Lol, I did a double take when you said how long it took you to reload a 1000 rounds! 8hrs and 20 min not 250hrs. Lol, I was thinking screw reloading shotgun shells. Thanks for sharing, looks fun
Hey man thanks for watching! Yep 8.33 hours :-). Well prolly little longer than that with the boxing, prep work, waxing crimps, etc. Can’t member what I said but sometimes I use ‘fuzzy math’ hahaha. Have a good weekend buddy!
I am a reloader. Like most people that handload I seek to achieve a better mixture than what is commercially available. Moreover, I feel as if it is my civic duty to perpetuate firearm ammunition. All firearms shoot differently and we handloaders seek to achieve an optimum load that gives us the most desirable results possible with our individual firearm. I got into reloading with my father many years ago and have persisted in the “hobby” since the 70’s. As a side note, many years ago when black powder cartridge shotguns were being used, many of the hunters would load their own brass cartridges by hand the evening before their next hunt. Some of them belonged to hunting groups and had hired hands that would load their shells and maintain their firearms for them. If you do some research, you will find photos of hunters standing next to piles of ducks. As you could imagine, they would need a lot of cartridges to harvest so many birds.
My did and me used to reload all our shell. I haven’t loaded in years and still have one pound of C300 gunpowder left. That was my favourite because it was not affected by, temperature, humidity or barometric pressure. They stopped making it after the plant blew up. Go figure😉
The analogy of ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’ applies to doing tasks, chores, and earning your keep is who you are. Doing your own shot and the pride knowing it was your homemade shot is worth the time❤️ I make all my spinners for a average cost from $.08 to $.18 and been modifying how they look and how they attract the fish throughout the year is well worth my time. A Great video. God Bless🇺🇸
This brings back a lot of childhood memories for me of when my father used to reload tons of shotgun shells both for himself and his friends. Cool video!
That was awsome! I recently found that exact press at a yard sale with all the goodies for about 25 bucks, your video pumped me up even more to get started!
It's not necessarily cost effective to reload low power, low quality birdshot. Especially if your shotgun is pump, s/s, o/u and you just blast out in the wood for occasional fun. For sport shooting, in my case with a semiautomatic, I need my baby to cycle every time. I exclusively reload #7.5 shot with dark grey Winchester AA hulls. I basically clone the Winchester AA Super Sport Sporting Clays ($16.29 for 25 commercial). I use Winchester powder and primers. 25 of my reloads cost me just $6.25. I also use a Lee Load All 2 12ga press ($60). I really enjoy it. I get my once fired hulls from a monthly tactical shotgun match, 5 stages, up to 25 shells per stage, and around 20 people per match. There are hulls EVERYWHERE! Between stages I only pick up the grey hulls. A lot of the "try hard" guys in Open division, with their box fed shotguns, only use red or grey Winchester AA shells. Some of those guys think they're too good to reload. I pay $20 to shoot the match. I do my best to be smooth and accurate. I love my Stoeger M3k 3 Gun 10+1 Freedom Series. She guns! 200 once fired hulls ($0.10 each) cost about $20. I essentially shoot for free. When the day is done, I leave the match with one full trashbag of several hundred beautiful AA hulls. Some people reload to shoot. I shoot to reload.
This is awesome..thanks for the insight... and thanks for your kindness also...i am so blessed to have friends like you and i pray you have a great upcoming weekend :D may God bless you and your loved ones.
I just got into reloading in Breaux Bridge and I enjoy it. I currently load .308, .223, 5.56, 300 BO, .40, 9mm and 12 gauge. You ain’t lying, great pass time for when it’s raining. Especially this time of year...
Good luck man...its kinda addicting! Honestly the main reason I started reloaded is so I didn't have to go to Academy or Walmart for shells hahaha! Have a good one!
Cruze's Louisiana Outdoors I agree. I reload for my own personal stockpile and got started Saturday morning loading .308 and next thing I knew I was out of shells and I started with 250. Lol
Cruze's Louisiana Outdoors we’re already in it. Have you turned on the news lately? Lol. I started for mainly a hobby and stockpiling but now I’m on the range more. So stockpiling went almost out the window. Now I’m feeding a habit
Hey Cruze!! Awesome seeing your reload setup!! Nice system to balance the powder to shells. Loved seeing your different sized shot! Great tip on the bees wax!! Definitely makes a difference to load your own. You definitely have to think smart to save money doing this!! Great video and info!
That was cool! I never reloaded shotgun shells before! I did make shot one time. Used a ladle with small holes and a bucket of fabric softener. I needed 100 pounds of shot for my Caldwell lead sled and didn’t want to buy it! Lol! They came out pretty cool! I aways wondered how they would shoot in a shell!
Well that's pretty darn cool! How round were they? If any imperfections the shot would sent to 'curve' but maybe not too bad. Where's the video of your lead sled??? haha
Cruze's Louisiana Outdoors I’ll tell ya, they were pretty dang round! I would have had to make some kind of shifter to get all the sizes separated for making a shell, but I only needed to fill the bags for the lead sled. I probably wouldn’t use them for a competition, but for small game they would do the trick! I never made a video on the sled, but I’ll tell ya, for sighting in 12 gauge and high power rifles, this thing can’t be beat. I got it when my boys were little so they didn’t beat up their little shoulders! Lol! Now I use it so I don’t beat up my old shoulders! Lol!
Worth the money? Absolutely. And worth the effort. The problem now is acquiring components, but sometimes rollin yer own is the only source for the exact loads you want. I load for everything I own and haven't felt the sting of using a load that was not what I needed for a hunt.
I like to reload because I can control every aspect of the cartridge and can tune a load to my specific needs or expectations in a given firearm in my arsenal.
Yes sir totally agree...I'm constantly tinkering with my formula and choke tube to get the fastest load that patterns the best without the barrel pressure getting out of hand...its addicting! Thanks for stopping by!
Awesome video bro! I’m not a reloader.....but I should be! We shoot the crap out of shells! I’m impressed with that machine! Thanks for this video bro!
My guy loaned his equipment to a friend up in Paradise, CA who loaded some for him, too...but now last year the fire hit and burned it all up to nothing. Your table is beautiful with all those shells.
