daviejones34 Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Hi all, I got my shotgun just over a year ago and with a few Army friends, last year we have put a hell of a lot of lead down the range. Recently I have been buying a slab of 250 - 28g no 7 cartridges at £49.00. I would love to reload my 250 spent cartridges using a lee load-all reloader so I can get the same load all the time. Question 1..... Does anyone know gun shops in Glasgow I can get all my materials (wads,primers, powder, shot)? Question 2.......would I be better of just buying 250 cartridges already loaded each time as I was told by a guy i buy my cartridges off it's a waste of time and not cost effective? Many thanks in advance, Davie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovercoupe Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Clay cartridges are mostly more expensive when reloading but if you can make your own shot it brings the costs down a bit, dont know how the costing works out now that clay carts have gone up in price. It is quite fun reloading and very satisfying smashing clays with your own shot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Put it this way Dave,few years back, Loaded 1000 bismuth cartridges.. Worked it out I had saved a Magical 1/2 p on each cartridge. Work the maths out.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moongeese Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 I found game cartridges were not worth loading, if trying to save money, but when loading wildfowling cartridges 3", 3.5" and big bore cartridges, you can save a lot. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daviejones34 Posted January 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Clay cartridges are mostly more expensive when reloading but if you can make your own shot it brings the costs down a bit, dont know how the costing works out now that clay carts have gone up in price. It is quite fun reloading and very satisfying smashing clays with your own shot! Yes I was told that you could possibly load the same shell upto 3-5 times and I seen the homemade shell shot makers on YouTube, looks exciting stuff to have a go at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Glasgow Angling Centre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daviejones34 Posted January 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Put it this way Dave,few years back, Loaded 1000 bismuth cartridges.. Worked it out I had saved a Magical 1/2 p on each cartridge. Work the maths out.. To save any amount of money these days on cartridges would be a bonus, thanks subsonicnat Glasgow Angling Centre I tried the angling centre mate, they don't do reloading materials for cartridges, cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daviejones34 Posted January 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 With all the guys on this site who have made their own shell shot makers, is there anyone selling shells hot at reduced prices? Cheers Davie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Bushwear,Stirling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Hi Maybe worth checking if you can use home loads on your clay range before you go down this road Just a thought All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daviejones34 Posted January 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Bushwear,Stirling. Sounds good, will give it a go thanks. Hi Maybe worth checking if you can use home loads on your clay range before you go down this road Just a thought All the best Of I checked with my local range, they say I can use my own cartridges? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Sounds good, will give it a go thanks. I checked with my local range, they say I can use my own cartridges? That's good Enjoy the hobby it's addictive Though you probably won't save much Get a Reloding Manuel and work on commonly available components All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 as one poster has said for game an clay shells its not worth the trouble if you want special loads ie fowling or some other dedicated load it could be worth while if you use enough carts to make it viable,i ahve had a 12g loader for 45 years but dont use it now cos its not cost effective cos i dont wildfowl anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 as one poster has said for game an clay shells its not worth the trouble if you want special loads ie fowling or some other dedicated load it could be worth while if you use enough carts to make it viable,i ahve had a 12g loader for 45 years but dont use it now cos its not cost effective cos i dont wildfowl anymore. very much as above. you wont save on clay cartridges. Yes on 10s, 16s, 28s, 410s, and special loads like heavies for Fox, and non tox for Wildfowl. it can be difficult and frustrating but is a hobby in its own right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daviejones34 Posted January 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 very much as above. you wont save on clay cartridges. Yes on 10s, 16s, 28s, 410s, and special loads like heavies for Fox, and non tox for Wildfowl. it can be difficult and frustrating but is a hobby in its own right Frustrating it is, am still going to buy a second hand loader and try it a few times, so I can say I actually loaded my own cartridge. Thanks for the posts, cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 buy shells, cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arm3000gt Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) I've just gone through this exact process.The costs I came up with are listed below. This will obviously vary depending on how much you buy, buying 14kg of powder saves a few pound per thousand, 5000 primers a few more pound, 50kg of shot another 10p per kilo, etc. My figures are based on a 28gram 7.5 load published on the FES Kent website. New commercial shot old hulls - £215 Reclaimed shot old hulls - £170 New shot new hulls - £235 Reclaimed shot new hulls - £196 The above figures are based on buying 1000 primers, powder for 1000 etc so there are savings to be made immediately on those figures buy buying more. Hope this helps. Edited January 4, 2017 by arm3000gt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 not worth it to me i can buy clay shells for £170-£180 per 1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 I found game cartridges were not worth loading, if trying to save money, but when loading wildfowling cartridges 3", 3.5" and big bore cartridges, you can save a lot. Bill this +1. whilst the cub scout in all of us fancies it as a hobby in its own right..so why not..it wont save you money especially for clay loads.also you say so each load is the same...these days shells are very consistent...Hull/Gamebore etc spend a fortune on latest loading gear etc..for a bit of fun carry on,to save money stop now! PS I dont reload but looked into it closely and concluded dont have the time...but I get the appeal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 I found game cartridges were not worth loading, if trying to save money, but when loading wildfowling cartridges 3", 3.5" and big bore cartridges, you can save a lot. Bill ^ ^ This! Especially the expensive non tox cartridges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 I was loading 20gauge clay shells for £80/1000 by using my homemade shot and 27gram pigeon shells for not much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris1961 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Cost effective no way fun yes I load my own to me they are better than shop bought I load for the job in hand ie clay or game can't see myself giving up anytime soon be warned it is highly addictive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Albert Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 As everybody has said, you won't save on clay carts. The benefit comes when you try to make a cart to suit a particular job. Reloaded carts certainly pattern far better than shop bought ones and then there is the satisfaction of that bird folding up with one of your own reloaded carts. Be warned though, it is very addictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 I was loading 20gauge clay shells for £80/1000 by using my homemade shot and 27gram pigeon shells for not much more. There seems to be a premium on factory 10g, 16g, 20g, 28g .410g etc, so there may well be a saving on homeloading these, but the OP asked about 12g........for standard game and clay cartridges I cannot see how anyone can make them cheaper than they can buy them? 12g cartridges are the competitive price they are commercially, because of economies of scale! The homeloader cannot compete with this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simuk Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 (edited) Just started reloading myself and was at the range yesterday. DTL was using shot from a shot maker, reclaimed hulls from our club shoot, and about 3 grains less powder than is recommended as i'm a cheap sod. Clays broke very well and i noticed an improvement on breaks from the second barrel at range. Also the smile on my face from shooting my own shells was to me priceless, My advice would be to contact ( fruitloop ) on this forum and ask him if he has any shot makers left, buy one then get scrounging lead from wherever you can and drop your own shot. Great fun and a very satisfying hobby Oh saving are minimal, my shells came in at £3.95 for 25. But that's not why i chose to reload Lastly Brexit has not fully kicked in yet with regards to pricing of products coming from Europe so i suggest hoarding of components as significant saving may be just around the corner imo. Edited January 5, 2017 by Simuk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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