New MEC Reloader

Flipper 56 · January 25, 2011, 06:58 AM

Is reloading your 12 gauge shotshells still cheaper than buying ready made?

FlyFish · January 25, 2011, 08:47 AM

I haven't done any shotshell reloading in a few years, but my friends who shoot a lot of shotgun tell me that factory is usually cheaper if you watch for sales and/or buy in quantity. The primary problem seems to be the price of shot.

Tanker6 · January 25, 2011, 12:11 PM

I've recently acquired an old MEC that I'm fixing up to reload shotgun. I've done the math and find that I can reload shotgun for about half of what I can buy it for at the store. The pay-back is not as quick if you're dropping a load on a new loader, but I got the reloader for free and I'll need to spend $100 or so to get it working again, so it's probably worth it.

I just started shooting SASS with my daughter so we'll shoot at least 5-6 boxes a month (125-150 rounds), so that's the numbers I used when determining whether it was economically feasible for me to reload shotgun. Store bought is costing me $7.50-8.50 a box, so there you have it.

Good luck!

Nevmavrick · January 25, 2011, 03:46 PM

Reloading is almost always cheaper, as the assembly costs are discounted. If you count your labor, the casts go up and easily catch factory.
Call it a hobby, and it's a LOT cheaper.
Also, you don't have to get cases every time, as with factory.
You'll save more, but you'll have buy more and more bulk..whether it's shot, bullets, powder, or primers.
I used to reload so I could shoot...Now I shoot so I can reload!
Gene

BigJimP · January 25, 2011, 07:21 PM

Yes, 12ga shotshells are cheaper if you reload .... my 12ga reloads are costing me about $ 3.50 a box with current component pricing. Plus when you reload / you get a better quality shell than the cheap promo shells - you are reloading a shell equivalent with a premium shell like Remington STS that retails for close to $ 10 for a box of 25.

But I'd reload even if the cost was a push / because I want to tailor my shells to what I need .....pellet size, the velocity I want ...or for some of the grandkids, etc...

Time isn't a factor if you're using a progressive press. All of my presses ( and I reload 12ga, 20ga, 28ga and .410 and getting 20 boxes an hour off of my presses is no big deal.

I went to my gun club today - and fired 4 boxes of 20ga .... and less than 15 min on my loader will refill all 100 shells ...and put them back on the shelf ...
( I use Mec 9000 HN's / but even their mid grade machine, the Grabber - will easily do 10 boxes an hour even having to manually index it.)

Flipper 56 · January 26, 2011, 03:40 AM

Thanks for imput gentleman. A local store wanted $70

for a bag of shot the other day. I have gotten some great handguns from him including a recent S&W 1o66 that is in mint condition for $600. So he is not known as a shakedown artist.............I reload handgun ammo and usually save quite a few sheckles$$$$$$$$$$ I'll have to get on line and look for more inexpensive shot as some of those Promo Loads make me look bad

reloader28 · January 26, 2011, 08:40 AM

$70 a bag!! WOW
Your not going to save any money with that.
We get it for $40/25# bag here and that is not really saving anything for trap/light game loads. Just a little bit.
If your loading hunting loads than you save quite a bit of money.
My uncle belongs to a gun club where we can get shot for $25/25# bag and that helps a bunch.
Make sure you load 1 once loads instead of the normal 1 1/8 for 12 gauge and that makes a difference too.

BigJimP · January 26, 2011, 01:56 PM

My current cost, at my club, for Northwest Shot in 25 lb bags is $ 25.50 per bag ( you can reclaimed shot for $ 20 a bag ) ....

paying $ 70 a bag is absurd ....

Talk to some of the guys at your local club / go together and buy a ton of shot ( its only 80 bags ) ... and you only get 400 shells ( if you load 1 oz of shot ) to a 25 lb bag .... or 16 boxes .... and a lot of shooters go thru a couple of bags a month or more ...

BigJimP · January 26, 2011, 01:58 PM

Even at $ 40 for a bag --- it'll raise your cost on reloads to about $ 4.50 a box ....and that is still a savings ....but that's kind of the threshhold where it doesn't make a lot of sense ...

700cdl · January 27, 2011, 01:48 AM

It is deffinitely less expensive if you use reclaimed shot, which is what I use. But if your buying new shot and getting a great deal on it, you'll only get a slight edge on fatcory, if any. I get reclaimed that is really clean and well sized for $10 per 25 lbs.. I have to provide my own container though, like that bothers me.

hk33ka1 · January 27, 2011, 02:32 AM

I live about 120 miles from a place that makes shot and their bags of 25lbs are $40-50 at local shops now. I'm going to have to make a call and mybe a trip there to see if the price is lower for the public for a large pick up order.

January 25, 2011, 06:58 AM	#1
Flipper 56 Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2008 Posts: 165	New MEC Reloader Is reloading your 12 gauge shotshells still cheaper than buying ready made? __________________ To Err is human, To Forgive divine, But to forget is foolish.

