Last updated: September 2025 | Reading time: 8 minutes
Right, let's talk about something that's close to every clay shooter's heart in South Africa – the price of ammunition. If you've been shooting clays regularly, you'll know that factory cartridges are hitting your wallet harder than a missed clay hits your pride. At around R8-12 per cartridge, a decent day at the range can cost you more than a braai for the whole family.
That's where reloading comes in, and I'm here to tell you it's one of the best decisions I've made as a shooter. Been doing it for twelve years now, and it's transformed my shooting completely.
Why Every South African Clay Shooter Should Consider Reloading
Look, we all know ammunition prices in SA are mental. Between import duties, exchange rates and limited local production factory cartridges cost a fortune. When I started shooting clays seriously, I was spending nearly R15,000 per year just on ammo. That's a serious chunk of change.
The maths is simple. A decent factory 12-gauge cartridge costs R8-12. I reload quality cartridges for about R3.50 each. Shoot 5,000 rounds a year (which most competitive shooters do), and you're saving over R30,000 annually. That pays for your reloading setup in the first year with change left over.
But it's not just about the rands and cents. Our shooting conditions are unique the highveld altitude, Karoo dust, coastal humidity. Factory loads are made for European or American conditions. When you reload, you can tailor your cartridges for South African conditions and your specific gun.
Plus, with our ongoing ammunition shortages and import delays, having your own reloading setup means you're never stuck without cartridges when that perfect weather weekend rolls around.
Getting Started: What Kit Do You Actually Need?
Don't let the boere at the gun shop convince you need to spend R20,000 to start reloading. Here's what you actually need:
Your Reloading Press
I recommend starting with a progressive press. The MEC 600 Jr. is a solid choices that'll set you back around R6,000-8,000. This will handle all four operations: resize the case, seat the primer, drop powder, and crimp.
Single stage presses are cheaper (around R2,000) but they're slow as anything for shotgun cartridges. If you're only loading 100 rounds per month, fine. But if you're serious about clay shooting, you'll want the speed.
Measuring Equipment
- Quality digital scale (RCBS or Hornady, around R3,500)
- Powder measure (Lee or Lyman, R800-1,200)
- Digital calipers for measuring (R400-600)
Dies and Accessories
Your press comes with basic dies, but invest in:
- Hull trimmer (saves hours of work, R1,200)
- Case gauge for checking finished rounds (R300)
- Good lighting for your reloading bench (essential!)
The Step-by-Step Process: How I Do It
I learned this from an old toppie at the Rand Rifle Club who'd been reloading since the 1970s without a single accident. His golden rule? "Moenie haastig wees nie”.
Step 1: Hulls – Sorting the Good
Every session starts with hull inspection. I sort mine under bright light into three piles: perfect, maybe, and rubbish bin.
Check for:
- Cracks around the brass head
- Splits in the plastic body
- Damaged crimp mouths
- Excessive swelling
My tip: Mark your hulls with a koki after each reload. Most hulls are good for 8-10 reloads with target loads.
Step 2: Components – No Shortcuts, No Substitutions
This is where I have seen people get into serious trouble. You cannot swap components around like you're making boerewors. Every component must match your load data exactly.
I keep three manuals on my bench:
- Lyman Shotshell Handbook
- Hodgdon Data Manual
- Alliant Powder Guide
Step 3: Powder Charging – Precision is Everything
Here's where you need to be very precise , I weigh every tenth charge to verify my powder measure is consistent.
My routine:
1. One powder type per session (no mixing!)
2. Adjust measure using scrap hulls
3. Weigh charges regularly
4. Watch for powder bridging
5. Keep detailed records
Never estimate powder charges. That extra 0.2 grain might seem nothing, but it can spike pressures dangerously.
Step 4: Wads and Shot – Quality Matters
Wad selection affects everything – patterns, velocity, pressure. Stick to published combinations. The boffins at Federal and Eley didn't test these by accident.
For shot, I buy 25kg bags and store them properly. Our humidity plays havoc with components, so invest in sealed containers with silica gel.
Step 5: Crimping – The Final Touch
A proper crimp should look factory perfect: centered, uniform depth, no wrinkles. I adjust dies in tiny increments, testing on scrap hulls first.
Over crimping is as bad as under crimping. Too much pressure deforms shot pellets. Too little, and cartridges won't feed properly.
Load Development: Finding What Works in SA Conditions
Every gun has preferences. My Beretta DT11 loves 28g of No.8 shot with Red Dot powder. My mate's Remington 11-87 prefers a different recipe entirely.
Start conservative. Use minimum loads from published data, work up in small increments. Test for:
- Reliable function (especially important with semi-autos)
- Clean powder burn (check for unburned flakes)
- Good patterns at 25m and 40m
- Comfortable recoil
Keep proper records. My reloading logbook includes date, components, charges, and range performance. This documentation is gold when you find that perfect load.
Quality Control: Catching Problems Before the Range
I inspect every finished cartridge. My checklist:
- Uniform crimp appearance
- Correct overall length (measure every 10th cartridge)
- No powder stuck in crimp
- Proper primer seating
Storage is crucial in our climate. I use plastic ammo boxes, clearly labelled with load specs and date. Store somewhere cool and dry – our summer heat and humidity are ammunition's worst enemies.
Common Mistakes (That I've Seen Too Often)
After teaching dozens of shooters to reload, these mistakes come up repeatedly:
Mixing components. Don't combine powder types. Clean your measure thoroughly between changes.
Ignoring hull condition. That cracked hull might survive one more shot – or might not. Is saving R3.50 worth a potential injury?
Rushing the process. Reloading should be methodical. If you're stressed or the rugby's on, step away from the bench.
Poor record keeping. That perfect load you developed? Without notes, you'll never recreate it.
Real Cost Breakdown: What You'll Actually Save
Here's what it costs me per 12-gauge target cartridge:
Components per cartridge:
- Hull (once-fired): R0.50
- Primer: R0.80
- Powder: R0.70
- Wad: R0.60
- Shot (28g): R0.90
- Total: R3.50
Compare to R9-11 for factory cartridges. Shooting 3,000 rounds annually (modest for serious clay shooters) saves around R20,000 – enough for a nice holiday or new gun.
Dealing with SA-Specific Challenges
Component availability: Build relationships with suppliers. Join WhatsApp groups for your local shooting clubs members often share component sources.
Import delays: Stock up when components are available. I keep 3 months' worth of primers and powder on hand.
Altitude effects: Highveld shooters need to adjust loads for altitude. What works in Durban won't necessarily work in Johannesburg.
Heat and humidity: Store components properly. That garage in Limpopo isn't suitable storage for gunpowder.
Getting Started: Where to Learn
Join a club with experienced reloaders . The Clay Pigeon Adventure Membership has knowledgeable members willing to help.
Start small. Load 50 cartridges, test them thoroughly, then scale up. Don't jump into loading 1,000 rounds immediately.
Invest in education. Buy proper manuals, attend courses if available. Your safety and your gun's safety depend on proper knowledge.
Final Thoughts: Safety Above All
I've shared my reloading knowledge with hundreds of South African shooters over the years. The successful ones all share one trait: they never compromise on safety.
Reloading has revolutionised my clay shooting. My scores improved with consistent, tailored ammunition. My shooting budget became manageable. Most importantly, I gained independence from ammunition shortages and price fluctuations.
Stay humble, follow the data religiously, and never stop learning.
The investment in time and equipment pays dividends in better shooting, lower costs, and the satisfaction of crafting your own ammunition. Just remember safety first, always.