BP Shotshell reloading cost.

[Mezcal Charlie]

I’ve gotten a wealth of information here about loading MagTech brass shot shells but as I get down to brass tacks I’m finding cost is a little high. If I’m figuring right that a 12 ga BP load is 3-4 drams and you get 256 drams to a pound: it looks to be .40 or .50 cents per shell in powder alone. Am I looking at this wrong?

 

Im not doing it to save money but I found this higher than I expected. 

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

 No need to load that much powder.  40gr is more than enough.

Edited September 22 by Possum Skinner, SASS#60697

[Rye Miles #13621]

When I shot  BP (for 7 years) I couldn’t find any factory BP shotgun ammo. One company had them I forget who but they were way more than reloading. I don’t think there’s an alternative to reloading BP period.

I believe I used about 35 grs of BP.

Edited September 22 by Rye Miles #13621

[Uriah, SASS # 53822]

Light 20 gauge loads in a 12 gauge are good for the trap fields.

70 gr - 1 oz - 7 1/2, 2.5 inch, roll crimp on plastic. 
 

cowboy, even less.

[Dapper Dave]

33 minutes ago, Possum Skinner, SASS#60697 said:

 No need to load that much powder.  40gr is more than enough.

I use 38 grains of 3F in mine for CAS, still a bit much, probably. 

[Snakebite Dust SASS 75484]

60 grains of 2F and 1 oz of shot

[Leroy Luck]

Last I figured on my APP loads in 12 gauge they were like 41¢/each. But I’m using plastic hulls that I get for free. So that cheapens it up some. 

[irish ike, SASS #43615]

I found That the bigger the charge the bigger the hole in the pattern. I was loading 65 gr. with a shot cup in plastic hulls. Targets went down sort of. Went to 40gr and the hole went away.

[Rye Miles #13621]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

When I shot  BP (for 7 years) I couldn’t find any factory BP shotgun ammo. One company had them I forget who but they were way more than reloading. I don’t think there’s an alternative to reloading BP period.

I believe I used about 35 grs of BP.

I’m sorry I used 60 grs in shotgun 

35 was in my .44-40 

[El Chapo]

I've been using 3.1cc, which the internet suggests is ~50 grains.  I have heard that others use less, but I don't see any reason to change--my black powder shells are probably softer than my smokeless ones.

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

Black powder reloading is simply more expensive than loading with smokeless powder.  However, there are ways to reduce costs.  I use less propellant for my main match loads than my clays loads.  Use the cheapest possible black powder.  Some use powder sold to skirmishers.  Shop sporting goods outlets after muzzleloader hunting seasons when unsold BP subs are sold at a discount.  One can load useful shotgun shells from any available BP sub.  Reclaimed shot is less expensive than new shot and is good enough for main match shotgun ammo.  Use the cheapest 209 primers you can find - usually Cheddite 209s though I just shot a match using some old Fio616 primers that worked well.  In the end, the smile on your face is worth the price you paid.

[Eyesa Horg]

37 minutes ago, El Chapo said:

I've been using 3.1cc, which the internet suggests is ~50 grains.  I have heard that others use less, but I don't see any reason to change--my black powder shells are probably softer than my smokeless ones.

I've found 3.1cc of 2F real BP typically weighs 40-42gr. and that's what I use in SG under 1oz. of #8 shot.

[El Chapo]

50 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

I've found 3.1cc of 2F real BP typically weighs 40-42gr. and that's what I use in SG under 1oz. of #8 shot.

 

I use 3f.  I use a 1 oz wad with 7/8 oz of shot to get a good crimp.

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

Wait till you (or somebody else) accidently steps on one of your brass shells!  Then the costs will really start sounding a bit high. 

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

2 hours ago, Snakebite Dust SASS 75484 said:

60 grains of 2F and 1 oz of shot

25 years ago this was the go-to load that most shooters were using before people started wimping out (IMO).  It is as easy on the shoulder as a featherlight.  Most used the red Winchester wad (now claybuster 1138-2) though a few used fiber wads.  It is still my load.  I use 1Fg or Reenactor if I have it for more flame.  Same load in brass hulls with the addition of a .125 Nitro card between powder and wad and of course an overshot card glued in).  My cost is 56c each or $12.50/box.   Compared to my 7/8 oz smokeless loads with WST which comes to $10.00/box.  That is also using free discarded hulls.  I've loaded my brass hulls over 50 times each so those are essentially free now, too.

 

Buffalo Arms Co. does still sell BP shotshells loaded in plastic hulls.  $49 to $56 per box:

https://www.buffaloarms.com/ammunition/cowboy-ammo/black-powder-shotgun-ammo.html

[Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L]

We get about 141 rounds out of pound of 2F APP ( 7000/141 = 49.5gr ) and about 400 rounds out of a 25lb bag of shot ( 25 x 16 = 400oz/400 = 1oz/rd).  Factor in the primer cost and the wads (Claybusters Red Wads CB1138-12) and of course the shot, and you can get your cost.  A lot depends on if you can get the supplies local or have to pay for shipping and hazmat.

