I looked into doing the very same thing for about the same price and thought spending that much, I could buy myself some decent optics or at least pay down on some.

I suggest starting out with at least buying a couple of those boxes they are selling. Chances are slim, but possible, that one of them might work for your gun.

As for the custom ammo, here is another idea...

You can have someone, maybe them, work up about 10 rounds. Then have them work up another 10 rounds of something else. You can have them make up 4 groups of ten shells and you'll have 4 more chances to see if one of them groups well for you.

Other than that, if you don't have the time or really don't want to do it yourself... and figuring what your time is worth, giving them the $400 might work. Just make sure you let them know what you will be hunting so that they don't use an arbitrary round that punches paper excellent, but not a deer's anatomy. LOL!

iSnipe