Worth reloading 12 gauge?

[SOMDSHOOT]

This is my common order on components for shot shotshells. Just some ideas for future consideration:

Wads HERE ( for my 12 gauge shotshells and slugs )

Lead Shot HERE ( for my Clays / Dove reloads )

Copper Plated Shot HERE ( for my Crow and Turkey reloads )

Steel Shot HERE ( for my Goose reloads )

I use Hodgdon Clays powder in all of my 12, 20, & 16 gauge slug and shotshell reloads

All three of my presses are Lee Load All II. I don't reload shotshells and slugs in mass production, but, my presses have punched out a few thousand rounds each to date. I get my presses and almost all of reloading supplies from Dennis and Robyn at TitanReloading.com They always have great prices, excellent customer service, and the fastest shipping out of anyone I deal with. Again, these are just suggestions based on what I use. My presses do what I ask of them, so, I can't complain at all.

 

[byf43]

I have a MEC 600 Jr (referenced as the old style model) set up for .12ga, with a few rust spots, that you can have for $50.

I may just take you up on that offer. I'll pm you sometime today about that. Do you still have the bushings and all the parts with the mec Jr? The rust doesnt bother me. Function is all i need. My father is a commercial press mechanic. If anything Im sure he could help spruce it up alittle bit if need be.

You are too late, sold pending funds. Yes, everything is there to start loading .12ga 1 1/8 oz loads.

platoonDaddy:
You offered the OP the press for $50.00, and when he said that he'd get back to you, you had already sold it to someone else?????????


Doesn't quite sound fair, to me.

 

[MEGARMS]

platoonDaddy:
You offered the OP the press for $50.00, and when he said that he'd get back to you, you had already sold it to someone else?????????


Doesn't quite sound fair, to me.

How long is he supposed to wait? That being said, I suppose a PM to the OP would have been in order. For all we know he sent him one.

Bronsononson, send me a PM if you are serious about reloading. I have a machine that I will sell you if you commit to buy it before anyone else does. I will also spend some time teaching you how to use and maintain it if you like. Its a lot more $$$ than the 600 JR, but this is a whole lot more machine also.

Just a warning, there is another member here who has shown interest in it, but has not committed to buy just yet. I haven't listed it in the classifieds yet because I don't have any spare bottles and wanted to make sure the new buyer can start loading the minute they get it home.

Sorry, buddy. The other member just committed to buy without the bottles. - I will still be happy to help you learn the art of reloading when you get a machine.

 

[SOMDSHOOT]

platoonDaddy:
You offered the OP the press for $50.00, and when he said that he'd get back to you, you had already sold it to someone else?????????


Doesn't quite sound fair, to me.

I have to agree with you byf43. It doesn't sound like Bronsononson even had a chance to send that PM. My offer of the hulls still stand to Bronsononson however. I can wait to hear from you before I move on making deals with others.

 

[hkbob]

Hmmm....does anyone here reload sabot slugs? Wondering if that's a viable option given they're usually at least $2/round retail. It would also be nice to work up some reduced velocity (ala recoil!) loads. Seems like a lee loader would be ideal for that, assuming nothing special is needed to assemble the sabot/bullet combo.

 

[SOMDSHOOT]

Hmmm....does anyone here reload sabot slugs? Wondering if that's a viable option given they're usually at least $2/round retail. It would also be nice to work up some reduced velocity (ala recoil!) loads. Seems like a lee loader would be ideal for that, assuming nothing special is needed to assemble the sabot/bullet combo.

I reload the 12 gauge and 20 gauge slugs in standard shot wads. if that's what you mean. To reload a sabot slug, as in muzzleloader bullet in a shotshell, it is not cost effective. The top picture is the Lyman 12 gauge slug casts and the two other pictures are my 20 gauge slug casts and reloads.

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[MEGARMS]

Damn, that was fast. It's gone already. Send me a PM when you get a machine or even if you don't. I would be happy to show you how they work, how to adjust/maintain them.

Good luck.

How long is he supposed to wait? That being said, I suppose a PM to the OP would have been in order. For all we know he sent him one.

