Walmart/Homedepot Shot maker

[lksmith]

OK I had a crazy idea driving home from work today, and figured I'd run it by the folks here.

Place I work has a really nice trap and skeet range and although I've never been good at it I've always enjoyed it.
Problem is shot gets real expensive real quick and with a baby coming this summer an already tight budget is about to get a lot tighter.
I acquired a Mec loader in a deal, and started mulling over a shotmaker, until I saw the cost. I have seen similar homemade setups but they all involved more materials, tool, skill and time than I have

My thought is to make a complete functional shotmaker using off the shelf items that most any area would have.
Cheap cast iron pan (10" round $8 at wally world)
Cheap single hotplate $(10 at wally world)
Wire welding tips ~$1 apiece (WM, HD, HF, ATW, etc) with .024 orifice should drop about #7 shot x5
flashing or thin sheetmetal panel $1-3 for drip ramp.
pop rivets
Total cost around $25 assuming you buy everything but the rivets and tooling that most folks have or can get cheaply

Was thinking drill and tap the side of the pan for the nozzles (1/4-28) to easily change size or tips if they wear out.
Screw the tips in.
Drill holes of the appropriate size for the rivets in the pan.
Bend the flashing to where it is at a 45degree angle to the drippers (easily bend to better angle if this isn't correct angle)
rivet them together
set the hot plate at enough of an angle to let the lead flow to the drippers
Put the pan on the hot plate
put bucket or catch vessel under the output
add lead
turn on and let it go.

I haven't done it yet, but seems (in my head at least) to be a sound theory and quickly/easily/cheaply assembled and looks to duplicate the high dollar store bought rigs. Anybody tried this or see where this wouldn't give comparable results to a store bought unit?

[jimb16]

Your drip ramp will need to be made a bit sturdier. You will need to "coat" it with something to prevent the lead droplets from sticking. Many of use rub the ramps with soapstone to leave a powdery coating that lets the droplets roll off. If your ramp is too thin, it will bend when you try to coat it.

[thegatman]

Your at the range so pick up the shot and reprocess it.

[lksmith]

Your at the range so pick up the shot and reprocess it.

Thought about that but not feasible. There is a very clear drop zone where the clays land but not so for the shot. The range butts up to woods so vast majority of shot is in the woods. Now the rifle/postol range is a different story, I have picked up from the berms many times

[lksmith]

Your drip ramp will need to be made a bit sturdier. You will need to "coat" it with something to prevent the lead droplets from sticking. Many of use rub the ramps with soapstone to leave a powdery coating that lets the droplets roll off. If your ramp is too thin, it will bend when you try to coat it.

I had read that graphite spray works better than soapstone and I was planning on using that, so bending while coating wouldn't be a problem.

Any other problems that you can foresee?

[copdills]

I hope you can make it work pardner, keep us informed

[jdfoxinc]

Shotgun world. Search shot Maker, it's the only way you can reach the archived thread something like "can you make your own shot?". A couple of people describe doing what you are suggesting. Recently there was an eBay seller with the pan and grippers. About $90.00. All you needed was A heat source.

[rancher1913]

look up ghosthawks thread on the one he built.

[Gtrubicon]

Don’t jump over a doller to save a dime

[Gtrubicon]

Mow or weed whack the neighbors lawn, it will pay for a bag of shot that will last you a while

[KrakenFan69]

I disagree Gtrubicon. Where I live a 25# bag of Magnum shot is $80 CAD. I load quite a bit of shotgun shells lately and if I can do it for $.22 vs $.42 I'm certainly going to do it. Plus, I like making my own stuff. I get enjoyment shooting ammo I have made componnents for.

I have been planning to do this same thing. I found a great cast iron pan with flat angled walls ( not curved like most) at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $25 CAD. I still need to make or purchase drippers. I picked up an electric hot plate at Canadian Tire thinking i can use it to heat up other mold as well but it is only 1000w and doesn't get hot enough so I will likely use the burner from a fish frier. Keep updating us on your progress. Several of us are interested!

