Has anyone got into making your own shot. Looks like if we want Bismuth shot we will have to make it. Lead shot is getting to be a major cost also.

Might want to google up a lead making tower site and believe after you look at that arrangement you will forego the lead making shot approach. Quite a process and lots of facilities involved; hence, cost! Might be wrong, but believe you will be amazed at the process involved. Good Luck!!

Take a look at Littleton shot makers. http://littletonshotmaker.com/
They drip the lead through holes sized for the shot, and into a bucket of cutting fluid (propylene glycol)sp. Shot is then washed, dried, and coated with graphite.

I have never used one, but some people on other forums have used them with some success.

On the littletons, the shot only drops about 1/8 inch to a coolant liquid rather than 60 feet. There are some tricks getting good shot but they work. One machine can produce 45 to 60 pounds an hour. You can use wheel weights for a lead source. Flux them and make into biscuits (cupcake molds) and go after it.

I have read a great deal about shot making over on Shotgun World - Reloading forum. The Littleton shot maker is not an ideal set up and many have had to modify their machines to make them work properly. Do a search on their forum and you will find a lot of information.

Might suggest you join a trap/skeet club who normally buys bulk supplies, shot, wads, powder, etc. and perhaps the simplest, most economical way to obtain shot for your shooting purposes. Just a suggestion and I had heard about the shot machine as described and been told not the best set up, but perhaps others have figured a way to make it acceptable?? Good Luck.

Actually it is not that tough to make it work well. The fluxing is important but you do that when you melt down the wheel weights into ingots. The coolant temperature and type is important but is easily worked out. It works best over 140 degrees and under 160.

Washing, cleaning and tumbling (not necessary but people often add graphite) is simple. YOu can make all shot sizes.

Buying in bulk for shot will still cost you over $40 a bag. The only place I know of that can sell it cheaper, although I am sure there are others, is North West shot. They mine shooting fields and redrop it so their costs have not gone up with the market rise in lead.


Here is a link to a lot of info on shot making.

Shotgun world shot making thread

If you have the time and a source for lead, it's worthwhile.

I've been making my own for about 20 years. Wheelweights work best for me. I'm on my second Shotmaker, made by Mel Taylor of Centerville, UT. It's similar to a Littleton. I make about 60 lbs each 2 hr session. Then I wash it, dry it, and tumble it in graphite. I used to make about 700 lbs per year when I was competing in Trap or Skeet. I only make about half that now.

I only make size 8 1/2, but it works good in skeet and trap loads in everything from .410 to 12 ga. I mostly shoot it in 12 ga 7/8 oz loads for skeet and singles trap, but I did get my 27 yd punch in trap with it.