16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3281 Location: NCWa

New F350 for $96K + WA sales tax 9% that puts it to nearly $105K. Paying my son $10K to detail the '86 F350 sounds better all the time- and besides, they don't make the 460 ci anymore and lesser motors don't run the 12x37" w/air lockers through two feet of snow.

Joined: 08 Mar 2022 Posts: 130

Here in S central PA things have stabilized a bit. Mostly all the name stores will have something in 16ga, usually starting around $16 or so. The only one who wouldn't carry 16s was the local mom/pop "gunsmith"; who ironically went out of business after 40 yrs a few weeks ago. I started reloading 12 first & then 20s back in '72. As a hobby i guess because shells were about $4-5/box then and components were so available it almost wasn't worth it to reload. I got out of shells around '76 and didn't get back until about 4 yrs ago when i got hit real bad by the 16 ga and shooting 3-16ga guns. Glad i got a Sizemaster when i did, just before all the foolishness, and was schooled by many of you who got me back into it. I go through about 40 boxes a year, all reloads now and have about 10 flats stashed away. Between Thanksgiving & Christmas i sneak into the cave a day or two/week and put up what I shot during the year. Its nice to see the cupboard all stocked up and ready to go come spring.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2179 Location: Hudson,Wy

There is an ebb and flow to this stuff and I grew weary of it over the years. When the Covid supply issues first started cropping up, I did what I could about it. I reload.
In my constant travels, if I found any powder or primers that still had the old price tag on them, I bought them, so along as it was something I use. I traded rifle reloading components leftover from the guns I no longer owned-for shotgun reloading components. Then a local sporting goods store closed and I bought the remaining supply of shotgun powders at 60% off (there are only a few people in this county who reload shotgun). I even took components as payment for skilled labor. Then a friend offered me 6 lbs. of Clays for $23 per pound since he stopped loading shotshells in the 90's.

Now if I could just find a closeout deal on shot...like the time we bought out JSC's original NTC steel shot kits on closeout for $5 per 10 pounder and $9 per 20 pounder! We used those up in my snow goose days.

The bottom line is that I'd been burned so many times by these market swings, and for the first time in my life, I had the money to take advantage of the right deals. I knew I was going to retire soon and my income would be pretty meager. I am very glad I did what I did. The reloading time approaches with the restlessness that follows bird season.

Been buying the "junk store" bargains for yrs . A little of this and a little of that . Got 2K Herters wads and 1K Herters 12ga AA wads for nothing . Still use older 20/brick primers and on and on .... we just got a bulk load of shot at the club - 50 bucks a bag . I'll be shooting inexpensive stuff as long as I live . Got 12#'s of Perfect Pattern when 24 bucks /lb . Have 12ga , 16ga, and 20ga loads for it now , that'll be the way I go till it runs out . The 16ga load should work in a 29/16 case .

Gentlemen,

Sold my MEC progressive reloader a while back, now I am sorry I did it, had all kinds of different components to go along with it, real stupid move on my part. I got tired of reloading and was leaving my Nemacolin Corp membership lapse, the old timers I shot with were not shooting any more, and there were not enough young Grouse hunters for me to keep my Corp membership for teaching Grouse gunning. Things had changed drastically during a 3 year period. I believed I could just purchase my 16, 20, 28 and 12 gauge shells for decent money. Got a real shock when my 16 gauge shells basically ran out and I had to order more shells. RST had gone up in price and his shipping cast was out of this world bad. I use to purchase all my shells for my gun dog business from a place here in Pa, as long as you ordered on line, and purchased $100.00 worth of shells they would sell me all I needed and ship them to me no charge. I purchased by the case and 'my cost was great. Would pay around $400.00 each year for all the different shells I needed, those days are long gone, and that place does not even handle shells any more.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers

Joined: 17 Oct 2019 Posts: 487 Location: New Jersey

I know 2-1/2” ammo is a different animal but you can buy decent 16 gauge 2-3/4” game loads for under $13 a box online. That’s reasonable to me in this current day and age.

Swampy16,

I still have some of the short 2 3/4" 16 gauge shells and even more of my RST 2 1/2" shells to use Grouse & Woodcock hunting. Just hate to purchase shells at $13.00 a box. To me that is not cheap shells.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 17 Oct 2019 Posts: 487 Location: New Jersey

It beats $20+ which is very common. I hate it to Dace but it’s the world we live in. I’m glad it’s even available, let alone in the variety it is.

Swampy16,

I am very old school from my guns to my shells, there is no reason shells should cost this much money, in reality a new SXS double gun is costing less money when you compare the actual priceses to the old days.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Everything goes up over time, and the amount that we will pay for something is directly proportional to the value that we place on that something. Some people gripe about the price of a gallon of gas but have no qualms about dropping $7 on a 16 oz specialty double frappa lappa coffee. Some people rail about the price of eggs while spending $150 a week on lottery tickets. I don't shoot all that much comparatively speaking so it never made sense to me to gear up for reloading, and I have bought enough ammo over the years whenever I'd find a deal that I can shoot the guns I have for a good long while. If I ever run out I guess I'll have to decide how badly I need or want more.

Member Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 470 Location: SC PA

Upland Carpenter,

Right on the money sir, and there are some shells that are exceeding that cost, my point was that shells should not be costing that amount of money today. With the automated way shells are made today, they should be less than $5.00 a box for any shells you wanted to purchase. We are paying a premium for good shells today.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Last time I calculated a box of 16 ga costs ~$6 to reload. I am bound and determined to keep using the 16 in competition so reloading is the best option. I can reload better shells for cheaper than most prices available currently. These days if I buy shells it’s for shot size I don’t want to buy a bag for or hulls I want to reload. Last time I bought shells it was $125 a flat for Aguila.

BarkeyVA,

Supply and demand should have some effect on price, there are thousands of shells sold every day, that alone should keep the price down to a reasonable rate, and with the automated way they are made today, we should be able to purchase shells at $5.00 a box.
These are shotgun shells not gold.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man