Shot making with the Magma machine.

[@jcm4590]

Thanks Dave. This video is a real eye opener. I've successfully loaded and shot thousands of pounds of both factory and reclaimed shot over the years. Although your homemade shot isn't perfectly round, it's definitely more consistent than reclaimed shot. You're making a believer out of me.

[@Thorsaxe777]

You can make it round if you want to spend the time doing it. You have to make a lapping drum which is two flat round stepped edge disks that have a center barring., the drum lays flat on the table and the shot is put between them, you turn the disk on top to lap the shot round. Kinda like a brake drum spinning on an axle. So it can be done just like the big boys. Dave.

[@jcm4590]

Sounds like a lot of extra work. Are you going to do it?

[@Thorsaxe777]

It's not needed. I don't have anything to make it out of at the moment.

[@tims6212]

Wow. That's cool. Thanks for taking me through it.

[@pbodymathis]

A friend of mine worked for Murdock lead company in DFW area during the 70's and they made shot. How they did it was similar but, the lead drips through the gauge holes and falls about 10 feet into the water. The fall helps it cool off and so does the water but the water also cushioned its fall to reduce flat sides on the shot.

[@chicowize]

Wow that was an interesting process Brother, thanks for sharing 👍🏽

[@FortuneCookie45LC]

TA - That machine is most impressive...another groundbreaking video from Thor's Axe..!! Thanks for informing all of us on this. Have a great day, Steve

[@Hambone_777]

Excellent stuff as always, lookin’ forward to another post man!

[@ecmillerbud1]

interesting process and very informative. Commercial shot is made much the same way, however it's allowed to fall further before it hits the coolant. The further it falls, within a limit, the more spherical the pieces will become.

[@jamestcampbell610]

The shot making company in Chicago's tower is 100 feet. I was there in 1965 and watched it.

[@OzarkSpirit]

This was great Dave. Thank you for sharing your process with us.

[@Thorsaxe777]

Well, I started off just making slugs. Now I'm making the shot. The shot is the most expensive part of the process of making shotgun shells. Many people gave up on reloading shotgun shells because of the price of the shot to make it, Many nice reloading presses are sitting idle out there because of it. This machine opens that door back up so people are not feeling the sting of paying $50 a 25-pound sack. anyone interested in shotgun should get one of these. even if you buy the wheel weights as material, You are still money ahead. Dave.

[@GunFunZS]

A coffee filter might be a good tool for cleaning your coolant . That's what we do with my brothers milling machine for his coolant and it works well . You can get these camp coffeemaker things that you put a paper filter in but have a very very fine mesh sieve in and set on top of the cup . They are basically funnel shaped . That gives you the possibility of several stages of filtration just by adding or removing different paper filters from them and you can put several different stages of seven in line if you have a circulation pump . He likes the cheap pumps that are made for water features like yard fountains for this purpose . If you're making a permanent set up for probably 50 or 60 bucks you could make something that you would be able to just leave running while you makes shot

[@Thorsaxe777]

We are going to have to meet up someday for breakfast If you ever get over this way let me know and breakfast is on me. The coolant becomes dirty with oxidized particulates that dissolve off the shot as it quenches, it isn't a big deal, a fine mesh screen works pretty well at making it good enough. Having a coolant recycling pump that takes cool liquid for the overflow tank and puts it back in the quenching tank is want some people make, however, I have monitored my coolant and it does not get to a point of overheating, I suppose that adding more tippets would increase the temperature quite a bit as more shot is made at one time. all I want now is a Cement mixer for tumbling the shot to polish it. That will come later as it isn't a necessity. Good to hear from ya, You should do a Lee Load-All video, that would be a good subject for people interested in making shotgun ammunition. Dave.

[@GunFunZS]

@@Thorsaxe777 I would enjoy that Dave would probably also enjoy having Andy's use of your machine . I've done to Lee Lodahl videos but I don't have a Lodahl anymore. I have a MEC 600 and a Bair "honey bair" now.

