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making lead shot

CORRENCORREN Member Posts: 466 ✭✭✭
edited November 2007 in Ask the Experts
does anyone sell a kit to make lead shot from lead bars?
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Comments

  • HandgunHTR52HandgunHTR52 Member Posts: 2,735
    edited November -1
    Do a member search for Classic095. He has a shot making machine that he uses. He had a thread going about it a while back. I am sure that he will answer any and all questions that you have about making your own shot.
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  • 11echo11echo Member Posts: 1,008 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've seen someplace where you can make lead shot out of small lead ingots. Problem you have with lead bars is that they have to have the proper amount of antinomy in it to have the proper "hardness". Otherwise all you'll do is fill the rifling in your barrel with lead if you shoot soft lead bullets! AND it's a REAL "FUN" job getting it out! Been there!!! .Tire wheel weights work very well for this purpose. Good Luck!
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  • sherpasherpa Member Posts: 171 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    check @ trapshooters.com there are 2 makers of shot makers most use wheel weights melted down into ingots
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Google, "Littleton shot maker".

    Seems a decent unit, will pay for itself in about 350 lb. of shot at current prices IF you can get lead free- i.e. tire weights, etc.
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  • 1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Am I wrong in my belief that most shot is made in "Shot Towers"? As I recall you melt the lead alloy and drop it from a height into water or something like that?
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  • HandgunHTR52HandgunHTR52 Member Posts: 2,735
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 1KYDSTR
    Am I wrong in my belief that most shot is made in "Shot Towers"? As I recall you melt the lead alloy and drop it from a height into water or something like that?


    You are not wrong. That is how all the major manufacturers make theirs. However the Littleton Shot Maker (thanks jonk) allows the average joe at home to make shot as well. It is not as round as the major manufacturers shot, but it is a heck of a lot cheaper and as we have seen with Hevi-Shot, round isn't always better.
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  • dakotashooter2dakotashooter2 Member Posts: 6,186
    edited November -1
    quote:I've seen someplace where you can make lead shot out of small lead ingots. Problem you have with lead bars is that they have to have the proper amount of antinomy in it to have the proper "hardness". Otherwise all you'll do is fill the rifling in your barrel with lead if you shoot soft lead bullets! AND it's a REAL "FUN" job getting it out! Been there!!! .Tire wheel weights work very well for this purpose. Good Luck! ????????????

    We are talking shot here, correct? Generally shot is fired through a smooth barrel and not a rifles one so that would contact with rifling a non-issue. In addition, MOST of the shot is going to be encompassed in the shot cup/wad during it's travel through the barrel, again making contact with the barrel a non-issue. The biggest effect the hardness of the shot will have is on your pattern The less the shot deforms the more consistent the pattern hard shot deforms less.
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  • I.ShuteI.Shute Member Posts: 647 ✭
    edited November -1
    Yea, 1KYDSTR, you're not wrong.
    I saw one along the river by Spring Green, Wisconsin. The water pool was near the river bank and you could climb up the bank and see where the lead was spinkled in, seems like it was 25 or 30 feet above the pool. It was a vertical hole in solid rock about 3 or 4 feet in diameter.
    Probably is still there. Mazo Kid should know.
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  • vdms55vdms55 Member Posts: 298 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    be forewarned..... i caused some serious brain damage to myself making shot years back. and i was in a very well ventilated area. those fumes that come off boiling lead are dangerious
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  • 11echo11echo Member Posts: 1,008 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    vdms55 ...You are correct about the lead vapors! ...BUT that occurs when you BOIL lead. When casting bullets or shot, you just heat the lead hot enought to melt it only. Then no vapors are producted. FIY
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  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The high tower drop allows surface tension to form drops of molten lead into spheres before being chilled (harden) in the water. The home units use a special oil that replaces the air drop and water. Please note: while not as much lead is in the air when its only molten as opposed to boiling there is still enough to fry your brain without proper ventalation. And by the way nothing is pure, it is not just the lead, there mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals.
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Ditto on the lead- IF you have good ventilation (I have a hood with exhaust fan) and wash hands thoroughly, you won't be exposed unduly to lead. If you over heat or don't ventilate, you are asking for trouble down the road.
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