Bronsononson, send me a PM if you are serious about reloading. I have a machine that I will sell you if you commit to buy it before anyone else does. I will also spend some time teaching you how to use and maintain it if you like. Its a lot more $$$ than the 600 JR, but this is a whole lot more machine also.

Just a warning, there is another member here who has shown interest in it, but has not committed to buy just yet. I haven't listed it in the classifieds yet because I don't have any spare bottles and wanted to make sure the new buyer can start loading the minute they get it home.

Sorry, buddy. The other member just committed to buy without the bottles. - I will still be happy to help you learn the art of reloading when you get a machine.

 

[Redcobra]

I buy in bulk and load 7/8oz 12ga loads. Here is how the math works out:

25lb bag of shot = $35=457 shells at 7/8oz= $.077 per shell
500 bag of claybuster wads =$10= $.02 per shell
1000 Primes = $30 = $.03 per shell
8lbs of Extra Lite Powder = 56000 grains = $130, 20 grains per shell = $.046 per shell

So in the end each shell costs $.173 so a box of shells costs $4.33. This is not a lot of savings when you can buy bulk 100rnd boxes at Walmart for $23, or catch gun club on sale at dicks for $6 per box. It really comes down to whether or not you want to load something different than what you can buy for $6 a box and how much your time is worth.

This is about right (although I load 1oz) and although the savings versus Eurotrash is only about a dollar a box, my reloads are equivalent to a STS or AAHS shell. Then the savings is about $3/box. And, I get to tailor my loads to the way I shoot and my guns. Just try to find #8.5 shot in a store in any gauge for skeet. I also like speedy shells and often load 1oz to 1350fps.

ps: I load over 10,000 shells a year and use MEC loaders (9000 and 650) in 12g, 20g, and 28g. IMHO, stay away from Lee and get a progressive press if you do any kind of numbers. I load during Sunday afternoon and Monday night football, and with the progressive MECs I can keep one eye on the game and one eye on the press.

I was fortunate to have friend teach me about reloading BEFORE I bought anything, so I missed the buy/upgrade/buy/upgrade cycle. Buy once, Cry once, Load a lot.

 

[SOMDSHOOT]

This is about right (although I load 1oz) and although the savings versus Eurotrash is only about a dollar a box, my reloads are equivalent to a STS or AAHS shell. Then the savings is about $3/box. And, I get to tailor my loads to the way I shoot and my guns. Just try to find #8.5 shot in a store in any gauge for skeet. I also like speedy shells and often load 1oz to 1350fps.

ps: I load over 10,000 shells a year and use MEC loaders (9000 and 650) in 12g, 20g, and 28g. IMHO, stay away from Lee and get a progressive press if you do any kind of numbers. I load during Sunday afternoon and Monday night football, and with the progressive MECs I can keep one eye on the game and one eye on the press.

I was fortunate to have friend teach me about reloading BEFORE I bought anything, so I missed the buy/upgrade/buy/upgrade cycle. Buy once, Cry once, Load a lot.

I agree with everything here 110% I don't mind my Lee presses. Basically all I am doing is topping off my boxes of shells that I shot during a hunting trip. I might punch out 5 to 15 shells every couple of weeks, BUT, the advantage for me is having a shell with the shot size and velocity I want for a really low cost per box.

I can't buy what I want at any store locally and to buy them is about $20.to $30.00 per box of 25. Reloading is the best option even when I don't reload much. Most of my reloads are slugs anyway, so, I can't compete with shotshell production costs.

The Lee press is fine if you don't reload much, but, if you're going to shoot clays a lot and shoot a lot certainly go with a better press that will produce more shells faster. I simply can not argue with that situation.

 

[byf43]

How long is he supposed to wait? That being said, I suppose a PM to the OP would have been in order. For all we know he sent him one.

You have a point on the wait time(s).

While "we" don't know if pDaddy sent a PM, or not, still, pDaddy made the offer to the OP.

Case in point -
In another thread, one member was looking for a 'set' of wood furniture to replace the camo synthetic furniture on his 870.

One member offered to send the furniture, free-of-charge.

Another member asked for the camo synthetic.

I made the offer that I'd swap 'NEW' (take-off) hardwood furniture in trade for the camo synthetic.