Thank you for the informational video. I have been having difficulty finding shells for target shooting and am looking to get set up. This was the first video that I watched Good job 👍
I just started reloading last year so far 9mm and 357 magnum. Going to do a bunch of 38 special soon. Got thousands of 22 bullets got on clearance. Just have not tried rifle yet. Would use those for my .223
#7 steel with a xful turkey choke, who would have thought? What type of birds you guys knocking down? I typically use #2 or BB 3.5 inch for snows and Canada's with a modified choke but I'm liking that extra couple yards with tighter choke setup!
Is the savings worth getting into reloading? Shooting bismuth is expensive. My sons and I really enjoy duck hunting. We go quite often so it gets pretty pricey.
I've used Winchester AA hulls for years and can reload them about 12 times. 7-9 bucks a box reloading beats 12- 18 a box at the store any day. And that's If you can find any at the stores these days.
Really just depends what you want to be shooting. 12 gauge target loads can still be round right under 100$ case. At 10 bucks a box Ill buy not reload. If you're loading specialty stuff like tungsten waterfowl or turkey loads fine. I load 16 gauge low pressure for use in the old side by sides. These cost me about 6 bucks a box to load. and cost 15 or 20 bucks at the store. I load .410s which cost like 5 bucks to load and cost no about 3 bucks a box. yikes. And I load 28 gauges as I use that on farmed pheasants at a place that is no lead so my loads are very special if I could buy 28 gauge tungsten and steel duplex loads with mylar wraps that would be like 40 bucks a box.
Been reloading shotgun shells for a few years now. Slugs and buckshot. Average is around $0.40 Canadian. For the price of 5 factory 00 buck I can reload 25! Over half the cost of store bought and with the right load they shoot as good if not better than factory. Initial investment sucks but in the long run its worth it and with prices and shortages these days it's def worth doing for slugs and buck.
What are your thoughts now that prices on everything have gone through the roof? Do you still think it not worth reloading shotshells with today's prices? I've been to several big box stores in the Northeast and prices are $10 and up per box just for the cheap stuff. I'm reloading again and not paying 10 bucks for a box of shotgun shells! Maybe you need to do another video on this.
How much in a box? If you are talking about a box of 25 which is usually standard then 10 bucks is a lot. Im buying boxes of 25 for about 7 bucks in europe.
Right on, this should be a good one! I've never shot #7 steel but if you shred your kill closer than 70yds I guess we can call that shot "The Bonesaw". Have you thought about making and loading custom projectiles for fun? That machine is slick, a very simple mechanism but does so much, I like it. Can multiple shells be in the machine at the same time, moving them over one at a time like an assembly line? Great video, thanks for sharing!
lol the bonesaw...love it! Sounds like that's the new name of our shells haha...I been thinking of a company name for em :-) Oh lord...now you got me thinking...I suppose we could project many different 'things' with my setup...crap sounds like a new project :-) For this particular machine its one at a time...Mec does make some higher end machines that are like an assembly line and you basically pull a shell off complete for every pull of the handle...was out of my price range though. Thanks for watching brother!
when I shot competition skeet I reloaded 28 gauge! Now I don't reload and sold all of my loaders. The crazy thing is .410 and 28 are cheap to reload but the hull life is short. 20 gauge is all I shoot anymore and is for me the best bang for the buck👍
Good information brother! Yea the older I get and the worse shape the old body gets...I'm thinking prolly next year I'll drop down to a 20 gauge...don't hurt quite as bad :-) Have a good day!
I reload my own pistol ammo with a Dillon Progressive Press and have probably 5,000 rounds each .45 ACP & 9 mm .... you know for when the Zombie Apocalypse hits. If I did more waterfowl hunting I’d probably reload shot shells as well but Waterfowling is not as big up here as it is in other parts of the country. Good video ! Good luck with the ducks..... and geese.
That's a good little stash...hopefully we get Walking Dead Zombies and not World War Z Zombies...much easier to kill and don't have to use all yer bullets :-) Thanks buddy have a great weekend!
For high quality game loads you have the answer. But I can buy loaded trap and sporting clay loads ,of excellent quality for $5 to 6 a box. On saleI have paid Under $5 so I pick ten cases. Good luck to you and yours! I should note that I reload all my pistol ammo at great savings!
Steel is a different animal brother....everything more expensive when reloading steel shot. Yer right lead is much cheaper...I can load a very high quality lead box for bout $4... Thx for stopping by
I hate reloading for pistol and rifle but my QC is better and I find that my loads are way way more accurate then factory so I put up with it. For regular shotshells, a case is $85 for Remington Gun Clubs so I just buy factory.
I don't shoot competatively. Reloading for me is a hobby. It does not matter how much it costs or saves me. It's about freedom to have amunition matched to my guns from the loads I have worked up. And during the pandemic and ammo shortage related to the election, I have plenty of supplies to keep me shooting. Stock up when supplies are available and shoot when you can. Good video by the way.
20 dollars for 100 primers if you find any 50 dollars - 1pnd of powder its expensive reloading but the benefits are garenteing youll have ammo when shelves are empty.. i use an old. classic lee loader kit. no press
New friend here. My husband reloads ours. Mostly because I can't handle a lot of kick because of neck issues. But when we go full time rv living thats something we won't be able to do. I'm really sad about that part of it. We have almost the same set up as you.
Cool...the old Mec 600...that's a workhorse there brother! We've been using the STS green and Nitro Gold Remington hulls...pretty readily available...just can't wait until duck season cuz then they scarce :-)
I’ve been using a lee loadall but looking into upgrading it. Definitely like those AA Winchester’s though. All around good universal hull if you ask me.
If you are doing it to save money then don’t do it. Not that you can’t save money but it is about the fact our government is in the process of trying to eliminate your ability to buy ammo. When you reload you control what you load and how you load and make sure that you have ammo. Buy supplies, reload, have fun, be secure in your ability to have ammo.
so, looks like the de-primer step resizes from the inside forcing out to original spec but no full length resizing the outside of the shot shell tube and brass base back "down" to original size to insure it will cycle correctly in the gun? I have reloaded for pistol and a bit of rifle but no shotgun. Thank you for the demonstration.
