Good hulls need to be FREE and your time needs to be worth very little (i.e; retired and trying to get away from the wife).
My cost analysis for 7/8 oz load with 18 grains of Clays
Hulls: Free
Primers: $135 (5000)
Powder: $130 (8 lbs)
Wads: $83 (5000)
Shot: $34 (25 #)
With 6% tax this equates to about $4.23 / box, $0.17/ Shell, and $847/ 5000 rounds
Total CASH outlay $926.44
The time away from the "WE are doing this.... or WE should do that... " is priceless.
1-1/8 oz of shot will cost you three plus a little additional bags of lead another $108
I’m new to Maryland...on the eastern shore. Does anyone still reload for shotguns? Where can you find 25 pound bags of lead shot and how much do you expect to pay?