Before the OP would 'do the deal' with me...... he contacted the other principles to find out what was happening.

When "Offer #1" fell through, the OP contacted the guy that was just asking for the furniture and conveyed that the original 'deal' fell through and that he had another offer.
When they were both satisfied that the deal was 'off the table', I was contacted, and 'my deal' was accepted.


I believe in:
1. Communicating.
2. Ethics.

Personally, since pDaddy offered the machine to the OP, either say that there is a prior offer on the table (which I don't recall seeing) or follow-through on the offer, telling the 2nd person, that there is a prior commitment.

Is that too much to ask???


Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to 'stir the pot'. I'm having a conversation.

 

[platoonDaddy]

Never received PM that OP stated he was going to send. If you review his post, he never committed to purchase. I may just take you up on that offer. I'll pm you sometime today about that. Therefore when the other offer came in, WITHOUT rcving anything from OP, I committed.

Notified OP this morning, that I sold it pending funds.

 

[SOMDSHOOT]

Hmmm....does anyone here reload sabot slugs? Wondering if that's a viable option given they're usually at least $2/round retail. It would also be nice to work up some reduced velocity (ala recoil!) loads. Seems like a lee loader would be ideal for that, assuming nothing special is needed to assemble the sabot/bullet combo.

I actually found this old thread here on MDS from 2011 where I questioned those sabots myself.

After some investigation and comparisons I chose the cheaper route of simply casting my own slugs and reloading in standard wads for rifled barrels.

The 12 gauge Lyman slugs ( thanks again Nemesis ) are by far the best of the 12 gauge castable slugs. The 20 gauge slugs I cast, using the .58 Modern Minie HERE I have down to a science, and I do hunt with the slugs I cast and reload.

Besides I can cast and reload 100 rounds of 20 gauge slugs for what one box of them commercial sabot slugs cost. The way I figure if it costs me $15.00 for 100 shots that sure as hell is better than $15.00 for five shots. At $3.00 a shot you can't target shoot with that those sabots. It costs you $15.00 just to check your scope and then you have 1 or 2 slugs left to hunt with

 

[colekatie]

Dicks 12 gauge #9

Last week Dicks had a sale on Gun Club #9 at 5.97 and you could buy an unlimited amount. The manager said to spread the word and he would get more #9 at the same price. Makes me not want to reload at that price especially with the clunky Lee loader I use.

I buy in bulk and load 7/8oz 12ga loads. Here is how the math works out:

25lb bag of shot = $35=457 shells at 7/8oz= $.077 per shell
500 bag of claybuster wads =$10= $.02 per shell
1000 Primes = $30 = $.03 per shell
8lbs of Extra Lite Powder = 56000 grains = $130, 20 grains per shell = $.046 per shell

So in the end each shell costs $.173 so a box of shells costs $4.33. This is not a lot of savings when you can buy bulk 100rnd boxes at Walmart for $23, or catch gun club on sale at dicks for $6 per box. It really comes down to whether or not you want to load something different than what you can buy for $6 a box and how much your time is worth.

 

[Franklin]

I reload the 12 gauge and 20 gauge slugs in standard shot wads. if that's what you mean. To reload a sabot slug, as in muzzleloader bullet in a shotshell, it is not cost effective. The top picture is the Lyman 12 gauge slug casts and the two other pictures are my 20 gauge slug casts and reloads.

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​

yeah but your bullets fly like shit! i know i know, you cant see that far anyway

 

[SOMDSHOOT]

yeah but your bullets fly like shit! i know i know, you cant see that far anyway

Yeah that danged 1.5 power scope on that 23" barrel won't let me see the barn much less hit it. Just remember this... the Deer always ends up in the freezer.

 

[SOMDSHOOT]

Last week Dicks had a sale on Gun Club #9 at 5.97 and you could buy an unlimited amount. The manager said to spread the word and he would get more #9 at the same price. Makes me not want to reload at that price especially with the clunky Lee loader I use.

