Cost of shooting muzzleloading shotguns for me.

[Gkarp429]

Just paid $155.00 for 50 pounds of 7.5 Lawrence chilled shot. Comes to about $3.10 per pound. About 16 shots per pound (I spill a little). So, it cost me about 20 cents per shot, for shot. I bought my first 25 pound bag not that long ago thinking it would last a long time. Haha. Lesson learned. The wads I like come to about 1 or 2 cents each. For me, powder comes to about 30 cents per shot. So I’m thinking that I’m paying about 75 cents a shot to shoot muzzleloding shotguns, including flints and/or caps. I’m shooting double barrel side by sides, so wasp nest and swan shot is not where I’m headed.

is this cheap shooting? I think not. Is it worth it?

Of course.

 

[billraby]

I have a muzzleloader rifle that costs about $4 per shot. I have a modern rifle that costs about $10 to $15 per shot and a modern handgun that costs about $3 per shot. 75 cents a shot is not bad. Nice thing about muzzleloaders is that it is a lot slower. Your trip to the shooting range does not cost nearly as much as the guy there blasting away with an AR-15. Is it worth it? Well, that is all up to you. Some guys can't afford to go to the shooting range with a 22. Other guys buy $250,000 rifles that use $50 a shot ammo and don't give it a second thought.

 

[Gkarp429]

I have a muzzleloader rifle that costs about $4 per shot. I have a modern rifle that costs about $10 to $15 per shot and a modern handgun that costs about $3 per shot. 75 cents a shot is not bad. Nice thing about muzzleloaders is that it is a lot slower. Your trip to the shooting range does not cost nearly as much as the guy there blasting away with an AR-15. Is it worth it? Well, that is all up to you. Some guys can't afford to go to the shooting range with a 22. Other guys buy $250,000 rifles that use $50 a shot ammo and don't give it a second thought.

Thanks for the perspective.

 

[Gkarp429]

Thanks for the perspective.

I guess what really caught me by surprise was how fast 25 pounds of shot was going to go.

 

[Gkarp429]

I missed an obvious clue though, having about 4 pounds of shot in a flask around my neck to start out my journey through the sporting clay courses needed refilling more than an I originally expected.

 

[3Setters]

If you paid over $75/bag of shot, you were robbed. You can get shot at Sportsmans warehouse for $45/bag.

 

[TScottW99]

I just bought two bags at Sportsman, as stated above for $45 each.

 

[Gkarp429]

If you paid over $75/bag of shot, you were robbed. You can get shot at Sportsmans warehouse for $45/bag.

Shipped?

 

[Gkarp429]

If you paid over $75/bag of shot, you were robbed. You can get shot at Sportsmans warehouse for $45/bag.

Shipped?

 

[Lorne Johnson]

That's a great price on shot, note that it is in store only (standard shipping for 50 lbs shot runs around $80-90). Sportsman warehouse covers much, but not all, of the country. If you're too far away for driving to be reasonable, Ballistic Products has a clever loophole that ships 50 pounds of shot for $20, which gets the price down to about $120.

 

[barnettshale]

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Shot/departments/63/

 

[Gkarp429]

That's a great price on shot, note that it is in store only (standard shipping for 50 lbs shot runs around $80-90). Sportsman warehouse covers much, but not all, of the country. If you're too far away for driving to be reasonable, Ballistic Products has a clever loophole that ships 50 pounds of shot for $20, which gets the price down to about $120.

Ballistic Products charging me $42 for shipping the 50 pounds.

 

[Gkarp429]

Part# Description Qty Total​ CLLAW 7.5 Lawrence Shot Chilled Lead (25#/bag) 7-1/2 2 $113.98​

Subtotal:​	$113.98​
Tax:​	$0.00​
Shipping: STANDARD GROUND​	$41.26​
Total:​	$155.24​

 

[rodinal220]

I haven't purchased any shot in a while as I stockpiled, but my local Cabela's (BassPro) currently lists the price at 49.99 when it's in stock. Wads are pretty reasonable, and I use two Circle Fly OP .125 wads and split them in half for OS wads.

$155.00 is beyond robbery.

 

[Gkarp429]

I haven't purchased any shot in a while as I stockpiled, but my local Cabela's (BassPro) currently lists the price at 49.99 when it's in stock. Wads are pretty reasonable, and I use two Circle Fly OP .125 wads and split them in half for OS wads.

$155.00 is beyond robbery.

Bass pro/Cabelas in Tampa hasn’t had bags of shot in stock for a couple/few years. Also, the Lawrence chilled lead shot is a little more expensive than other shot that is hardened with antimony, anywhere you can find it.

 

[Lorne Johnson]

Ballistic Products charging me $42 for shipping the 50 pounds.

I'm sorry to hear that. They have often had a code SHOT50 it uses USPS priority mail $20 box. It is currently listed on their shipping specials, but I believe that you have to request it specifically with that code. Much of their shot is also out of stock, more chilled than magnum.

 

[Timber Wolf]

Picked up two 25 pound bags of #8 from a guy in our Cowboy Action group who bought out somebody’s stash and was sharing the wealth. $50 a bag “delivered” at a match. Was glad to get it and glad to pay it. If you take the time to add it up, shooting muzzle loaders can be surprisingly expensive per shot. But as has been noted, shooting is slower. I took my Kibler .36 SMR out last weekend to the range. I had it all to myself and enjoyed a fine mid-day shooting paper. Total shots? Nine. That was all I felt like shooting and did not feel like I had to shoot anymore to make the trip worth while.

 

[maillemaker]

But as has been noted, shooting is slower. I took my Kibler .36 SMR out last weekend to the range. I had it all to myself and enjoyed a fine mid-day shooting paper. Total shots? Nine. That was all I felt like shooting and did not feel like I had to shoot anymore to make the trip worth while.

I think last time I did the math for my military muzzle loaders it was about $.30 a shot when you factor in the cost of lead, primer, and powder. That's about what 9mm is going for these days. As you say, it's the speed that saves you money. 50 shots of a cartridge gun gets you about 5 minutes of shooting. 50 shots of a muzzle loader gets you all afternoon!

 

[user 49399]

Somebody gave me about 30 pounds of #6 shot a while back. I make buck shot from recycled lead and make my flints. So the only cost to shoot my Fusil de Chasse is powder. I can live with that.

 

[Sparkitoff]

At the prices in OP, that equates to $18.75 per box of factory shotshells. That’s about right for premium ammo. I look at it like this: I’m getting $25 of fun for $18.75 and I’m not littering with plastic wads or shells.