Where to Buy Small Quantities of Small Shot?

[Woodtroll]

Hello folks,

I'm interested in trying homemade shotshells in a couple more of my revolvers (and maybe a .45ACP 1911). I've had good luck with .45 Colt loads using two gas checks, but would like to branch out. LOL. Is there a good place to get small quantities (like 3-5 lbs.) of #9 and #12 shot?

Thank you,
Regan

[turtlezx]

ive got 9s if you want some

[Woodtroll]

Thank you very much, Turtlezx, PM sent.

[Minerat]

Put a WTB ad in S&S there is probably another member that has what you need.

[Bulldogger]

Sporting good stores sometimes have weight vests, and those weights may be lead shot. Same goes for ankle weights and so on. Late manufacture are probably NOT lead due to environmental concerns, but a few years ago it was not uncommon.

BDGR

[too many things]

i dont know if bpi still does the 1 lb in the fine stuff. they did . they also had 5lb in the small stuff

[Woodtroll]

Thanks, everyone, for the help and the suggestions. Turtlezx fixed me up wth some #9, I'll keep my eye on the ads or may post a WTB for the #12.


i dont know if bpi still does the 1 lb in the fine stuff. they did . they also had 5lb in the small stuff

Good suggestion, and actually the first place I thought to check. But it looks like the smallest quantity they sell now is 11-lb. bags, unless I'm completely missing a page/tab somewhere. Hmmm, how long would it take me to shoot up 11 lbs. of #12 shot in a .32 H&R? :?

Thanks again!
Regan

[Rizzo]

Hello folks,

I'm interested in trying homemade shotshells in a couple more of my revolvers (and maybe a .45ACP 1911). I've had good luck with .45 Colt loads using two gas checks, but would like to branch out. LOL. Is there a good place to get small quantities (like 3-5 lbs.) of #9 and #12 shot?

Thank you,
Regan

I break open some of my shotgun shells (7.5 shot) and use that.
How many shot shells will you actually need/use?
A couple of shotgun shells will give you enough shot for ten or so shot shells.

[Woodtroll]

I break open some of my shotgun shells (7.5 shot) and use that.
How many shot shells will you actually need/use?
A couple of shotgun shells will give you enough shot for ten or so shot shells.

Good idea, thank you!

[Wilsknife]

Hello folks,

I'm interested in trying homemade shotshells in a couple more of my revolvers (and maybe a .45ACP 1911). I've had good luck with .45 Colt loads using two gas checks, but would like to branch out. LOL. Is there a good place to get small quantities (like 3-5 lbs.) of #9 and #12 shot?

Thank you,
Regan

I too had this dilema.
I have a BiMart or Walmart nearby.
I realized that each box of 25 12 gauge shells had over a pound of shot in them.
I was able to get the shots I wanted via these low cost shotshells (<$7.00)

You have to make a lot of shotshells to use up the shot in just one box. I harvested from the shells one day and have not gone back to them for more yet.

8-)

[Woodtroll]

I too had this dilema.
I have a BiMart or Walmart nearby.
I realized that each box of 25 12 gauge shells had over a pound of shot in them.
I was able to get the shots I wanted via these low cost shotshells (<$7.00)

You have to make a lot of shotshells to use up the shot in just one box. I harvested from the shells one day and have not gone back to them for more yet.

8-)

Thanks for the suggestion!

[jmorris]

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Chilled-Lead-Shot-12-13mm-11_bag/productinfo/02612/

[uscra112]

I just bought 11 pounds of #11 from Ballistic Products. Will offer to share when it gets here. Probably a week from now. Remind me if I forget.

[Woodtroll]

Uscra112, that would be great if you don't mind. I've eyed those small bags at Ballistics Products several times, but since they're 11-pound minimum I felt I would never use more than a small portion of that, and so it would be wasted. #11 shot seems to be a good compromise for smaller cartridges.

I'll send you a PM shortly. Thank you!

[Woodtroll]

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/Chilled-Lead-Shot-12-13mm-11_bag/productinfo/02612/

Thank you!

