shotshell reloading
09-28-2010, 08:09 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
OK, never reloaded slugs.
I reload mostly steel shot. It can be a real pain. I am currently able to buy shells at $5.50 per box after rebate, so reloading doesn't pay at that rate. I haven't loaded shotshells much for a few years.
Given the price jumps on ammo lately, I think the old stock that I'm buying will run out soon, and I'll be back to rolling my own.
Good luck.
I reload mostly steel shot. It can be a real pain. I am currently able to buy shells at $5.50 per box after rebate, so reloading doesn't pay at that rate. I haven't loaded shotshells much for a few years.
Given the price jumps on ammo lately, I think the old stock that I'm buying will run out soon, and I'll be back to rolling my own.
Good luck.
It's still a good pasttime and to a degree therapeutic but economical isn't what it once was.
09-28-2010, 08:32 AM
#14
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 260
I can sure relate to that.....even steel isn't worth the time as one has a lot invested in components and most of us only shoot a couple boxes a year.....Winchester Expert steel is a great shell and about the same as I can load in cost.
It's still a good pasttime and to a degree therapeutic but economical isn't what it once was.
It's still a good pasttime and to a degree therapeutic but economical isn't what it once was.
2-3/4 1 oz loads $6.49 Factory 1-1/16 $10
3" 1-1/8 oz loads $9.71 Factory 1-1/4 $12
3.5" 1-3/8 oz loads $12.70 Factory 1-3/8 $16
In most cases I can't duplicate factory performance.
09-28-2010, 08:44 AM
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
BTW....Check prices on Win X-pert 3" steel.....about $10/box here and it's good stuff.
09-29-2010, 07:27 AM
#17
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 260
Possibly you have a way to save hulls.....I'm always buying new hulls from BPI.....and I roll crimp them and they don't want to be reused after roll crimping.....I also don't like picking them out of the muck where I hunt ducks.....I do but not to reload....to clean the environment as the plastic will be there for years.
BTW....Check prices on Win X-pert 3" steel.....about $10/box here and it's good stuff.
BTW....Check prices on Win X-pert 3" steel.....about $10/box here and it's good stuff.
When I buy hulls I buy once fired, and mostly Federal gold medals. I don't think I've bought any since Ebay went communist.
09-29-2010, 11:06 AM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
Also some primers can be substituted....(sorry but I don't have the list right now but at least one Federal and one Fiocci primer is extremely hot and not to be substituted) but one needs to know this.
When I load serious hunting loads it's religiously to the recipe. Frankly it's nonsense to me but I trust it and so far it has worked quite well. IMO rifle reloading is a lot more understandable and I'm far more comfortable doing it.
For loading lead shot for pheasants I use just about anyone's data....Hodgdon's primarily but also Alliant as longshot and blue dot are my "go to" powders for hunting loads. However when it comes to steel, buckshot, slugs, and the unusual stuff it's BPI all the way....they have done the testing and have the good data and products. I never use data from internet posters as the chance of typo errors just is too great.
Fully agree.....shotshell loading is totally a different field.....
Now if I can muster the ambition to understand black powder....
09-29-2010, 11:51 AM
#20
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 260
When reloading trap/skeet/quail/dove loads I allow myself some latitude in substitution. I fill a hull with water and pour it into a different hull and if it appears to have the same internal volume I will substitute it.....but we're talking 8500 PSI loads here.
Also some primers can be substituted....(sorry but I don't have the list right now but at least one Federal and one Fiocci primer is extremely hot and not to be substituted) but one needs to know this.
When I load serious hunting loads it's religiously to the recipe. Frankly it's nonsense to me but I trust it and so far it has worked quite well. IMO rifle reloading is a lot more understandable and I'm far more comfortable doing it.
For loading lead shot for pheasants I use just about anyone's data....Hodgdon's primarily but also Alliant as longshot and blue dot are my "go to" powders for hunting loads. However when it comes to steel, buckshot, slugs, and the unusual stuff it's BPI all the way....they have done the testing and have the good data and products. I never use data from internet posters as the chance of typo errors just is too great.
Fully agree.....shotshell loading is totally a different field.....
Now if I can muster the ambition to understand black powder....
Also some primers can be substituted....(sorry but I don't have the list right now but at least one Federal and one Fiocci primer is extremely hot and not to be substituted) but one needs to know this.
When I load serious hunting loads it's religiously to the recipe. Frankly it's nonsense to me but I trust it and so far it has worked quite well. IMO rifle reloading is a lot more understandable and I'm far more comfortable doing it.
For loading lead shot for pheasants I use just about anyone's data....Hodgdon's primarily but also Alliant as longshot and blue dot are my "go to" powders for hunting loads. However when it comes to steel, buckshot, slugs, and the unusual stuff it's BPI all the way....they have done the testing and have the good data and products. I never use data from internet posters as the chance of typo errors just is too great.
Fully agree.....shotshell loading is totally a different field.....
Now if I can muster the ambition to understand black powder....