Non Toxic Shot

[ChrisNicholls]

I need some advice on cartridges with non toxic shot.

The shoot I have just joined releases a few ducks which usually fly very well, there is also three flight ponds used for evening flighting. I will have to use non toxic shot for these. I have had no experience of these as I usually only shoot gamebirds and pigeons, can anybody recommend a cartridge suitable for inland duck shooting?

I have heard from the other guns that tungsten matrix are good but very expensive.

 

Should add that I use an AYA sidelock with 2 3/4" chambers.

Edited September 1, 2005 by ChrisNicholls

[Jon-Boy]

All non toxic shot is quite expensive these days. Looking at £1 per shot. Express hevi shot is good and comes in a variety of shot sizes. Just bought 400 tin Hull game flight magnum for £12.50. Not normally that cheap but does the job on the donalds.

 

Hope this helps

 

Jon

[M ROBSON]

I wouldn't touch tin with a barge poll!!!!!!

 

If your after a cheap shell that will kill out to 40 yards then get high speed steel in 32g size 3 or 4 for Mallard. It kills better when it is fast, Forseys sells Remmy HV at 1550fps.

 

Mark.

[P03]

Before you use steel make sure your barrels are proofed for it, if not try Eley Forest Bismouth they're more expensive than steel (about £20 for 25) but very effective. One thing to remember always go at least one shot size bigger than you normally would.

Good Shooting

[Jon-Boy]

Tins fine on flight ponds when youre only shooting 20 - 30 yards. All other stuff i use hevi or bismuth for.

[ChrisNicholls]

Thank's for your help chaps with the above replies and those by PM, I am going to probably try Bismuth for starters and will let you all know how I get on.

 

Chris.

[henry d]

TIN IS ******** don`t use it.I was using it before the ban in England and Wales and I can tell you that if I had hit them with lead 5`s they would have been dead,I hit several duck with 34gm magnum 3`s and the one that sticks in my mind is a teal at 25yds that had a broken skull two broken legs and a broken wing it was still very much alive! When I got it home and plucked it it was badly bruised but I couldn`t find any shot in the body. IMO it is not suitable for duck,unless you think that a wounded duck is worth the price of a slightly cheaper cartridge.

use bismuth or ITM they retail,by the box of 25,about £17 not £1 a pop and hit hard and will not scratch the barrels.

[Jon-Boy]

I disagree, a few shooting buddies and I were given a license from defra to cull forty geese. As the number was so high, we chose to use tin as a cheaper alternative. It had no trouble disposing of the graylags and egyptions...

[M ROBSON]

I was give a box of Hull 3" magnum tin 1's last year. They were so **** I ended up using them on brancher Rook and even then they struggled to kill some at 30 yards!

 

Mark.

 

PS,

I'm on a few wildfowling forums and whenever a poll for prefered non-tox alternatives comes up Tin always comes last.

Edited September 9, 2005 by M ROBSON

[Whitebridges]

I use Eley Aphamax 3's and 5's bismuth forest for the quack quacks. There not cheap at about £19 a box of 25, but they are good.