[uscra112]

Uscra112, that would be great if you don't mind. I've eyed those small bags at Ballistics Products several times, but since they're 11-pound minimum I felt I would never use more than a small portion of that, and so it would be wasted. #11 shot seems to be a good compromise for smaller cartridges.

I'll send you a PM shortly. Thank you!

No trouble at all. I'll probably never use up even a pound of it. The rest I can parcel out.

I've been using #7, salvaged from old shotshells, but my purposes really need much finer shot. Would have looked at Ballistic Products much sooner if I'd had my wits about me. Not like I haven't ordered from them before.

[hpbear101]

Sage's sells in 3lb bags #4 to #9 shot

https://www.sagesoutdoors.com/6-magnum-lead-shot/

[David2011]

I bought a box of 12 ga shot shells with #9 shot and broke them down. That’s a lot of snake loads.

[david s]

Back before the current component shortage CHEAPERTHAN Dirt offered either 3 or 5 pound bags of #12's. It was expensive and shipping added quite a bit to the cost. In the mid 1980's I belonged to a private range in California and one of the members of the club would make a run to Nevada (?) with a trailer and buy shot for the trap shooters. At the time they offered 25# bags of #12 occasionally. Four of use went together and bought a sack to use for pistol shot shells. I still have some of those #12's all these years later.

[Texas by God]

#11 and #12 shot really work great with much denser patterns than larger shot in my experience.

[Alferd Packer]

9s will work, but never as well
as 12s.
With 12s, you get snake burger pure and simple with one shot.

[Scrounge]

Uscra112, that would be great if you don't mind. I've eyed those small bags at Ballistics Products several times, but since they're 11-pound minimum I felt I would never use more than a small portion of that, and so it would be wasted. #11 shot seems to be a good compromise for smaller cartridges.

I'll send you a PM shortly. Thank you!
Just a possible consideration for you: you could stuff some of the excess small shot in a cloth or leather bag as a shooting rest or a weight to stabilize something you're working on. Can also use such a bag to dish thin sheet metal if you happen to need to do that. I've done it for both jewelry-making and for armour, back in the days I was unbreakable. :)

Bill

[Woodtroll]

Just a possible consideration for you: you could stuff some of the excess small shot in a cloth or leather bag as a shooting rest or a weight to stabilize something you're working on. Can also use such a bag to dish thin sheet metal if you happen to need to do that. I've done it for both jewelry-making and for armour, back in the days I was unbreakable. :)

Bill

That's a good idea, Bill, thanks!

[triggerhappy243]

That's a good idea, Bill, thanks!

if you have not found any, I could spare some 7-1/2 and #8.

[Woodtroll]

if you have not found any, I could spare some 7-1/2 and #8.

Thank you, I certainly do appreciate your offer. Thanks mostly to the generous folks here on the board, though, I think I am in pretty good shape.

Again, thank you!

[sniper]

#11 and #12 shot really work great with much denser patterns than larger shot in my experience.

On one forum, (HERE?) A fellow by the handle of Old School Wheelgunner or something similar ran a photo of his load...7 1/2 shot, iirc, at 4 yds./3 gr. Bullseye. Tore the center of a 9 in.(?) target up! I doubt any snake or rat could survive that tight pattern and weight of shot. I went to Walmart and bought a box of cheap #9 shells and broke them down. Enough shot for a while! They probably have #71/2s, too. I will try it. I have Speer capsule loads with # 9, 10, 11,(I think,,,it's bigger than #12, and smaller than #10, sooo must be, right?)and #12 loaded. Waiting for the weather to get more pleasant, so I can test them!:bigsmyl2:

[Alferd Packer]

7 1/2 and 9's seem small by comparison, but 12's are the cat's meow for certain.
Rio brand shotshells are the only ones I ever saw loaded with 12's but they are well worth it if you ever load a pistol shotshell.
They really make a snake or a rat into bloody paste with one shot.
That's all I'll ever use is 12's for snakeshot.
Well worth the wait when it's a poisonous snake.
.

[Alferd Packer]

Best is to look for a box of shotshells loaded with #12 shot.
Buy the box and you'll have a lot of shot to play with after cutting off the crimp and dumping the shot.each shell holds enough shot to load 4-6 pistol loads depending on how big the caliber you use.