I made my first attempt to sift for range lead on an earthen berm and it didn't go very well. The rounds mainly fired on it are 9mm, 40 cal, 223 & 00 buck. I need some tips and techniques on the best and easiest way to recover it.
The smallest screen I could find was 1/4" at lowes. I made a 2x4 frame about 20" square with handles to make it easier to shake and sift. The problem I had was that most of the 223 & buckshot sifted through. I overlapped a piece of 1/2" screen on the 1/4" for reinforcement & to decrease the size of the holes. That worked to keep 98% of the lead in the sifter but made it almost impossible to sift the dirt through without working you to death and it took forever. It was sifting really fine like flour instead of the small clumps I was getting with the 1/4" alone. I was suprised the screens worked as poorly as they did and I don't have a clue what I'm doing wrong.
As luck would have it the temp dropped and it rained so unless we have a few indian summer days for the ground to dry out it might be spring before I can give it another try.