Bismuth in a lead recipe

[Mark Garrett]

Again right from the Hodgdon web site .

Matching Shot Type and Size to Reloading Data

It is easy to assume that all shot types can be reloaded similarly; after all, they look the same – being round balls of metal. However, in loading shotgun shells, this assumption cannot be further from the truth.

The two characteristics of shot that change reloading data are shot hardness and density.

Shot hardness has a direct effect on chamber pressure. Softer shot produces lower pressure; harder shot raises chamber pressure dramatically. The softest shot type is lead. The hardest shot types are steel and tungsten. Bismuth falls between lead and steel. This is the primary reason that lead shot reloading data can never be used with any other type of shot.

Shot density affects how much room in the shell case the shot charge will take up. To try to simplify shot density, think of it this way:

A coffee cup of steel shot weighs less than a coffee cup of bismuth shot
A coffee cup of bismuth shot weighs less than a coffee cup of lead shot
A coffee cup of tungsten shot is heavier than all the others

Just remember, in shotshell reloading the reload data must be specific to the type of shot being used. Hodgdon reloading data meets this requirement.

These guys are ballistic experts .

What you are suggesting is unsafe I and hope no else follows your practice .

Believe what you want . 1 data sample will not tell what might happen in the next load .

Mark

[Ron Scott]

You just agreed with me again: “ The two characteristics of shot that change reloading data are shot hardness and density.” No mention of length of payload. You might consider giving up reloading and taking up bowling.

[Mark Garrett]

Ron , your a funny guy. You win.

Good day.

[Ron Scott]

You are a wise man

[Mark Garrett]

Thanks.

[Carl G. Bachhuber]

This discussion points out the fact that there is a real dearth of good interior ballistics information available to the reloader. I am pretty sure that the powder and ammunition manufactures know a lot but it certainly is not in their best interest to share. This makes me want to put together my own test setup and get after it
C.G.B.

[Ron Scott]

That’s what Sherman Bell did and dispelled many long held myths

[Stan Hillis]

Originally Posted by Ronald Scott

That’s what Sherman Bell did and dispelled many long held myths

Pretty sure Bell had Tom Armbrust do his actual pressure testing. Bell provided the loads and designed the procedures for the testing, and wrote the articles.

I've had Tom test loads for me over the years since the series of articles was published.

SRH

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by Stan Hillis

Pretty sure Bell had Tom Armbrust do his actual pressure testing. Bell provided the loads and designed the procedures for the testing, and wrote the articles.

I've had Tom test loads for me over the years since the series of articles was published.

SRH

You may be right, I don't have the entire series, just a couple. In this one, however, he seems to have done the testing himself. He shows his test equipment and describes how he conducted the tests.

[Carl G. Bachhuber]

Yes he did and, as far as I know, still does. I wish he lived next door, I would love to have access to some of his toys. Unfortunately in the 'information' world the guy that tells the first lie usually wins. Once a myth gets entrenched it is very hard to kill. Where I worked before I retired there was a saying above the door. Paraphrasing, it said "One properly conducted experiment is worth more than all the expert opinions in the world".
C.G.B.