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Member Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 601 Location: Virginia

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.

http://www.rstshells.com/bismuth.aspx

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition/Certified

https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/hunting/nontoxic.php

Member Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 601 Location: Virginia

Not much choice for 16-gauge shooters. Might be some gun bargains to be found in the Golden State before long.

between Roto Metals and the dr/16G wads , not much that can't be reloaded fairly cheaply .

Member Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 601 Location: Virginia

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.

Member Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Posts: 829 Location: SW Ohio

Have your friends in CA watch the Boss ammo. Not cheap but very good reports this past year.

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.

Joined: 10 Apr 2013 Posts: 120

Think I'd be looking for a 16 ga. reloader.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1308 Location: Western WA

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.

Joined: 05 Oct 2017 Posts: 284 Location: Central MN

https://bossshotshells.com/shotshells/

I’ve killed teal to honkers and everything in between with these.

*Last edited by skeettx on Thu Mar 26, 2020 5:02 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Maybe a bit of overkill for doves and quail

https://www.backridgeammunition.com/16-gauge-1/

https://www.backridgeammunition.com/shells/

https://shotgunsportsmagazine.com/blog/backridge-ammunition%E2%80%99s-itx-non-toxic-shot

Joined: 03 Sep 2014 Posts: 398 Location: Rochester, MN

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.

Guest

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!

...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