also add that reloading will teach you to separate the S from the B.S. You can determine if there is really a difference between 28 gram load and a 1 oz. load, is there a difference between a 1100 fps shell and a 1450 fps shell, does using AA wads instead of Claybusters make a difference.
There are two places you can save some money If you seriously hunt with a 12 ga. you can save some serious coin rolling your own hunting loads which are super expensive off the shelf. So if you look at it that you pay for the equipment with hunting loads, and the target shells are just a bonus.
When you get to the small gauge loads, you can save some serious coin there. Especially .410. If you want to see some old men go into a feeding frenzy, and do everything but pull knives, throw some .410 AA's on the ground at a skeet range.
A couple of suggestions on saving money.
Best thing is do what Gran Torino suggests, hook up with a local gun club. Most of them order components when they order targets, so you save freight and HAZMAT. You have to be prepared to buy enough to wait until the next truck load, so the activity at the range may have effect on that.
Secondly, learn your components. Get a manual, and find out what wads substitute for what. Figure out if you really need hard shot (you don't). Learn what shells you can reload, you don't have to use all AA and STS. Bargain box shells will load fine for one time and you have an unlimited supply. The Federal bargain box shells reload uncommonly well using Federal data and wads (it's a straight wall shell). Even work out the cost of your powder -- for target loads there are almost an infinite combination. You have to keep up with what's available, price, and grains per load. I know a lot of people won't reload Fiochhi shells, I've loaded thousands. NOTE, I'm not suggesting that you Cowboy up reloading, all of the my hulls have published reloading data, even though I felt comfortable extrapolating a small amount.
Finally if you want to really cheap out, drop down to a 7/8 or 3/4 oz. load. I tried 1/2 oz. loads but could never get a decent crimp that would hold the shot in. Not going to say that Scotch Tape can be your friend, but
I agree with GT that a flat or two a month, it's just not worth my time, but that's a personal decision. Like I said it's a great hobby, and if you have kids, a great way to get them involved and teach them the value of working to shoot.
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12 gauge cost vs savings
- Thread starter wagesgt903
- Start date
Necessity, isn't the only reason, you are fine tuning yours loads to yourself, and your shooting equipment, and bet you really
enjoy your time in your own shell of quiet, and concentration, not to mention the self gratification. The bottom line is all of us reloaders do it because we just like the results...
enjoy your time in your own shell of quiet, and concentration, not to mention the self gratification. The bottom line is all of us reloaders do it because we just like the results...
Can I get an "amen"!
AMEN, SIR...
I have the stuff to reload 12 and 16 gauge. It's hard to justify reloading 12 gauge when I can buy 100 rounds of decent ammo for $21. If you're running a gun with a gas recoil system and don't like cleaning it then the premium commercial ammo or reloads might be the way to go.
reloaded all my 12 dove rounds.. I don't think you save any real $$ but... for the $$ spent you get a better round.. if you are comparing against the cheap Remington or Winchester dove loads then remember you using a much better wad in your reloads...
the trick is to find some cheaper shot.
the trick is to find some cheaper shot.
Therein lies the problem.
Amen to Gran Torino and yea Wheeler cheap shot is so very hard to come by...
You cannot save money buying components retail.
Everyone says you can't save money, but you can.
Be patient, buy smart.
But as stated, shot is the problem. Reclaimed is nasty.
Homemade shot is a hard fought battle.
I suspect this is our new normal.
Everyone says you can't save money, but you can.
Be patient, buy smart.
But as stated, shot is the problem. Reclaimed is nasty.
Homemade shot is a hard fought battle.
I suspect this is our new normal.
