[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?