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2few - my thought process is this:

Factory shells are fairly scarce aournd here in Mass and I buy when I can - Dick's used to carry 16 but don't so there goes the $3.00/bx prices. Wally too gave it up so there goes my $5.00/bx source.

I hunt ducks and want to use bismuth but at $1.90/shell - well that's a bit steep and I can't always find what I need - let alone what I want...

The economics for reloading the 16 - to me - is not really justifiable but having a handy supply of "custom made" shells is.

So I'm going in knowing that it's a hobby and that means I'll be investing a lot for equipment and it will take a while to recoup that cost...

What I do expect to accomplish is to be able to produce duck loads and keep a reliable supply of them on hand for the season.

I also will be able to keep a handy supply of target loads as getting used to the "extra" trigger on my double has shown me how much fun shooting games can be.

It's very much like my homebrew hobby - sure I can find great beer readily but there's just something special about making my own and sharing it with others - of course I'll be a bit more stingy with my shells than my brews. Wink

For me it's not just dollars but good sense.

Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 57 Location: falls village, CT

sprocket,

Agreed. I'm not looking to save big $ rolling my own. I'm trying to figure out if the time and $ invested in rolling my own is cost effective for clay shooting at perhaps 4-5,000 shells per year or am I simply inventing a new hobby for myself. Saving $1 per box is not worth the time or effort for me at this time, just getting back into shooting. I imagine that by shopping around etc I can probably do a good bit better than what I'm paying.

Okay, I,m looking at the presses at Midway. Lee load-all for 40.00 or a mec junior for twice the price. I'm nit worried about the price, just wondering what one I need. I'll only be loading a box or two a month for hunting. After that what else should I order?I know I'll need primers, but them I use in my starter pistol and can get locally. What else. Thank you in advance. George Phyle. I'm editing this. I would like to load something that is similiar to the old winchester 16 gauge shells 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 #6 that I used to buy that do not seem to be available anymore. My sixteen gauge guns will all take the higher pressure, except for the fox, but I never use that anyway, to straight a stock. Thanks again for the help. I will buy the books and anything else needed.

Thanks for all the help