I love the idea of reloading more than i think I'd love the actual process. Its just very appealing to natural born tinkerer's (like me) because you know exactly what you have and exactly what it'll do. It also appeals to the self reliant types (like me) by giving the feeling of being in control of your own ammunition supply. Honestly for the tinkerer's and doomsday preppers its a wash. One, very few people can make ammo thats truly better than factory, and two, if ammo dries up so will the components to hand roll it. We learned that with Obama and then later again with the pandemic. The components are not really cheaper either. On the contrary, after you've bought all the supplies and machinery to get started reloading its a significant investment. You could've just spent that money on ammo. For the guys that like to burn up a few boxes of shells shooting skeet on the weekends, or just need enough shells to fill tiny mondern bag limits of birds and small game, you're far better off buying your ammo at the store. Less hassle, less headache, less chance of exploding your nice gun, and less time chasing the imaginary dragon that is cheap self sustainability. One more thing. Who the hell has time? I have to work five days a week. When i finally get home in the evening there's the wife and kids to tend to, and thank God for that. On my days off what little bit of time i do have to myself I'd rather spend it shooting, not preparing to shoot 😂
Every little bit you save helps. Like you said, over the years you've more than paid for all the initial investments. I'd say if you hunt a lot with a shotgun or do skeet shooting or something like that, it is probably well worth it. 30 secs seems pretty quick to me too. You can have a whole box of shells reloaded in 12 1/2 minutes. That ain't too shabby.👍💯
Yes sir...every penny counts. I remember way back when counting change out of the ashtray in my truck to buy diapers for my first kiddo...valuable lessons when you poor :-) Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors Been there done that. Looking for a penny under the car seats to buy a loaf of bread. You learn to appreciate the little things though, huh?
Whew yea...like having to set your AC on 80 in the summertime cuz ya can’t afford the electricity bill lol :-). I appreciated every degree I could bring that down through the years...set at a constant 70 now haha
This is great to read. I remember finding change in my car for taco bell... so grateful for what happens with time, perseverance, hope and faith! Glad yall are all on the other side now!
Let’s just say that if everyone reloaded their own shotgun shells, you’d see no empty ones litter the hunting fields. I think the initial startup cost is what stops most people from getting into it. Maybe one day I’ll reload.
I noticed you said you like to tamp on your wad after inserting and before shot drops. There is a setting on the charge tube that adjusts for wad pressure. FYI
Hey man...thanks for stopping by. It was so long ago you made me doubt myself so just did it again...it is a different scale but this time counted 328 pellets...keep in mind this is zinc plated steel shot...maybe you think of lead? Hope this helps thanks!
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors You'd think all that talk of DUCKS and GEESE would've clued me in. Some days, it really does take a brick wall and a baseball bat for me to get the point. =)
Would like to know what brand of powder do you use also and what dram powder charge do you use for each .would help me a lot I'm planning to reload for my 12 gauge over and under. just locked in your veido site in on my favorite sites on my task bar. so I can visit any time. THANK FOR GREAT VEIDOS.
I don't think your math is right. 30sec/shell times 1000 shells is only 8.5 hours. If it was 250 hours then you would only be saving a dollar per hour, and that's definitely not worth it. If you have the mental ability to sit still that long, then you could knock out 1000 shells in an afternoon.
Never thought of using turkey choke might have to try that you think that could work on pheasants for an uncooperative dog that likes to get to far ahead? Thanks for the video man!
Howdy sir...thanks for stopping by! Just be careful with the steel / turkey choke combination and stay with 6's or 7's...anything bigger won't compress enough and may be scary!
Super informative video. One question, where is the break even point for how many shotgun shells you have to fire before it's worth loading yourself? If we assume that we talking about practice ammunition because many people practice at shooting ranges. By the way, is it possible to load with steel shots? Thanks. Greetings from Sweden. 🇸🇪
Howdy sir thanks for watching! Hmmmm...I really don't know to be honest...if I can 'not' have to go to Walmart for shells that's good enough for me :-) This video is all about reloading steel shot!
Question for you. In reference to 655 kicks choke and running number six and number seven steel shot through it is it a normal steel shot or are you running tungsten and bismuth. I’d be interested in knowing what the pattern looks like if you can reach back out to me and let me know that would be great I am very interested in using 655 but would like a little bit more information
Howdy sir...just normal steel through the 655 choke....7’s are ok...#6 are ok....wouldn’t go any bigger though! They pattern very very tight at 40 yards...hope this helps
Excellent overview. You're paying around a dollar per box for personal quality control. Efforts to reduce cost increase time spent and diminish returns, so it really depends what your time is worth. The shelf price of a box of shells comes down considerably thanks to factory level automation. Doing it yourself is inherently less efficient than a machine doing it. How much automation can be done in the home market with an off the shelf system? I feel like it would be possible with a 3d printer and some parts and tinkering to wrap a robot around that station and make a little factory at home. Where you just pour in components and walk away. (I love thinking about this stuff, I wasted more time on this comment than you do reloading shells and we probably had about the same amount of fun XD.) For me, from the data provided in this video and some very lazy math it seems like reloading is something you do for reasons other than cost. Ignoring time invested, say you reload a 1000 shells, which normally costs 16$ per 25, say you pay 12$ in materials, so you need to reload 150 boxes, or 3,750 shells to cover the reloader machine costs. So at your example consumption rate, 1000rds a year, a little over 3.5 years. Around 20 rounds a week. That doesn't sound like a lot to me. You're definitely spending less time reloading than shooting, considering travel time, and aiming and between shot activities for sure, so that's awesome. Definitely worth having. Most more stable supply, excellent survival tool, excellent skill building shooting enough to justify it. Basically it's a really good idea for a hobby. 25 shells per box, 12.5 minutes per box.so like 3.48$ a box labor time at minimum wage? Ignoring time spent care and feeding for the machine. Yeah, worth it if it's relaxing for you and mostly spare time. Imo, the less you shoot the more worth it it is ironically. Because less tedious. A neat mechanical thing to play with, like buying an antique clock that's a lot more useful and hands on. Plus it's a commodity. Buy it used and in good condition and it'll basically never lose value.
