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< 16ga. Ammunition & Reloading ~ California Compliant Ammo? |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 4:58 am
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Member
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 601
Location: Virginia
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What are hunters in California planning to use if they want to use their 16-gauge shotguns on game? I get that there are steel loads for waterfowl, but what about quail and such? All the nontoxic ammunition that uses something other than steel looks pretty expensive to me. |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:48 am
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9463
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Posted:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:25 am
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Member
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 601
Location: Virginia
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Not much choice for 16-gauge shooters. Might be some gun bargains to be found in the Golden State before long. |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 9:30 am
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Joined: 24 Jun 2013
Posts: 2066
Location: canandaigua - western n.y. (formerly deerhunter)
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between Roto Metals and the dr/16G wads , not much that can't be reloaded fairly cheaply . |
_________________ Molly sez AArrrooooooah ! |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 2:02 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 601
Location: Virginia
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That may be so for those few of us who reload, but I have friends in CA who don't. While they may shoot no more than a box of shells in a season, the new law makes it inconvenient enough for them to consider switching to 12 and 20 gauges. Like I said, look for some bargains from there in the near future. |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 2:53 pm
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Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 829
Location: SW Ohio
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Have your friends in CA watch the Boss ammo. Not cheap but very good reports this past year. |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:51 pm
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Member
Joined: 19 Nov 2013
Posts: 381
Location: NW Arkansas
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For pheasant/ducks, two major ammo companies offer #2 and #4 steel shot (not a whole lot more expensive than high velocity factory lead). Over the years I've used both sizes a lot on both birds and they do fine if shooting distance is within 30-35 yards.
For quail sized birds, reloading #6 or #7 steel for roughly $7 a box is the way to go. I have good luck with 7/8 oz loads on bobwhite quail, shooting about half my yearly quail shells with it on federal land if I'm not using old guns and need . . . . . . . . .
If your gun is not newer and rated for steel, the best way to go in my opinion is with new Bismuth loads at roughly $35 a box of 25 shells. #5s seem to be the only offering at present, but would be somewhat of a compromise for both large and small game birds.
I'm not in California, but have had to adapt to non-toxic shot on lots of the places I hunt in mid-America. Hasn't affected my use of 16 gauge guns much--I just adapt as needed. Shot a lot of older Bismuth #6 loads this past winter (to use them up so I can try some new Bismuth loads!) in my 1940 NID. And killed a normal amount of quail using it.
These are the most common alternatives, but as Skeettx and others noted above, there are others. |
_________________ 16 gauges:
1954 Win M12 IC
1952 Ithaca M37 Mod
1955 Browning Auto-5 Mod
1940 Ithaca NID M/F
1959 Beretta Silver Hawk
Ranger 103-II M/F
Browning A-5 Sweet 16
Browning Citori Invector
Rem 870 Remchoke |
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Posted:
Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:35 am
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Joined: 10 Apr 2013
Posts: 120
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Think I'd be looking for a 16 ga. reloader. |
_________________ Nasty-G |
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Posted:
Thu Mar 26, 2020 4:38 pm
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Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 1308
Location: Western WA
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Wasn't there an outfit that sold loaded ITX shells? For me the ITX-10 is way more effective than bismuth. Not sure why it should be any better than bismuth, but it can really reach out there and drop them.
B. |
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Posted:
Thu Mar 26, 2020 4:49 pm
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Joined: 05 Oct 2017
Posts: 284
Location: Central MN
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Posted:
Thu Mar 26, 2020 4:53 pm
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Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9463
Location: Amarillo, Texas
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Posted:
Thu Mar 26, 2020 4:59 pm
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Joined: 03 Sep 2014
Posts: 398
Location: Rochester, MN
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The OP was asking about nontoxic shot options for quail and other upland game.
I do not live in California but I did make the switch to nontoxic for all of my upland hunting several years ago.
I have used mostly used my own 16 gauge steel reloads, but recently started using bismuth shotshells.
Boss Shotshells has 16 gauge shells but it may only be available in #5 bismuth.
https://bossshotshells.com/
Backridge Shotshells has #6 bismuth that should work well for quail.
https://www.backridgeammunition.com/
Both the above companies sell 16 gauge bismuth at reasonable prices.
Also check out Rogers Sporting Goods. They have a clearance sale right now and their prices are excellent.
https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/
Being that I do not live in California, I am not aware of the issues involved in having ammunition shipped there.
For high volume upland shooting like doves, I would recommend using 12 or 20 gauge Winchester or Federal steel loads like sold at Walmart. |
_________________ John Singer |
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Posted:
Fri Mar 27, 2020 4:25 pm
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Member
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 605
Location: Topeka, Kansas
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rdja wrote: |
Have your friends in CA watch the Boss ammo. Not cheap but very good reports this past year.
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Boss Ammo is good for heavy guns, but they are not loading with vintage guns in mind in terms of pressure or recoil. |
_________________ Michael
Topeka, KS |
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Posted:
Fri Mar 27, 2020 5:19 pm
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I received a 100 pack of the Boss bismuth 5's for duck hunting next year. My Remington 11 will handle them. Looking forward to it! |
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Posted:
Fri Mar 27, 2020 5:26 pm
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Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 203
Location: Southern California
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...I shot a couple of limits of dove here using Sporting Ammo 7's through a CYL/IC Model 21 and they worked fine but seemed a bit overkill; the same loads I use on duck with smaller shot.
Problem here now is that it's a PITA to have shells sent from out of state unless you know a FFL holder willing to work with you...
I still have several boxes of those sevens but when they're gone, I'll probably bust out the old MEC ...Assuming we'll still be able to buy components and someone hasn't come out with a factory steel upland load in 16 |
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