28 gauge

Labradinger said:
Considering the cheapest box of game load 28’s ive seen locally is over 20 bucks and 12 gauge “ high brass” is 15, im calling bullshit on that

Unless all your shells were purchased several years ago of course
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I don’t doubt if I had to go locally and find 28 gauge shells to hunt with $20 would be hard to find. I am pretty sure I have not paid more than $16 delivered to the house buying in cases. All summer I kept waiting for the usual good sales. I never saw them. Then about 4-5 weeks ago it seemed like the sales all happened and on top of it there were some really good rebates also. I think I had 4 cases show up and my buddy got 3. That has me pushing 25 cases of hunting ammo, maybe more as I don’t like to count it. Likely enough to last my lifetime unless I get to do a lot of hunting going forward. The next great sale though I’ll be on it and probably pick up a case or two, just incase. When SHTF in 2020 I didn’t have to buy any ammo at stupid pricing as I was more then set. I am getting low on 12 gauge clay ammo so will need to finally pay some of the new $75-80 prices for that. Will be hard to swallow for sure but I love to shoot too much not to. Maybe time to fire up the reloader again as I will have some additional time for that here in the future.

Here another way to look at it. If you hunted 10 days. Shot 3 birds each of those 10 days and used An average of 2 shells per bird they total cost difference of paying $15 per box or $25 per box comes out to $24 dollars TOTAL over the 10 days or $2.40 per day. Now let me tell you I am as tight as anyone when it comes to money but if $2.40 per day is your break point you may need to find another hobby. Also safe to say if you are not as good a shot and use 4 shells per bird it’s still a rounding error amount when you look at all the money we spend to do this.
 
I rarely do it, but a coffee at Starbucks is $32/gallon…just black coffee. Cigs are $10-12/pack. The only real bargains these days are hookers and shotgun shells. I don’t do gas station or bar gambling…I’m too busy with the aforementioned bargains. Out of curiosity, I’d like to know what guys spend on their hunting rigs…my 2016 Silverado new was 35k + all the tax, fees, plates, etc…topper was $2300. In it for 40k, has 112k. I prefer my Sienna van…cost me 25k with 12,000 miles on it when it was a year old…254k on it now…sharptail rig, usually at least one early pheasant trip. Pretty sure a lot of these new rigs are 60k-80k, no? I’d be counting my pennies too if that was the case….
 
I paid $50 for a box of bismuth 28 gauge shells last fall at Cabela’s, haven’t shot any yet; still working on a box of 28 gauge NICE ammo that a buddy of mine hand loaded, that cost me a bottle of 12 year old Pigs Eye bourbon…Pigs something or another…a lot more than $50. I use those non-toxic 28’s for sharpies on WPA’s…glad I have them, love carrying those 28’s! I’d buy some TSS for my 28’s if a good load was available, just to try it…I’d spend $5/shell…sounds like #9 shot would be the way to go? That’s one beer + tax and tip at a restaurant…oh, the bourbon was whistle pig
 
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benelli-banger said:
I rarely do it, but a coffee at Starbucks is $32/gallon…just black coffee. Cigs are $10-12/pack. The only real bargains these days are hookers and shotgun shells. I don’t do gas station or bar gambling…I’m too busy with the aforementioned bargains. Out of curiosity, I’d like to know what guys spend on their hunting rigs…my 2016 Silverado new was 35k + all the tax, fees, plates, etc…topper was $2300. In it for 40k, has 112k. I prefer my Sienna van…cost me 25k with 12,000 miles on it when it was a year old…254k on it now…sharptail rig, usually at least one early pheasant trip. Pretty sure a lot of these new rigs are 60k-80k, no? I’d be counting my pennies too if that was the case….
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I love coffee. First thing I do every day to start my day. On my second cup ight now as a matter of fact. I am proud to say I have never bought one at Starbucks or any other trendy, expensive place. I am a tight ass and refuse to pay those prices. Make my own or gas station 99 cents and that is even getting hard to find. Great example though of replace your Starbucks coffee 3-4 days of the week for a made at home and you could pay $40 a box for shells and be know more worse off then paying $12.

