Headed to SoDak for a guided combo pheasant/waterfowl hunt in a few weeks. I'd like to try some of the newer Bismuth loads for waterfowl. What shells and loads and shot size are you guys using for Canada's and mallards? I'll be using a Fabarm Waterfowler so 12 gage and max 3 inch shell. I have a few 1 3/8 ounce loads of #4 12 gage Kent bismuth (10 shot box) I keep around for pheasant in no tox areas, but only have a few left in the box of ten so I need to pick up some more for the morning waterfowl hunts. I also seem to be striking out in finding much in stock for the Kent bismuth box of 25 waterfowl loads.
Patently Obvious
I had pretty good luck with Bismuth BB for Canadas and #4 on ducks. I like Kent Impact tungsten matrix better though and Hevi-Shot Goose (the heaviest) in B or #5 the best.
I checked Mack's Prairie Wings and in Kent only saw the Tungsten Matrix for 3 inch in #2 shot. At $45.20/bx of 10 it is very pricey but if you are not shooting that much it is inconsequential to price of most hunting trips. I would think that would work well for the geese. The case sizes of Bismuth BBs are $299.00 which IS pricey unless you are buying for long term usage.
https://www.mackspw.com/Kent-Bismuth-Hi ... 0-FPS-Case
Cabelas has the Remington Hypersonic Steel in #BB, 1, 2, & 4. A friend who uses a FABARM Waterfowler swears by these for ducks and I would think the #BB would be fine for Canada geese.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Remingt ... 755650.uts
You might also find out what is available locally since in those states where such hunting is commonplace and a major revenue producer they often have good stocks of the more popular hunting loads. Good luck.
https://www.mackspw.com/Kent-Bismuth-Hi ... 0-FPS-Case
Cabelas has the Remington Hypersonic Steel in #BB, 1, 2, & 4. A friend who uses a FABARM Waterfowler swears by these for ducks and I would think the #BB would be fine for Canada geese.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Remingt ... 755650.uts
You might also find out what is available locally since in those states where such hunting is commonplace and a major revenue producer they often have good stocks of the more popular hunting loads. Good luck.
What isn't "Patently Obvious" is why you want to pay 3 to 4 times as much for ammunition to shoot in a shotgun that will shoot steel shot just fine. 
It is your money and you can spend it as you deem appropriate. But your gun will shoot ANY non-toxic ammunition available. The bismuth ammunition will get the job done for sure, but so will all the other non-toxics and for considerably less cost.
Bass Pro is showing Kent Bismuth Upland loads in 3" #5 shot (1.5 oz - $41/box of 25) and 2.75" #4, 5, and 6 shot (1.25 - $37/box of 25 & 1.125 oz - $32/box of 25). They also have free shipping on orders $50 and above.
Any of the high-speed steel loads will get the job done for about 1/4 to 1/3 the cost. But it IS your money. Good luck and shoot straight.
{hs#
It is your money and you can spend it as you deem appropriate. But your gun will shoot ANY non-toxic ammunition available. The bismuth ammunition will get the job done for sure, but so will all the other non-toxics and for considerably less cost.
Bass Pro is showing Kent Bismuth Upland loads in 3" #5 shot (1.5 oz - $41/box of 25) and 2.75" #4, 5, and 6 shot (1.25 - $37/box of 25 & 1.125 oz - $32/box of 25). They also have free shipping on orders $50 and above.
Any of the high-speed steel loads will get the job done for about 1/4 to 1/3 the cost. But it IS your money. Good luck and shoot straight.
{hs#
Well I have shot steel bb at Canada's and #2s at ducks for years and agree it gets the job done. The newer bismuth is about 2x the cost of GOOD steel loads and since I need some shells anyway if it offered a significant advantage over steel to me that is worth it since I'd likely use 2-3 boxes on a three day trip hunting waterfowl only on the mornings so about $30-40 more. Compared to guide fees and tipping it's chump change.
This was an option I was considering. At fleet farm. $35 for BB.
https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/kent-b ... 0000304727
I thought since bismuth is denser perhaps I could get away with 1's for geese or maybe even #2s for both geese and ducks.
This was an option I was considering. At fleet farm. $35 for BB.
https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/kent-b ... 0000304727
I thought since bismuth is denser perhaps I could get away with 1's for geese or maybe even #2s for both geese and ducks.
What's $40 for a box of shells when you are using them far from home? You could probably use $3.50 a shot Hevi-shot goose for the whole trip and your fuel bill might still be higher than your ammunition bill.
Aside from that a one shot kill is more likely with deser than steel shot. If one $1.50 shell can get the job done you spent less than the cost of three doses of steel.
Aside from that a one shot kill is more likely with deser than steel shot. If one $1.50 shell can get the job done you spent less than the cost of three doses of steel.
Agreed on the economics. People get silly cheaping out on shells when they compare their shell bill to the overall cost of the trip. And bismuth hits a lot harder than steel and, as someone noted, will get you more one-shot kills. The Remington Hypersonics are really hard on the gun and the shoulder.
Rio also makes a nice bismuth load, and the Hevishot HeviX load is another good alternative. #2 or #3 shot will do it all, or use #4 on ducks and pheasants and BB on geese if you want to go traditional.
