Trying to figure out if I should try my hand at shotmaking. Looks like i can get a machine for about $375 ("The Better Shotmaker", single version), which would pay for itself in about 8.5 hrs at 45 lbs an hour assuming free lead. I go though about a quarter ton of shot a year b/w practice and competition (thank you small gauges, really saves on shot), and would only use the homemade shot for practice, so figure no more than 15 bags a year would be needed (375 lbs). I can't figure that it'd be worth it to make my own, but maybe i'm missing something. I could always make some to sell at the club, but couldn't tell until i got into it if i'd really want to spend that much time working on it, figure it might sell for $15/bag, so i'd be paying myself $30/hr assuming free lead, not bad, but maybe not worth the effort.

lead poisoning?, molten lead spills?, significant learning curve?, the shot maker is only one part of the equation? Getting the lead?, melting it down into ingots? cleaning, drying, inspecting? storing everything?

I too thought long and hard about it and to me it just seems like to much to start up, the leaning curve, etc... to even bother with it.

I got kids around too and I fear I would catch them playing with the lead or somehow hurting themselves with the crap let alone me burning myself, spilling shit all over the place or dying of lead poisoning a few years later.

If you are a a die hard mechanical junkie that is looking for a hobby or in the market of making a few bucks at your gun club, go for it. If you are looking to save a few bucks a year because of the price of shot, save your money by buying cheap primers, cheap powder, and cheap wads and scrounge your hulls. Do all that and you can spend the extra on the shot. You still won't save much as compared to buying factory cheapos but you are safe from the dangers and hassles of making your own toxic shot.

Good luck if you decide to take on the challenge!!!! Be safe

I think Ajax is about right. It takes quite a bit of time to make it. If all I needed was 375 lbs, I wouldn't even consider it. My goal for this year is 3000 lbs.

Jim