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Thread: A word of thanks to all

  1. #1
    Boolit Man
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    A word of thanks to all

    Posting to say thank you to everyone on the site. I have been a lurker since I started casting to feed the beasts and during the famine ended up feeding a lot of friends beasts as well. But the big assist came after I bought some bismuth rounds to take an old 16g double
    duck hunting. To my surprise I out shot my friends with their 12g 3.5 inch mags. I hadn't reloaded shotgun shells since the end of lead in the late 70's. but I thought I would try to load Bismuth, then I looked at the price of bismuth shot... YIKES! But I kept checking on
    bismuth shot prices until last year I heard about roto-metals (here) and dug out my Dads old mec and loaded some in vintage mark V
    hulls. Wow! it was like shooting lead back in the day. But still kind of pricey. So.. if I can cast boolits , why not shot? So I read and
    I researched and practiced my google-fu. Lots of u-tube vids , lots of articles, and every post here on this thread. I found a Shannon shotmaster on fleabay and bought some bulk bismuth and tin. In short, IT WORKS! Using every thing I learned from you all I had success the first time out. ten pounds of 7-8's right out of the gate. With some small changes (drippers, temp, ect.) I have 6.5's on the second try. When I can make 5's I'm there. SO.. Thank You to Everyone who posted help and advice, you made it possible to avoid the steepest part of the learning curve and achieve early success.
    Happy Fourth of July. And Thanks Again, Sincerely, Grayscale

  2. #2
    USMC 77, USRA 79


    Markopolo's Avatar
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    Welcome Greyscale to the Cast Boolit family.. glad you found a home here. Any knowledge kept to yourself is knowledge wasted if you ask me...

    Perhaps you could post some pics of your shot, or setup.. lots of folks here love looking at Lead Porn... me being one of them...

    Have a blessed day, and again, welcome.

    Marko
    Any technology not understood, can seem like Magic!!!

    I will love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind.

  3. #3
    Boolit Man
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    Thank You for the warm welcome Markopolo,
    I found it difficult adding materiel to the ladle without over cooling the low temp melt needed for bismuth. too hot and it runs too fast and results in
    very small shot or solid streams that look like sand castles in the coolant can. So I have a lee 10lb bottom feed on order to use as a feed pot .
    When it arrives, I'll set up for another run and take some pics. Then with the help of tech support ( My Kids ) I'll try (!?) and post them.
    Always Learning, Grayscale

  4. #4
    USMC 77, USRA 79


    Markopolo's Avatar
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    and That is the name of the game.. I have learned TONS of stuff from my boolit brothers here.
    Any technology not understood, can seem like Magic!!!

    I will love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
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    Welcome to the forum, glad your making good progress. I'm still in the infancy of shot loading. Gathering needed supplies and reading on it. Don't look to be too difficult. I'd like to get into making my own shot too but that's for a ways out.

    Bazoo

  6. #6
    USMC 77, USRA 79


    Markopolo's Avatar
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    when your ready, I can help you post pics.. its pretty easy once you get the hang of it. are you using an Ipad or a pc?
    Any technology not understood, can seem like Magic!!!

    I will love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
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    Welcome. You can spend a lot of enjoyable hours here, as well as learning a lot too!

  8. #8
    DOR RED BEAR's Avatar
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    Welcome aboard. Just keep at it you will get it.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    Petander's Avatar
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    Welcome!

    I respect shotmakers so much... bismuth even more. Hats off!

  10. #10
    Boolit Man
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    Very kind of You All,
    Loading the shells is just like loading lead back in the day with my Dad, follow the recipe in the book and get results. I'm using the Lyman shotshell manual and the online Hogdon and Alliant sites. My dad and I picked up every empty we could find on the range or in the field so I have bags of empty hulls to work with. Some I can remember loading multiple times in the 70's. Winchester Mark V hulls were the prize finds because they were so tough. And I find myself getting a little misty sometimes working with his loading tools and remembering him. He would have loved seeing his Mec and all the hulls we hoarded getting back in the field.
    Markopolo, I'll be working on a pc. When I have some pics ( soon I hope) I may be in need of your help. As for shot dropping or anything else anyone may want to do,
    I have always found that the hardest part is making up your mind to do it. Give it a try Bazoo, The kick from success is worth more than shot!
    Always learning, Grayscale

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

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    Welcome aboard. I've been casting and reloading for 50 years and I still get valuable tips on this site. Never too old to learn and never so smart that you don't need to.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

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    Welcome to the obsession!!!