[@GunFunZS]

Speech to text... I noticed a bunch of typos in there. I hope you can parse out what I was trying to say. I am planning to do the video on the BAIR press

[@samdunston6296]

At the 16yrd line just about anything will work.....great video ty

[@mannyCA]

Great tutorial Dave!

[@Thorsaxe777]

Thanks, manny.

[@jamesboland6072]

Now that's a beautiful thing

[@markdiebel6354]

That is badass never seen it done at home before

[@FullLeadTaco]

First time I've ever seen shot being made.

[@long-dongvonbraun501]

The price of lead shot has gotten out of control since Obama. We used to pay less than 8 dollars for 25 lbs. Scrap steel is 100 dollars a TON yet steel shot is 2 dollars a pound before shipping. Anyone else seeing a problem here?

[@mcgavin098]

This is the most American thing I've seen in a while.

[@nycreloader]

Very cool machine Dave I like it a lot. It wasn’t cost effective for me to cast shot by hand to lower my cost but this makes sense. I do make my slugs but I will now consider making my shot after seeing this. Thanks bro.

[@Thorsaxe777]

You bet man.. I'm not Paying $50 to $40 a bag of shot, That's outrageous. "What is it,, Imported shot"?

[@jeffhuntley2921]

I’d love to see some head to head pattern testing with your shot vs reclaim vs maybe the Walmart cheap stuff. Very cool process, bet you could really fine tune your final product.

[@Thorsaxe777]

Okay, This is where I'm at on that. For busting birds (Clays) at the range in friendly practice, this stuff does it for me. I have fired the Walmart promotion ammo, and find it to be lacking in distance, I believe it to be a wad thing, I know guys and actually, 80% of the shooters shoot reclaim shot in practice for those that reload their own. My shot seems to be consistent with hit-ability and that is all I need it to do for the trap game. Thanks for watching. Dave.

[@DeLaRURAL]

Those BB's are completly spherical?

[@jvelecky]

Great video! A lot of useful info! What is the size of the American Standard sieve you are using? Thanks

[@BATJACJW]

Very interesting video!!

[@Thorsaxe777]

Ya. It's pretty easy, Just takes time like all crafts. Perfectly good for shooting Trap and skeet and pennies on the dollar. Thanks for watching. Dave.

[@SirJohnny9999]

Just curious ... how they make split shot for fly fishing. Wondering how they put the little slit in such tiny shot.

[@Thorsaxe777]

?... Hummmm...

[@smsgtbulldog]

It’s built into the mold

[@MrGlamis70]

Cool machine👍🏻

[@Thorsaxe777]

Thanks dude. ya it has proven itself.

[@woodsman2433]

Nice work man you need a PID set up though. My shots near perfect and a home made machine too

[@Thorsaxe777]

Thanks for watching. I could use a PID controller, however mine has a heat control unit built in to it. It takes a little adjusting, however, most of your heat loss is because you added too much material to be melted down. at least that is what I found out. -Dave

[@wbrewski1]

Great video for a beginner like me, I have only one question, size mesh is you lead sifter?

[@ironeagle1862]

where would I get such a machine, as this....looks like it does a GREAT job!

[@zauberer66]

Great videos, really enjoying the “ fire hydrant slug build” and how your trying to broker deals, that’s a great help to the Community. I’m in puyallup and would love to do a meet & greet.

[@Thorsaxe777]

The tail wads are on order and will be available through "The Reloaders Network" I believe that these slugs should fit the bill for the applications of slug use, Rifle accuracy in a shotgun. Thanks for your comment, I believe there are a lot of things we can do as a community to help each other out, Thanks again, Dave.

[@backyardinventor9580]

Very KOOL Dave, can you adjust the tipits for different size or do you change the tipits? Now if I could only cast bullets that fast!