Well...I'm had to go fix me a cup of coffee before I read this :-) I agree with everything ya wrote...as for the 'why'...3 reasons: 1. I can reload / shoot the exact shell that I like without having to 'shop' around 2. I don't have to go to the store for shells (I typically don't like people ha) 3. Gives me something to do on those cold, rainy days where most guys would be sitting in front of the TV...I'm not the TV sitting kinda guy. I also really like having 'control' over the entire process...from rounding out the brass to dripping beeswax on the final crimp...an accomplishment kind of thing...particularly when ya pull the trigger and it actually goes 'boom'. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment! Have a good one
Ya its not that...for whatever reason these SAM1 wads like to pull back out of the hull slightly when coming up so I like to make sure they are seated right...maybe 1 out of 10 aren't.
nails, tracers, marbles, confetti with some tac's, Legos! you know those suckers hurt when you step on them just think shooting out of a 12 gage. LOL You might get some good views with the legos!!!
Your math is wrong on the reloading time. 30 seconds per shell x 1,000 shells is 30,000 seconds. Divide that by 3,600 seconds per hour and you're at 8.33 hours, not 10.41 days. 10.41 days at 30 seconds per shell would be nearly 30,000 shells.
Thanks for watching brother! Well...each shell 'formula' is specific to a certain hull...lots of testing / pressure / velocity / etc. go into it so you want to stick with one of these formulas that someone smarter than me has officially tested or you could end up with a barrel mess! The formula that I like uses Remington STS and Nitro Gold hulls which my local gun club does not use. So...have to get them from around the country from other gun clubs. The good thing is that I can reload a hull sometimes up to 5x!
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors oh okay I was under the assumption that a turkey choke was a full choke, what is the difference if you don’t mind me asking? Is the turkey choke stronger?
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Lol, I did a double take when you said how long it took you to reload a 1000 rounds! 8hrs and 20 min not 250hrs. Lol, I was thinking screw reloading shotgun shells. Thanks for sharing, looks fun
Hey man thanks for watching! Yep 8.33 hours :-). Well prolly little longer than that with the boxing, prep work, waxing crimps, etc. Can’t member what I said but sometimes I use ‘fuzzy math’ hahaha. Have a good weekend buddy!
I did the math and then searched the comments, because I did a double take also
Thank you
I’m considering getting into reloading even though it’s not going to save me any money. Your video was exactly what I needed to get started.👍🏻
I am a reloader. Like most people that handload I seek to achieve a better mixture than what is commercially available. Moreover, I feel as if it is my civic duty to perpetuate firearm ammunition. All firearms shoot differently and we handloaders seek to achieve an optimum load that gives us the most desirable results possible with our individual firearm. I got into reloading with my father many years ago and have persisted in the “hobby” since the 70’s. As a side note, many years ago when black powder cartridge shotguns were being used, many of the hunters would load their own brass cartridges by hand the evening before their next hunt. Some of them belonged to hunting groups and had hired hands that would load their shells and maintain their firearms for them. If you do some research, you will find photos of hunters standing next to piles of ducks. As you could imagine, they would need a lot of cartridges to harvest so many birds.
My did and me used to reload all our shell. I haven’t loaded in years and still have one pound of C300 gunpowder left. That was my favourite because it was not affected by, temperature, humidity or barometric pressure. They stopped making it after the plant blew up. Go figure😉
Cool! Hang on to that gunpowder buddy...may come in handy after the Zhombie Apocalypse :-)
Like most things in life,you have to enjoy doing it to make it worth your time. Good info!
Agree completely brother...thanks for tuning in and have a great weekend!
Amen to that
The analogy of ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’ applies to doing tasks, chores, and earning your keep is who you are. Doing your own shot and the pride knowing it was your homemade shot is worth the time❤️ I make all my spinners for a average cost from $.08 to $.18 and been modifying how they look and how they attract the fish throughout the year is well worth my time. A Great video. God Bless🇺🇸
Thanks for visiting! Agree with ya completely...we also make our own spinner / buzz baits and pour our own plastics...love it!
I reload first and foremost because I enjoy doing it and find it relaxing. Cheers!
This brings back a lot of childhood memories for me of when my father used to reload tons of shotgun shells both for himself and his friends. Cool video!
Thanks buddy...have a good one!
I guess now is a good time for making your own, Thanks for sharing .
Indeed!
That was awsome! I recently found that exact press at a yard sale with all the goodies for about 25 bucks, your video pumped me up even more to get started!
It's not necessarily cost effective to reload low power, low quality birdshot. Especially if your shotgun is pump, s/s, o/u and you just blast out in the wood for occasional fun.
For sport shooting, in my case with a semiautomatic, I need my baby to cycle every time.
I exclusively reload #7.5 shot with dark grey Winchester AA hulls. I basically clone the Winchester AA Super Sport Sporting Clays ($16.29 for 25 commercial). I use Winchester powder and primers. 25 of my reloads cost me just $6.25.
I also use a Lee Load All 2 12ga press ($60). I really enjoy it.
I get my once fired hulls from a monthly tactical shotgun match, 5 stages, up to 25 shells per stage, and around 20 people per match. There are hulls EVERYWHERE! Between stages I only pick up the grey hulls.
A lot of the "try hard" guys in Open division, with their box fed shotguns, only use red or grey Winchester AA shells. Some of those guys think they're too good to reload.
I pay $20 to shoot the match. I do my best to be smooth and accurate. I love my Stoeger M3k 3 Gun 10+1 Freedom Series. She guns!
200 once fired hulls ($0.10 each) cost about $20. I essentially shoot for free.
When the day is done, I leave the match with one full trashbag of several hundred beautiful AA hulls.
Some people reload to shoot. I shoot to reload.
This is awesome..thanks for the insight... and thanks for your kindness also...i am so blessed to have friends like you and i pray you have a great upcoming weekend :D may God bless you and your loved ones.
Appreciate you visiting brother...hope you and your family have a great weekend as well!