I can't imagine even using a #9 shot. That's like baby powder to me. The smallest I use is a #7 and that's no fun for me either. I mostly use #4 or #5 Copper Plated in my reloads. I'm thinking about getting a bag of #6 Copper Plated and giving that whirl for everything in my 12, 20 and 16 gauge reloads. The problem is lead shot prices keep rising more and more every couple of months and the average price of lead shot is the same from the 5 different companies I price it from. 4 of the 5 get it from the same place I do, so, I don't waste my time paying their markups on it. 3 of the 5 drop-ship it from RotoMetals anyway.

 

[jpo183]

I reload 12g just for avalibility. I also enjoy shotgun reloading.

 

[JHE1956]

Back when I was shooting skeet regularly, I managed to accumulate about 2000 once fired AA 12 gauge hulls. Reloading them light for skeet I found that I could shoot each hull about 8-10 times before I had to replace it. Using 1 1/8 oz of #9 shot (standard for skeet in those days) and Clays powder, I found that cut the price of shooting basically in half. Of course this was a while back so the price or powder, primers wads and shot might have changed enough to alter the equation.

I would imagine that shells loaded heavier than for skeet might not last as long.

 

[Bronsononson]

Wow, everyone here must have a 9-5. Or use a phone app. TO pDaddy. I appreciate your offer and that you mentioned it at all. I sent a PM, if you didnt receive it, well then oh well. That is all fine and dandy. Im not going to get my "wad" in a bunch. Nor did I recieve a PM from you. And yes I know how to check PM's ive had several conversations with members since Ive joined through the PM system on the forum. I suppose a slight hiccup in the system or who knows. Not worth arguing over spilt milk. I think I may consider a progressive loader anyway. If I can cut cost in shells, I'll be going longer and more often, thus using even more shells than I already do.

Wow, I did not expect such a huge response. This forum is a great resource. Appreciate all the members being so welcoming and helpful.

SOMDSHOOT - I will definitely keep that in mind. I have been carry around a bucket with me to skeet and trap the past few weeks. A few friends who go with me toss in my bucket as well, so I have my shells plus a few friends shells everytime I go out. But I will PM you about your recipes. I have a few questions about how to match up wad/shot/grains in certain shells.

Actually I may just open ask this now so I can get multiple inputs.

Ive collected an assortment of Winchester - Federal - Estate - NSI - Remington

Looking up recipes im being told only to load certain hulls with certain wads and primers. Im assuming even if i keep my grains at a moderate amount there is not such thing as a universal wad i can use. Shouldnt i be able to match my primers to my powder - my grains to my load and just use whatever wad I want as long as they fit the shotshell size? I mean... do I really need to buy separate wads for every type of shell i reload? I generally pick up "cheap" shotshell hulls. arnt they all fairly the same as long as theyre not paper?

Please dont chastise me if I sound like a bumbling fool. Honest to god, im not scared to say Im new to this shit. I just bought my first shotgun a few months ago. And my AR and handgun a few months before that.

 

[Augie]

I shoot 10 to 15 thousand rounds of 12 gauge a year, with even cheap shells approaching 6 to 7 bucks a box I can save quite a bit reloading. I buy all components in bulk.
I only reload Remington Gun Club, STS or Winchester AA hulls, you can use the same wad in these 2 hulls as they are both tapered, the other hulls are straight and require a different wad and usually more powder,also the cheap Federal have a fiber base wad that could come loose and lodge in your barrel, not good.
I shoot mainly Claybuster CB1100 wads for 1oz loads, work well in both the Remington and AA hulls, this way can buy cases of 5000 wads. If I load 1 1/8 I also use a AA clone for both hulls.
Powders are Reddot, Promo or Claydot for 1 oz and Greendot for 1 1/8, all loads use data to keep them right around 1200 fps; I like the Fiocchi primers,have used about 60k of them without an issue, much cheaper than AA right now.
I started with a MEC 600jr but quickly realized I was shooting so much I was spending all my time reloading, found a used MEC 9000 that was screwed up and got it for cheap, spent a month straightening it out and it now works vey well, can crank out 200 to 300 shells an hour depending how I feel.
With a progressive you really need to keep ypur eye on everything, make sure the primer drops and doesn't flip, if you have a spill and you will you must atke the press apart and clean it, a piece of shot will really screw stuff up.
A cheaper alternative to the 9000 is the Grabber, same press just manual advance instead of auto, only slightly slower.