Making ur own lead shot

Well I just got done read Daywalker's A question about shot. So figured I would start a section on makeing bird shot. I've tinkered with the idea about make shot with the price being $39.99+ per 25# bag. What i make is'nt great looking and wont pass for use one a sporting clays range for size. But it works good for hunting and busting clays from a hand thrower.
I took a peice of alum angel and drilled 1/16" dia holes atached it to a post. U need a to have some higth about 3' for the lead to drop into a 5 gal. bucket of cold water. Make sure the lead not to hot or it will feed through the holes to fast and you will get flechettes in stead of shot. and as the shots falling hit it with a flame say from a small propane torch to get rid of the tear drop tail. the shot size ranges from #6 to #4. i dont borther trying to sort it out. Ill post some pics of my set up and shot ill have to make some not going to cut open my 16 ga. shells.

Cool deal, can't wait to see what you got going on!!!

we have a park here here called shot tower state park they used the same primise used during the civil war mabe farther back . the tower is beside new river they would drop the lead I think about 70ft or so thru a huge screen full of holes what ever dia. they wanted then it hits the water and cools made a perfect round ball . Mass produceing ammo.

Is it bad if you leave it tear drop shaped? Does that make it pattern bad? It does not hurt the shotgun does it?

I wouldn't think so, but then again I don't load shotgun so it is a guess on my behalf.

tear drop my set up https://i.servimg.com/u/f62/16/32/90/15/img_2020.jpg" alt="" />

The tear drop dose cause a inconsistate pattern but dosen't hurt ur barrel.
Well it was to cold out in the barn today to get the my shot maker to work the lead cooled way to fast to even pass through the holes. So saddly i have to sacrifise a few 16ga. hulls for the greater good. founfd some junk shot in the bottum of my lead bucket so i could show the difference. and if anyone thinks of a different idea on making shot let me know.

Me and dad was talking about the shot tower the other day and I was wondering if it could be done on a smaller scale I guess so lol thanks for this thread very helpful

Nice ! I would not have thought of doing it this way. I don't load for shotgun but you can bet this info is going in the old mental library! Thanks for sharing.

from what I have read about the littleton shot makers, they suggest dropping into anti freeze or atf, also I have heard of people dropping into soapy water. Those shot makers drop the lead from only a couple inches above the "water" though.

What about pouring the hot lead through a stainless steel screen?
You could keep the torch handy to warm up any lead that sticks and get it to drop off the screen. It might cure your tear drop dilema?
I don't know cause I've never made my own shot, but it is getting outrageously expensive, so I have thought about it from time to time.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/documents/shottower.pdf


looks like the long drop had a lot to do with the shape.

Perfectly round shot is old news
Seen the new "blind side" shells?

yeah they come out with all kinds of new ideas . scatters guns i guess dont have to have perfect round boolits that dont cover much distance. A shotshell can be loaded with beans and still do what you need them to do.

Lol beans, rock salt and chilly powder are fun rounds. nonleathal h.d. rounds. ill have to try the SS screen and other coolent baths. I'll post what i come up with then.