Cool reloading setup! Some of my Dad's friends had some reloading setups as well. 👍😎 ~Maverick
Thanks for watching brother...reloading gives me something to do when its raining outside :-)
I just got into reloading in Breaux Bridge and I enjoy it. I currently load .308, .223, 5.56, 300 BO, .40, 9mm and 12 gauge. You ain’t lying, great pass time for when it’s raining. Especially this time of year...
Good luck man...its kinda addicting! Honestly the main reason I started reloaded is so I didn't have to go to Academy or Walmart for shells hahaha! Have a good one!
Cruze's Louisiana Outdoors I agree. I reload for my own personal stockpile and got started Saturday morning loading .308 and next thing I knew I was out of shells and I started with 250. Lol
Prolly come in handy after the Zombie Apocalypse :-)
Cruze's Louisiana Outdoors we’re already in it. Have you turned on the news lately? Lol. I started for mainly a hobby and stockpiling but now I’m on the range more. So stockpiling went almost out the window. Now I’m feeding a habit
I rarely even turn on the tv lol
Hey Cruze!! Awesome seeing your reload setup!! Nice system to balance the powder to shells. Loved seeing your different sized shot! Great tip on the bees wax!! Definitely makes a difference to load your own. You definitely have to think smart to save money doing this!! Great video and info!
Bears and Butters thank you very much ladies...y’all have a wonderful weekend!!!
That was cool! I never reloaded shotgun shells before! I did make shot one time. Used a ladle with small holes and a bucket of fabric softener. I needed 100 pounds of shot for my Caldwell lead sled and didn’t want to buy it! Lol! They came out pretty cool! I aways wondered how they would shoot in a shell!
Well that's pretty darn cool! How round were they? If any imperfections the shot would sent to 'curve' but maybe not too bad. Where's the video of your lead sled??? haha
Cruze's Louisiana Outdoors I’ll tell ya, they were pretty dang round! I would have had to make some kind of shifter to get all the sizes separated for making a shell, but I only needed to fill the bags for the lead sled. I probably wouldn’t use them for a competition, but for small game they would do the trick!
I never made a video on the sled, but I’ll tell ya, for sighting in 12 gauge and high power rifles, this thing can’t be beat. I got it when my boys were little so they didn’t beat up their little shoulders! Lol! Now I use it so I don’t beat up my old shoulders! Lol!
That’s awesome buddy! Hell don’t I know bout those old beat up shoulders :-)
Cruze's Louisiana Outdoors Lol! My boys wanna shoot cannons now and wonder why I always suggest.22s. lol 😂😂😂
😂
That’s a lot of ammo. Good luck on your upcoming hunts. Left a 👍from the North.
Adrian
Thanks for visiting Adrian...appreciate your support brother!
Worth the money? Absolutely. And worth the effort. The problem now is acquiring components, but sometimes rollin yer own is the only source for the exact loads you want. I load for everything I own and haven't felt the sting of using a load that was not what I needed for a hunt.
I like to reload because I can control every aspect of the cartridge and can tune a load to my specific needs or expectations in a given firearm in my arsenal.
Yes sir totally agree...I'm constantly tinkering with my formula and choke tube to get the fastest load that patterns the best without the barrel pressure getting out of hand...its addicting! Thanks for stopping by!
Awesome video bro! I’m not a reloader.....but I should be! We shoot the crap out of shells! I’m impressed with that machine! Thanks for this video bro!
Nice setup. I had a buddy that made his own shells... it was nice being able to just go to him when I needed more.
Nothing like having confidence ya gonna hear a bang when ya pull the trigger!
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors Every time I shoot "The Judge" I feel like I am going to blow myself backwards through a wall... kinda the same.
I wanna get were I can reload my rifles love the video can’t wait to see more
Thanks for visiting buddy...I'd check into it! Not sure it would be cost effective for rifles unless you expend lots of rounds...but maybe?
My guy loaned his equipment to a friend up in Paradise, CA who loaded some for him, too...but now last year the fire hit and burned it all up to nothing. Your table is beautiful with all those shells.
Gail's Garden Herbs & More holy crap that’s tragic!!!! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend! 👍
Thank you for the informational video. I have been having difficulty finding shells for target shooting and am looking to get set up.
This was the first video that I watched
Good job 👍
Great setup and super informative video! Lock n Load, Rock n Roll!
Thanks for watching! Have a great week :-)
Thanks for the education. The savings, considering you said a thousand rounds for a season, adds up quick. Thanks again brother. ~Ken~
Bank Beaterz Outdoors thanks for visiting brother...appreciate ya!
I just started reloading last year so far 9mm and 357 magnum. Going to do a bunch of 38 special soon. Got thousands of 22 bullets got on clearance. Just have not tried rifle yet. Would use those for my .223
Awesome! Do you find that its cost effective vs store bought? Have ya done a price comparison? Thanks for watching brother!
#7 steel with a xful turkey choke, who would have thought? What type of birds you guys knocking down? I typically use #2 or BB 3.5 inch for snows and Canada's with a modified choke but I'm liking that extra couple yards with tighter choke setup!
Wood ducks at bout 70-80 yards 😳😎
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors I'm going to give it a shot next weekend 👍
Nothing bigger than #6 though…barrel won’t like that :)
Is the savings worth getting into reloading? Shooting bismuth is expensive. My sons and I really enjoy duck hunting. We go quite often so it gets pretty pricey.
I've used Winchester AA hulls for years and can reload them about 12 times. 7-9 bucks a box reloading beats 12- 18 a box at the store any day. And that's If you can find any at the stores these days.
Yessir the hulls are in short supply...good thing we can reload these a bunch of times!
Really just depends what you want to be shooting. 12 gauge target loads can still be round right under 100$ case. At 10 bucks a box Ill buy not reload.
If you're loading specialty stuff like tungsten waterfowl or turkey loads fine.
I load 16 gauge low pressure for use in the old side by sides. These cost me about 6 bucks a box to load. and cost 15 or 20 bucks at the store.
I load .410s which cost like 5 bucks to load and cost no about 3 bucks a box. yikes.
And I load 28 gauges as I use that on farmed pheasants at a place that is no lead so my loads are very special if I could buy 28 gauge tungsten and steel duplex loads with mylar wraps that would be like 40 bucks a box.
