The first decision is, should you or shouldn't you reload. And, since cost is a factor for most lets break it down. To be completely unbiased, here is an independent study done by active shooters as told by Ted Church.

While getting a skeet gun worked on in Phoenix, AZ, the very reputable smith was talking about how silly it was to reload these days with the cost of components, reloaders and the TIME investment. Then, recently I went to our local wholesale dealer for shotshell reloading components and noticed that, YES, PRICES are increasing. This led me to ponder and start calculating whether the gunsmith was right.

I asked Gil Siu to independently also calculate his reloading costs PER BOX OF 25 SHELLS for the: .410, 28ga, 20ga. and 12ga. skeet loads. Here is a breakdown of our computations:

The most expensive to reload (least margin of savings) is the 12 ga.. So for exclusive 12 ga shooters (Trap/Sporting Clays) we believe there is still incentive to reload, mainly because you can customize your reloads.  In the lower skeet guns (.410/28ga,20ga) there seems to be substantial savings. 

So I went a step further.  I calculated how many shells I would have to reload to recapture just the cost of the best reloader made (Spolar Power Load). By averaging all the prices in the above table, one recaptures the cost of the loader after about 1,700 boxes!!!!

Now one argues labor. At a conservative pace of 500 rds/hr, I calculated I needed to pay myself  $ 63/hr to equal and match factory shotshell costs. Well, I may be good, but that is a high wage to pay myself for "reloading", compared to what I charge as a professional. With a good working reloader(s), we feel the time factor for reloading, even for one not retired; working shooters such as myself is still financially totally practical. I also like to be able to customize my loads slightly, and also not have to worry too much about who is on strike.

We encourage all clay target shooter to compute their reloading component costs, time commitment, etc. and see if we are correct. We think the skeptics will be surprised.