Factory Bismuth Shot

[Jim McKee]

12 gauge 3 inch Bismuth Factory Shotshells

This is Not a Scientific study. I was curious so I opened several shotshells of each brand with Bismuth shot. Shot counts were very close when comparing in the same brand. I did not measure the diameter of pellets.

What I found:
Winchester 1-3/8 oz # 4 Bismuth counted 211 pellets with buffer.

Hevi Shot Bismuth 1-3/8 oz # 4 Bismuth counted 185 pellets with some type of seeds (Flax?)

Kent 1-3/8 oz # 4 Bismuth counted 224 pellets

Federal Meateater 2 & ¾ inch 1-1/4 oz # 5 Bismuth counted 230 pellets with what appears to be plastic drops added to the shot.

Winchester 1-3/8 oz # 1 Bismuth shot counted 108 pellets with buffer

Speed listed on all boxes said 1450 FPS except Federal Meateater2-3/4 inch Bismuth which listed as 1350 FPS.

Roto Metals list the followsing for Bismuth shot per oz.

# 1 81 pellets per oz 111 pellets 1-3/8oz
# 4 161 pellets per oz 221 pellets 1-3/8oz

# 5 198 per oz 247 pellets 1-1/4 oz

What amount of shot is in your shotshells?

[charlie cleveland]

very interesting...wonder what the seed is for...just a wild idea I know it s probably used for buffer but maybe a new way to sow seed for the wild fowl..........charlie

[Woodcock survey]

Bait ? ?

[Mark Britton]

it better germinate That's some high price seed !

[Stan Hillis]

I've got a case each of low pressure and high pressure BOSS Cu-plated bismuth, but haven't opened any to count the shot. I just know they kill well.

As an aside, the only experience I ever had with flax seed was while staying at my maternal grandmother's house one summer as a kid. I was under her scuppernong vine picking some to eat and a piece of trash fell into my eye. We couldn't see it to get it out as it must have been far back under a lid. She got a little jar of flax seed out of the medicine cabinet and took one seed and put it under the eyelid in that eye and it pushed that piece of trash right out!

[Phil Yearout]

At the prices they’re charging for those things I’m afraid I ain’t gonna be cuttin’ any up!

[William Parks]

If you're considering the Bismuth route I would strongly recommend Boss. If you call the shop you can talk to the #1 dude himself to discuss loads, pressures, velocities, etc. They just did a limited run of paper hulls and hopefully in 2023 will have another batch of fiber wad shells. They also make a "stinger" 1 oz load that is pretty amazing. American made and price point is way below the competitors out there.

[Keith Doty]

Been loading my own for several years in 10, 12, and 16. Never thought to count, I do it strictly by weight. I CAN say this, it hits like a hammer. Like shooting ducks with the lead 6s of years gone by (I load 5s for ducks). It is a bit "bulkier" than the same weight of lead, just slightly less dense but far better than steel. I see way less cripples and a lot more ducks hitting the water "feet up"! Definitely saves wear and tear on older dogs and hunters, less time retrieving birds.

[Mike Poindexter]

I just opened up an RST 2 7/8 10 ga., No. 2 Nice Shot, 1 1/4 oz. nominal load, in a brown (Federal) plastic case. I bought 20 rounds of this about 10 years ago and have shot about 5 of them. The load contained 150 pellets averaging .0145 in diameter weighing 4.15 grains each, for a total load weight of 620 grains or 1.42 oz. Smaller, lighter and more pellets than I would have expected. The load patterned 84% (126 pellets) in a 30 inch circle at 40 yards from my 1884 32 inch full choke toplever, and 52% (78 pellets) from my 1879 28 inch cut barrel Parker Laminated Steel lifter with no choke. This is a really nice load. I just wish they still made and sold them. , even at the $3 per shell I paid 10 years ago.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by charlie cleveland

very interesting...wonder what the seed is for...just a wild idea I know it s probably used for buffer but maybe a new way to sow seed for the wild fowl..........charlie

I just hope the seed has been cooked so it won't germinate. Otherwise it has the possibility of sowing an invasive species of weed or something not native to the area where these shells are shot.





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