Cost of reloading 20 guage.

[Shotkam]

I am planning to reload some 20 guage for pest control. I have plenty of empty 24g used cases.  Is there a saving loading say a 24g No. 5 / 6?    I am keen on a light load as if it's Pigeons then it is good to have them lightly shot so the game dealer will have no rejects. I have a Ponsness Warren progressive machine. Any replies would be appreciated.

[Dignity]

6 minutes ago, Shotkam said:

I am planning to reload some 20 guage for pest control. I have plenty of empty 24g used cases.  Is there a saving loading say a 24g No. 5 / 6?    I am keen on a light load as if it's Pigeons then it is good to have them lightly shot so the game dealer will have no rejects. I have a Ponsness Warren progressive machine. Any replies would be appreciated.

You won't save any money loading your own , but you can load them to your own needs , I load 20g subsonics for my hushpower as there's not many decent ones on the market

[moongeese]

I have found it only worthwhile loading  heavier loads to save money. I load 3" 20bore, 3" & 3.5" 12bore, 8bore and puntgun cartridges , that give me a considerable saving on factory loaded cartridges , and you can load a better case.  Cartridges for game, and pigeon shooting can be purchased cheaper than the specialist wildfowling cartridges , and my own opinion is it is not worthwhile.

[Shotkam]

I am paying £ 437 / 1000 delivered from just Cartridges as no one near me stock light game loads.    So maybe reloading 20 guage is still a waste of effort even at the price I am paying ?    Perhaps someone could kindly tell me the cost of all the required components to load a 21 or 24g No. 6. ?

Edited 22 hours ago by Shotkam

[enfieldspares]

48 minutes ago, Dignity said:

You won't save any money loading your own , but you can load them to your own needs , I load 20g subsonics for my hushpower as there's not many decent ones on the market

This. I think only in cartridges where the weight of shot loaded is light yet the cost of the cartridge is as expensive as one loaded with a full charge of the same sort of shot does it make sense. At an extreme that'd be bismuth in .410 gauge or 28 bore. How to explain?Like cheap wine vs expensive wine? That it cost, say, 75p to fill and cork a bottle regardless of the worth of what's in it. The same with cartridges. It costs the same in process time to load a 12 bore as it does a .410 (in fact it costs more to load a .410 likely) so by loading your own .410 you get a real saving as, of course, you actual powder and shot weight is less. In .410 and 28 yes. In 16 maybe? But 12 and 20 no. I don't think there is any saving on any lead shot loadings in 12 or 20 bore once you cost in the cost to you of the equipment needed HOWEVER IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT MAYBE? Or as below with what we'd call "heavy loads" of larger shot sizes.

45 minutes ago, moongeese said:

I have found it only worthwhile loading  heavier loads to save money. I load 3" 20bore, 3" & 3.5" 12bore, 8bore and puntgun cartridges , that give me a considerable saving on factory loaded cartridges , and you can load a better case.  Cartridges for game, and pigeon shooting can be purchased cheaper than the specialist wildfowling cartridges , and my own opinion is it is not worthwhile.

 

Edited 21 hours ago by enfieldspares

[Shotkam]

I have the reloading machine and if someone is able to tell me the cost of all the required components to load a 21 or 24g No. 6. I am in business, wether to reload or not ?

[Dignity]

Clay and game have everything you will need, and there's plenty of load data on here , Vectan A1 will probably be your best powder to use , you will be looking at around 15-16grains a load , cx200 primers will do the job, then your shot and wads 

[Shotkam]

29 minutes ago, Dignity said:

Clay and game have everything you will need, and there's plenty of load data on here , Vectan A1 will probably be your best powder to use , you will be looking at around 15-16grains a load , cx200 primers will do the job, then your shot and wads 

Ah, thankyou.    Perhaps they have costings of how much per 1000 these 20g loads would work out.

[rbrowning2]

Powder A1, 1kg £136.80 gives 964 cartridges so £142

Primers 1000, £62.10.

shot £47.40 per 10kg, 24kg £113.80

wads plastic £31.44 or fibre with nitro card £22.56 + £35.88

so if plastic wads £349.32  or if fibre £376.34   per 1000

plus hazardous goods and lead is heavy delivery costs if you cannot collect the components

 

[Shotkam]

42 minutes ago, rbrowning2 said:

Powder A1, 1kg £136.80 gives 964 cartridges so £142

Primers 1000, £62.10.

shot £47.40 per 10kg, 24kg £113.80

wads plastic £31.44 or fibre with nitro card £22.56 + £35.88

so if plastic wads £349.32  or if fibre £376.34   per 1000

plus hazardous goods and lead is heavy delivery costs if you cannot collect the components

 

Wow, great data - thankyou for taking the trouble.  I only use fibre so  -  £22.56 + £35.88.   My nearest supplier is just 20 mins away so I am  very fortunate.   What used cases would be best for 21 / 24g loads or would you suggest avoiding and buying new primed cases?

[rbrowning2]

9 minutes ago, Shotkam said:

Wow, great data - thankyou for taking the trouble.  I only use fibre so  -  £22.56 + £35.88.   My nearest supplier is just 20 mins away so I am  very fortunate.   What used cases would be best for 21 / 24g loads or would you suggest avoiding and buying new primed cases?

21gm / 24gm may be one and the same case length, 67mm or 70mm, just pick one length and work with it otherwise you will be continuously adjusting the loading machine.  New cases will increase the cost significantly likely resulting in being cheaper to buy the cartridges. 

You do not say what you are buying for £437 / 1000 via just cartridges why not try and buy local as 20ga  24gm 6 shot can be had for around £330, but prices look to be going up at this time.

 

Edited 17 hours ago by rbrowning2

[Shotkam]

11 minutes ago, rbrowning2 said:

21gm / 24gm may be one and the same case length, 67mm or 70mm, just pick one length and work with it otherwise you will be continuously adjusting the loading machine.  New cases will increase the cost significantly likely resulting in being cheaper to buy the cartridges. 

You do not say what you are buying for £437 / 1000 via just cartridges why not try and buy local as 20ga  24gm 6 shot can be had for around £330, but prices look to be going up at this time.

 

 

11 minutes ago, rbrowning2 said:

24gm 6 shot can be had for around £330    --- What make would those be in 20 guage ?

 

[rbrowning2]

54 minutes ago, Shotkam said:

 

24gm 6 shot can be had for around £330    --- What make would those be in 20 guage ?

just cartridges are not the cheapest

https://www.justcartridges.com/product/gfl-20ga-2/

[Shotkam]

40 minutes ago, rbrowning2 said:

just cartridges are not the cheapest

https://www.justcartridges.com/product/gfl-20ga-2/

Thankyou. Yes £25 carriage does not help matters either.