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I use pennies to fill my 25mm round bases.

Fishing line weights (split shot) has been recommended for filling larger bases which contain multiple locating sockets.

What size or weight of shot should I order? (UK sizes if possible, please.) It doesn't want to be more than maybe 2mm diameter. I don't know how this converts to those sizes like AAA or BB.

I am many miles from an actual fishing tackle shop and must order online.

Thanks in advance...

Must be wierd inthe UK...Here in Canada theres always a tackle shop in town (or several) or at least within 50-75 kilometres away.

I can't answer your question on sizes in UK system as I have no idea what AAA or BB sizes are...

Just buy a box of sinkers and it'll usually come with all different sizes (weights). And sinkers are dirt cheap.

I don't know what stores are in UK/London, but you've always been able to get sinkers of all kinds at Big W, K-Mart, even some general supermarkets here in Auz. Supermarkets usually don't have as great a selection, and obviously a tackle shop would have exactly what you need... No sports stores either?

It actually makes sense that Canada and Australia have a bigger sports fishing industry though.

The UK has plenty of sports/fishing stores but not in central London.

I don't want to drive 20 miles just to buy a box of shot.

Have you tried United nuclear? They carry various shot but I don't want to go on and check because I'm on a slow connection here. For my large round bases - the heavy weapons team ones - I just glued in a double layer of pennies all over the bottom. It gave it a good weight.

I find nickels (Canadian ones) work well with a dab of superglue, or by filling up the rest with pvc glue.

I use them sometimes, they're great for adding weight. Squish em in a pair of plyers and glue 3 or 4 to the underside. I have no idea what size mine are, but they're about 2x bigger than your average BB. I know that probably doesn't help at all, but still.

I use bird shot or buck shot for weight. It's easy to find in the states at sporting good stores and Gun stores. Granted it is probably a bit harder to get in Europe.


Here is some lead free steel shot

http://www.outdoorsmansupply.com/store/browseexec.asp?idCategory=243

that site also has lead shot if you want to go that route.

Ditto on the birdshot. It works really well.

Obviously none of you are anglers.

So I stopped being lazy and looked it up for myself.

The information was originally posted by moderator "henry d" on the pigeonwatch.co.uk forum.

SIZE--Ø "--Ømm--Pellets/oz
LG---.36----9.1----6

SG---.33----8.4----8

SSG--.27---6.8----15

AAA--.20---5.2----36

BB US-.18--4.5----50

BB UK-.16--4.1----70

2 US--.15---3.8----90

1----.14----3.6----100

3----.13----3.3----140

4----.12----3.1----170

5----.11----2.8----220

6----.10----2.6----270

7----.095---2.4----340

7.5--.09----2.3----400

8----.085---2.2----450

9----.080---2.0----580

THESE ARE NOMINAL SIZES FOR ................. LEAD!!!!!!

or you could try air rifle bbs

BB's are too big, but shotgun pellets are perfect, cheap, and easy to find. (You want the smaller shot, not buckshot) I bought a box of shotgun shells for $4.00 and there's enough in those to last me four or five hundred bases.

I use the cut-off chunks of metal sprue from models.

yea im a nickel guy myself. they fit perfectly in the base and weigh pretty much any mini down enough as to stop the top heavy pooh that happens

I would use small coins, but BlackReach Boyz have slotta-bases :(
Fishing shot sounds great! Is it expensive? Lead-free would be my choice, but cheap would be my fisrt choice!

Doctor Thunder wrote:BB's are too big, but shotgun pellets are perfect, cheap, and easy to find.

You forget we live in a country with sensible firearms laws

Five cent coins do the trick over here.

Not mych weight to 'em though... they're the only ones that fit.

The Dreadnote wrote:

Doctor Thunder wrote:BB's are too big, but shotgun pellets are perfect, cheap, and easy to find.

You forget we live in a country with sensible firearms laws

Regardless of firearms laws it is easy to buy shot pellets or split shot for fishing lines in the UK. They have various uses, such ballasting boats or divers for example, apart from filling into shotgun cartridges.

I know this now because I have been Googling for places to buy shot.

I use nickles for open bases and shotgun shot for slotted bases.

The Dreadnote wrote:

Doctor Thunder wrote:BB's are too big, but shotgun pellets are perfect, cheap, and easy to find.

You forget we live in a country with sensible firearms laws

Then for you guys across the pond I suggest filling your bases with black pudding instead.

I use washers

The Dreadnote wrote:

Doctor Thunder wrote:BB's are too big, but shotgun pellets are perfect, cheap, and easy to find.

You forget we live in a country with sensible firearms laws

Yes, I would suppose you follow that ideology once you figured out that all those people you were oppressing rise up against you once they have a means to defend themselves.

If you want to take the time to make really heavy base plugs, most car shops have a big bucket of car tire balancing weights that they are always looking to get rid of. Lead is perfectly fine to use as long as you're not licking it, so avoid the aluminum or iron ones (some tire rims can't use lead for some reason). You can make a base inverse mold using plaster then, with a big heavy metal spoon, a torch of some kind (or even just a hot plate, and a well ventilated area, melt the lead, pour into the hold and let cool before removing the plug. This can be done with the same mold plenty of times if you're careful. However, this is a lot of work, using nickles is easier, and safer!

Doctor Thunder wrote:I use nickles for open bases and shotgun shot for slotted bases.

The Dreadnote wrote:

Doctor Thunder wrote:BB's are too big, but shotgun pellets are perfect, cheap, and easy to find.

You forget we live in a country with sensible firearms laws

Then for you guys across the pond I suggest filling your bases with black pudding instead.

What!? A waste of black pudding! For slotta-bases I use chunks of metal left from any 'eavy metal kits in the house (plenty, my GF rolls Eldar, so few plastic kits!) or bisected pennies with anything that will cut them.