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< 16ga. Ammunition & Reloading ~ Bismuth shot quality |
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Posted:
Sat Jan 20, 2024 10:59 pm
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Member
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Joined: 24 May 2012
Posts: 353
Location: United States
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Of the people who have reloaded Bismuth shot recently what brand of shot have you had good luck with? I want to load up some #4 loads and I have no idea whose shot to use.
Thanks,
James |
_________________ A fine gun is nice. A fine bird dog is essential. JTF
"My degree of optimism is negotiated daily" Bill Snyder, Former Head Football Coach, Kansas State University |
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Posted:
Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:20 am
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Joined: 04 Mar 2019
Posts: 1846
Location: Central ND
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IMHO, they are all about the same. I wouldn't use brand name as the deciding factor. |
_________________ Mark...You are entitled to your own opinion. You aren't entitled to your own facts. |
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Posted:
Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:45 pm
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Joined: 26 Apr 2010
Posts: 3181
Location: NCWa
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The copper plated bismuth looks very pretty & the sellers claim it is better but I haven't shot enough of either plated or unplated to have statistically significant results |
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Posted:
Mon Jan 22, 2024 4:34 pm
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Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2353
Location: West MI
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I prefer Ballistic Products Inc. bismuth due it's much more consistent size & sphericity when compared to RotoMetals = more consistent loads/loading/stack height and long range reach. If cost is a factor (and long range and consistent loading isn't) RM edges out BPI to a small degree when you figure out how to take advantage of all their the different sale offerings. Can't speak to Boss' re-loadable pellets since I couldn't find a way to purchase them directly and frankly don't care since BPI' pellets work so well for me.
As far as I can tell, Precision Reloading has given up on Bismuth altogether. |
_________________ Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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Posted:
Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:07 am
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Member
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Joined: 24 May 2012
Posts: 353
Location: United States
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Thanks for all the responses. BPI has 2 grades of Bismuth. Any thoughts on the different grades. Good loads are the priority but not spending money on hype/ marketing BS is also important.
Thanks,
James |
_________________ A fine gun is nice. A fine bird dog is essential. JTF
"My degree of optimism is negotiated daily" Bill Snyder, Former Head Football Coach, Kansas State University |
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Posted:
Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:02 am
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Joined: 24 Jun 2013
Posts: 2068
Location: canandaigua - western n.y. (formerly deerhunter)
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Jeez , Mike . Me and Nick jumped on Roto Metals when they really 1st became visable , thought the shot was great ... We both loaded up ! The sales of late are usually (best case) 159 or 169 for 10 # 6 shot , and free shipping over 149 bucks ...Stick with vol/vol subbing for lead as long as it's within 1/8oz . Happy ! RM is also beeen a GREAT co to deal with . 1st order , they sent #1 instead of #7 , called and didn't expect much and they sent the correct size and I still have the #1 . Other things have come up and they've been top notch fixing them ! |
_________________ Molly sez AArrrooooooah ! |
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Posted:
Tue Jan 23, 2024 11:40 am
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Member
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Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2353
Location: West MI
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Whoops, seems I wrote something a bit strongly, all good, nothing against RM, they run a tight ship no doubt. I've purchased some ingot metals from them and nothing but accolades.
The smaller sized drop/dripped inconsistent shot seems OK out to "in the dekes" range for some. But IMO at those ranges steel works just fine. By and large I'm loading for those tough late season Divers that buzz the outside of the spread and pass shooting >45y with the larger shot for smart late season Honkers and find the consistent sized round shot...loads, patterns and works best for me at those longish ranges with more often than not complete pass through. Knocked 3 Honkers down (Ohio) over this past weekend, lovin' the energy those pellets carry.
Again nothing against RM, I simply want/need the basically perfectly round (assuming cast) pellets that BPI offers. |
_________________ Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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Posted:
Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:57 am
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Joined: 24 Jun 2013
Posts: 2068
Location: canandaigua - western n.y. (formerly deerhunter)
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no worries Mike ... The ranges I usually shoot , < 35yds probably wouldn't notice anything ... Nick still sez anything inside of maybe 60 is a goner , so if there was a "THING ", I would think he'da said so - hasn't !! |
_________________ Molly sez AArrrooooooah ! |
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Posted:
Thu Jan 25, 2024 5:05 am
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Member
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Joined: 06 Oct 2007
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Location: West MI
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eng-pointer wrote: |
BPI has 2 grades of Bismuth. Any thoughts on the different grades. Good loads are the priority but not spending money on hype/ marketing BS is also important.
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I haven't purchased or used their lower price point BSR Bismuth. I use their Sphero #3, B & BB in the 16ga and have moved on to casting my own #T for the 10ga. |
_________________ Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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Posted:
Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:55 am
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2126
Location: Hudson,Wy
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With bismuth shot, the important factor is alloy content. 6% tin seems to keep it from fracturing upon firing, 4% is known to be insufficient. |
_________________ Only catch snowflakes on your tongue AFTER the birds fly south for the winter... |
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Posted:
Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:37 am
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Agreed, at least 6% which I understand as baseline today from BP & RotoMetals. After seeing some fracturing evidence (BB, BBB & T) on the pattern paper with the larger modern Bis pellets. Did some research online focused on highest strength Bismuth bullet casting. The non-tox rifle guys are using as much as >10% Tin often more and even messing with adding some Antimony.
Acquired some old Bis BB's from a retired Goose hunter. Determined they were of the 3-4% Tin vintage. Compared them to the 6% modern BB's from BP & RM by applying some unscientific testing, a #1 pound ball peen dropped from ~1', the 3% shattered not unlike ice w/very small fragments, the 6% pellets did better w/ bigger chunks and some not shattered but cracked. The T pellets I'm casting are in the ~10% range and after the hammer drop test don't shatter to pieces but look similar to Packman video game creatures, flattened round w/a small crack but never shatter. Mission accomplished. |
_________________ Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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Posted:
Fri Mar 01, 2024 2:25 am
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Member
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Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2353
Location: West MI
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