Lead Shot - Applications Outside Firearms

Applications Outside Firearms

Lead shot is also often used as ballast in various situations, especially where a dense, pourable weight is required. Generally, small shot is best for these applications, as it can be poured more like a liquid. Completely round shot is not required. When used as a pourable/mouldable weight, the shot may be left loose, or mixed with a bonding agent such as epoxy to contain and stabilize the pellets after they are poured. Some applications are:

• Stress testing: Providing variable weights in strength-of-materials stress-testing systems. Shot pours from a hopper into a basket, which is connected to the test item. When the test item fractures, the chute closes and the mass of the lead shot in the basket is used to calculate the fracture stress of the item.
• Hydrometers: use a weight made of shot, since the weight has to be poured into a narrow glass vessel.
• Split shot: a larger type of lead shot where each pellet is cut part-way through the diameter. These type of shot were formerly commonly used as a line weight in angling. They are no longer solely manufactured from lead but instead are often made from softer materials that can be easily pressed onto the fishing line instead of being closed in a crimp using pliers as was once common.
• The heads of some dead blow hammers are filled with shot to minimize rebound off the struck surface.
• Shot belt: some scuba diving weight belts are contain pouches filled with lead shot.
• speaker stands can be filled with lead shot for additional acoustic decoupling, as well as stability.
• Model rocketry: to add weight to the nose of the rocket, increasing the stability factor.
• Due to its relatively high heat capacity and low thermal conductivity at low temperatures, lead shot has been used as a suitable material for a regenerator in stirling or thermoacoustic cryocoolers.