    What do you think of the Shannon Shot Maker? I have one as well. Does yours have the original drippers or have you purchased after market?

    Scott
    Scott

    You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them.

  13. #13
    Boolit Man
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    Obsession?, Obsession ?!!, Just because its all consuming doesn't make it an obsession, does it? MUA HA HA HA!!!!
    I like my Shannon shot maker just fine. Seemed like a good place to start without spending half a K on something I might not be able to make work.
    ( apologies to Littleton Shot Maker ) Now wishing the ladle was a little bigger but I think using a lee bottom pour as a feed pot will compensate for that. My shannon came with two original drippers size unknown. But they seemed to throw 8.5 - 9 shot in Bismuth, I bought two double drippers on fleabay that throw 7-7.5. And another set that
    throw 6.5-7. The aftermarket drippers seem to work just as well as the originals. I plan on drilling out one the sets to .040 and see what that gives me. I'll report back when
    the Lee pot arrives and I test my theories.
    Always Learning, Grayscale ( also named Scott)

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

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    I use a lyman 4-20 pot as a feeder for the Shannon shot maker. Just make sure you can move the source from spot to spot. If you feed to the same spot all the time you may burn through the aluminum drip tray.
    Scott

    You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them.

  15. #15
    Cast Boolits Owner



    No_1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by grayscale View Post
    My dad and I picked up every empty we could find on the range or in the field so I have bags of empty hulls to work with. Some I can remember loading multiple times in the 70's. Winchester Mark V hulls were the prize finds because they were so tough. And I find myself getting a little misty sometimes working with his loading tools and remembering him. He would have loved seeing his Mec and all the hulls we hoarded getting back in the field
    Welcome aboard Scott!

    16 gauge is my favorite shotgun caliber. Glad to see you are using the skills, tools, and supplies you and your Dad used 40 years ago. I am sure the memories are gold.

    Take care,
    Robert
    "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."
    - Albert Camus -

  16. #16
    Boolit Man
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    Thanks No 1,
    I bought the L.C. Smith 16g because I liked the look, then in the field I found out it was the near mythical "trained gun". You have to work to miss with it. And that led down this current rabbit hole, no way I was gonna shoot steel in an 80 yr old gun. Next attempt I'll try a feed pot,
    larger drippers and flow restrictors to slow feed to the drippers from inside the ladle. Currently waiting on a pin vise to hold the very! small drill bits.
    Always Learning, ( and this weekend teaching) Grayscale

  17. #17
    Boolit Man
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    Further Note, I just received the 16g. mec 600 I found on fleabay, My first batch of bismuth shot (7-8's) is going dove hunting this september!
    Always find a Way, Grayscale

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master


    missionary5155's Avatar
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    Good morning and another Welcome !
    I have been hanging around here awhile and there is still a ton to learn about. Lots of fine helpful fellers.
    Mike in Peru
    "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
    Male Guanaco out in dry lakebed at 10,800 feet south of Arequipa.

  19. #19
    Boolit Man
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    ARRRGGGHHH.
    I've got all the new bits and pieces to try for bigger shot and just can't get out to the garage and put them all together. Work, doctors appointments and that room
    remodel can't be more important than shot dropping can they? Duck season is only Four months away. Just because I haven't installed the new stove yet doesn't mean that
    this can wait, the old one still sort-of works. My Wife just doesn't understand priorities..... Tell Me I'm Wrong.
    Always Learning ( procrastinating ) Grayscale

  20. #20
    Boolit Master

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    Grayscale - some words to live by:

    "No one is more happy than the least-happy member of the family"

    (sigh)
    "We take a thousand moments for granted thinking there will be a thousand more to come. Each day, each breath, each beat of your heart is a gift. Live with love & joy, tomorrow is not promised to anyone......"

    unknown

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check