As far as trucks go pricing is crazy. See lots of 75k plus out there in the countryside. I am blessed and lucky that my company vehicle is able to be used and I get to pick what I drive. Current truck stickered at 70k and think I got it for 18% off that if I recall correctly in January of this year. Number may be off slightly different as I do all our buying here and have purchased a dozen or more vehicle this calendar year so sometimes the details run together. They are not cheap though for sure but have noticed a softening in the used market recently while the new market has been pretty tight in discounts. Sorry for the side tangent.

I think the cost of trucks, gas, dogs, vet bills and everything else we do to hunt birds really highlights that what we pay for shells truly are insignificant in the grand scheme of things but we all like getting a deal. 😁
 
Having worked in the $ business for 34 years prior to retiring, it’s interesting what people pay attention to as far as prices go…gas for sure, as it’s in our face 24/7…a good deal vs poor deal may be $1 difference when filling up. I have my “hot buttons”, for sure…feel like I pay closer attention now. A candy bar at a convenience store…what??? $2+! I probably spend more time analyzing items under $5 than I do on anything else…but I don’t really buy products too much, more services…my wife does the shopping. I have a few hunting buddies that are good at watching the $…I get it.
 
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I saw someone compare hunting expenses to a round of golf in the forum. As a golfer, this hit me.
If a nice course cost $50 to play, I don't bat an eye, and play as many different courses as I can, when I can. This year alone, I've driven more than 3 hours 1 way just to play golf course on my bucket lists 3 times. The cheapest round cost $175 (the others I'm embarrassed to even say).
Green fees, lost balls, food, gas and vehicle depreciation make this WAY more expensive than my hunting hobby, and this includes annual dog expenses (after the initial investment and training costs).
I'll never balk at the cost of ammo since I sleep in my own bed every night, drive less than 600 miles during an entire hunting season and get to hunt 25+ days a year in my own county.
However, I did draw the line on TSS shells. Not because the $5/shell for a dead bird, but because I miss enough that I'm afraid I'll put too much pressure to "not miss" leading to more misses. (Similar to not playing a brand new ProV into an island green.) Besides, my dog enjoys a good chase on running birds as much as I enjoy watching her! 🤣
Another reason I have no problem carrying a 28ga in the field, even in late season, once in a while, just for fun.
 
Carguy2Banker said:
I saw someone compare hunting expenses to a round of golf in the forum. As a golfer, this hit me.
If a nice course cost $50 to play, I don't bat an eye, and play as many different courses as I can, when I can. This year alone, I've driven more than 3 hours 1 way just to play golf course on my bucket lists 3 times. The cheapest round cost $175 (the others I'm embarrassed to even say).
Green fees, lost balls, food, gas and vehicle depreciation make this WAY more expensive than my hunting hobby, and this includes annual dog expenses (after the initial investment and training costs).
I'll never balk at the cost of ammo since I sleep in my own bed every night, drive less than 600 miles during an entire hunting season and get to hunt 25+ days a year in my own county.
However, I did draw the line on TSS shells. Not because the $5/shell for a dead bird, but because I miss enough that I'm afraid I'll put too much pressure to "not miss" leading to more misses. (Similar to not playing a brand new ProV into an island green.) Besides, my dog enjoys a good chase on running birds as much as I enjoy watching her! 🤣
Another reason I have no problem carrying a 28ga in the field, even in late season, once in a while, just for fun.
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I don't spend any money on dog training, I will buy a sleeve of pro-v ones every once in awhile. I buy cheap ammo, at Walmart. I shoot quality expensive guns usually but I do have a camo 8 70 that came from Walmart probably 25 years ago. It was willed to me by a good hunting buddy, and he was very cheap, but a good dude. I don't use a dog crate, usually driving old farm truck.
 
