Perhaps some home loaders could give a guide as to how much it costs them to make a box of cartridges ?
As a business owner that specialises in selling shotgun cartridge components for home loading in todays situation it is very difficult to get most components and sadly prices have increased to such a degree especially for propellant and primers it is cheaper certainly for 12ga clay cartridges to just buy cartridges. Many make their own lead shot which prior to the component supply issues as a result of Brexit, Covid and wars did result in financial savings. However nothing like dusting clays with your own cartridges, except CPSA registered shoots where they are not allowed.
Cartridges are consumables so for both cartridge manufacturers and retailers especially clay cartridges profits are small but hopefully high volume sales items.
But my personal view is that the industry is not in a good place given the supply problems, increasing cost of all types of shooting, then the uncertainty with the scope of the potential lead ban, biodegradable wad costs, licensing delays, GP report costs and general cost of living situation for most of us.
Airguns were I am told the most popular viewing at the recent NEC shooting show.
You will struggle to home load 12ga clay cartridges for the £260.00 a thousand we sell fibre wad clay cartridges for.