Bismuth Duck Loads

Kirk Mckinney · 09-09-2016, 11:47 AM

Gentlemen

I wanted to see what you guys with years of experience with hunting loads think about my ideal. I am shooting a 1929 Sterlingworth 2 1/2 in shells. I have a 7/8 oz load that I shoot skeet with. If I loaded the same load with Bismuth do you think it would work well with Ducks over Decoys ? Do you think 7/8 load is enough of 4 or 5 shot? If the velocity is around 1150 to 1200 fps. I would say probably all my shots would be 35 yards or less. 45 max..... what do yall think.
If this will work I would only have about 6200 - 7000 psi.

Thanks in advance for any insight anyone might have.
See you in the fields!

Harry Collins · 09-09-2016, 02:21 PM

Your Fox is a stout old gun. I would not hesitate to shoot 1 1/8 oz loads through it. Check out RST's non-tox loads. My father took ducks with a 20 gauge Trojan imp cylinder and mod back in the 30's using modest 7/8 oz loads, but I think he waited to smell their breath before he shot.

OH Osthaus · 09-09-2016, 02:50 PM

If you are just substituting bismuth for lead

How do you know what the pressure will be?

Have they been tested

Kirk Mckinney · 09-09-2016, 06:17 PM

Yes I wait till there close too. About a foot over the decoys is good for me. Lol I don't miss much like that I'm shooting 30in full and full. No I hadn't had them tested. Although I think I would. I like to know where I'm at.

Kirk Mckinney · 09-09-2016, 06:20 PM

Over at precision Keith told me he had a load of 1 oz of bismuth that tested at 8400. I think that was what he said. It was for 2 1/2 in 12 gauge also

Kirk Mckinney · 09-09-2016, 06:23 PM

I have 4 boxes of rst bismuth. But you never know when this stuff goes extinct. Lol

OH Osthaus · 09-09-2016, 07:06 PM

Rio and Kent are currently loading Bismuth

Kirk Mckinney · 09-09-2016, 08:49 PM

Are they loading 2 1/2 in 12 gauge

OH Osthaus · 09-09-2016, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk Mckinney

Are they loading 2 1/2 in 12 gauge

No.

Opening Day · 09-13-2016, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

Rio and Kent are currently loading Bismuth

From what I am hearing the pressures are up near the top, that's just what I have heard. The only thing that I do know is that Kent emailed me back on their Bismuth 16's and said pressure was around 9000, which is not bad if you think you may shoot a couple of boxes a season and then go back to low pressure loads for clays.