[@Thorsaxe777]

Harry, You can change out the tippets by just unscrewing them from the back side, The shot maker needs to be warm in order get them out. You need to make or buy the tippets. If you know what a banjo bolt is all about that is the same premise. Dave.

[@saltcreekammo]

If you had to make your own shot maker, how would you do it?

[@Thorsaxe777]

There is a lot of info on the Russian youtube videos, we are all reloader so the language barrier isn't a factor so much you can't understand what they are doing, My suggestion is to spend a few weeks watching those guys. They are frugal and make everything by scratch using goodwill stuff. Dave.

[@FullLeadTaco]

Just get a few Lee pots and drill a hole through the bottom plate and allow them to drip into a bucket full of coolant?

[@Montecisco]

Did it work for you?

[@KD4BAW]

How exactly do you sort the good shot from the reject? What kind of sifter do you use???? I am considering getting me one of these and it will depend upon some of your answers!! THANKS GREAT VIDEO!!! I do have PLENTY OF LEAD!!!!!

[@Thorsaxe777]

You need to get a proper sieve to match your shot size. You also have to look at it for roundness, there isn't any perfectly round shot, once you fire it the shot compresses through the barrel and out the choke. there are different sieves made by the American Society for Testing and Materials. I haven't been disappointed in my shooting of this home cast shot. You can't go wrong dude. -Dave

[@bgjb-r1499]

Great job!! I have a few questions. Before melting the reclaimed shot do you clean it with water and allow it to dry. This process will remove all the lead dust or do you address the excess dust when melting it down? In the final stage when you graphite the shot in the tumbler do you add a drop or two of oil so the graphite better adheres to the shot? Please show how you replace the hot antifreeze with the cooler antifreeze. Finally, what’s the name of your shot maker. Thanks.

[@goldwp2]

Nice video. Wish it was my shotmaker you bought.

[@machoman9618]

What liquid you used for cooling lead ball

[@georgiaboy4410]

That was neat to watch. Good job👍🏻

[@Thorsaxe777]

Thanks.

[@robertswyers4420]

Great lookingsetup..Im curious as to where you purchased this little gem? Thanks

[@scottswagman1472]

Are you a hand model?

[@jamespollard1670]

This is cool to see . Will you consider making some hunting size shot like #4 at some time ?

[@Thorsaxe777]

Maybe. I would have to get the tippets for it. I can make those in a drill press though, I Target shoot as a sport because there isn't much hunting of Ducks around here, Greece is foul being around the salt water, they taste nasty like seaweed so there isn't much use in taking them here. Midwest, Ya, they have been eating corn and crops, they are worth hunting there. Dave.

[@gorillamotors]

What size or model number is that sieve?

[@woodsman2433]

Your spot on Dave, no lead shot is perfectly round by the time it hits the target weather its from the factory or home made nice job Bud

[@Thorsaxe777]

Thanks, there are a lot of opinions out there, However, Tin and antimony are cost plus alloys to add to your overall cost. I'm just busting clay birds for enjoyment and I have a lot to learn about this sport. The shot I make is quality and works well enough for the reason I make it. If I was to get into competitive clays I might step up the alloy because it is being used at a different level of use to me. I have my lost birds and that is always on me and my marksmanship so far. In the manufactures instructions, it says to use wheel weights material. anyway, thanks for your comment, Dave.

[@iamorangehat]

Got a size on that sieve? Or better yet.. The model number from American Standard?

[@extremehunters4493]

Simple water are liquid????

[@AnkitKumar-bn4cf]

Thats an interesting concept. Is it a heater on which the distributor is placed? If so, what are the specifications

[@Thorsaxe777]

It is just a hot plate coil under the melting pan, it is regulated and adjustable for heat control. you can go to Magma engineering to get the specs on the unit. Now that I can make shot, there isn't any reason to go buy it, I am happy with the shot I can make and see little difference in performance over store bought. Thanks for watching, -Dave

[@leonardwilson980]

Nice video. A couple of questions if I may. How hot are you running your lead? What are you using for coolant and what temp are you trying to keep the coolant to?