 

	Qty	Cost/Qty	Unit/Shell	Cost/.Shell
APP 2F	7000	$     35.00	49.5	$         0.25
Winchester 209 Primers	1000	$     67.99	1	$         0.07
Claybusters CB1138-12	500	$     13.99	1	$         0.03
25lb Bags Shot, #8 or #9	400	$     50.00	1	$          0.13
			ea	$         0.47
		Box Cost	25	$      11.71

 

Obviously, the cost will be higher if you are paying shipping and handling and hazmat, but this gives you a baseline.  Assuming that you have a ready supply of hulls (note that you will only get a couple reloads per hull as the ends get crispy...) it's about the same cost as a box of factory smokeless ammo these days.

[El Chapo]

Real black is cheaper than APP too.  I save the APP for my cartridges (actually, Shooter's World Black).

[Todd Hayseed]

1 hour ago, Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L said:

 

	Qty	Cost/Qty	Unit/Shell	Cost/.Shell
Old Jeans Powder	7000	$     4.20	50	$         0.03
Cheddite Primers	1000	$     48.00	1	$         0.05
Claybusters CB1138-12	500	$     13.99	1	$         0.03
25lb Bags Shot, #8 or #9	457	$     50.00	1	$          0.11
			ea	$         0.22
		Box Cost	25	$      5.50

I must get my lead from the same place as you do, but I find 7/8 oz is enough.  I have been making my own wads but these are so cheap I will use them in the future.  I use Cheddite primers that are a bit cheaper at $48 instead of $68.

 

The big difference is make my own powder at about $4 a pound.  In fact, it was making my own powder that attracted me to a hobby where I could actually use it.

 

My rifle & pistol ammo is a nickel a round. "factory second" primer, same powder and a OOO buckshot made from range scrap.  Length is just barely enough (1.42") to cycle correctly.

 

Mind you it is very time consuming to make ammunition this way, but I actually enjoy making the stuff more than I do using it.

 

[Todd Hayseed]

33 minutes ago, El Chapo said:

Real black is cheaper than APP too.  I save the APP for my cartridges (actually, Shooter's World Black).

Same company sells a very similar looking bottle called "Shooters World Blackout" that is Smokeless powder.  That won't end well.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

11 minutes ago, Todd Hayseed said:

I must get my lead from the same place as you do, but I find 7/8 oz is enough.  I have been making my own wads but these are so cheap I will use them in the future.  I use Cheddite primers that are a bit cheaper at $48 instead of $68.

 

The big difference is make my own powder at about $4 a pound.  In fact, it was making my own powder that attracted me to a hobby where I could actually use it.

 

My rifle & pistol ammo is a nickel a round. "factory second" primer, same powder and a OOO buckshot made from range scrap.  Length is just barely enough (1.42") to cycle correctly.

 

Mind you it is very time consuming to make ammunition this way, but I actually enjoy making the stuff more than I do using it.

 

What are you using 000 buckshot in??????

[Griff]

Cheaper than the Black Dawge 12 ga ammo ever was.  The largest cost is for powder, but I bought my last about 6 years ago, so I'm runnin' ~$9.05/box, my hulls I pick up for free at the range.

Edited September 22 by Griff
Forgot shot

[Scarlett]

4 hours ago, Todd Hayseed said:

Same company sells a very similar looking bottle called "Shooters World Blackout" that is Smokeless powder.  That won't end well.

The labels are totally different and clearly marked. I represent Shooters World. The Blackout Powder was developed for the 300 Black Out and came out much later than the Multi-Purpose Black made for them by American Pioneer Powder.  
 

Hugs!

Scarlett

[Scarlett]

4 hours ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

What are you using 000 buckshot in??????

I noticed that too - but after reading again, it’s for his rifle. He said he “loads to 1.42 so it will cycle”. 
 

Hugs!

Scarlett

[Blackwater 53393]

I think that if I stopped to figure out what it costs me to buy, trade for, and collect all my brass shells and the cost of components and equipment to load ‘em, I’d probably just sell it all and do something else!!

 

It makes me happy!  I only spend what I can spare. I can always just shoot smokeless and use plastic!

 

I’d have to find something else to squander my kid’s inheritance on!!

 

As it is, I can exactly duplicate what was a factory produced brass shotgun shell and I have fun doing it!

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

AA hull (because I’m a bucket scavenger)

Pink wad

1 oz. #7 1/2 or #8 shot

2f or 3f Goex real BP

Fill hull with just enough powder so column height produces a crimp that doesn’t leak shot. An overshot card can be used too if your hulls tend to “blossom” after storage. I don’t remember the volume but it works out to approx 38 gr of 3f by weight. 
 

That works out to over 180 rounds per pound of powder. 
 

Edited September 23 by Abilene Slim SASS 81783

[Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326]

As you can readily see about anything can and does work based on what you have available.  

