I agree with Redlines statement that quality of the load should be the main concern. However saving money never hurts. Accually I don't save any money by loading my own, I just get to shoot more. I load all my own slugs for my rifled shotgun. Paying $2.50 to $3.00 a pop for sabot slugs is just too much for me. I can load them for 1/2 that and I have more confidence in my loads than those that you can buy over the counter. As for shotshells the cost of supplies has gone up so much that it hardly pays to load your own except for the 28 ga and 410. If I did not already own loaders for all gauges I certainly would not get into loading shotshells now. For loading my sabot loads I do not use a machine. Just my powder scale and a roll crimper. I buy the hulls already primed.