big job ahead

[rancher1913]

our gun club is getting kicked of the land they have used for 30 years, we knew it was coming but hoped to make it till spring, last day will be end of October. I have been surface mining the berms off and on, usually get double or triple my dues back in lead. took some time today to dig a little and the boolits go in about a foot and a half, huge pockets of lead and jackets. been thinking I need to take a loader and seriously mine for a while but now that we are getting kicked off I did not figure to have the time. decided to call the land owner and see if he would allow me to dig and haul the berm dirt home where I could work on it as time allows and he was thrilled to get the stuff gone, his kid is building a house on the property but it will be away from the shooting area so I have a workable time frame to get it moved. he wants me to see if I can scrape the shot drop area and reclaim that as well, so I might have a bunch of used shot to load shotshells with. the range sits on about 20 acres and has rifle berms behind every target but the pistol ranges have the most lead. could be busy for a few weekends, might need a second dump truck

[Winger Ed.]

Good deal, ya might even make a few bucks.

I'd make a 2 x 4 frame with screen on the bottom to sift it if its practical.
It's easy enough to set it on saw horses to slide & shake, or make a swing thing like archaeology types use.

Pistol ranges always have the most Lead.
More people shoot handguns than rifles.
The people who shoot both will usually shoot a couple dozen shots or less on the rifle range,
then go shoot a couple boxes on the pistol range.

For a decent size range- you're lucky not to be cut short on time.
With that much 'free' Lead, if it was a rush job: You'd have to work harder & faster than a ugly stripper.

[imashooter2]

If the shot drop area has never been reclaimed, I would think the best yield would be there.

[rancher1913]

the shot drop has never been reclaimed but we have only been doing shotgun for about 10 years and it has been rarely used so not a lot coupled with the plant overgrowth will make lead pick up a challenge.