Anyone making their own shot with a 'dribbler'??

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Armored farmer

Armored farmer

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I shoot trap and clays so I really go through the shot. I have a Lee Production Pot, and a good supply of lead. I have been considering getting a dribbler and making my own shot.
Has anyone had success doing this??
Is it a waste of time and $$??
 
If you can make it work & save some money--go for it.
I called our local shop for shot prices---$49 for 25 # of # 8.
At those prices I can toss a couple more bucks & buy a case of cheap loaded target loads. I about flipped at that price..........:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
 
They work if you can work them. A SASS friend of mine makes his own shot. He uses another brand but they work the same. He had a couple extra "dribble" plates nmade up. 'Course each "dribble" trough is a particular shot size.

The lquid that the shot drops into is an experiment by most. They do not like water. Some combine soap. Some use anti-freeze. Some use oil.

Distance the shot drops from trough to coolant is important. Shallow pan will not work. Shot will deform.

You can turn out a bunch of shot.
 
My shooting partner has one, new in the box, that he's had for about 4 years, but hasn't tried to use yet. Here's the link: http://www.magmaengineering.com/products/littleton-shotmaker-model-65

We've been able to buy shot directly from the manufacturer in 1,000 pound lots at wholesale price, so it didn't pay to try and make our own. We were getting shot for $22.00 per bag, but when we checked this last time, about 4 months ago, the wholesale price was up to $28.00 per bag, with a promise that it was going to rise again.

You might look into reclaimed shot. There are several companies that mine trap fields and clean, tumble and re-graphite the shot and sell it for about 75% of what new shot sells for. Sometimes less, sometimes more, but you can shop around. Ask your range who mines their shot?

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
There's quite a few videos around of the Littleton operating.
From what I've heard it does an outstanding job.

Back in the 50s my Dad and I spent weeks trying to build a shot making rig, it was a pretty dismal failure :D
 
You might look into reclaimed shot. There are several companies that mine trap fields and clean, tumble and re-graphite the shot and sell it for about 75% of what new shot sells for. Sometimes less, sometimes more, but you can shop around. Ask your range who mines their shot
Click to expand...

OOOOOOOO boy. I bought 4 liter bottles of reclaimed shot from our home trap range. It was about 75% shot...20% dirt.....10% rocks (lol).
It would hang in the drop tubes of my reloaders, esp the .410 and 28ga. I thought I would never get that stuff shot up. I probably should have dumped it to be reclaimed again. ( I am sure some clubs get good shot reclaimed.....ours wasn't)
 
If you decide to use reclaimed shot, be sure it is cleaned, washed and graphited...or be prepared to do it yourself. Using it straight from the "field" you can be assured of scratched bores, messed up loaders, and erratic charge weights. (Experience talking, here)
 
No, I wouldn't use reclaimed shot that hadn't been cleaned, tumbled and re-graphited, like I posted above. All the shot I've mined from our ranges has been melted into bullets. It's an excellent source of antimony. The reclaimed shot I've used to reload was all processed properly.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
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