Been reloading shotgun shells for a few years now. Slugs and buckshot. Average is around $0.40 Canadian. For the price of 5 factory 00 buck I can reload 25! Over half the cost of store bought and with the right load they shoot as good if not better than factory. Initial investment sucks but in the long run its worth it and with prices and shortages these days it's def worth doing for slugs and buck.
Yessir! 👍🏼
Exact answer to my questions ❤ thank you!
Glad we could help...thanks for stopping by!
Cruze's Louisiana Outdoors will be by often, subscribed!
Nice set up! Thumbs up!
Thanks for visiting :-) Have a great weekend!
12 Guage is running about $1/round for the cheap stuff in my area right now, so kinda worth it...
All the best in 2022!
What are your thoughts now that prices on everything have gone through the roof? Do you still think it not worth reloading shotshells with today's prices? I've been to several big box stores in the Northeast and prices are $10 and up per box just for the cheap stuff. I'm reloading again and not paying 10 bucks for a box of shotgun shells! Maybe you need to do another video on this.
How much in a box? If you are talking about a box of 25 which is usually standard then 10 bucks is a lot. Im buying boxes of 25 for about 7 bucks in europe.
Right on, this should be a good one! I've never shot #7 steel but if you shred your kill closer than 70yds I guess we can call that shot "The Bonesaw". Have you thought about making and loading custom projectiles for fun? That machine is slick, a very simple mechanism but does so much, I like it. Can multiple shells be in the machine at the same time, moving them over one at a time like an assembly line? Great video, thanks for sharing!
lol the bonesaw...love it! Sounds like that's the new name of our shells haha...I been thinking of a company name for em :-) Oh lord...now you got me thinking...I suppose we could project many different 'things' with my setup...crap sounds like a new project :-) For this particular machine its one at a time...Mec does make some higher end machines that are like an assembly line and you basically pull a shell off complete for every pull of the handle...was out of my price range though. Thanks for watching brother!
when I shot competition skeet I reloaded 28 gauge! Now I don't reload and sold all of my loaders. The crazy thing is .410 and 28 are cheap to reload but the hull life is short. 20 gauge is all I shoot anymore and is for me the best bang for the buck👍
Good information brother! Yea the older I get and the worse shape the old body gets...I'm thinking prolly next year I'll drop down to a 20 gauge...don't hurt quite as bad :-) Have a good day!
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors yep 20 is easy on the shoulder.👍🇺🇸
I reload my own pistol ammo with a Dillon Progressive Press and have probably 5,000 rounds each .45 ACP & 9 mm .... you know for when the Zombie Apocalypse hits. If I did more waterfowl hunting I’d probably reload shot shells as well but Waterfowling is not as big up here as it is in other parts of the country. Good video ! Good luck with the ducks..... and geese.
That's a good little stash...hopefully we get Walking Dead Zombies and not World War Z Zombies...much easier to kill and don't have to use all yer bullets :-)
Thanks buddy have a great weekend!
Nice reloading set up there!
Wanna Wander thank ya :-) ❤️
For high quality game loads you have the answer. But I can buy loaded trap and sporting clay loads ,of excellent quality for $5 to 6 a box. On saleI have paid Under $5 so I pick ten cases. Good luck to you and yours! I should note that I reload all my pistol ammo at great savings!
Steel is a different animal brother....everything more expensive when reloading steel shot. Yer right lead is much cheaper...I can load a very high quality lead box for bout $4...
Thx for stopping by
Thank you for sharing in detail my friend 🤙
Thanks for tuning in brother
I hate reloading for pistol and rifle but my QC is better and I find that my loads are way way more accurate then factory so I put up with it. For regular shotshells, a case is $85 for Remington Gun Clubs so I just buy factory.
Great to produce your own up to 50 shells a day. Above that you risk your shoulder(s), especially if you're older or intend 100+ every day...
lol...well I take a break when I start getting sore :-)
I don't shoot competatively. Reloading for me is a hobby. It does not matter how much it costs or saves me. It's about freedom to have amunition matched to my guns from the loads I have worked up. And during the pandemic and ammo shortage related to the election, I have plenty of supplies to keep me shooting. Stock up when supplies are available and shoot when you can. Good video by the way.
Agree completely buddy...thanks for stopping by!
Wow thats amazing I had no idea that people do this. You Americans are smart fellas. Also big ups to Lousianna yewww
Lol well I don’t know bout smart :-). Thanks for tuning in!
Super cool y'all, thanks for showing us your set up! 😎
No worries buddy....have a great day!
20 dollars for 100 primers if you find any 50 dollars - 1pnd of powder its expensive reloading but the benefits are garenteing youll have ammo when shelves are empty.. i use an old. classic lee loader kit. no press
Very informative.
good video. Looking forward to watching more.
Hamiltonville Farm thank for visiting...appreciate ya! Have a great weekend
We used to do this years ago, but sold off a lot of our presses. Been doing annual clay shoots and wish we didn’t get rid of everything.
Save those hulls for me :-) Thanks for watching buddy!
That was awesome. Very informative. Haven't but like guns. Good video.
Thanks for tuning in brother..appreciate the support!
New friend here. My husband reloads ours. Mostly because I can't handle a lot of kick because of neck issues. But when we go full time rv living thats something we won't be able to do. I'm really sad about that part of it. We have almost the same set up as you.
Awesome!!! Thanks so much for watching and commenting :-) Have a great weekend!
Having this equipment for any Skid-Mark Opposition or Human Rabies Virus (Zombie Apocalypse) is PRICELESS ! ! !
lol indeed!
Or coronavirus lol
I'm a big 12 gauge reloader as long as I can get my hands on AA Hulls & I'm still using a Mec 600!!
Cool...the old Mec 600...that's a workhorse there brother! We've been using the STS green and Nitro Gold Remington hulls...pretty readily available...just can't wait until duck season cuz then they scarce :-)
I’ve been using a lee loadall but looking into upgrading it. Definitely like those AA Winchester’s though. All around good universal hull if you ask me.
Really like all your content
Cool stuff
Prices not bad buying the equipments
Thanks for tuning in brother...appreciate you. Have a great weekend!
