The Vintage Nontoxic Ammo Quest: 20 Gauge

[Aaron Beck]

If you can reload lead you might reload bismuth with minimal hassle. Suppose you bought a roll crimper and used this for your bismuth hunting loads, wouldnt have to change the reloader around (the fussy part anyway). Testing a few could corroborate the general assumption that roll crimps may lower pressure and bismuth will raise pressure to arrive at a happy medium. 20 ga no tox that is safe in old guns and with low pressure and velocity is a small market. Boss is also worth investigating.

[MIKE FISHER]

Originally Posted by Aaron Beck

If you can reload lead you might reload bismuth with minimal hassle. Suppose you bought a roll crimper and used this for your bismuth hunting loads, wouldnt have to change the reloader around (the fussy part anyway). Testing a few could corroborate the general assumption that roll crimps may lower pressure and bismuth will raise pressure to arrive at a happy medium. 20 ga no tox that is safe in old guns and with low pressure and velocity is a small market. Boss is also worth investigating.

Good points, I hadn't thot of a roll crimper, and had only recently heard of Boss. One of the subsequent posts on this thread indicates that Boss apparently doesn't load a vintage low pressure round. You're no doubt right that vintage low is a small market and probably the first thing dropped in these tough times; also the last to probably be resumed. Thanks for your help.

Mike

[Mark Kircher]

I have 3 jugs of #4 Bismuth and 1 jug of # 2 I can part with. PM me if interested.

[MIKE FISHER]

Originally Posted by MARK KIRCHER

I have 3 jugs of #4 Bismuth and 1 jug of # 2 I can part with. PM me if interested.

Much appreciated Mark, but I'm only needing bismuth in the small shot sizes.

[Zacharysmith]

We need to get Boss shotshells on board with making some lighter pressure loads. I have asked them a few times over the years to consider it. Heard about a year ago that something was in the works but nothing since. I hear great things about their shells.

[6pt-Sika]

I’ve loaded bismuth in all gauges from 10 to 28 . I use the same load I use for lead in each gauge . And I load the standard weights 1 1/4 for the 10 , 1 1/8 for the 12 , ounce for the 16 , 7/8 for the 20 and 3/4 for the 28 . In the past I used to weigh each shot charge now I drop the 10-12 and 16 from the loader for the 20/28 it’s quicker to use a dipper and hand fill as coarse shot bridges terribly in the 20 and 28 drop tubes . Plus I rarely load more than a box or two of bismuth at a time .

[MIKE FISHER]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

I’ve loaded bismuth in all gauges from 10 to 28 . I use the same load I use for lead in each gauge . And I load the standard weights 1 1/4 for the 10 , 1 1/8 for the 12 , ounce for the 16 , 7/8 for the 20 and 3/4 for the 28 . In the past I used to weigh each shot charge now I drop the 10-12 and 16 from the loader for the 20/28 it’s quicker to use a dipper and hand fill as coarse shot bridges terribly in the 20 and 28 drop tubes . Plus I rarely load more than a box or two of bismuth at a time .

Appreciate the pointers, Craig - thanks!

[Pay Dirt]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

I’ve loaded bismuth in all gauges from 10 to 28 . I use the same load I use for lead in each gauge . And I load the standard weights 1 1/4 for the 10 , 1 1/8 for the 12 , ounce for the 16 , 7/8 for the 20 and 3/4 for the 28 . In the past I used to weigh each shot charge now I drop the 10-12 and 16 from the loader for the 20/28 it’s quicker to use a dipper and hand fill as coarse shot bridges terribly in the 20 and 28 drop tubes . Plus I rarely load more than a box or two of bismuth at a time .

Are you saying you are simply substituting bismuth for lead?

[Stan Hillis]

Originally Posted by Zacharysmith

We need to get Boss shotshells on board with making some lighter pressure loads. I have asked them a few times over the years to consider it. Heard about a year ago that something was in the works but nothing since. I hear great things about their shells.

They have been available from BOSS for at least a year and a half, now. Though they're not listed on their website BOSS sells copper plated bismuth loads that are loaded with fiber wads, as opposed to plastic shot cups. That helps lower the pressure to the 8000+ psi range. The only drawback to that, if it is indeed a drawback, is that the fiber wads open patterns somewhat as compared to the plastic shotcup higher pressure loads. My testing has shown that my HE Fox, and my LC Smith 3E gun, both choked mid to upper 40 thousandths, pattern the lower pressure duck loads in the 67 to 70 percent range.

I've got a bulk case (200) of both the lower and the higher pressure loads on hand and, along with my stash of bismuth shot for reloading, and NICE shot loads on hand, it should be enough to last me my lifetime (but I hope not ).

[todd allen]

I have reloaded light 12 gauge loads for years, but have never reloaded Bismuth, so I am barely qualified to advise anyone on this.
That said, if you are loading based on volume, and not weight, I would think the lighter Bismuth payload should automatically be a lower pressure load than an equivalent volume of lead, everything else being equal.