I don't know what a promo load is. The local Walmart has the Federal "Field & Target" or "Dove & Target" (I don't see any differences except the color of the case) 100 round cases of 7/8oz, 1200 fps, 20ga #7.5 or #8 ammo selling for $37 + tax. They have had these cases there consistently at that price for the last few months anyway. I recently saw some Winchester ammo (same specs) there too for $36, that might be a one-off though. I haven't found anyone selling locally for a lower price. I have found some slightly better prices online, but shipping costs immediately make it a worse deal.
ok, those reloading cost numbers make a lot more sense at $32.60 / 100 round case. Do you include the shipping cost and taxes into your component costs when calculating? I ask because I see that some totally ignore shipping, which can be significant due to weight of items.
I'm not trying to be difficult. I just want to be objectively, mathematically correct when making my total comparison. Thanks for your inputs!
Yep, that cost is online and to my door for the components. I modestly hunt for deals online, mostly the free hazmatt/shipping deals and one needs to buy in bulk as well, but my numbers include, tax,shipping and hazmat charges, when they applied
I buy an 8lbs jug of powder...10,000 primers 6 bags of wads at time, and the Hepper shot we(10 shooters)bought 4000lbs at one time, had it delivered to a central location and picked up our portions ourselves...the prices will continue to go up and the cost of getting started is well north of $1000 bases upon the numbers bought above. Aside from the wads and my shooting, this will last me a couple years of shooting. Im simply hedging inflation for a moment in time.
The loads you are buying are typically considered "promotional/promo" loads and for 99% of the people who shoot them, wont know the difference between them and say AA's or STS shells which typically have a better wad and definitely harder shot, which really only matters in breaking clays, but Im sure has some ballistic advantage in busting feathers and fur according to some.
I grew up reloading. Dad had a MECjr set up for 12 and one set up for 28. I was more than willing to deprime and prime every shell he shot at trap as curious 9 year old. I asked for a 20g MEC Jr for Christmas my Junior year of highschool(1993) and my mom was against it, but Dad won the day.
I fed a 870 LW20 1000's of 1oz loads using green dot, w209 WAAF20(?) wads and various shot sizes from 5, to 8 and I still reload all my shells on that MECjr. Slow and steady will always finish the race.
So for me, reloading is part nostalgia(appreciate you dad), being able to shoot when ammo gets tough to find, and of course being to roll your own, how you want to roll them.
I still buy a couple flats every couple of years. Especially when I find a good deal and as the hulls start to show their wear around 6-8 reloads. I toss them in the barrel and break out a factory fresh box.
Hope that helps and I am obviously just one mans opinion. I do agree with others, it is a dieing hobby...for now.