Wow that's really fast awesome video my friend 😊💞👍👍👍
Thank you :-)
If you are doing it to save money then don’t do it. Not that you can’t save money but it is about the fact our government is in the process of trying to eliminate your ability to buy ammo. When you reload you control what you load and how you load and make sure that you have ammo. Buy supplies, reload, have fun, be secure in your ability to have ammo.
Thank you.
so, looks like the de-primer step resizes from the inside forcing out to original spec but no full length resizing the outside of the shot shell tube and brass base back "down" to original size to insure it will cycle correctly in the gun? I have reloaded for pistol and a bit of rifle but no shotgun. Thank you for the demonstration.
I love the idea of reloading more than i think I'd love the actual process. Its just very appealing to natural born tinkerer's (like me) because you know exactly what you have and exactly what it'll do. It also appeals to the self reliant types (like me) by giving the feeling of being in control of your own ammunition supply. Honestly for the tinkerer's and doomsday preppers its a wash. One, very few people can make ammo thats truly better than factory, and two, if ammo dries up so will the components to hand roll it. We learned that with Obama and then later again with the pandemic. The components are not really cheaper either. On the contrary, after you've bought all the supplies and machinery to get started reloading its a significant investment. You could've just spent that money on ammo. For the guys that like to burn up a few boxes of shells shooting skeet on the weekends, or just need enough shells to fill tiny mondern bag limits of birds and small game, you're far better off buying your ammo at the store. Less hassle, less headache, less chance of exploding your nice gun, and less time chasing the imaginary dragon that is cheap self sustainability. One more thing. Who the hell has time? I have to work five days a week. When i finally get home in the evening there's the wife and kids to tend to, and thank God for that. On my days off what little bit of time i do have to myself I'd rather spend it shooting, not preparing to shoot 😂
Every little bit you save helps. Like you said, over the years you've more than paid for all the initial investments. I'd say if you hunt a lot with a shotgun or do skeet shooting or something like that, it is probably well worth it. 30 secs seems pretty quick to me too. You can have a whole box of shells reloaded in 12 1/2 minutes. That ain't too shabby.👍💯
Yes sir...every penny counts. I remember way back when counting change out of the ashtray in my truck to buy diapers for my first kiddo...valuable lessons when you poor :-) Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors Been there done that. Looking for a penny under the car seats to buy a loaf of bread. You learn to appreciate the little things though, huh?
Whew yea...like having to set your AC on 80 in the summertime cuz ya can’t afford the electricity bill lol :-). I appreciated every degree I could bring that down through the years...set at a constant 70 now haha
This is great to read. I remember finding change in my car for taco bell... so grateful for what happens with time, perseverance, hope and faith! Glad yall are all on the other side now!
Oh wow )) Never seen this done before )) Great video :O)
Thanks for visiting :-)
Very good informative video.
Let’s just say that if everyone reloaded their own shotgun shells, you’d see no empty ones litter the hunting fields. I think the initial startup cost is what stops most people from getting into it. Maybe one day I’ll reload.
I noticed you said you like to tamp on your wad after inserting and before shot drops. There is a setting on the charge tube that adjusts for wad pressure. FYI
Howdy sir thanks for stopping by! Yea old habits I guess :-) Its part of my muscle memory now and I may be too old to change it haha!
What’s the chance of you sharing your recipe??
sure just shoot me an email
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors jayson_grimes@yahoo
Great video!!!
Cruze - Did you actually measure your shot charge on a scale to come up with that amount of #6 pellets?
Hey man...thanks for stopping by. It was so long ago you made me doubt myself so just did it again...it is a different scale but this time counted 328 pellets...keep in mind this is zinc plated steel shot...maybe you think of lead? Hope this helps thanks!
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors I am thinking of lead.
Thanks for clearing that up! -b
@@DeanMk1 Whew...wouldn't every put it past myself to mess the numbers up...glad I got it right this time haha!
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors You'd think all that talk of DUCKS and GEESE would've clued me in. Some days, it really does take a brick wall and a baseball bat for me to get the point. =)
Hahaha I hear that buddy
What was the name of that reloader?
Would like to know what brand of powder do you use also and what dram powder charge do you use for each .would help me a lot I'm planning to reload for my 12 gauge over and under. just locked in your veido site in on my favorite sites on my task bar. so I can visit any time. THANK FOR GREAT VEIDOS.
Hey folks the one thing you should know is the sales and rebates on components starts in the fall.
Thanks buddy!
Very interesting vlog. Lots of informative 👍👍👍
Thanks for visiting :-)
I don't think your math is right. 30sec/shell times 1000 shells is only 8.5 hours. If it was 250 hours then you would only be saving a dollar per hour, and that's definitely not worth it. If you have the mental ability to sit still that long, then you could knock out 1000 shells in an afternoon.
It does if you can pick up free STS type shells. I load them a few times. 👍
lol indeed...we reshoot our hulls 3-4 times b/f the crimp starts looking like medusa haha
mais great video, do you ever go to gun clubs and pick up used hulls
TFs , This was really informative friend .
Thanks for watching brother...have a good weekend!
Never thought of using turkey choke might have to try that you think that could work on pheasants for an uncooperative dog that likes to get to far ahead? Thanks for the video man!
Howdy sir...thanks for stopping by! Just be careful with the steel / turkey choke combination and stay with 6's or 7's...anything bigger won't compress enough and may be scary!
The very best reason to load any ammunition is to get that ammunition you wish to shoot.
Super informative video.
One question, where is the break even point for how many shotgun shells you have to fire before it's worth loading yourself? If we assume that we talking about practice ammunition because many people practice at shooting ranges.
By the way, is it possible to load with steel shots?
Thanks.
Greetings from Sweden. 🇸🇪
Howdy sir thanks for watching! Hmmmm...I really don't know to be honest...if I can 'not' have to go to Walmart for shells that's good enough for me :-) This video is all about reloading steel shot!
Love the video! Gonna have to come buy a box are 2 from u and test them out with y’all!!
Youth day is this Saturday...hopefully get some footage of Eli killing a greenhead with a band and radio collar haha
Wouldn’t surprise me with him lol!!
With target loads 50 cents and up and buck and slugs 1.50 - 3.00 a round it’s almost mandatory now
Agree!
