clodhopper
04-29-2012, 11:16 PM
After the 4-H state airgun tournement back in March, I emptied all the pellet traps of that deadful, horrible, deadly lead. Got about a third of a five gallon bucket.
Today the 4-H club had a muzzleloader shoot at the range, so I brought out my bucket of smashed pellets my small smelter set up, eletrict casting pot and all the round ball moulds I could muster.
While they were shooting 30 standing, lead was a melting.
Four young men, the entire lineup of shooters came to see what was up.
First thing I had planned to tell them was about proper clothing, well checking their attire, none were at fault! everyone of them was wearing leather boots, jeans with out any big holes, cotton hoodies, over longsleve cotton shirts, ball caps, and all of them had eyeprotection!
I was pouring 54 cal balls while describing what was going on, with smelting on one side of the table and casting on the other.
Convinced one guy to cast when the smelt pot needed attention. Each of them got a turn at casting.
They all got a nice pile of balls for their rifles, they had been shooting good (expensive) hornady swaged balls.
They were advised to load the balls spru up, shoot the poorer looking balls at ground squirrels and to weigh every ball to be used in a match.
Told them about sources for moulds, and ladles, picking up some tools at garage sales, and the joy of making stuff.
I told them I woud stay as long as they wanted to cast. After about two hours they had stuff to do and I was glad to take care of all the excess ingots.
Today the 4-H club had a muzzleloader shoot at the range, so I brought out my bucket of smashed pellets my small smelter set up, eletrict casting pot and all the round ball moulds I could muster.
While they were shooting 30 standing, lead was a melting.
Four young men, the entire lineup of shooters came to see what was up.
First thing I had planned to tell them was about proper clothing, well checking their attire, none were at fault! everyone of them was wearing leather boots, jeans with out any big holes, cotton hoodies, over longsleve cotton shirts, ball caps, and all of them had eyeprotection!
I was pouring 54 cal balls while describing what was going on, with smelting on one side of the table and casting on the other.
Convinced one guy to cast when the smelt pot needed attention. Each of them got a turn at casting.
They all got a nice pile of balls for their rifles, they had been shooting good (expensive) hornady swaged balls.
They were advised to load the balls spru up, shoot the poorer looking balls at ground squirrels and to weigh every ball to be used in a match.
Told them about sources for moulds, and ladles, picking up some tools at garage sales, and the joy of making stuff.
I told them I woud stay as long as they wanted to cast. After about two hours they had stuff to do and I was glad to take care of all the excess ingots.