[masraum]

This is pretty cool. We don't need no stinkin' mold! (yes, I get that there's a difference between the bullets that Jeff makes and round ball)

“Filled With Hot Lead”

One piece of local history worth checking out is the Jackson Ferry Shot Tower located in Wythe County off the Ft. Chiswell exit.

A man named Thomas Jackson (no, not Stonewall) purchased the property at a public auction and finished construction of the shot tower. It was completed in 1807.

It was used to make lead shot for use in the firearms of the day. The tower itself is 75 feet tall and has a shaft inside it that drops down another 75 feet close to the shore of the New River. The shot was made by taking firewood and lead to the top of the tower where there was a furnace that melted down the lead. The molten lead was then poured through a sifter that allowed the desired shot size to drop through.

As the led fell the 150 feet the resistance created by the fall would round it into shape and cool it off enough to keep form when it hit the bottom. At the bottom of the shaft was an awaiting kettle full of water into which the lead would plunge for retention and would soon become hardened lead shot. This finished product would then be sold to merchants, traders, hunters, etc. for use in their firearms.

The Jackson Ferry Shot Tower is one of only a handful still standing and is located right here in the good ol' Appalachian Mountains. You can watch the video of our visit at this link:

Jackson Ferry Shot Tower
https://youtu.be/uaeQiMFcl04