They cost me $8 a box plus tax. Got them from Big Rock Sports out of North Carolina.

I may be ignorant but a 2 1/2 dram load pushing 1 ounce of shot can't be all that potent can it?

Holding one up to a light I can see a one piece wad/shot-cup and the powder appears to be flake. Has a 6 point crimp. Scrapping the metal head seems to reveal that it is brass as I see no steel under a brass wash?