Kraken Fan #69

[kungfustyle]

I just bought a set up from ebay $50 for the "pan" and $35 or 40 for the screws, I figured I just bought a mold for my shotgun, its about the same price. Keep an eye out on ebay for "lead shot maker" and the pan will pop up from time to time. I'm with you on the shot costing too much even on Brownells you can get a free shipping and a bag of shot for about $45 bucks. If you shoot trap you'll run through that in no time.

[KrakenFan69]

That's part of my problem. That's a $200 CAD purchase to get that pan and dripper set shiped up here, IF the seller is even willing to do it.


Kraken Fan #69

[lksmith]

look up ghosthawks thread on the one he built.

His thread is actually what gave me the idea. Got the hole drilled and tapped and the mig nozzles installed, but I haven't got around to doing the ramp.
Working 100+ hours a week between my job and trying to finish my house doesn't leave me much time for "Leisure activities"

[lksmith]

Don’t jump over a doller to save a dime

Mow or weed whack the neighbors lawn, it will pay for a bag of shot that will last you a while

Have you seen the price of a bag of shot lately?
building this and paying $1 per pound for wheel weights (which I get free from a friend) I still come out cheaper than a buying a bag of shot
After the first bag it's essentially free shot.

[dverna]

His thread is actually what gave me the idea. Got the hole drilled and tapped and the mig nozzles installed, but I haven't got around to doing the ramp.
Working 100+ hours a week between my job and trying to finish my house doesn't leave me much time for "Leisure activities"

You will save money making shot. But not nearly as much as you believe. Most people stop making it for two reasons. Wheel weights are getting tougher to find for “free” and they are worth $25 before you start dropping shot. For example, I buy hard shot for $35 so my savings are $10...not worth it to me.

The second reason is the time required.

An acquaintance had a Littleton shot maker and produced a few hundred lbs. He could never produce a quality product. But for most people, shot quality is not important if they are saving money.

If you do not have the time to make one, you may not have the time to produce shot....just think about it. I believe when my buddy factored in all the time spent, he produced about 25 lbs per hour.

Good luck!

[rsrocket1]

Hopefully, you can do some research around you to see if any ranges/clubs sell reclaimed shot to you. I can get 25 pound bags for $25 and I've seen a few places around (even in Kommiefornia) that sell it close to that price. It's tough to find scrap lead at that price.

[megasupermagnum]

I have not seen a bag of shot for $25 in a long time. 8 years, 10 years? My gun club sells reclaimed for $35, and it has a little dirt and steel shot mixed in. I've shopped around a bunch, and the lowest place within 100 miles of me is $45 a bag. Most places are $50-55 a bag. I've kind of given up, and have been buying from gamaliels, $48.50 shipped to my door. You can find junk Eagle brand shot for less, but why would you even reload target shells at that point, when you can buy junk factory ammo for under $6 a box? I'm going to try making my own shot soon, and it wont be as good as Lawrence, it will at least be as hard.

[Littleton Shot Maker]

One day about 20 years ago I thought I would build my own unit- then I figured out what my time was worth and how I would rather shoot than build up some thing from scratch that may or may not work and still have no shot to shoot , out cash for a 'machine' that did not work…

Had I not Purchased the Co. from Jerry Littleton I would still be trying to build that machine.

Don;t thread the PAN, no way to line up drippers that way. Lock nut the back side.
What are you planning to use for dripper metal?? Bolts? Mild steel? Aluminum is terrible save time there.
Heat?? 900-1000 watt hot plate element will run 4- maybe 5 drippers (NO MORE) .
Head pressure is important, the distance from the dripper head to the ramp is critical…length of ramp is important.
the volume the pan holds vs how deep you make it will dictate some of the issues with head pressure.

I would be happy to go over some of this with you if you email me or shoot me a call one day when you have some time to go over your project. I won't try to sell you some thing I will just tell you how to get it done if you want to build it from ground up….you will spend more than you think PLEASE BELIEVE me on that part!

I do sell just parts too> just in case you where interested, I charge for those ….but the advice is free

It looks easy to make but ….I would rather be shooting than trying to build one from scratch and you say you don't have much time. Please buy parts from some one that has built at least the hard parts for you.

[Littleton Shot Maker]

Another question : how much shot do you need? How fast do you need it? if it's not perfectly round are you going to be happy??