Reloading Cost?

[RangeViewKennels]

It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find shells that I like. I was thinking about reloading. Anybody out there reload their own premium shells and knows about what the cost per shell is?

I know there is some upfront cost for the reloading equipment.

[mporter]

I have re-loaded Shot Shells for 44 years. Even with the increasing cost of components I figure you can still save at least 50% on Lead Shot Loads. I use 1 1/8 ounce loads for Dove, Quail etc. and 1 1/4 ounce loads for everything else. I use Win. AA or Rem. compression (Trap Hulls) for everything from field loads to 2 3/4 mag. loads. Granted you have to justify re-loading by shooting regularly, but I also feel that with the right recipe you can duplicate anything out there. My cost on the last 500 rounds of 1 1/4 ounce heavy loads was 16 cents each. Thats $4.00 a box. Compare that to a box of Golden Pheasant or Remington XPress equivalant loads. I used Hodgon Longshot Powder, Winchester Primers, Fed. Wads and over priced shot (#4 @ $37.00 per 25 Lbs.) I buy components by bulk when the price is right and vary my loads by components available but stay around 1300 fps. on heavy field loads.

Hope this helps

Shoot straight and hunt with a dog.

[RangeViewKennels]

Thanks,
I thought it would be more expensive than that. I will have to start looking for some reloading equipment.

[Bonasa Flats]

I reload both 28 ga & 20 ga. My favorite loads for both are Winchester AA Super Sports pushing their shot charges down the tube at 1300 fps. I can replicate both of those high performance loads for under $4 per box. That's a savings of $4 to $5 per box on the 20 ga & $7 to $8 per box on the 28 ga.

With the AA High Strength (HS) hulls, I've got some 28 hulls that I've reloaded 6 or 7 times already.

For both I use Hodgdon Longshot, Winchester 209 primers, & AA wads.

Hope this helps!

Best Regards,
John Voight
http://www.BonasaFlats.com
"Versatile & Prove Bird Dogs for Dedicated Bird Dog Owners"

[RangeViewKennels]

How many times can you reload a shell and when do you know when a shell is done?

[Bonasa Flats]

I don't know the official "rule of thumb" for how many times, but if I can get a good crimp on a shell, I'll keep reloading it. I cull any hulls that don't crimp well or seem to fit well in the O/U's I shoot. I probably end up culling 5 to 7% of the hulls that I'm reloading in a given batch. I'm especially impressed with how many times I can reload the Win AA 28-ga HS hulls - extremely durable.

[RangeViewKennels]

Thanks for the info