I'm a reloader and I really like making my own ammo, however....


I can't make the money side of it make sense for 20g tss shells. I just paid $7.90/shell from apex, delivered to my front door.

My components cost pretty much the same.

Have any of you that load your own done the math and found the same thing?

Yep. Your math is dead on. I get 9 shells out of a pound loading 1 5/8 of 8’s. I’m at about $7-$8 a shell.

I have not. But having 500 hulls. 500 wads. The other components on hand along with powder and shot brings me peace of mind that if I ever want to start turkey hunting I can

I'm in the same boat., component wise.

I have decided that as long as I can buy them at this price, I will. I will stack components for a rainy day

Ok, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something with the numbers.

Having components and the ability has it's own value. I get that. I'm not ready to cash in that value yet

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

LOL at "start turkey hunting, I can"

Don't think I didn't catch that

Most of the shot I have bought has been between $45 & $50 a pound. I load 10 TSS shells out of a pound as I leave em just a touch under 1 5/8 oz each. Around $6 a shell for as long as I’ve been doing it and ZERO worry about something changing in a company’s recipe, a company going out of business, etc. Got enough stuff hoarded to kill more turkeys than I will ever be able to kill in my lifetime. Unless TSS becomes illegal, I will roll my own as long as I’m able and will never again change a thing.

This

I get that.

You must've loaded up on all the components other than shot before last year, because I'm at $48/lb and it still puts me at high $6, low $7/shell. I didn't start buying other components until last winter.

For me, at that small a difference($0.40-$0.80/shell), I'll keep buying components and loaded shells. I'll save my components for a later day

Weigh those “finished” Apex loads. Now I understand there are variances in hull weight, wad weights, etc. The apex loads are all over the board, or were I bought a box to test them. For instance, I weighed 5 apex that were ON AVERAGE 13 grains difference from shell to shell. The lightest to the heaviest was drastically different, so much so that I couldn’t believe it. I then weighed my finished shells, 65 of them as a matter of fact. From the lightest to the heaviest was 5 grains difference. If apex loads have that much variance, how much different do you think each shell shoots? All 65 of mine that I weighed will shoot the exact same. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. That’s what you call peace of mind.

What you aren’t considering is up until recently you couldn’t buy these shells. Those that had them loaded them or knew somebody. Manufacturers will change components and some have QC issues. I know EXACTLY what and how much is in my shells and what will be for years to come.

That’s kinda what I was getting at! 😀

Yea

Yep, and when I do it, I know it's done right

What’s everyone going to do when something better comes along? We all thought copper plated shot was the *hit, then heavyweight, now tss. What’s the next big thing?

Laser beams!! 🤓

.410 Creedmore

My 18.5” barrel 870 shooting hand rolled TSS is exactly the same to me as my Sako Finnlight .308 shooting 150 grainers. If there is something better out there, I dont want or need it. 100% satisfied as my primary weapon combo and never even look at what else is available anymore.