16 gauge 2.5" Bismuth Load Data
 

Hello all,

Does anyone have any reloading data similar to this?

16 2 1/2 Bismuth 7/8 oz 1225 7000

That is a bismuth load that RST sells when available. Trying to find a recipe with similar specs. Plan to go fully bismuth for hunting this season. Most recipes that are close are using BPI's ITX-10 shot, which I cannot find right now. Hopefully that changes in the near future. I have plenty Fiochi hulls but would take a Cheddite recipe as well.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Go search the sites "24 hour Campground" and "16ga.com. Plenty of loads there.

I have. And I have accumulated a lot of recipes, but nothing for Bismuth. BPI has warned me against replacing lead in recipes with bismuth claiming the harder shot would increase pressures.

In theory the increase is under 1000psi, but this is only rumor and there is no substitute for testing your own loads. if you found a load that would work with room for the increase, send it to tom armburst and let us know please. I have loads that i use, but none are lab tested.
there is also alleged to be a load printed in last summers (i think) dgj, 16 ga bismuth with universal but I am not a subscriber.

Thank you Aaron. I'll post what I find out.

BPI list this load in their # 11 Edition of The 16 Gauge Manual
bismuth 16 b. 2.5 inch Cheddite hull/ Ched209 primer/ 25 grns. Longshot powder/ Z-16 wad/ OS16- overshot card/ 7/8 oz bismuth either # 5,6 or 7 (382 grns.) and roll crimp
PSI 7040/ FPS 1420
listed on page 75.

Reminder this is a roll crimp load

I for one am somewhat skeptical of BPI loads--they are usually quite "hot"--1400 fps and only 7040 psi, really?
A 1 oz lead load in 2 1/2" cheddite, 18 gr Longshot, SG 16 wad, W209 is listed at 1200 fps and 7270 psi. I know, different payload, different wad , but 6 gr less powder, but getting slightly higher PSI. Wouldnt want to shoot that first load thru damascus until I was sure data is accurate.

well, let me backpedal for a minute, on the 16 ga forum, they recommend taking a known lead load, and reducing it by 1/8 oz for Bismuth. I'll try and look for more info, cause I wouldnt mind reloading some for myself.
Clear as mud now, isnt it.

Harold
thats a reasonable starting point, but it should be noted that a 7/8 oz charge bar will not drop 7/8 of of bismuth shot because the densities are different. You probably know this already. Your eventual pressure may come close to the 1 oz load since the pellet counts are similar but it may exceed it too since the material properties of bismuth are different.
I spoke with Tom Armburst about this at length last year with the best intention of sending loads for testing, but I couldnt get all the components I wanted to base my load on. His advice was to start with the dgj load.

I don't understand why more testing isn't going on with Bismuth. It's a great replacement for lead in our older sxs's. It's just so darn hard to find anything other than lead for the 2.5" 16 gauge. I guess BPI wants to sell it's ITX-10, which I would buy if I could get it.

Thanks for all of your input guys.