Reclaimed Shot

[NoNOS67]

So I've loaded reclaimed shot in the past and have never had any problems, but take a look at this stuff I picked up today. Anyone ever bought reclaimed shot that looked like this before? Looks like the bottom of the barrel garbage that the processor didn't want. Should I even bother loading this stuff?

[foxtrotuniformlima]

Reclaimed is a real crap shoot.

How clean is it? Last batch I got was not very clean.

[NoNOS67]

It's pretty clean and I haven't found any rocks or anything, but there was a half ounce or so of steel shot mixed in. They didn't graphite it either, so I'll tumble in a bit before I load it. The first pics I posted don't do it any justice...I'll post some better ones in a few minutes. The shot is smashed to hell and I'm not talking about a bit of it, it's more like 90% of it.

[NoNOS67]

Better pic attached

[cgates]

looks pretty nasty indeed. if you are going to use it for skeet or another shorter range use, it would probably work ok. patterns wouldnt be great but you might think about using a little tighter choke to compensate.

depending on how much you bought it for you might be just as well off throwing it in the casting pot (if you do that) or sell it to someone who casts bullets/slugs/buck

[ysr_racer]

Better pic attached

That's pretty nasty stuff.

[sargenv]

Eh, for short range blasting it'll probably do fine.. I'd load it up for general plinking.. it's so funky, it might open up your pattern a bit and make a hit on that clay as a "golden BB"...

[NoNOS67]

After tax it was 30 bucks, picked it up at P2K down here in San Diego. The stuff seriously looks like it's been run through a garbage disposal! I'll load some up tomorrow and see how it goes. Might work ok for my quail loads.

[Newshooter]

That is some bad looking stuff. I would think you would get a lot of "fliers" out of each round. I agree with the comment that a tighter choke might work. For $30, it should have been MUCH better than that!!

[sargenv]

If it were me, I'd pattern it at the expected yardage you intend to shoot it. You may be surprised..

[foxtrotuniformlima]

I've gone to shooting redropped instead of reclaimed.

I got tired of getting junk like that. or worse.

[woods]

I just buy new unused but my idea is: why not mix that batch with new shot and a better batch of reclaimed? Dilute it.

[NoNOS67]

I just buy new unused but my idea is: why not mix that batch with new shot and a better batch of reclaimed? Dilute it.

Not a bad idea. I'll probably start with loading a bit by itself, just to see if my press does ok with it. Then, to the patterning board!