January 26, 2011, 03:40 AM	#6
Flipper 56 Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2008 Posts: 165	Thanks for imput gentleman. A local store wanted $70 for a bag of shot the other day. I have gotten some great handguns from him including a recent S&W 1o66 that is in mint condition for $600. So he is not known as a shakedown artist.............I reload handgun ammo and usually save quite a few sheckles$$$$$$$$$$ I'll have to get on line and look for more inexpensive shot as some of those Promo Loads make me look bad __________________ To Err is human, To Forgive divine, But to forget is foolish.

January 25, 2011, 08:47 AM	#2
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,723	I haven't done any shotshell reloading in a few years, but my friends who shoot a lot of shotgun tell me that factory is usually cheaper if you watch for sales and/or buy in quantity. The primary problem seems to be the price of shot.

January 25, 2011, 12:11 PM	#3
Tanker6 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 193	I've recently acquired an old MEC that I'm fixing up to reload shotgun. I've done the math and find that I can reload shotgun for about half of what I can buy it for at the store. The pay-back is not as quick if you're dropping a load on a new loader, but I got the reloader for free and I'll need to spend $100 or so to get it working again, so it's probably worth it. I just started shooting SASS with my daughter so we'll shoot at least 5-6 boxes a month (125-150 rounds), so that's the numbers I used when determining whether it was economically feasible for me to reload shotgun. Store bought is costing me $7.50-8.50 a box, so there you have it. Good luck!

January 25, 2011, 03:46 PM	#4
Nevmavrick Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2010 Location: Sparks, Nevada, near Reno Posts: 183	Reloading is almost always cheaper, as the assembly costs are discounted. If you count your labor, the casts go up and easily catch factory. Call it a hobby, and it's a LOT cheaper. Also, you don't have to get cases every time, as with factory. You'll save more, but you'll have buy more and more bulk..whether it's shot, bullets, powder, or primers. I used to reload so I could shoot...Now I shoot so I can reload! Gene

January 25, 2011, 07:21 PM	#5
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Yes, 12ga shotshells are cheaper if you reload .... my 12ga reloads are costing me about $ 3.50 a box with current component pricing. Plus when you reload / you get a better quality shell than the cheap promo shells - you are reloading a shell equivalent with a premium shell like Remington STS that retails for close to $ 10 for a box of 25. But I'd reload even if the cost was a push / because I want to tailor my shells to what I need .....pellet size, the velocity I want ...or for some of the grandkids, etc... Time isn't a factor if you're using a progressive press. All of my presses ( and I reload 12ga, 20ga, 28ga and .410 and getting 20 boxes an hour off of my presses is no big deal. I went to my gun club today - and fired 4 boxes of 20ga .... and less than 15 min on my loader will refill all 100 shells ...and put them back on the shelf ... ( I use Mec 9000 HN's / but even their mid grade machine, the Grabber - will easily do 10 boxes an hour even having to manually index it.)

January 26, 2011, 08:40 AM	#7
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	$70 a bag!! WOW Your not going to save any money with that. We get it for $40/25# bag here and that is not really saving anything for trap/light game loads. Just a little bit. If your loading hunting loads than you save quite a bit of money. My uncle belongs to a gun club where we can get shot for $25/25# bag and that helps a bunch. Make sure you load 1 once loads instead of the normal 1 1/8 for 12 gauge and that makes a difference too.

January 26, 2011, 01:56 PM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	My current cost, at my club, for Northwest Shot in 25 lb bags is $ 25.50 per bag ( you can reclaimed shot for $ 20 a bag ) .... paying $ 70 a bag is absurd .... Talk to some of the guys at your local club / go together and buy a ton of shot ( its only 80 bags ) ... and you only get 400 shells ( if you load 1 oz of shot ) to a 25 lb bag .... or 16 boxes .... and a lot of shooters go thru a couple of bags a month or more ...

January 26, 2011, 01:58 PM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Even at $ 40 for a bag --- it'll raise your cost on reloads to about $ 4.50 a box ....and that is still a savings ....but that's kind of the threshhold where it doesn't make a lot of sense ...

January 27, 2011, 01:48 AM	#10
700cdl Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2010 Posts: 216	It is deffinitely less expensive if you use reclaimed shot, which is what I use. But if your buying new shot and getting a great deal on it, you'll only get a slight edge on fatcory, if any. I get reclaimed that is really clean and well sized for $10 per 25 lbs.. I have to provide my own container though, like that bothers me.

January 27, 2011, 02:32 AM	#11
hk33ka1 Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2010 Posts: 275	I live about 120 miles from a place that makes shot and their bags of 25lbs are $40-50 at local shops now. I'm going to have to make a call and mybe a trip there to see if the price is lower for the public for a large pick up order.