benelli-banger said:
I paid $50 for a box of bismuth 28 gauge shells last fall at Cabela’s, haven’t shot any yet; still working on a box of 28 gauge NICE ammo that a buddy of mine hand loaded, that cost me a bottle of 12 year old Pigs Eye bourbon…Pigs something or another…a lot more than $50. I use those non-toxic 28’s for sharpies on WPA’s…glad I have them, love carrying those 28’s! I’d buy some TSS for my 28’s if a good load was available, just to try it…I’d spend $5/shell…sounds like #9 shot would be the way to go? That’s one beer + tax and tip at a restaurant…oh, the bourbon was whistle pig
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Yeah well go ahead. I'm not paying more than $12 for a box of shotgun shells.
 
Goosemaster said:
I don't spend any money on dog training, I will buy a sleeve of pro-v ones every once in awhile. I buy cheap ammo, at Walmart. I shoot quality expensive guns usually but I do have a camo 8 70 that came from Walmart probably 25 years ago. It was willed to me by a good hunting buddy, and he was very cheap, but a good dude. I don't use a dog crate, usually driving old farm truck.
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An hour here or there with a good trainer can be very fruitful, as spending $ on quality ammo can be…to each his own. If I knocked down 200 roosters, I could live with losing 15…but that’s still 7.5.%, which is still high to me…
 
Matt D said:
I love coffee. First thing I do every day to start my day. On my second cup ight now as a matter of fact. I am proud to say I have never bought one at Starbucks or any other trendy, expensive place. I am a tight ass and refuse to pay those prices. Make my own or gas station 99 cents and that is even getting hard to find. Great example though of replace your Starbucks coffee 3-4 days of the week for a made at home and you could pay $40 a box for shells and be know more worse off then paying $12.

As far as trucks go pricing is crazy. See lots of 75k plus out there in the countryside. I am blessed and lucky that my company vehicle is able to be used and I get to pick what I drive. Current truck stickered at 70k and think I got it for 18% off that if I recall correctly in January of this year. Number may be off slightly different as I do all our buying here and have purchased a dozen or more vehicle this calendar year so sometimes the details run together. They are not cheap though for sure but have noticed a softening in the used market recently while the new market has been pretty tight in discounts. Sorry for the side tangent.

I think the cost of trucks, gas, dogs, vet bills and everything else we do to hunt birds really highlights that what we pay for shells truly are insignificant in the grand scheme of things but we all like getting a deal. 😁
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That expensive truck isn't going to get you permission, an old beater farm truck will get you permission.
 
Matt D said:
I think the cost of trucks, gas, dogs, vet bills and everything else we do to hunt birds really highlights that what we pay for shells truly are insignificant in the grand scheme of things but we all like getting a deal. 😁
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I keep having to remind myself of this when looking to buy shells....It really is such a small amount of the bird budget, but I haven't convinced my dutch self yet.
 
Goosemaster said:
I'm not paying those ass grabbing fools. Those places are outrageously expensive.
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Yeah, but I'm about to cross that line. I won't go out of state and pay for tame birds but I'm getting pretty tired of spending half my hunt Knocking on doors or trying to run people down only to be denied. Or worse yet, going to the same old places that I have permission and not seeing birds. I don't have that many good years left so I'm about to open up the old wallet...My problem is trying to find someone like minded to go with me. :mad: bunch of tight asses.
 
birddude said:
Yeah, but I'm about to cross that line. I won't go out of state and pay for tame birds but I'm getting pretty tired of spending half my hunt Knocking on doors or trying to run people down only to be denied. Or worse yet, going to the same old places that I have permission and not seeing birds. I don't have that many good years left so I'm about to open up the old wallet...My problem is trying to find someone like minded to go with me. :mad: bunch of tight asses.
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Good luck, and good for you. To me, it’s like paying to golf on a great private course vs playing the muni…not a golfer, but I get it.
 
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