I've had an acquaintance for several years - a man I work with on occasion. Over the years, we have talked of many things, and during some conversations it became apparent that he also shoots. He has some land, and as is common here, he has a place on his land that he shoots. After a while, it became apparent that he neither reloads, nor casts. I (naturally) asked about mining his backstop.
Yesterday I went out there.
I shoveled and screened for about 2.5 hours, with time for talking to him, and time to play with his puppy. I came up with less than I had hoped - less than 12 pounds of range lead, which, when rendered, will net less than that.
Considering I can get ingots delivered for roughly $1.25/lb, did I waste my time ?
well, consider this -
1) I have gone a good ways towards converting an acquaintance to a friend, and one cannot have too many friends.
2) I spoke at length with him about reloading. He shoots a relatively expensive round - 45 Colt -, and could reload for 1/4 of purchase cost. I may have pushed him down the path of reloading. I told him I would help him get started. He seems ready to at least try it at my place (the mother of one of my high-school friends always told him I was a bad influence...).
3) I did get about 10 pounds of lead. And, got to play with a puppy....