A good friend and hunting partner of mine switched completely over to Hevishot about five years ago and kept track of how many shells he used during a season. He duck hunts at least 30 times a year, so a good data set. He found his shell bill with the Hevishot was only marginally higher due to the very high number of one-shot, dead on the water kills. Also noted that if the ducks weren't decoying well he had a lot more confidence with longer pass-shooting, which is saying something as he is one of the finest game shots I know.
Rio also makes a nice bismuth load, and the Hevishot HeviX load is another good alternative. #2 or #3 shot will do it all, or use #4 on ducks and pheasants and BB on geese if you want to go traditional.
A good friend and hunting partner of mine switched completely over to Hevishot about five years ago and kept track of how many shells he used during a season. He duck hunts at least 30 times a year, so a good data set. He found his shell bill with the Hevishot was only marginally higher due to the very high number of one-shot, dead on the water kills. Also noted that if the ducks weren't decoying well he had a lot more confidence with longer pass-shooting, which is saying something as he is one of the finest game shots I know.
I did some googling and found this link. Seems credible.
https://pipesf16.wordpress.com/bismuth- ... -analysis/
"As you can see, a 1oz load of #1 bismuth matches the standard 3.5″ steel goose load roman candle, but with only 43% recoil- this is well worth it, shooting 23 ftlbs recoil vs. 53 ftlbs would be worth it, and the cost of shells at about $1.15 each for bismuth compares favorably to the $1 each for 3.5″ loads if you purchase a box alone or even $0.70 each if you buy a whole flat on sale from Rogers after the season. Even 5/4oz loads of #B bismuth which well exceed any 3.5″ steel offering, produce only 57% of the recoil, a good deal at $1.45/shell or so. If I wasn't already loaded up for geese with HW13#4, I'd load up #B bismuth."
https://pipesf16.wordpress.com/bismuth- ... -analysis/
"As you can see, a 1oz load of #1 bismuth matches the standard 3.5″ steel goose load roman candle, but with only 43% recoil- this is well worth it, shooting 23 ftlbs recoil vs. 53 ftlbs would be worth it, and the cost of shells at about $1.15 each for bismuth compares favorably to the $1 each for 3.5″ loads if you purchase a box alone or even $0.70 each if you buy a whole flat on sale from Rogers after the season. Even 5/4oz loads of #B bismuth which well exceed any 3.5″ steel offering, produce only 57% of the recoil, a good deal at $1.45/shell or so. If I wasn't already loaded up for geese with HW13#4, I'd load up #B bismuth."
I understand the desire to tinker with shotgun loads. That fascination is why these forums are so popular. But when I tinker with guns and/or loads even close to home I usually carry a tried-and-true gun can load combination as back-up.
A paid trip really isn't the best place to tinker. High-speed #2 steel (1400+ fps) will kill mallards, cackling geese, canada geese and pheasants. The most difficult scenario is probably the pheasants because steel shot is least effective when it's shot into the back/lungs of a bird.
If it were me, I'd shoot steel #2s at the web-footed birds and Bismuth #4's at Pheasants. If they're flushing wild you might was Bismuth #2s.
A paid trip really isn't the best place to tinker. High-speed #2 steel (1400+ fps) will kill mallards, cackling geese, canada geese and pheasants. The most difficult scenario is probably the pheasants because steel shot is least effective when it's shot into the back/lungs of a bird.
If it were me, I'd shoot steel #2s at the web-footed birds and Bismuth #4's at Pheasants. If they're flushing wild you might was Bismuth #2s.
I like #1's for geese and #4's for ducks. Fours will work very well out to 35 yards on geese,probably 40 in a pinch. Old fixed choke guns and Bismuth make me smile.
Avoid Hevi Bismuth. Note the recent thread on DHC
https://www.duckhuntingchat.com/forum/v ... ae6eee0ac2
https://www.duckhuntingchat.com/forum/v ... ae6eee0ac2
If your gonna buy loaded shells check out Boss Bismuth. I load my own so I can get exactly what I want (16 gauge).
I shot Kent Bismuth last year for pheasants and it worked great. I used 3" 1.5oz #2 but I'm going to try the #4 this year since the #2's were a little hard on birds if they were close. I like to go a little on the heavy side since wild flushing pheasants are hard to anchor and since I hunt without a dog they need to be dead or immobile when they hit the ground.
As for the increased cost of these loads over steel, I'm ok with that because I do believe that these shells preform better than steel. Even when I was still hunting waterfowl and shooting a lot moreI liked using Hevishot(the Remington branded stuff)because I used less rounds to fill my limits.
As for the increased cost of these loads over steel, I'm ok with that because I do believe that these shells preform better than steel. Even when I was still hunting waterfowl and shooting a lot moreI liked using Hevishot(the Remington branded stuff)because I used less rounds to fill my limits.
Thanks for the input guys. I've been "sidetracked" at my farm in my deer blinds this weekend and now have an 8 point buck to cut up this morning. I'll pick this up and look for shells next week after I get my harvest in the freezer.
If I wasn't loading my own bismuth, I'd seriously give these guys a look. They appear to be very price competitive and offer free ground shipping over $100. https://bossshotshells.com/shotshells/
Their shells come 20/box and cost about $1.55 per 12 GA 3" shell. A case of 200 will bring that down to about $1.35 per 12 GA 3" shell. The 12 GA 2 3/4" shells will be less. Seems like a reasonable price to me. I don't have any guns that require soft non-toxic shot like bismuth, so I use steel shot at less than $0.50 each for all my non-toxic hunting.
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