I thought I would give y'all an update on the reloading project I started a couple of months ago. Some of you will get a kick out of this.
I bought a mec progressive 12 gauge re-loader and started stuffing my own. That turned into an interest in casting bullets, buckshot and slugs. Later I discovered you can make your own shot.
After some research I found the limiting factor in making lead shot to be a reliable source of lead. The prefect solution would be to find someone who had the equipment locally that was having a hard time finding lead. So that is what I did. I called a buddy who hooked me up with a friend of his that was able to do just that. Next I went to the public range I have been volunteering at and dug up lead bullets and melted them into ingots. Last Sat I delivered 1200 lbs of lead to the shot maker and he said it would be a 70/30 split in my favor to make the shot.
So for three 5 gallon tanks of propane and some sweet equity I will get back 840 lbs of 7 1/2 and 8's that is graphited and ready to load. I got 4 five gallon buckets of copper jackets and so far have sold 3 of them to the recyclers for a total of $418.50.
So all total I will get back around $2000 worth of shot and cash. By volunteering at the range, I basically shoot clays for free. It will cost about $1.60 for 20 ga and $1.80 for 12 ga per box for primers, power, and wads. I pick up all the hull I want as that is one of the things we volunteer to do. I made enough off the copper to buy a new mec 9000 g in 20 gauge for the kids shells.
For less that $10 out of pocket, I can shoot 100 clays on the skeet field or the sporting clay range!
Some of y'all are thinking that is way too much trouble but I am a tinkerer and really enjoyed the process.
Who says shooting has to be expensive!
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
I am a fellow range lead miner! I don't think there are too many of us around anymore. I also do a fair amount of bullet casting and wish I could find someone in North Texas to make shot for me, just like you. That was a master stroke!
Did some Ransom Rest testing with some of my cast bullets on Sunday in a S&W 625 Classic revolver, after trying to call in a few crows without success in this hot Texas weather. The testing revealed excellent results in .45 Colt (using a SAECO 255 grain full wadcutter bullet backed by Universal Clays) with a 12 shot group printing under 2 inches at 25 yards ( and 10 of those shots in 1.07 inches!). A would like to center up a crow with that load someday but realistically will try it on a deer this fall.
