Crow Busters Forum

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I haven't been able to find any reasonably priced shot lately. At $40 to $50 per bag, you barely save any money over factory loads, and you spend alot more time yanking the lever. Anyone know of any cheap sources of decent shot?

8, let's back up a bit, what gauge or gauges do you plan to reload for? What hull type do you have the most of. These drive some of the other choices.

I am still able to buy target size shot for $38 a bag.  Ask active skeet and trap shooters ar e buying their lead, many times you will find they know an obscure dealer.  For instance I get my lead from a landscaping business, the owner is an avid trapshooter he has an FFL and sells reloading supplies and guns on the side without any advertising.

-- Edited by nhcrowshooter on Thursday 7th of April 2011 09:41:01 AM

NH and Shane,

 

I am going to start with 12 ga and get my feet wet. Then will move to 20 for the kids. I will be able to get components from the local gun club without hazmat fees as they order in bulk once a month. Lead is running $38 per bag for mag shot. I ran the numbers and can load light target loads for the 20 ga and 12 ga for around $4 per box. I have an endless supply of hulls. I currently have AA HS and STS golds in 12 Ga and AA in 20 Ga.

 

I am starting with the 12 because I don't want my kids shooting my reloads till I am very comfortable in what I am doing.

 

I am looking for good quality hunting loads. Once I find a good one that doesn't beat me to death, I will work backwards to match a lighter target load at the same speed with smaller shot to shoot clays with.

 

Thanks

In 12ga using either AA or STS hulls you have lots of choices. Quality loads come from quality components, so start with hard/magnum shot. Many years ago I settled on using Alliant (used to be Hercules) Green Dot powder. Green Dot has always been known for lighter felt recoil and tight patterns. I also like the way you can identify the "dot" powders by their color, Red, Green or Blue. Green Dot is very versatile and very good for 1 ounce and 1 1/8 ounce loadings in 12ga and for 3/4 and 7/8 ounce loadings in 20ga.

I typically use GD in AA/STS and Federal hulls to load 1 ounce loads for trap shooting and I go to 1 1/8 ounce (using #6 shot of course) for crows.

Be careful to follow established reloading recipes, substituting primers is usually a bad idea because using a different primer can spike pressures. Federal 209A's are about the hottest, they are considered a magnum primer. Remington STS are a cool primer and Win 209's somewhere in the middle as examples.

Wad substitution is about the least critical, many of the economy wads such as claybusters are as good as factory/oem wads.

Loading data is widely available on the net;

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

-- Edited by nhcrowshooter on Thursday 7th of April 2011 01:29:30 PM

With the apparent U.S. rebates on AA and STS shells you would be hard pressed to load quality shotgun shells for less. The flip side to this, when the rebates are done you will have some quality hull to load! The only loading I do these days is 1 ounce trap loads, 7 1/2 or 8 shot at 1235 fps. One IMO does not need anything more to break 16 yard birds.

Ted

M12Shooter wrote:

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With the apparent U.S. rebates on AA and STS shells you would be hard pressed to load quality shotgun shells for less. The flip side to this, when the rebates are done you will have some quality hull to load! The only loading I do these days is 1 ounce trap loads, 7 1/2 or 8 shot at 1235 fps. One IMO does not need anything more to break 16 yard birds.

Ted

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I have been shooting 7/8 ounce at trap and do not see a difference in the breaks or my scores.

Reloading is not just about cost. One of the major reasons I reload is to keep recoil and pressures as low as possible for use in 100 year old guns. Another reason is I get to shoot the equavalent quality reloads to Nitro 27's only with hard #6 shot

 

What do you mean by a "hunting" load? A species specific load or a general hunting load or what? A hunting load could cover anything from a standard ounce of #8's to 1 5/8 oz of buffered #4's.

When I think of all purpose classic loads, my mind goes to the original flyer loads----1 1/4oz running about 1250-1300fps and that works just about perfectly with #7's or #6's. There's got to be some reason that application has stood the test of time; just typically under the label of classic field rather than flyer. Whether you want that much shell for crows might be another story. But it could fill the niche of a general purpose load and you might be able to reload it cheaper and with higher quality magnum shot than what you can get off the shelf.

As every year goes by, my reloading press is used less and less but this is one of the loads I still crank out. There are dozen of published loads covering all the imaginable components. However, I did switch to straight walled hulls for all of these over "Remchesters" quite awhile back.