[@cs-rj8ru]

That's machine is pretty neat. But I think your shot would be allot more consistent if it had a more substantial drop before it hit the water. It hardly has a chance to form into a ball. I think it's why shot is made in towers rather than in a bucket.

[@SuperGreyfox99]

Nope the shorter the drop the better. If it hits the water too fast it deforms also if it rolls too long it also deforms. But if you can drop it from 180 ft then it's cool enough to stay in a nice round shot once it lands. But few people have a setup of 180 ft see we use a lip to change direction of force.

[@tomharrell1954]

4-5 % bismuth 2% antimony 1% tin Will harden the shot! Dropping in in cold liquid will harden it. If you are really crazy and must have it very very round make two round plates one with a hole in the middle. Spin them and drop the shot in the hole in the middle. That should make them round. Check making bearings.

[@pcbulletempire9872]

This is interesting👍👍👏👏🇺🇸🤓

[@Thorsaxe777]

Tim, I have been watching your videos, You are getting good accuracy with those cast rifle bullets, the coyotes won't know the differences between those and Jacketed ones. and a day at the range just sipping coffee shooting holes in paper is a lot cheaper, can't complain too much about the price and the accuracy. Ya, so making the shot is super easy, No sprues to collect and all you have to do is tend the Machine. Dave.

[@carlosdelarosachavez-Liam]

Thanks Dave. Are you heating up with a electrical resistance? Is possible to see the details on the lead drop nozzle? Thanks

[@Thorsaxe777]

This is a electric thurmastatiticly control unit. the drippers are drilled with very small holes to allow the beads of lead to form, there are other videos on people making them for their shotmakers. or you can go to ebay and look at the shot size that you want and the size hole that was drilled, that should be in the description. thanks for watching -Dave

[@rwh-fr4zs]

God I've love a popcorn shrimp machine!

[@Thorsaxe777]

Yep. that was a slip of the tongue. "Popcorn shot" was what I was trying to say. -Dave.

[@singleshot2218]

How do you get it out of that big tray without losing any? I'm kinda bad about losing lead..getting to hard to get it.

[@Thorsaxe777]

I have an Ice container that is square like the one you have on the dresser at a motel. You just scoop it up and pour it through the strainer into a 5 gal bucket after it has dried. It isn't a big trick and I don't lose any in the process. Dave.

[@GunFunZS]

Dave I have a question. Have you tried putting more vertical distance between your dripper in the cooler in seeing if your shot is more spherical?

[@Thorsaxe777]

The instructions are that you position the coolant 1/4 below the drip ramp, otherwise, your shot will be egg shape. I know where you're going with this. It seems that everyone who makes shot positions the ramp the same way.

[@GunFunZS]

@@Thorsaxe777 1/4 inch?

[@SuperGreyfox99]

If you do that it becomes worse. It hit the water or coolant too fast then deforms. Trust me. Lol

[@larryjones2201]

Where did you get the hot pan?

[@Thorsaxe777]

This one was made by Magma Engineering. they are pricey. If you want one, what I would do is see about getting just the pan with the holes drilled in it for the dribblers. you can use any heat source gas or electric. I believe there are people casting them out of aluminum online over the internet. Making your own shot is easy and saves you money in the long run. you also become independent of the price of premade shot. Thanks for watching. Dave

[@larryjones2201]

@@Thorsaxe777 yeah I can't pay 65.00 for 25lbs of shot. And I have alot of lead. Good video. So I can buy the pan online?

[@andrewsalisbury7554]

So how long does it take to make a 25 lb bag of shot with all 7 tippets open size 6 shot

[@Thorsaxe777]

Not long at all. Maybe an hour depends on keeping the material melted and flowing at the right temp, Like every craft, it takes time and experience to get to know really how to do it. Like airbrushing, You don't just sit down and airbrush. You have to see the tell things that are going on. However, it doesn't take long, after a few sessions of shot making you get it.

