Dutch Wheeler Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 To curb my cabin fever yesterday, I decided to load some shotshells with reclaimed shot that I got last fall using my Lee Load All II. After about 50 rounds, the charge bar became harder and harder to move. I stopped, emptied the hoppers and remove the charge bar. What I discovered was that the reclaimed shot that I was using was full of grit, which was small enough to pass between the charge bar and the body of the loader. Needless to say, it chewed the hell out of my charge bar! I ended up rinsing with water and running the remaining shot through a strainer, and ended up with about 1/4 cup worth of fine grit, sand, and other tiny crap, some that was attracted to a magnet. I have read that a lot of other pards on the wire use reclaimed shot for this game, what has your experience been? More importantly, do you do anything to the reclaimed shot before loading in your hopper? If so, what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al OVERA, SASS#26238 Life Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Our club has the fall fields professionally mined every few years, and sells our cut of the shot to members, BUT, the miners wash the shot in a water bath tumbler similar to a large cement mixer, heat dry it, and then tumble it again in another mixer with graphite before weighing it out in 25# bags. No dirt here. Yours came from an amateur reclaimer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flush Draw Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I put my reclaimed shot in a bucket and spray it with WD40 before it goes in the hopper. Makes a huge difference. I use a Possness Warren and reclaimed my own shot. Built my own sifters and had problems with white rust and dirt. (grit) Just about wore out my gears in my press, That's when I started lubing my shot and now no problems at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Yep, reclaimed shot varies greatly in quality depending upon who did the mining. Always need to check it for contamination - spread some on white butcher paper and roll the shot out of the way, see what remains. Some will even have fine sand in it - really bad news for the loader and the shotgun bore. The best reclaimed is even very clean, then re-graphited so it will flow through the hopper, bar and shot bushing well. Good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 It should be WASHED, and graphite coated. LG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisco Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Ours is professionally mined, cleaned, and re-graphited (if that's a word), but I run through it with a heavy duty magnet like used for carrying sheetmetal around to get the steel shot out of it before I load it. Really don't want that steel coming back off the poppers at us... Not sure why anyone is firing steel at clay pigeons, but have gotten sometimes as many as 60-70 pellets out of a bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Whiskers Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 About all I use is reclaimed shot. Been lucky in that when we get it, it has been cleaned and 90% of the time had graphite added. If I'm not sure about the graphite I use a empty 1lb powder bottle and fill it to about 2/3 full. Then add some powdered graphite and roll the bottle around the floor to mix it in. So far so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Wheeler Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share Posted February 9, 2014 The reclaimed shot that I had, came from a reputable on-line supplier to our sport, described as "washed, polished, graphited", and had 20 good reviews. Perhaps they got it from another source as it had too much crap in to have been "washed". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madd Mike #8595 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I have NOT had good luck with reclaimed shot in my dillon there will be many that will say their dillon loves the stuff mine does NOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I've looked at reclaimed shot on some company's web site and they had some described for use as ballast. Other products were described as being washed, screened and re-graphited and bagged in 25 lb bags. Maybe they sent the wrong stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace_of_Hearts Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I never had a problem with grit in reclaimed shot. Each year there seems to be more and more steel shot mixed in. I always process my reclaimed shot through a funnel with a very strong magnet taped on the inside. I slowly pour the shot up against the magnet and re-bag the shot before it goes on the shelf to use. I have gotten as much as a half teaspoon of steel shot from a bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollifer A. Dollar Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I have been using reclaimed shot for a couple of years & have not had any problems at all in my Load All IIs. Sounds like you got a bad batch. The shot I have bought comes in 2 liter coke bottles, so you can see what you are getting pretty easily. Holler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Sidebar question: Is the reclaimed shot at Ben Avery cleaned and graphited? I'm planning to buy a dozen bags if it is available and would like some feedback from those who use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulie Drifter Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 My brother and I also checked our reclaimed for steel, we did find a little. We both think it is very important for Everyone who is using it to check for steel, it is the responsible thing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pit Bull Tex Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Could I ask what you guys pay for reclaimed shot maybe 7 or 7 1/2 per 25 lbs,? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazarus Longshot, SASS #44254 Life Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Right now, paying 28.50 plus tax per 25 lb. bag. Mix of 7 1/2 and 8 shot. Laz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyfinger 22618 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Been using reclaimed shot for years thru my Dillon with no problems shot is washed and regraphited I also add a small tube of graphit to rack 25# bag it seems to work for me Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlesnake Slim Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Sidebar question: Is the reclaimed shot at Ben Avery cleaned and graphited? I'm planning to buy a dozen bags if it is available and would like some feedback from those who use it. The last time I checked (December) they had none and weren't expecting the " Shot Guy" this winter at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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