What size bismuth shot to purchase for ducks...
 

Hi All,

I am about to place an order for bismuth shot for my Trojan 12 gauge. Its choked Mod and Imp Mod. I will mostly be jump shooting ducks from the front of a canoe. I cannot decide what size shot I would be best off with.. 4, 5, or 6.

Almost entirely wood duck and mallards.

Thanks!

I would go with no 5 shot enough shot for the woodducks and teal and big enough to bring a big mallard down...charlie

"Back in the day" lead 6s was my choice for ducks over decoys and passing shots. With my fine older guns I have gone to, by modern standards, low velocity (1150 - 1200 fps) Bismuth 5s. Still a good shot count, nice patterns, and dependable knock down. Get your best "dove lead" out, throw it out in front of 'em and let'em run into it. I have found this is actually a better success rate for me than the high velocity steel we're shooting today.

I have shot #5 bismuth for many years with great results in vintage Parkers and Foxes, 1 1/8oz 1125fps handloads. However for late season hunting hunting for big feathered up Mallards and Blacks I use 1 1/4oz #3 Kent TM in a 3 farme 12ga Parker or a Super Fox.

Are you loading your own 1200 fps bismuth loads?

Ken

Ken's question is a good one. Also, what are the typical ranges at which you'll generally be shooting? Early season or later (I assume early to mid-season if you are jump shooting from a canoe)?

Early and close, I'd go with the 5s also. Later and/or with greater distance, I'd opt for number 4 shot.

Center 'em and close range and any of the sizes will do it.

Ken, I just had some tested at Precision, 16 ga. and 12 ga. hand load bismuth.
12 ga.
20 gr. Int'l 1 oz. #5 bismuth Cheditte 2 1/2" Cheditte 209 comp spcl short wad
avg 1265 fps avg 7692 psi
Just a bit faster than I anticipated but happy pressures. I may back off 1 gr.
16 ga.
15.7 gr. Int'l 7/8 oz. bismuth Cheditte 2 1/2" Cheditte 209 sporting 16 wad
avg 1229 fps avg 8733 psi
Same 16 ga. load w/Fioche 616 and lead #7 Avg 1211 fps avg 8433 psi
Shooting in Parkers with steel barrels.

Here in nh we shoot a lot of wood ducks and for the most of my shooting is 7/8 th oz bismuth 6 s out of a 20 ga, so out of a 12 ga 6 s or 5 s should work just fine.
Scott

test data
 

Ken, thanks for sharing the test data on the loads. :)

For jump shooting on open streams I wouldn't use anything but #4. The chances for 40 yard plus shots are going to be high.