[@andrewsalisbury7554]

Nice thanks ya thinking of setting this up. But gonna have a seperate melting pot amd then just continue to ladle in the melting lead that way the machine isn't having to keep melting and dripping

[@jamesboland6072]

Wow is that size 4

[@robertrivasarroyo1174]

Why are you not using fabric softener as your coolant? The thickness of the fabric softener makes the shot shape more round . Water with antifreeze is too thin, I know you said it doesn't matter. Just saying.

[@jackkings3408]

what size of sieve where you using

[@mckwilly]

Awesome

[@Thorsaxe777]

Thanks, Guy. It saves me money. within Three sessions I have made enough for 3.000 target rounds, Cheap. Dave.

[@wisdombear4965]

Is there a chart somewhere that tells what size the holes in dripper are for different size shot?

[@Thorsaxe777]

The manufacturer sell dripper tips, each of those have a corresponding hole size for the size shot you want to make.

[@donnaw740]

Hav you tried to take a bottle torch on low and heat up the ends of the ones that are not working? The shot might have cooled and just heat the end up just a little bit . Let me know it that works for you ?

[@jamieclemons1526]

Can you make bigger shot too?

[@marcusmason3440]

I save all the misshapes and oddball pieces for the squirrels😂

[@DrFillyBlunt]

Really neat. I started watching led casting videos a few days ago. Had no idea how shot was made. Is this similar to how it's made commercially?

[@autocadtutorial5031]

What is the price of this machine

[@FullLeadTaco]

That's way cool man, so how much does one of those shotmaker machines cost?

[@Thorsaxe777]

I paid $475 from Magma Engineering. I have made 12 bags so far so it's paid for itself in savings over buying new or reclaimed shot. If you want a bag of it say the word, buddy. just give me a place to ship it. Dave.

[@FullLeadTaco]

@Jacques d'Bongocero ha ha, not sure on that. I wonder if there's be enough demand to convince Al to produce one. I wish NOE would make a premium 30lb casting pot or maybe 40lb. That would be cool.

[@woodsman2433]

Well done

[@codymatt2936]

What liquid that falls in lead?

[@goldwp2]

The three drippers are good quality, the other one or cheap galvanized bolt.

[@shanek6582]

There’s a “shot tower” in Virginia that’s many stories tall, they melted the lead on top and dropped it through a screen, supposedly the long fall mad the shot rounder on the way down to the water tub on bottom. Has anyone tried with one of these new melters, letting them fall like 15 feet before hitting the water? Thanks

[@rockyreynolds4027]

I would like to see that also

[@showproja]

I do pour my own shot, but the smallest I do is #4 buck. I looked at doing smaller, but it's just too cheap to buy.

[@junkingullie9865]

What is a the watt of heating device

[@halilibrahimsozer5736]

How I can buy this machine ? Or how I can find this ? Any store ? Thanks

[@Thorsaxe777]

Magma Engineering.

[@russellscohy2933]

how do you clean the shot after removing it from the tank?

[@Thorsaxe777]

I have a bucket with water in it, I soak the shot in the water and then remove the shot, I leave the bucket with the water in it out and let osmosis evaporate the water rather than pouring it out on the ground as it contains contamination of antifreeze. after the water is gone I wipe the bucket out with a paper towel and dispose of it in the common trash.

[@veyselkacar3278]

What name is Water

[@Skilpadjie1]

what Coolant did you use.

[@Thorsaxe777]

I believe it was a prestone product, it was red in color, you don't add water to it. that was quite a while ago and I have discarded it.

[@wisdombear4965]

And does the drip hit the ledge as it comes out?

[@Thorsaxe777]

Yes, It forms a droplet that is round when it hits the coolant.

[@russellscohy2933]

what do you use for a sieve?

[@Thorsaxe777]

American National Standards Institute sieves. Just type that into your browser.