Distance---farther than most people I know can consistently hit at anyway but if you want more that is why man invented buffer. Buy Rosters manual if that is your goal.

8,

   If your gonna get in to it get a "GOOD RELOADER" don't get garbage! I've been reloading for 42 years,my fist reloader was a Ponsness-Warren 600B, I still have it and its as good as the day I bought it.For the last 38or so years I've used the Ponsness-Warren 800B then I sent it back and upgraded it to an 800C!! It is good as new!! I was thinking about a new machine but why?? I don't need it! I can load 4-500 shells in an hour if I sit down and put my mind to it! You will benefit from it if you shoot a lot of clays,birds  EVERY WEEK!, Pus if the kids get into it they'll have those machines when you and I are long gone! With tis machine its hard to "SCREW UP" every thig is in a pre-measured bushing! Check the GUN LIST or SHOT GUN NEWS in the RELOADING Section theres a guy in New Hamshire that deals in some used stuff at good prices!!

                                                GOOD LUCK!!

The only shells I reload are for crows, I load 1 1/4 oz 7.5 shot, AA Hulls, Win 209 primers, Claybuster 1138-12 wad, 37.5 gr. of Blue Dot............the load is a little dirty, with some unburnt powder occasionally..........looking at about 1400 fps giver or take a little..........I have shot crows stone dead at 50-60 yards with this load....

M12Shooter wrote:

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With the apparent U.S. rebates on AA and STS shells you would be hard pressed to load quality shotgun shells for less. The flip side to this, when the rebates are done you will have some quality hull to load! The only loading I do these days is 1 ounce trap loads, 7 1/2 or 8 shot at 1235 fps. One IMO does not need anything more to break 16 yard birds.

Ted

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 Hey Ted,

I am mostly interested in hunting loads but would like to practice with a similar load. It is hard the beat the price of the rebate ammo. As NH said, I too would like the Nitro 27 performance with the heaver shot for crow and small game.

Polish Hammer wrote:

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8fish...

I'll answer your 4 questions without digressing. 

1. I've reloaded with both 7.5 & 8 shot (good magnum shot - was $32/bag..not $41)

2. 1 1/8 oz of shot

3. Speed...I want something between 1220 & 1250

4 I'd say anything within 65 yards??

Lyman Reloading 5th edition is OK...but get on your "powder of choice" website to get the most up to date recipes.  For example, if you are using Hodgdon powder go to their website for accurate/up to date loads.  Same for Alliant powder, etc.

Hammer

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 Thanks Hammer,

I think that is basically what I will start with. I wander if you can change out the shot size and have one load that still patterns well with different shot size. Lets say 7 1/2's or 8's for dove and 4's, 5's, or 6's for small game? That would make it simple.

 

Mike27 wrote:

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8,

Until you figure it out , Max out that Nitro 27 rebate. You will never get stuck with them, someone will always take them off your hands.

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Hammer,

Already bought out two stores. Going to attack another today.

Hi
These are the Prices for 12 ga hulls as of Oct. -2010.
We sell in lots of 500

Remington, Gun Clubs 2 cents ea.
Remington Green STS 4,1/2 cents ea.
Remington Gold STS 5.. cents ea.
Winchester Gray AA (HS) 3-1/2. cents ea.
Winchester Red AA (HS) 3-1/2 cents ea.
Federal (Plastic) Gold Metal. 4, cents ea.
Federal (Paper) Gold Metal 4 cents ea.

We sell (TWICE ) fired hulls also.
Remington STS Gold & Green Mixed. 2 cents ea.
Winchester AA Gray & Red (HS) mixed 2 cents ea.
We also sell..
Fiocchi plastic 2 cents ea.

It will cost you more for gasoline, to drive to your local gun club. and pick them up for free.. Most people will not pick them up for this price,.

Please E Mail us for our current inventory.
Please send you ZIP Code for shipping cost..
We try ... NOT... To use PayPal or E Bay..
They are anti gun..and their... fee's.. are way too high.
We take checks and money orders..

Please use this with payment..

Charlie Tyler
12710 Silver Golf Ln.
Odessa Fl.

Buck shot,

           That load was my favorite duck load but I used 38grns of blue dot and YES! IT "SMOKED 'EM!!"