Im back for more info this time on steel shot

[fabsroman]

Originally Posted by skeet

Just a suggestion from a shotshell reloader. I did load steel shot....the bottom line is it ain't worth it. Costs a fair amount..and you can't equal the factory loadings for the most part...and to top it all off, you probably won't shoot that many shells to make it all worthwhile. I guided waterfowl hunters and didn't find it financially worthwhile and the shells for the most part were far outstripped by factory loads. This coming from a person who truly beleives in reloading..especially for shotshells. And I truly shot lots of steel at waterfowl...from the 10 through the 20. and loaded the 10 and 12 ga with steel. Loading the larger sizes required for ducks and geese is a real PITA. BTW 4s aren't really adequate for pheasant ducks or geese..unless within 25 to 30 yds at the most..in my opinion

Heck, reloading ain't worth it at all. In the time it takes me to reload 20 boxes of target loads, I could have billed $145 to $200 worth of work. The savings on those 20 boxes, even if it is $2 a box, falls short of the mark. I do it because I like it. Haven't done much of the non-toxic though in quite a while, and just finished buying some Wingmaster HD in B and some Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote in T. I think I am going to have enough non-toxic shot for a couple of years right now.

On another note, I've got 2 geese worth of jerky marinating in the fridge right now. Went through 2 geese worth since last weekend and now I have requests for the stuff coming in from my parents, my siblings, and the people my wife works with. I am going to have to keep it away from my clients or I will have to shoot a lot more geese and open a jerky factory here.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I did load steel shot....the bottom line is it ain't worth it. Costs a fair amount..and you can't equal the factory loadings for the most part...and to top it all off, you probably won't shoot that many shells to make it all worthwhile.

Respectfully, I disagree......If you compare apples to apples, you do save money when you compare quality shells to handloads, i.e. Winchester supremes, Kent faststeel, ect. If you compare your cost to crap like Winchester Dryloks, Remington "Sportsman", and other such garbage, then yeah, maybe.....until you figure the number of shots it takes to finish off a cripple with this crap.
Also, there were a LOT Of folks who said that loading rounds such as the .380, .25 ACP, ect wasn't "worth it"......then the Obama administration came into being, panic buying ensued, and all those folks who posted that reloading these cartridges 'wasn't worth it' were posting asking where they could find ammo, or if they could find someone to reload for them.

[fabsroman]

Originally Posted by Mr. 16 gauge

Respectfully, I disagree......If you compare apples to apples, you do save money when you compare quality shells to handloads, i.e. Winchester supremes, Kent faststeel, ect. If you compare your cost to crap like Winchester Dryloks, Remington "Sportsman", and other such garbage, then yeah, maybe.....until you figure the number of shots it takes to finish off a cripple with this crap.
Also, there were a LOT Of folks who said that loading rounds such as the .380, .25 ACP, ect wasn't "worth it"......then the Obama administration came into being, panic buying ensued, and all those folks who posted that reloading these cartridges 'wasn't worth it' were posting asking where they could find ammo, or if they could find someone to reload for them.

I bought 3 boxes of Remington "Sportsman" steel loads in 3" and after using the first box the only thing I use the other 2 boxes for is to finish off cripples with a headshot. I still cannot bring myself to twisting their necks. That is about all that "Sportsman" stuff should be used for. Complete poop if you ask me.

[skeet]

Mr 16..if you could equal the "Quality Steel" that you are talking of then it would possibly be worth loading steel if you 'needed' a lot of steel ammunition. You can make better than the junk shells fairly easily. As good as the good factory?? I doubt you can equal it. You don't have the components available to be able to make them...especially the blended powders and wads. Use of new cases would really be required to equal it. Now if you like spending the time to do it..fine..you'll come close to the commercial best, but I doubt you will equal it. I shot a lot of steel when it was the only non-toxic available..It took a lot to kill the birds because all factory steel was junk. It has gotten better and some of the best steel is really good. Hevi-shot and it's ilk are so much better and so much more expensive(but worth it) but again you won't really be able to equal any of the best non-toxic. I reload, as I'm sure you do, because I enjoy the hobby and I do save money loading target loads(we do shoot many more) and when lead was legal for waterfowl I could make loads to equal factory premium. But loading steel is in a different realm. Heck even in the metallic arena..it is becoming hard to equal the factory. Especially velocity wise. They use the same quality bullets we do...somewhat better powders and quality contol is for the most part really good. The only way we can make the metallic better is we are able to tailor the loads to our own rifles. For more years than I care to admit to...shotshell loading was my business. Enjoy the hobby for what it means to you..but in reloading steel..don't expect to equal the best factory

[Mr. 16 gauge]

As good as the good factory?? I doubt you can equal it. You don't have the components available to be able to make them...especially the blended powders and wads. Use of new cases would really be required to equal it.

Skeet;
Again, I respectfully disagree.....I am not concerned with making sure each and every shell can be fired in any gun, and as far as blended powders, ect, I don't need them....I'll stack my reloads against factory (of similar quality) any day. It has nothing to do with 'enjoyment" (although I do enjoy it), and I bet my quality control is better than anything any factory can produce.