A Morning On The River

[Stan Hillis]

Very nice, Austin. Were those Cheddite hulls already stamped with the "Bismuth" name and the goose in flight? They look good!

[Austin Smith]

Thank you, Stan! I made the stamps on Rubbertamps.com and they are stamped with “Stazon” ink. The ink dries pretty fast and seems to hold up pretty well on the plastic of the hulls. A little bit of acetone on a paper towel and it comes off easy to re-stamp if necessary.

[Stan Hillis]

That is so cool. Thank you for sharing that with us!

[Matt Buckley]

After looking at the picture closer I didn't see the white stripe up the head like a drake pintail would have and got to thinking that could be a goldeneye since this is late season duck hunting. Well done.

[Austin Smith]

I appreciate that, Stan. You’re very welcome!

No worries, Matt! Thank you!

[William Parks]

Austin, this is a great post and picture! I appreciate the info on the loads you’re using. I’ve got a 1901 DH 30” 12ga and I was shooting 2.75” loads out of it this past duck season. Do you have a 2.75” recipe for those Damascus barrels you would recommend?

[Austin Smith]

Thank you William!

I don’t have any loads for 2 3/4 specifically. I just put a short kit on my Mec and cut everything down to 2.5”. I have an original 3” chambered damascus gun and it eats up the 2.5” all the same. I would assume that with the Z21 wads would work with the same powder amounts in a 2.75” hull versus a 2.5” hull as the wad compresses a bit once crimped. And in theory, with slightly less pressure on the powder from the wad being compressed down 1/4” less in a 2 3/4 hull, I would assume pressure would remain around the same or even a little less. But I could be wrong, maybe someone on here has some experience with loading multiple length shells?

[Harold Pickens]

Austin, havent loaded any Bismuth yet, but certainly going to file that recipie in my reloading notebook. Have to shoot non-tox on most of my late season SoDok pheasant areas(WMA's).