RST Bismuth

[Tom Flanigan]

Here is a thought Dave. You might want to consider going with #6's instead of 5's in a 16 bore. You'll get greater pattern density and probably more even patterns. I have taken a ton of mallard's in Sasketechewan with the 6's to 40 yards. And the 6's are better if you are shooting smaller ducks. I have found that the 16 bores I have patterned shoot a bit better with the smaller pellet. In a 16 bore, I don't shoot smaller than #6. Just a thought....

[Tom Flanigan]

Meant to say larger rather than smaller in my post above

[Dave Erickson]

Tom, thanks. I'll try both sizes at some point. I might have to start reloading bismuth if my Parker starts to overtake my A5. I shot an awful a lot of ducks with an ounce of lead 6's back in the day.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Dave Erickson

Tom, thanks. I'll try both sizes at some point. I might have to start reloading bismuth if my Parker starts to overtake my A5. I shot an awful a lot of ducks with an ounce of lead 6's back in the day.

You are dead duck on target with that comment. Number 6 lead shot worked awesome on decoying ducks in a 12 or 16 gauge.

[Dunnigun]

The Nice shot did a much better job for me on ducks. 30" barrels choked f/f and killing ducks dead at 40 yrds all day. Bismuth is not as good IMHO. Really miss the Nice shot...nothing lasts forever.

[Dave Erickson]

I loaded up 3+ boxes of Nice Shot 5's roughly 10 years ago for a South Dakota trip. As rotten luck would have it that year, both of my older 16's when down with mechanical problems! I had thrown in a 12 gauge double at the last second and it ended up bailing me out on the trip. (At the time I felt foolish bringing a 3rd gun.)

I still have most of these loads, and used up a small stash of Activ hulls to better differentiate the pricy Nice Shot loads.

[James Halvorson]

Originally Posted by Dave Erickson

I loaded up 3+ boxes of Nice Shot 5's roughly 10 years ago for a South Dakota trip. As rotten luck would have it that year, both of my older 16's when down with mechanical problems! I had thrown in a 12 gauge double at the last second and it ended up bailing me out on the trip. (At the time I felt foolish bringing a 3rd gun.)

I still have most of these loads, and used up a small stash of Activ hulls to better differentiate the pricy Nice Shot loads.

If I had three boxes like those on a shelf, I'd buy a 16. Nice stash!

[Victor Wasylyna]

Tom, I agree with you to the extent the shooter is using shot that is denser than steel (e.g., bismuth, tungsten composites, etc.).

-Victor

[Tom Flanigan]

Yes, I don't use steel and none of my comments are relevant to steel shot sizes. That is a whole different issue that I don't have to think about, thank goodness.

[Southpaw]

I think it is almost now universally understood and discussed ad nausea that steel shot stinks for just about any use with firearms. It is just the less expensive non toxic alternative and that is its only attractive feature. Years ago crippled so many ducks using even #4 steel shot that it made me sick. Big fan of #6 shot that is lead mass or better equivalent for ducks. All I know is that just about anything is better than steel and would never shoot steel or anything harder than lead equivalent in any old gun. Actually can't think of any reason to really shoot steel at all. I know some of the shooting ranges are starting to push non toxic loads though.