Making your own lead shot

michiganhunter · 09-11-2007, 09:46 AM

Has anyone here tried to make there own lead shot? I have been trying and its way harder then it looks. I have so far gotten every shape but round! Anyone out there make there own shot? and maybe show me a picture or 2 of your setup?
Right now mine is just a cast iron bowl with hole drilled in it then a plug put in the hole with a very small hole in it maybe .040. With a small steel ramp underneath it for the lead balls to roll on before they hit the coolant (antifreeze). Still experimenting though never know something might all the sudden work.

rfc357 · 09-12-2007, 07:23 PM

Google "shot tower."

michiganhunter · 09-12-2007, 08:36 PM

I don't have the room to build a shot tower, or a place that is 100 ft+ off the ground. Google the littleton shotmaker and you will see the kind of setup I am trying to make. Its a pretty sweet little machine just wish I could make somehting like it that would work.

just_a_car · 09-12-2007, 08:43 PM

The problem is, the lead needs enough time in the air to cool down to at least close to solid; thus the need for height.

I think if you try to employ a ramp before it's fully cooled, it will just end up rolling out either oblong or cylindrical or, if it's not even close to solid, just a disk.

I do want to disclaimer the above as my personal opinion from book-knowledge, as I've never reloaded or made my own cast bullets/shot. I have read up quite a bit on reloading, though. Just want to be clear that my thoughts on this aren't in any way an "expert opinion."

Mooseman684 · 09-12-2007, 11:50 PM

The reason a shot tower is used is so the molten lead can form a round ball after dripping or being poured over screen...It takes a long fall for the drop to reform to a ball that is round, then it hits a cooling tank to chill it. Buying shot saves you time and money, and reduces health risks from lead vapors.
Rich

toolman · 09-13-2007, 12:41 AM

Although I'm not a big shotgun guy and may not be the most qualified to answer this, Hevi-Shot is very irregular and usually shoots very well in most guns. Unless it's way over\under-sized, I'd try shooting it and see what results you get.

michiganhunter · 09-13-2007, 08:46 AM

svartkrutt.net: Make Your Own Lead Shot
LittletonShotMaker | Products

I've seen this machine in action on several videos which I can't find at the moment, will post them if I can find them. I don't understand the physics of it completely but apparently it actually works. Being a trap shooter I shoot 5000+ rounds per summer and with lead at amost $50 a bag thats quite the expense for all the reloading stuff as thats somewhere in the area of $700 just for ammo not including targets at $3 per 25. Then being a college student and already having no money makes it that much worse.

09-11-2007, 09:46 AM	#1
michiganhunter Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 72	Making your own lead shot Has anyone here tried to make there own lead shot? I have been trying and its way harder then it looks. I have so far gotten every shape but round! Anyone out there make there own shot? and maybe show me a picture or 2 of your setup? Right now mine is just a cast iron bowl with hole drilled in it then a plug put in the hole with a very small hole in it maybe .040. With a small steel ramp underneath it for the lead balls to roll on before they hit the coolant (antifreeze). Still experimenting though never know something might all the sudden work.

09-12-2007, 08:43 PM	#4
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,530	The problem is, the lead needs enough time in the air to cool down to at least close to solid; thus the need for height. I think if you try to employ a ramp before it's fully cooled, it will just end up rolling out either oblong or cylindrical or, if it's not even close to solid, just a disk. I do want to disclaimer the above as my personal opinion from book-knowledge, as I've never reloaded or made my own cast bullets/shot. I have read up quite a bit on reloading, though. Just want to be clear that my thoughts on this aren't in any way an "expert opinion." __________________

09-12-2007, 11:50 PM	#5
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,742 Images: 2	The reason a shot tower is used is so the molten lead can form a round ball after dripping or being poured over screen...It takes a long fall for the drop to reform to a ball that is round, then it hits a cooling tank to chill it. Buying shot saves you time and money, and reduces health risks from lead vapors. Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

09-13-2007, 12:41 AM	#6
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,608 Blog Entries: 22	Although I'm not a big shotgun guy and may not be the most qualified to answer this, Hevi-Shot is very irregular and usually shoots very well in most guns. Unless it's way over\under-sized, I'd try shooting it and see what results you get. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

09-12-2007, 07:23 PM	#2
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	Google "shot tower."

09-12-2007, 08:36 PM	#3
michiganhunter Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 72	I don't have the room to build a shot tower, or a place that is 100 ft+ off the ground. Google the littleton shotmaker and you will see the kind of setup I am trying to make. Its a pretty sweet little machine just wish I could make somehting like it that would work.

09-13-2007, 08:46 AM	#7
michiganhunter Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 72	svartkrutt.net: Make Your Own Lead Shot LittletonShotMaker \| Products I've seen this machine in action on several videos which I can't find at the moment, will post them if I can find them. I don't understand the physics of it completely but apparently it actually works. Being a trap shooter I shoot 5000+ rounds per summer and with lead at amost $50 a bag thats quite the expense for all the reloading stuff as thats somewhere in the area of $700 just for ammo not including targets at $3 per 25. Then being a college student and already having no money makes it that much worse.