Reclaimed shot

[Random 8]

My local gun club harvested lead last year, and they are selling the farm fresh shot at scrap price. I already purchased 100lb, figured it would be good enough for practice, casual shooting, if nothing else should be a good pistol bullet alloy as-is.

Their harvester used a new and patented process. We were a trial yard for his prototype equipment. It is very clean, I haven't noticed any significant foreign matter. It basically looks decent as-is other than some surface oxidation. I have the setup to roll and graphite the shot already. Wondering if I should get in deeper while this deal lasts? How have folks that have used reclaimed shot found it to perform? I was thinking at the price it was offered, I could move back to 1 1/8 oz loads to mitigate any fliers (I usually shoot 1 oz). Might even pick up an occasional lost bird with a crooked pellet LOL.

 

[entropy]

What's the price per bag? (25 lb. bag?) I shot reclaimed that wasn't as nice as you describe, well until I went through it with a fine toothed comb, (multiple window screens, actually) back in the 80's when I worked at a Trap Range. we received part of our pay (if we wanted) in reclaimed shot. It still breaks clays just fine, even at meat shoot and Annie Oakley distances.

 

[Armored farmer]

I shot probably 150lbs of reclaim lead from our local club. It was fine from 16yds, which is what I shot most often.
It was dirty. It loaded in 12ga fine, but when I tried to load my .410s...not so good. It would bridge in the drop tube.

I would shoot 1oz from 16s. I doubt you'll notice any difference.

 

[Muddydogs]

I've shot over 1000 pounds of reclaimed 7/8 and 1 oz trap loads, work fine for me.

 

[Random 8]

The going price is $15 per "heavy" bag (a reused shot bag stuffed as full as it can get and still be zip tied off). According to my shop scale they were in the 27# range. Thank you gentlemen for the answers. I will be going as deep as they'll let me on this while it lasts!

 

[AzShooter1]

Buy as much as you can afford. Prices are only going to go up.

I've shot tons of reclaimed shot in my 20 gauge and have had no problems with it on clay or live birds.

 

[MEHavey]

but when I tried to load my .410s...not so good. It would bridge in the drop tube.

Probably because it was no longer graphited.

Even with new #9 shot, I shake up the MEC bottle with an 1/8 tsp
of MotorMica to keep things from clogging and/or getting trapped
in the wad column when withdrawing the (410) filler tube.

Took me a bit of time to figure out what had changed when I used
a newly-bought bag of shot, and the shot-filled wad kept getting
pulled back up/out/spilling when the fill tube was raised.

Since then, no problems.

.

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

.....I haven't noticed any significant foreign matter. .....

Number one reason I'll never use reclaimed shot. Scored barrel is not worth the price difference to me, I've seen a couple over the years...no thanks

 

[Muddydogs]

Number one reason I'll never use reclaimed shot. Scored barrel is not worth the price difference to me, I've seen a couple over the years...no thanks

Only reason reclaimed shot is scoring a barrel is the shot wasn't cleaned right and or the right wad wasn't used. All operator error.

 

[dannyd]

If you wash it and graphite it works well.

 

[greyling22]

I've melted it down into real bullets. Works great.

 

[Seedy Character]

I like reclaimed shot
But, I am cheap

 

[edwardware]

. . . at scrap price.

Without knowing what that is, there's no telling.

At $0.50/#, I would rent a UHaul. At $1/#, I might buy a few hundred pounds depending on your rate of use.

 

[Slamfire]

I've melted it down into real bullets. Works great.

Why not!? Lead is lead, lead came from the earth, as lead ore. Had to be smelted before it was usable for shot or bullets, what is the big difference other than there are not a lot of tailings to throw away.

 

[greyling22]

Why not!? Lead is lead, lead came from the earth, as lead ore. Had to be smelted before it was usable for shot or bullets, what is the big difference other than there are not a lot of tailings to throw away.

I was referring to the alloy. The antimony and arsenic make for a nice hard bullet. Add a little tin, and you're good to go. It's better than pure lead by a wide margin. I like wheel weights better though.

 

[thegatman]

Do they seperete it as to shot size?

 

[Seedy Character]

Do they seperete it as to shot size?

Never seen anybody that separated it, unless the shooter done it, after purchase.