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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ 2.5" Bismuth for ducks? |
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Posted:
Mon Oct 21, 2019 12:56 pm
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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Hello,
I have an ancient nickel steel Model 12 with the old short chamber/full choke and I was thinking about trying it out on ducks. I'm mostly an upland hunter, but I've used this shotgun successfully on turkey with 6's. The only place I can find non-tox shells in 2.5" are the RST Bismuth shells (http://www.rstshells.com/store/p/174-16-Ga-2-1/2-Bismuth-Vel-1200-7/8-oz-Box.aspx
I would choose 5's. BUT, am I pushing it with these smaller shells on mallards? I would be jump shooting or setting up on ponds and smaller water with just a few dekes, trying to get birds into shorter ranges.
Thanks,
Cliff |
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Posted:
Mon Oct 21, 2019 12:59 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9464
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Posted:
Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:24 pm
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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Thank you very much, I appreciate your help. |
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Posted:
Mon Oct 21, 2019 4:30 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2803
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Salish,
Nothing wrong with the 2.5" Bismuth shells at all, great stuff out of my M12 especially for Wood Ducks. I use the #6's. They work great out of my 16 gauge L.C. Smith guns also. I jump shoot a few Woodies now and then, don't think Mallards will be a problem either.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Mon Oct 21, 2019 6:28 pm
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Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 592
Location: Minnesota
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Check out this analysis from a 16ga member
https://pipesf16.wordpress.com/bismuth-shotpayload-size-analysis/
A 7/8oz load of 5s should give you the pellet count and range to meet expectations for your intended situation. My Bismuth reloads are 15/16oz of 5s and have worked well for both ducks and roosters. If I didn't reload I would happily use the RST loads. |
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Posted:
Mon Oct 21, 2019 8:20 pm
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2126
Location: Hudson,Wy
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You will be fine. If you hit 'em, you git 'em! I shoot the heck out of mallards with #6 steel during the early season when teal are my primary target. If the teal flight is slow and a drake mallard drops in, it dies. Bismuth 5 is stouter than steel 6 and on par with steel 4's or lead 6's. Dust those green heads! |
_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
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Posted:
Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:48 am
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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Pine Creek Dave, PatrickB, and Wyochukar, thank you, also, for your comments. It's very helpful information. I will go ahead and order as box of the RST shells. I appreciate it.
Cliff |
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Posted:
Thu Oct 31, 2019 11:41 am
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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UPDATE: Wow, I just went to order my box of 2.5" Bismuth from RST and found that the shipping charges to my home are $18, which on top of the $65.00 for the 25 shells brings the overall cost to $83.00. That's $3.32 per shot!
I'm going to have to re-think this...... |
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Posted:
Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:28 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2803
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Salish,
Try the Poly SpredR's at The Lion Country on line store, I believe they have the non toxic 2.5 shells, order a case and get free shipping to your door. RST is super expensive with their shipping for some reason.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:52 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9464
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Please show the link, please |
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Posted:
Thu Oct 31, 2019 3:00 pm
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Member
Joined: 30 Nov 2011
Posts: 1698
Location: Minnesota
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Posted:
Thu Oct 31, 2019 3:06 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9464
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Posted:
Thu Oct 31, 2019 3:14 pm
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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Are any of these Polywad Sprd-R shells non-tox (Bismuth or whatever)? I'm searching for a non-tox shell for ducks in 2.5". The RST shells with shipping are too expensive for me. Thanks. |
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Posted:
Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:27 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2803
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Salish,
Call LCS at 800-662-5202 they have many different kinds of shells, talk to them and purchase what you want, and make sure to get the free shipping on every case you order. I especially like the Fiocchi steel for Wood Ducks. I am with you about the cost of the RST and their shipping cost also.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:01 am
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Joined: 19 Oct 2015
Posts: 94
Location: seattle, wa
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Pine Creek/Dave wrote: |
Salish,
Call LCS at 800-662-5202 they have many different kinds of shells, talk to them and purchase what you want, and make sure to get the free shipping on every case you order. I especially like the Fiocchi steel for Wood Ducks. I am with you about the cost of the RST and their shipping cost also.
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
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Thanks again for your help. I just spoke with LCS and they do not have a non-tox shot load in the 2.5" 16 gauge. I also just called Polywad in Georgia but no one answered, so I'll call back a bit later. I should have done all this myself in the beginning instead of asking for help from others, but I was being lazy! If they don't make this load it may have to be RST. Then again, at $3.32 per shot it might be wiser to just have this old gun worked on to get it to shoot standard 16 gauge loads, if I plan on using it for waterfowl. I already did that to another nickel steel 16ga Model 12, so I'd kind of like to keep this one original.
I'll put this on the back burner and just go hunt this weekend.
Cliff
Cliff |
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