TSS cost

[Boll Weevil]

Question for those who have loaded their own TSS for awhile, have you seen the cost of shot and components go up, down, or remain about the same? Oftentimes a few years after a new technology emerges, competitors jump in which can impact supply/demand cost and availability. With commercial loads now available have you seen any impact?

 

[Southern Sportsman]

It has stayed about the same over the last few years. Any fluctuations are fairly consistent with commodity prices of raw tungsten. I haven't seen much effect from the increase in commercial loads.

 

[Roost 1]

I've seen about a $10 pound increase since the start of commercial loading and Trumps tariff deals...
We just ordered some more and it's as high now as it's been since we've been buying from China which is about 3yrs now.

 

[muddyboots]

Same

 

[REN]

Agreed. Shot has gone up for sure but everything else the same

 

[Andy S.]

It all depends on WHEN one started reloading TSS. Early on, we paid nearly $60/pound for raw TSS shot (very few US suppliers, monopoly), then it got down to $35/pound (more US suppliers, more competition, lower prices), and now it is around $45-55/pound depending on who you buy from, WHEN you buy it (supply & demand), and how much you buy (bulk purchase = lower price). Other reloading component prices have remained stable, but their availability has not. Online vendors are running low or completely out of hulls/wads/etc 2-4 weeks earlier than 5 years ago. More people reloading, and more hunters in the southern states reloading that start hunting 4-6 weeks before us. If you want to try it one spring, I suggest getting supplies Oct-Dec the previous year and you should be set. I live close enough to you that I can help you out if need be.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I started in 2013 and it seems like I have always paid around $50/lb (+/- $5). Seems like at one point during that timeframe smaller shot (9s and smaller) were upwards of $60. I must have stocked up at the wrong time and missed out on the $35 shot.

Roost: are you sourcing directly from a chinese supplier?

 

[Boll Weevil]

I'm smack dab in the middle of my next project gun and at a fork in the road trying to decide on chokes. As Shakespeare wrote, "To TSS or not to TSS...that is the question."

TSS shot and component vendors are making an absolute killing and based on the responses above, it may not be difficult to predict future cost. Just not keen on the prospect of shells and components steadily creeping up...next thing ya'know it'll cost $12 every time you pull the trigger. I know folks say shell cost is inconsequential when considering how much coin we sink into hunting but dang...I was hoping more vendors/options entering the market would drive cost down not up.

 

[Roost 1]

I started in 2013 and it seems like I have always paid around $50/lb (+/- $5). Seems like at one point during that timeframe smaller shot (9s and smaller) were upwards of $60. I must have stocked up at the wrong time and missed out on the $35 shot.

Roost: are you sourcing directly from a chinese supplier?

Yes after buying from re-sellers the first year we wised up and now buy directly from
China... we watch it pretty close and buy it as low as we think we can. However Trumps tariff deal has changed the game some and BTW I am for the tariff deal although it does raise the cost of my turkey shells.. lol no more than shot than I buy it's not a big deal to me.

 

[Roost 1]

I'm smack dab in the middle of my next project gun and at a fork in the road trying to decide on chokes. As Shakespeare wrote, "To TSS or not to TSS...that is the question."

TSS shot and component vendors are making an absolute killing and based on the responses above, it may not be difficult to predict future cost. Just not keen on the prospect of shells and components steadily creeping up...next thing ya'know it'll cost $12 every time you pull the trigger. I know folks say shell cost is inconsequential when considering how much coin we sink into hunting but dang...I was hoping more vendors/options entering the market would drive cost down not up.

after your initial cost of buying all the components to load your own the cost is reduced drastically. 10lbs of shot will last most guys and their kids a lifetime.