[@johnwhauserman]

I have a question can you make buckshot with this process?

[@Thorsaxe777]

No, you have to cast buckshot with molds. the dribblers are for shot down to (I believe) #5. I will have to look at the ordering chart at Magma. Thanks for watching- Dave

[@johnwalters7415]

What if you wanted big size shot like #4 size or #2

[@Thorsaxe777]

I believe with a little searching around you can find dribblers for those sizes.

[@kylelusk8994]

Very neat machine! I would love to see it in wide open mode!

[@Thorsaxe777]

It goes pretty good the way it is already. Thing is the faster you make the shot, the smaller the ingots you need to make, it will consume lead faster than it melts it in large ingots. The machine needs to be at a certain lead level to maximize production, about the size of the small 1/2 pound Lee ingots. I don't have any on hand. Dave.

[@kylelusk8994]

Thor's Axe that does make sense. Not sure of the capacity of the reservoir

[@FullLeadTaco]

@@Thorsaxe777 Daisy chain with a Lee pot above it?

[@OLetsRoll]

I agree with Full.Lead.Taco. The Lee pot would be the ideal solution. Why buy something that you can't use it's full potential. Defeats the purpose of buying in the first place. Never understood why reloader do this thou. Anyways great video.

[@SajadAli-fu2fc]

This is a water o not

[@svernwarunos546]

Kind of make those british guys in them towers look silly.

[@bullet225ho]

Federal must be buying there shot for the Top Gun ammo from you.

[@ericcapucci9869]

the shot stays in the plastic wad until after it leaves the barrells its not deformed.

[@michaelj9210]

How are your patterns

[@Thorsaxe777]

Between storebought and this I make there is no discernable difference. it is more of a wad thing.

[@dirtydan3029]

If i were to shoot every week this season i would need 42 - 66 pounds of lead to make all the shells i would need (season length depends on weather)

[@17hmr243]

Test your therory by shooting stright up land it on blankets

[@loganbartlett8372]

Cheer ideas just going to get people killed shut your fucking mouth dude

[@loganbartlett8372]

So also there's the fact that itch and known the shot that forms when you shoot a dipwad

[@billy56081]

I expected them to drop a lot further through the air.

[@Thorsaxe777]

I expected that too when I first got into this, However, the manual and from what I have seen on video, 1/4 to 1/8 of an inch is all you need. Dave.

[@billy56081]

We learn something new every day.

[@sobersportsman]

POPCORN SHRIMP!!

[@foxcub2yo108]

You’d get more even pellet size with a higher drop

[@veyselkacar3278]

Whats name red Water

[@DeLaRURAL]

I tried but looks like corn pops!😐

[@cristianosouza3683]

está peça fazer chumbo em alumínio ou inox

[@ocean374]

That’s great Dave awesome job now here is my crazy question so you started with 100 pounds and it gave you 130 pounds hopefully I heard that right 👍👍

[@Thorsaxe777]

I ended up keeping the shotmaker going passed 100 pounds, once you get going it is hard to just stop. hehehe. Like casting bullets, you always make more than you had set in your mind after you get going. Dave.

[@mrleechapman7615]

Shot in Australia $119.95 per 10 kg

[@peterlassen7197]

Hi lee, same in nz No body loads 12g, mainly only load for subgauge skeet

[@celticdude4686]

I need one that can drip 00 buck.

[@Thorsaxe777]

I believe that you have to cast stuff that big. I have molds for buckshot.

[@ericcapucci9869]

your shot is not in the shot lol

[@goldwp2]

Nice video oasisleadshotmaker.com bought the D&R shot make out he made them for magma engineering.

[@fracturedhearts3734]

I made some shot by the "hole in a spoon" way and it shot ok. Hell it shot great for what I was doing. One of those would be nice

[@dirtydan3029]

If i were to shoot every week this season i would need 42 - 66 pounds of lead to make all the shells i would need (season length depends on weather)