Pure Copper Shot.

A blog about pointing dogs and hunting dogs.

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This fella Koshyk has promoted pure copper shot in his Darnes in the Uplands.....no idea if he still runs copper but you might search or try to contact him for field experience or purchase availability of copper shot today.

 

Do your research, Bismuth LIKES tight chokes.

 

I have always heard larger sizes of Bismith crack in tighter constriction chokes I have crushed some with pliers and they have cracked so I thought they did not like tight chokes and that is what I have always heard

 

Begin your copper shot research here:

https://www.shotgunworld.com/posts/5187829/

 

Thank you

 

1,1/4oz lead volume is 35-36grams of lead.
its also 1oz or 28 grams of pure copper shot.
its part of my nontox assay if you can find it.

 

Pure Copper shot for waterfowl isn't legal in the USA. It needs a special coating and a special fluorescent marker applied to make it legal. Don't get caught waterfowl hunting in the USA with EU/UK approved pure copper shot unless you are willing to face fines and confiscation. See post #4 (and on into that thread). No manufacturer is currently willing to specially coat and fluorescent mark copper shot, so despite being legal it may never be available.

 

Looking at the Thomas J. Glover 'Pocket Reference', I see the density of pure copper is 8.96 gm/cm3. I would think 'legal' copper shot would be roughly the same, but that might not be the case. Iron shot is spec'd at 7.86 gm/cm3. You'd have a ballistic advantage over steel shot, but as has been pointed out, legal copper shot is 'unobtanium'. I wonder what this shot would cost if actually available.

 

The corrosion inhibited and fluorescent marked Copper shot that was tested and achieved approval for waterfowl hunting in the USA weighed in at 8.94 g/CC as to density, indicating that the coatings very minimally reduce the density.

 

Yo

You shouldn’t need steel wads for copper shot, B&P used to sell a duplex blend, some state side, most in Europe. The concept went away about 5-6years ago, but I’ve referenced it a few times on other forums as a hevi shot substitute (hard shot patterns tight, energy of the shot is greater than steel, thus a smaller pellet should be as effective or more effective than slightly larger steel, think steel 2’s compared to copper 3’s) close to bismuth in density.

 

OK, I did not think you would need a nontoxic wad but I do know some shots are abrasive without a shot cup so I was just curious

 

 

The only approved fluorescent coating (so far) for copper shot is manufactured by DayGlo Color Corp. in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

What exactly is the fluorescent
Coding for

 

Never really gave pure copper any thought before. Can someone enlighten me as to why it needs a special coating/flourescent coating to be legal?

 

I don't know the reasoning, but this is the regulation and the approved list (see 6th from the top):

Nontoxic Shot Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl and Coots in the U.S. | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl was phased-in starting with the 1987-88 hunting season. The ban became nationwide in 1991. Nontoxic shot regulations apply only to waterfowl, defined as the family Anatidae (ducks, geese, [including brant], and swans) and coots.

www.fws.gov

Both a copper corrosion inhibitor and a fluorescent marker (detectable via UV Light) are mandated for legality in the USA.

 

I would imagine that copper shot, isn't a good alternative to lead shot, as steel, bismuth, tungsten, etc. is "Non-Toxic" shot. Copper oxide is highly toxic. Might even be worse than lead as far as toxicity through a bird's digestive system goes. It's weird I know that copper is used for potable water, but it isn't subject to stomach acids. I'm sure that is why it needs to be coated, and why it isn't commonly used.

 

I guess that does make sense. Thank you for sharing.

 

The 'Federal Register' discussed corrosion inhibited and fluorescent markered copper shot back in 2017.

Federal Register :: Request Access

www.federalregister.gov

 

After reading the register it looks like The sole purpose of the fluorescent coating is for law enforcement detection. Other coatings prevent it from breaking down. Sounds like there are more than one coating.

 

Never even thought about using it. Just based on density.
Why go to the trouble of loading copper when bismuth is an option.

 

I just thought it might be something fun to experiment with I like to try all kinds of different things with shot shells so I thought maybe copper shot would be pretty fun

 

is it possible that the same toxic corrosion could happen with copper plated shot that is also non-toxic

 

Never heard of a fluorescent coating and I also didn't know that copper was specifically restricted. The regs tell you what you can't use (lead) and then they tell you specifically what is approved for use.
When I was on the job we initially carried magnets to check for steel shot. Then when bismuth, etc. came into use, we had a little electronic device that you dropped a shell into. The device wouldn't tell you what was in the shell but it would tell you that it wasn't lead.

 

The Hot Shot from Stream Systems. I tried to buy one. They don't sell to the general public. I wanted to know what all of various non-toxic hand loads would read before being checked by wardens!

 

I'm one of the poor souls (both figuratively and financially) that went from lead to steel shot. So, I never really worried about how the feds would check my shells- a simple magnet was all they need for my shells. If I was shooting bismuth, tungsten or other high dollar stuff, I probably would have done some research like you did.

I just have to be careful to not pull the old lead shells out of storage when I'm going hunting. I didn't toss them and won't but probably should put them in a separate storage area.

 

I'm one of the poor souls (both figuratively and financially) that went from lead to steel shot. So, I never really worried about how the feds would check my shells- a simple magnet was all they need for my shells. If I was shooting bismuth, tungsten or other high dollar stuff, I probably would have done some research like you did.

I just have to be careful to not pull the old lead shells out of storage when I'm going hunting. I didn't toss them and won't but probably should put them in a separate storage area.

Yah, I usually had my kids with me and handloaded heavyweight stuff, in regular looking unlabeled hulls, so I didn't want a warden hassling me due to their crappy test equipment Never needed it so far, but nice to have--run ins with confusion and uncertainty and law enforcement, never a winning combo.

 

Most of my hunting has been at heavily used managed state or Federal areas. Always see DNR or USFW persons around, but I have only been checked once. Even then, they hardly glanced at the shells as they checked for a duck plug.

 

nvm, wrong forum...

 

If anyone is following along, Boss is working on/developing a new shot material that should be less influenced by supply chain issues from foreign countries.

The owner has not come out and said directly what the shot is, but has had a few podcasts and videos on social media testing the shot type.


I’m guessing it’s a copper shot. I know a few other smaller ammo companies have tested shot types comparable to ITX-10 in the past few years.

Interesting to see what comes from this.

 

Having shot Copper shot for better then 30yrs. Like in the old days of waterfowl & lead. Just deadly. Out to 60 + yards. Today for dove, Pheasant's & most birds. Long range shots.

 

The guy at Boss has come out & said copper shot is what they are working on. Says USFWS is holding up progress with regulatory snafu.

 

Yup, the shot is lawful, but Boss needs to have a field detection device approved by the Fed's. They're waiting 4 to 6 months for the approval. The head Boss guy cooked one up in short order, but approval isn't so speedy. Apparently the fluorescent thing is proprietary and Boss can't use that shot process. Keep in mind that the density of pure copper is 8.96 gram/cm3. Six percent tin in Bismuth is 9.6. But copper can be annealed to make it quite soft if desired and it out won't fracture.

 

The density of the new and USA approved corrosion inhibited and fluorescent markered copper shot will be 8.94 g/CC.