Dumpster diving for used hulls also works if you roll crimp your shells.  By roll crimping you no longer worry about interior case capacity, wad height , powder or shot,  

It also makes a slight taper on you shell end to easy into the chamber,  No leaked shot and takes those cheap hulls and melts the end so that it will work in pump shotguns smoothly,  

[El Chapo]

22 hours ago, Todd Hayseed said:

Same company sells a very similar looking bottle called "Shooters World Blackout" that is Smokeless powder.  That won't end well.

 

The product I use is called Shooter's World Multipurpose Black.  "Blackout," is, like the name sounds, a powder for 300 Blackout.  Both are technically "smokeless" powders, although those of you who have used APP know that it smokes like a tugboat.

[Todd Hayseed]

17 hours ago, Scarlett said:

I noticed that too - but after reading again, it’s for his rifle. He said he “loads to 1.42 so it will cycle”. 
 

Hugs!

Scarlett

OOO Buckshot in a .357 case is just barely long enough to work.  I got the idea because my buckshot mold makes 18 at a time.  And as it happens OOOO Buckshot is just right for a .36 cap& ball.  I'm surprised nobody thought of this before I did.

 

You aren't saving lead because a OOO weights about 120 grains and you can cast 105's that work.  But I can make them three times faster.

[Blackwater 53393]

I should probably qualify my brass shell reloading statement.  There are a LOT of my components that I have had for quite some time!  I’m not a horder, but over the years I have encountered several very good deals on one or more different components.

 

A large portion of my 12ga brass is part of an estate left by a good friend who passed too soon. I and others got together and bought up his stuff from his wife, making sure that she didn’t just dump it or let someone cheat her out of some really nice stuff!  
 

I wound up with the brass shells and some components that nobody else had a use for. To be truthful, I really didn’t need any of it myself, but I already had a couple boxes of the shells and the dies he’d bought were too good to let get away!

 

I’ve gone in with other shooters to purchase larger quantities of both powder and primers on more than one occasion. I had the spare cash and that stuff doesn’t spoil if you store it properly. One hazmat and one shipping charge split several ways can significantly reduce the cost!

 

Then there’s those folks who have no further use for certain items, either because they are retiring or because they no longer want to shoot a particular category or style. OR they discover a stash of items that they never had, and likely never will have, any use for, but they know that I’m either into that particular item or know someone who is!

I was given what is likely a lifetime supply of #57 and #157 shotgun primers by a friend who had absolutely NO use for them!  I have over a hundred antique Alcan brass shells that take those primers! If I ever DO run out of them, they can be made to use regular 209s, but it tickles my fancy to get to use ‘em like they were made!

 

J. Mark Flint says that I’m like a buzzard, sitting up on the rocks or on the limb of a tree, waiting for the next deal to fall out!! 😜 🤣 Patience is a virtue!!!

 

It DOES greatly reduce the cost of playing our game!!

 

 

 

 

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

43 minutes ago, Todd Hayseed said:

OOO Buckshot in a .357 case is just barely long enough to work.  I got the idea because my buckshot mold makes 18 at a time.  And as it happens OOOO Buckshot is just right for a .36 cap& ball.  I'm surprised nobody thought of this before I did.

 

You aren't saving lead because a OOO weights about 120 grains and you can cast 105's that work.  But I can make them three times faster.

I don’t shoot that caliber but would like to see a photo of some loaded with the 000 just to see what it looks like.

[Dapper Dave]

23 hours ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

What are you using 000 buckshot in??????

...38 Smith and Wesson...loaded with 5 gr of OE 3F. Great "gallery load". There's a 1/3 over powder card and a lubricated wad, both from Track of the Wolf. 

 

 

Edited September 23 by Dapper Dave

[Eyesa Horg]

I've used a .457 round ball in a 45-70 case for Plainsman.

[Todd Hayseed]

8 minutes ago, Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L said:

I don’t shoot that caliber but would like to see a photo of some loaded with the 000 just to see what it looks like.

I'll take some when I get home.  Also I made a mistake, my .430 round balls I load in 44 Special weigh 120 grains.  My OOO Buck shot I load in .357 only weigh 70 grains.  I get 100 bullets out of one pound of lead.  Loaded in .357 brass they are 1.42" and work, provided your press puts a good enough crimp on the ball.

[Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator]

On 9/22/2025 at 10:39 AM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

When I shot  BP (for 7 years) I couldn’t find any factory BP shotgun ammo. One company had them I forget who but they were way more than reloading. I don’t think there’s an alternative to reloading BP period.

I believe I used about 35 grs of BP.

Probably Black Dawge company.

Good load tip.  Trip 7-3f works and I bet APP also.

[Sedalia Dave]

1 hour ago, Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator said:

Probably Black Dawge company.

Good load tip.  Trip 7-3f works and I bet APP also.

 

I was given 2 cases of Black Dawg 12 ga BP shells several years ago.

 

Cut one open so I could duplicate the load.

AA Hull

1 oz shot

WAA12R Wad

4 ccs (60 grains) of real BP

 

Edited September 24 by Sedalia Dave