Bismuth shot

Kingcreek · November 5, 1999, 01:32 PM

The folks selling the bismuth shot claim it is a truly safe-for-older-guns lead substitute.
Does anyone have any evidence to the contrary?
Does the same hold true for the Tungsten-polymer shot?
I picked some up so I can still hunt pheasants with my old sidexside and thought I'd ask before I bang.
Sorry if this has been covered before.

Big Bunny · November 8, 1999, 04:56 PM

Sir -the new bismuth shot should be OK for your older gun as long as it is nitro proofed ! Similarly for the less effective tungsten polimer softies. Steel would need a special choke/new barrel and is generally not recommemded over here due to wounding rates. Bismuth seems the way to go for waterfowl but lead +4% ANTIMONY is still my choice.

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***Big Bunny***

Kingcreek · November 9, 1999, 11:26 PM

Thanks Big B,
The shotguns in question are nitro proofed.
I haven't heard anything about tungsten-poly but I am desperate to find lead substitutes for public use areas now that they require non-tox.
I'll still use good old lead loads where I can.
I primarily hunt with a 12g SxS double and a good old Browning 'Sweet 16'. Guess I'll have to start reloading my own 16s with nontox.

Long Path · November 10, 1999, 01:40 AM

Kingcreek--

Don't know what the specific laws are in your state, but here, you only need non-toxic shot for migratory waterfowl. You might check on it before you spend the big bucks...

Regards,
L.P.

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Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap?

Matt

Rosco P. Coltrain · November 11, 1999, 12:18 PM

And remember, there's no bismuth like show bismuth.

Kingcreek · November 12, 1999, 03:36 AM

State and federal public use areas are going non-tox only.
I'm heading out to South Dakota tommorrow for some pheasant hunting with 2 shotguns- the one I want to hunt with, and the one I have to hunt with(in some areas)

November 5, 1999, 01:32 PM	#1
Kingcreek Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: rural Illinois Posts: 590	The folks selling the bismuth shot claim it is a truly safe-for-older-guns lead substitute. Does anyone have any evidence to the contrary? Does the same hold true for the Tungsten-polymer shot? I picked some up so I can still hunt pheasants with my old sidexside and thought I'd ask before I bang. Sorry if this has been covered before.

November 8, 1999, 04:56 PM	#2
Big Bunny Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 1999 Location: New South Wales - Australia Posts: 605	Sir -the new bismuth shot should be OK for your older gun as long as it is nitro proofed ! Similarly for the less effective tungsten polimer softies. Steel would need a special choke/new barrel and is generally not recommemded over here due to wounding rates. Bismuth seems the way to go for waterfowl but lead +4% ANTIMONY is still my choice. ------------------ *Big Bunny*

November 9, 1999, 11:26 PM	#3
Kingcreek Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: rural Illinois Posts: 590	Thanks Big B, The shotguns in question are nitro proofed. I haven't heard anything about tungsten-poly but I am desperate to find lead substitutes for public use areas now that they require non-tox. I'll still use good old lead loads where I can. I primarily hunt with a 12g SxS double and a good old Browning 'Sweet 16'. Guess I'll have to start reloading my own 16s with nontox.

November 10, 1999, 01:40 AM	#4
Long Path Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: N. Texas Posts: 5,899	Kingcreek-- Don't know what the specific laws are in your state, but here, you only need non-toxic shot for migratory waterfowl. You might check on it before you spend the big bucks... Regards, L.P. ------------------ Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap? Matt

November 11, 1999, 12:18 PM	#5
Rosco P. Coltrain Junior member Join Date: October 7, 1999 Posts: 267	And remember, there's no bismuth like show bismuth.

November 12, 1999, 03:36 AM	#6
Kingcreek Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: rural Illinois Posts: 590	State and federal public use areas are going non-tox only. I'm heading out to South Dakota tommorrow for some pheasant hunting with 2 shotguns- the one I want to hunt with, and the one I have to hunt with(in some areas)