Lenard,
Not sure about dropped shot, but some European companies, like S&B rolled their shot to size between plates rather than just screening it. Perhaps some Italian firms use or used that method as well? From everything I have ever read on the subject or heard discussed 5 to 6 % is all that is necessary for shot sizes below #6 or #7 [.1"] for maximum hardness; it is diminishing returns after that. Shot sized above #6 does not materially benefit from high percentages of Antimony, at least not that can be detected on the pattern plate. I personaly do not have much experience w/patterning lead shot sizes larger than #4[US], but never could detect that there was a bit of dif., pattern wise, using the more inexpensive [lower Antiony?] shot in sizes #4 or #5 vs. the 'Magnum' or high Antimony shot.
Whether or not rolling allows a higher percentage of Antimony or not, I don't have a clue. I am not aware of more than those two methods of making shot in any commercial quantity.
