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Posted: 6/16/2010 8:32:51 PM EDT
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So I just started trap league, I'm hooked on it now! so much fun. So I thought since I reload rifle, I am thinking of starting shotshell reloading since i see that the equimpent are quite cheap much cheaper than rifle.
Here are my questions; I currently buy 25 round box of federals for about 5.75 a box, so I was looking at some stuff figuring out how much a box of 25 reloads would run me as if I kept all the hulls, they still rounded up to 5.25 a box... umm or am I looking at it wrong? I got the prices from midway for quick reference, so if any one knows where there are places i can get it for much cheaper please let me know! CCI #209 41.99/1000 (.04 cents per shot) Hogdon Titegroup 16.79/LB ( 7000gr per LB approx, 360ish rounds per lb= .05 cents per shot at 19gr per shot) Lawrence magnum #7-1/2 36.99/25lbs ( 25lbs = 400oz, approx 350 shots per 25 lb bag= approx .10cents per shot) Claybuster 1-1/8oz wads 9.99/500= .02cents per shot I don't know what or which shots, powder, and wads are good and recommended so I just randomly picked them, again I'm open to suggestions of what wads, shots, and powder is recommend to start with. anyways the total for one shot runs up approx .21 cents per shot which runs up to $5.25 per box of 25. If that is correct then I don't see the benefits of reloading shotshells, plus when I need to buy new hulls it will run me more than 21 cents per shot. 2nd question, how many times can a hull be reloaded until it is no good, and how do I know its no good? compared to rifle, you check for stretch, and cracks on the brass, but shotshell hulls are plastic. 3rd thing is that I see there are like several different kinds of wads. I am sure each design is for different kinds of shooting right? or no? thats all for now. |
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The load you're making there is a better load than the Federal cheap loads. Lawrence magnum shot is pretty good stuff. Cheaper Star or other branded "chilled" shot is what goes into the cheap game loads.
That said,the big advantage of shotgun reloading is twofold: making things you can't otherwise get (your own duplex loads,shot sizes you can't normally find,etc) and making better ammo for the same price. If hearing the "bang" is good enough for you,then stick with Remington Gun Club or other cheap stuff for the simplicity of it. Hulls differ,as do the basewads in them. Usually the basewads either separate from the base, or in the case of paper based Federals,the base goes down the barrel. Sometimes the plastic itself cracks at the crimp. That's what usually kills the nearly all plastic hulls. The nearly all- plastic hulls like Remington's STS type hulls tend to last longer than paper basewad hulls as found in most Federal ammo. Different wads are for handling different charge weights of shot and powder in various hull types. Wads do two things: protect the shot from deformation and take up the correct amount of space in the hull that isn't filled by a given combo of shot and powder. The reason they all have different shapes is that they are designed for certain load combinations, and certain hull types. |
| Most of your prices seem pretty realistic to me. You could save yourself a few dollars by buying larger quantities of powder than the #1 containers. Another way you could save some money is by keeping an eye out for online specials at the various supply shops like midway, whenever they have the "save $10 on a $100 order" and whatnot, you can cut your costs down a bit that way. Another way you could save yourself some cash is by buying reclaimed lead shot, instead of new stuff. While the reclaimed stuff wouldnt be ideal for hunting use, it should do just fine in a trap league setting. Also if your wanting to go the reclaimed route, i'd suggest getting together with your gun club and ordering a large quantity, say 10k lbs (if you can get your club to front the cash for it). When your club contacts a reclaimed shot company and requests an order in this quantity range i'd think they would be able to get a considerable deal and pass some of the savings on to their members while making their money back and then some. As for hulls, not sure about your club, but my club doesnt have a problem with us picking up hulls, i usually take a grocery bag/small trash bag and fill it up every time i go. The easiest way to see if a round is no good to reload is to look for cracking/splitting in the plastic. Look around on Youtube, there are some decent video's to watch out there. |
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I don't clean shot shells, just pack'em and load'em. Old red AA huls would take 8-10
loads new one not so many. Rem. STS hulls are reslly good though. sdshooter................................. P. S. Hulls do get a little dirtier on each load, but it won't hurt. |
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Quoted:
Use cheaper powder..Promo, 8 lb jug Cheaper primers...Cheddite or Noble Sport, 5,000 per case Less shot......1 oz = 400 rounds per bag of shot 7/8 oz = 450 per bag 3/4 oz = 525 per bag thanks for the tip on the powder and primers, however the shots, i'd rather more shots so i have more chance of hitting the clay pigeons! lol |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Use cheaper powder..Promo, 8 lb jug Cheaper primers...Cheddite or Noble Sport, 5,000 per case Less shot......1 oz = 400 rounds per bag of shot 7/8 oz = 450 per bag 3/4 oz = 525 per bag thanks for the tip on the powder and primers, however the shots, i'd rather more shots so i have more chance of hitting the clay pigeons! lol 7/8 oz is a great practice load and the reduced recoil and associated fatigue is significantly reduced. I have seen some shooters improve their scores going to lighter shot loads and reduced recoil. I have been shooting 12 ga 3/4 oz for skeet with no complaints. |
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I'll toot my own horn, here's how I reload target shells for skeet http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=299960 |
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Get a copy of Lymans Shotshell Reloading Handbook #5. Link
Will explain the different hulls and has lots of loads. No need to tumble shotshells. |
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Quoted:
thanks guys for the information, I think I'm gonna go ahead and give it a try sometime this month or early July I'll put in orders, do you guys throw the hulls in the tumbler or no? I mean how do you clean them? Shoot long enough and you'll see someone with bird feathers stuck to their reloaded shotgun shells. I washed some nasty hulls bought from a range many years ago. Swished them around in a bucket of water to get the mud and crud off. Drying was the interesting part - I ran them through the dryer for a few minutes and they shrunk! The length was just enough shorter to cause crimp problems. Now I just shoot and load. I inspect them for cracks before putting in the reloader. |
Back when I was shooting 12-20 rounds of skeet a week and raiding the club for hulls (I did a fair share of club maint. ) I'd have to wash some to get the sand and mud off of the ones that were left on the fields in the rain. I only used AA hulls or STS hulls and eventually got away from the AA's due to them changing them all the time then. The AA silvers were the worst.
Kitchen sink with hot water and dawn. Dump in a sink full of hulls, swish them around a bit, dump to the other sink and rinse. I'd shake them a bit and toss them in a mesh laundry bag and hang them in the sun on the deck for a few days. Certainly don't rush to load any hull exposed to water or you'll be that guy looking for the range rod. LOL'ing at trying to dry them in the drier! Thank God I had to pay at the laundromat or I'd have probably done that too! Shrinky Dink hulls, how cute! I'd get 7-8 decent loads on quality hulls. By that time they're starting to get toasted on the end. Guys would go farther then me on a hull. I didn't because I read that the aging of the crimping end of the hull would change the timing of the release, and the burn of the powder, and subsequently slow the speed of the shot causing you to need a slight adjustment in your lead for skeet or sporting clays. Made sense to me, not to mention old hulls would open up the crimp and spill shot on me. |
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I load 7/8 oz loads and have no problems during sporting clays.
Lighter loads, less recoil means more managed shots and less fatigue during the days when I am running 2-3 rounds (200-300 shots total) I remember starting with 1-1/8 oz factory loads...by the time I hit 200 shots, I noticed I was starting to not shoulder the shotgun properly...it was getting uncomfortable to get it in the pocket, let alone the slight flinch I was developing by that time. |
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