horsearcherwannabe
Member
I was told I could get "recycled" or "field" shot for about half of new shot.
Is this so? if so who has some in stock
Is this so? if so who has some in stock
recycled shot
- Thread starter horsearcherwannabe
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its called reclaimed shot... to really get the savings you would prolly have to buy a whole barrel of shot... then quality depends on whether it had been "redropped" or not
do a google search for reclaimed shot and you will find a couple guys that do it...
do a google search for reclaimed shot and you will find a couple guys that do it...
Blackrock
Member
I shoot it all the time and pay between $20 to $25 per 25# bag. I try to get the stuff that has been washed and regraphited.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Beware of any sand & grit that might be left in mined / reclaimed shot.
It's hard on barrels.
rc
It's hard on barrels.
rc
Shadow 7D
Member
would it be worth it for casting?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
No.
Most of it is too hard or an unknown alloy mix for bullet casting.
rc
Most of it is too hard or an unknown alloy mix for bullet casting.
rc
oneounceload
member
Reclaimed shot is mined from a gun club; washed, swept for steel and cleaned for rocks; regraphited and sold.
You'll get a variety of shot sizes, they won't all be round, some will be soft and others hard.
Yes, you can easily save half over new "magnum" shot. Is it good enough for practice? Absolutely.
Would I use it in a registered tournament where money and rep were on the line? Absolutely NOT.
We had out club mined a few months ago - the club gets 40% of the shot; our small club got almost 40,000# and it was scarfed up within three weeks.
In short, great for practice, not to be used for tournaments
You'll get a variety of shot sizes, they won't all be round, some will be soft and others hard.
Yes, you can easily save half over new "magnum" shot. Is it good enough for practice? Absolutely.
Would I use it in a registered tournament where money and rep were on the line? Absolutely NOT.
We had out club mined a few months ago - the club gets 40% of the shot; our small club got almost 40,000# and it was scarfed up within three weeks.
In short, great for practice, not to be used for tournaments
reclaimed shot
I have been rolling the idea around in my head to use some too. I don't do tournaments or anything, just target and small game hunting. So for me reclaimed shot wouldn't hurt to much to use, now I just gotta locate some. But then to each their own.
matt z
I have been rolling the idea around in my head to use some too. I don't do tournaments or anything, just target and small game hunting. So for me reclaimed shot wouldn't hurt to much to use, now I just gotta locate some. But then to each their own.
matt z
evan price
Member
You can wash and regraphite it yourself in bulk. One of the inexpensive cement mixers from Harbor Freight, a bucket with a fine rock-screen seive. Buy your graphite in bulk from a minerals or art supply place. Know a guy that does it and also drips his own shot from scrap.
Reclaimed shot is good for casting- it's mostly all lead with some antimony (More if more magnum shot is used) maybe a bit of bismuth in there too sometimes. Only problem is it is so light weight that when it is regraphited or even if it is oxidized it tends to float on the melt and be a PITA to get it to all melt down. Lots of stirring and fluxing. I'd rather use berm lead than shot but that's my preference and I'm kinda lead-rich with multiple choices so I can be picky.
As an unknown alloy it doesn't scare me; typically I smelt 75# pours and that homogenizes the mixed shot quite well. Pour off your ingots, let it sit a couple weeks and then test hardness. Add other metal (like tin) as needed to get the alloy where it casts well. I'm not all that hung up on having a "PERFECT" alloy; as long as it drops close to weight, fills out the mold well, doesn't lead up the bore & hardness checks to my specs- who cares if it has 2% antimony or 4% antimony?
Reclaimed shot is good for casting- it's mostly all lead with some antimony (More if more magnum shot is used) maybe a bit of bismuth in there too sometimes. Only problem is it is so light weight that when it is regraphited or even if it is oxidized it tends to float on the melt and be a PITA to get it to all melt down. Lots of stirring and fluxing. I'd rather use berm lead than shot but that's my preference and I'm kinda lead-rich with multiple choices so I can be picky.
As an unknown alloy it doesn't scare me; typically I smelt 75# pours and that homogenizes the mixed shot quite well. Pour off your ingots, let it sit a couple weeks and then test hardness. Add other metal (like tin) as needed to get the alloy where it casts well. I'm not all that hung up on having a "PERFECT" alloy; as long as it drops close to weight, fills out the mold well, doesn't lead up the bore & hardness checks to my specs- who cares if it has 2% antimony or 4% antimony?
oneounceload
member
IF you're buying reclaimed from your local gun club, all of that will have already been done
gamestalker
member
I've been gettig it from my local gun club for $12 per 25 lb. bag. It's clean and loads great.
oneounceload
member
At $12 for 25#, you should buy several TONS - you can easily double your money right NOW
evan price
Member
My club does not regraphite, they do rinse though.
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