Very cool video nicely done my friend
Thanks for tuning in buddy...appreciate ya!
Question for you. In reference to 655 kicks choke and running number six and number seven steel shot through it is it a normal steel shot or are you running tungsten and bismuth. I’d be interested in knowing what the pattern looks like if you can reach back out to me and let me know that would be great I am very interested in using 655 but would like a little bit more information
Howdy sir...just normal steel through the 655 choke....7’s are ok...#6 are ok....wouldn’t go any bigger though! They pattern very very tight at 40 yards...hope this helps
How much power do you use this the 1 oz number 7 load
@@jaysummers5038 Hey buddy...no sure what you are asking exactly. Try again?
For the number 7 shot load. How much powder do you use in the 2 3/4 “ hull. I know it’s 1oz of number 7 steel I need to know how much powder.
36 grains
Great video my friend
Great job
Thank you for sharing
Really like it
Thanks for tuning in! Have a great week
🇮🇱💪
You can never have enough shotgun shells can never have enough ammo . Have a great night my friend
Now that is a true statement :-) Thanks for tuning in brother
The biggest advantage of loading shotgun shells is being able to get the lode you want when you can’t find them in the store
Remember guys you don't need a $600 mec to do this you can get by with just a good Ole lee load all for around $40-50
Never used the Lee Load but I can't imagine its much diff...I've really never heard anyone talk bad about em!
Awesome video! May be a dumb question but can you easily swap between 12 and 20?
Thanks buddy....hmmmmmm....I 'think' its an entirely diff setup!
Excellent overview. You're paying around a dollar per box for personal quality control. Efforts to reduce cost increase time spent and diminish returns, so it really depends what your time is worth.
The shelf price of a box of shells comes down considerably thanks to factory level automation.
Doing it yourself is inherently less efficient than a machine doing it.
How much automation can be done in the home market with an off the shelf system? I feel like it would be possible with a 3d printer and some parts and tinkering to wrap a robot around that station and make a little factory at home. Where you just pour in components and walk away. (I love thinking about this stuff, I wasted more time on this comment than you do reloading shells and we probably had about the same amount of fun XD.)
For me, from the data provided in this video and some very lazy math it seems like reloading is something you do for reasons other than cost.
Ignoring time invested, say you reload a 1000 shells, which normally costs 16$ per 25, say you pay 12$ in materials, so you need to reload 150 boxes, or 3,750 shells to cover the reloader machine costs. So at your example consumption rate, 1000rds a year, a little over 3.5 years. Around 20 rounds a week. That doesn't sound like a lot to me. You're definitely spending less time reloading than shooting, considering travel time, and aiming and between shot activities for sure, so that's awesome.
Definitely worth having. Most more stable supply, excellent survival tool, excellent skill building shooting enough to justify it. Basically it's a really good idea for a hobby.
25 shells per box, 12.5 minutes per box.so like 3.48$ a box labor time at minimum wage? Ignoring time spent care and feeding for the machine. Yeah, worth it if it's relaxing for you and mostly spare time. Imo, the less you shoot the more worth it it is ironically. Because less tedious. A neat mechanical thing to play with, like buying an antique clock that's a lot more useful and hands on. Plus it's a commodity. Buy it used and in good condition and it'll basically never lose value.
Well...I'm had to go fix me a cup of coffee before I read this :-) I agree with everything ya wrote...as for the 'why'...3 reasons: 1. I can reload / shoot the exact shell that I like without having to 'shop' around 2. I don't have to go to the store for shells (I typically don't like people ha) 3. Gives me something to do on those cold, rainy days where most guys would be sitting in front of the TV...I'm not the TV sitting kinda guy.
I also really like having 'control' over the entire process...from rounding out the brass to dripping beeswax on the final crimp...an accomplishment kind of thing...particularly when ya pull the trigger and it actually goes 'boom'. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment! Have a good one
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors Sounds excellent. You too man, and thanks for the reply. I definitely want a similar setup. Good luck man :)
You can set the pressure of your wad if it's not seating them hard enough
Ya its not that...for whatever reason these SAM1 wads like to pull back out of the hull slightly when coming up so I like to make sure they are seated right...maybe 1 out of 10 aren't.
I would like to get a reloading kit like you have just so I can see what crazy things I can put in there! lol
39 liked full watch. nice vid!!!
Thanks for tuning in! You're actually the second person to mention 'crazy' projectiles lol...give me a couple of ideas??? Love it!
nails, tracers, marbles, confetti with some tac's, Legos! you know those suckers hurt when you step on them just think shooting out of a 12 gage. LOL You might get some good views with the legos!!!
Crap dude you know you just complicated my life with a new project right???? Hahahaha :-)
Your math is wrong on the reloading time. 30 seconds per shell x 1,000 shells is 30,000 seconds. Divide that by 3,600 seconds per hour and you're at 8.33 hours, not 10.41 days. 10.41 days at 30 seconds per shell would be nearly 30,000 shells.
Yup...was pointed out couple days after I posted the video...sorry bout that...let's call it fuzzy math lol! Thanks for stopping by!
What wads do you prefer ??? Clay busters?
Howdy…we use the SAM1 split wads
Very interesting!! you ever go to a gun range and try to get the used hulls?
Thanks for watching brother! Well...each shell 'formula' is specific to a certain hull...lots of testing / pressure / velocity / etc. go into it so you want to stick with one of these formulas that someone smarter than me has officially tested or you could end up with a barrel mess! The formula that I like uses Remington STS and Nitro Gold hulls which my local gun club does not use. So...have to get them from around the country from other gun clubs. The good thing is that I can reload a hull sometimes up to 5x!
Cool! That's a lot more savings than I figured
Yes!
You still shoot #7 with that turkey choke?
What powder and how many grain of powder are you using
Do you have any problems with shooting steel shot through a full choke? I have seen it blow up peoples guns before
I don’t use a full choke…I use a turkey choke :). 6’s or smaller is fine
@@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors oh okay I was under the assumption that a turkey choke was a full choke, what is the difference if you don’t mind me asking? Is the turkey choke stronger?
So you wouldn’t run steel bb through your turkey choke? Sorry for all the questions