Elgin Strocen has been shooting a shotgun for decades, both as a recreational skeet shooter, and hunting both waterfowl and upland game birds.
It was his love of shooting which first drew his interest toward home-loading shotgun shells.
"It was something I just wanted to do, and maybe try and save some money," he said, adding that interest started in 1964.
His first loading outfit was a manual affair where each shell was loaded one at a time, requiring a number of different tools, and the need to measure powder on a small scale.
"I sat for hours doing them one at a time," said Strocen.
So how does one start into loading shells?
"Buy a box of shells, and save the hulls," said Strocen with a grin, adding taking the hulls away is something hunters should do whether they reload, or not. "It's only ethical to pick up whatever is in the field anyway."
Of course you will need the equipment to reload, something which varies in cost depending on the sophistication of the loader. Some require more manual steps; others are capable of reloading greater numbers of shells over a given period of time.
They all, however do essentially the same thing, starting with removal of the fired primer, and installation of a new one.
Then powder, measured in grains, most equipment allowing the needed amount to be a pre-set measurement is loaded, followed by a wad, then the measured shot, and finally the hull is crimped shut.
When it comes to determining how much powder is required, or shot to load, Strocen said he turns to what he termed his "recipe book."
The book details how much powder to use based on the hulls used, and the target for the resulting shell, which also influences the shot used.
Strocen explained, as an example, by regulation steel shot is required if you are hunting ducks and geese under a migratory license, it having been determined lead shot can build up in heavily hunted slough locations, and if consumed by the birds, can cause poisoning.
Lead shot is still legal to hunt upland game birds as there is less likelihood of shot build up in a specific location.
"Steel means lighter pellets, but they have more velocity," he said, adding " steel cuts feathers rather than pulling feathers into the bird."
It is a hobby which does save the avid shooter money.
While you can buy a box of shotgun shells for less, the brand name shells can range up to $25 a box, said Strocen, adding he estimates he reloads for five to six dollars a box.
But it is also becoming more difficult to do home loading.
Strocen recently went to Saskatoon in search of shot, and found no store carrying it.
"They suggested Okotoks," he said, adding that to ship a heavy bag of shot, lead shot comes in 25-pound bags, from Alberta to Yorkton will be costly.
While Strocen has enjoyed a lifetime of loading, he knows fewer and fewer people are doing it.
"You've got to do lots of shooting," he said. "But to me this is a hobby."
