Question on home-made shotmakers

[para45lda]

Is the ramp under the dripper needed/necessary?

In my mind it can only lead to deformed shot but the videos indicate that doesn't happen.

I'm thinking a longer drop to bleed off heat.

Anyone dropping without a ramp?

Wes

[rancher1913]

you can do it with out the ramp but you will need like an 80 foot drop to get round shot. the ramp allows you to drop right into the liquid, and the type of liquid matters, you can not just use water. there is a whole thread on home-made shot drippers started by ghosthawk and the guys who went down that rabbit hole did a lot of leg work and can get really good shot.

[para45lda]

I did a pretty good search here and got great ideas just couldn't find an answer on the ramp.

Thanks!

[jim 44-40]

If you watch a slow motion video of a drop of lead hitting the ramp you will see how it works to get shot round before it lands in liquid.I used fabric softener and played with the angle of the ramp to make some # 4 shot that turned out great.

[Rcmaveric]

Yes the ramp is required if you want round shot. It keeps the lead hot while it rolls into a ball. Once it leaves the ramp it will only be round for the first 3/4 inch or so. It then needs to be cooled to keep the shape. Dont use water, you will get lead popcorn.

Otherwise the lead needs to fall 80 feet.

Without a ramp it will be tear dropped shape.

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[BattleRife]

These people dropped liquid lead directly into water, without a ramp:

[jim 44-40]

Now that is a shot tower, long ways to haul lead to the top

[Rcmaveric]

I did say other wise it needs to fall 80 feet lol.

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[elmacgyver0]

These people dropped liquid lead directly into water, without a ramp:

Zoning restrictions may frown on that but it sure would be cool!

[megasupermagnum]

There's been a few people who have made shot without the lip using a homemade setup. Most are pretty bad. Once in a while someone gets it down to where it's kinda-sorta shot. It almost always is egg or teardrop shaped, but it there's worse things out there. You definitely want the lip. Even then you have to be really on the ball to match what Lawrence or West Coast shot towers can make, and most of what you produce is best described as "pretty good".

[Petander]

https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/...ampere_Finland

[sukivel]

I’m just thinking that it looks like someone has to pack lead to the top of those towers.


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[para45lda]

Thanks for the responses. It's amazing seeing what folks are doing out there.
Some have metal ramps, wood and even cloth. And for the most part their stuff look decent.

I think it will be harder to make the smaller shot (8 or 9) vs the 6's and 7's I usually see.

I'll keep you posted.

Wes

[megasupermagnum]

Not really, the smaller the shot, the easier it is to make. Every shot maker out there is built specifically for #8 or #7.5. It is easy to do #9.