Who reloads shot shells now?

Springfieldxdm

You’re not the only one that still reloads shot-shells as I still do also for the 12.
At the moment I only load lead for hunting other than Water Fowl.
I’ll stack my home loads against store bought anytime for overall performance for hunting. If there is still nickel coated lead shot available that is my first choice even though a little more expensive to purchase.

Ed

I am loading 12 and 20 gauge. Primarily for clay bird shooting. I use the same ammo for bird hunting.

I reload because I enjoy it. Like many reloaders, I am a dumpster diving, wheel weight stealing scrounger. I began reducing payloads to stretch my shot supply. Dropping to one ounce didn't hurt my scores. Going to 7/8 ounce improved my skeet and 16 yard trap scores. I now shoot 7/8 for trap and 3/4 ounce for skeet. I am shooting 3/4 ounce in both 12 and 20 gauge. I have toyed with 1/2 ounce 12 and 20 gauge target loads. 800 reloads from a bag of shot really gets my attention, but the jury is still out on that one. I will also use reclaimed shot when I can find it. I am shooting for fun, not money or scholarships. A lost bird usually isn't a tragedy. I find reclaimed to be good for all skeet shooting and 16 to 20 yard trap.

Being able to build ammo I can't purchase commercially is also a driving factor. Light shot loads significantly reduce recoil. When working with new shooters, particularly women and children, they seem to stay with it for a few more targets if they are not getting the snot kicked out of them by harder hitting promotional ammo.

Rather than gear up to load non-toxic shot, I choose to buy the two or three boxes I use each year for waterfowl.

Just like metallic cartridge reloading, shot shell reloading is an enjoyable expansion of my shooting sports hobby.

I just don't shoot enough small shot to justify loading, although I've got a couple of lee load-alls, and a bunch of components. My first handloading was for 12ga with a lee loader-one at a time by the numbers. A couple of years ago, I got one of the lee slug molds and have used various combinations of existing tooling to do that. If I were to get into trap or sporting clays, I'd be back at it in a heartbeat, however.

I guess I still technically load my shotgun shells. I don't use many any more, however still have all the gear and many components from when I shot sporting clays leagues many moons ago. What little shooting I've done the last few years has been pulled from old stock loaded up before I knew I wasn't going to be competing anymore. Used to run at least 500 rds. a week between practice rounds and shooting for league scoring, sometimes closer to 1000.

Not sure how well you'd fair loading them strictly for dollar reasons nowadays. I do buy field loads for hunting for the most part, but again don't use many.

merdoc357,


             I find a adjustable charge bar to be a plus. The powder manufactures do try to make each lot of powder as consistent as possible but there is differences from lot to lot. Example you have powder bushing A that is supposed to drop 17.3 grains of powder blue and it does so but down the line it drops the same brand but a newer lot at 17.8 grains. and let's say the 17.3 is a max load but now the newer lot is now over a max load. With the adjustable bar you can adjust to that 17.3 load. Of course this is wher a good scale comes in handy.  

Hey Guys; it’s therapy, plain and simple.
I used to reload to shoot . . . now I shoot to reload. There are days when ”stuff” is really getting to me and my lovely wife simply sends me to my room to reload.
I don’t shoot much shotgun these days but that has little to do with why I might reload.

IF I COULD JUST GET MEDICARE TO COVER THE COST OF THIS THERAPY . . .

Glad to see you back Mule.

  Mule glad to see you back at the 2A House.

WELCOME HOME . . . take care of yourself.