Birdshot Casting Mold?

Question

I've been trying to find a casting mold for bird-shot due to the exorbitant cost of shot these days, but so far I haven't been able to find anything but slug and buck molds. They must exist, but I'm running out of places to search. Does anybody know where to find some? (If you don't know, or enjoy condescending, please understand that I am an avid reloader and caster and have been for years, so resist the urge to post :)

Answer 1

Bird shot smaller than #4 shot is not cast in molds, but by the 'drop' process described elsewhere.

As expensive as it may be, buying commercial birdshot is still cheaper than any 'home-made' alternative.

I really lucked out here in Yuma, as one of the local scrapyards buys lead shot by the TON from the local U.S. testing facility, where the 25+ lb. bags of Winchester shot are used for test loads and ballast in vehicle tests. I have used this surplus shot not only in reloaded 12ga. shells, but even MORE of it for casting pure lead black powder projectiles and alloyed cast target bullets.

Try the local Yellow Pages, and you just might luck out like I did.

Answer 2

shot is made by dropping beads of molten lead from the top of a tower and allowing it so solidify as it falls through streams of cold air. this would be difficult to produce on your own.

Answer 3

My father was one h**l of a small game hunter. I recall that he often brought home half a dozen rabits, with 5 to 8 birds; mostly Pheseant.

He learned to reload ina da ol contry(Italy). As a child I recall my father melting lead in a small cast iron sauce pan, then carefully pouring the lead into a bucket of water. If you pour the lead slowly, and from about 3 to 5 feet above the bucket, it will break up into small roundish drops, then cool in the bucket, into about a 5 to 6 shot. With a careful slow pour from higher up(5 to 6 feet) will produce smaller shot. They were not completely round, but for some reason, they patterned very well. The shot would open up a little quicker than store bought stuff, but for hunting birds, this is better. It is much like spreader shot.

I dont remember exactly all the details of how he did melt the lead, or where he got it, but it worked really well. I think he used lead he got from the factory he worked in. Today I cast with wheel weights; they can be bought at a reasonable price from metal yards. The weights are hard due to a good amount of tin already in them.

I suggest that you but your shot, because this is a dangerous thing to do, but if you cast your own bullets, I guess you have some idea of how to handle the lead.

Here is my disclaimer KIDS DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

Good luck!!!