Rimfireboy Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 Can anybody recommend bismuth loads for mallard and teal. Just wanted to give them a try and I'd like to know what loads and shot sizes people are using? Any info would be helpful. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 It works well but is horrendously expensive. Is there any special reason you want to use bismuth rather than steel which now works very well after an admittedly bad start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted September 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 (edited) It works well but is horrendously expensive. Is there any special reason you want to use bismuth rather than steel which now works very well after an admittedly bad start. not tried much steel. Didn't find the 32 gram loads very good. I've got three inch chambers so I'm open for recommendations. I'd like to try bismuth though, just to see how it performs. Got some hevishot but these make bismuth look cheap. In fact, they're too dear really although I know they're good. Edited September 29, 2012 by Rimfireboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IEH Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 (edited) I started with Bismuth using the 32g loads in 5's but, whilst they knocked duck down OK, I wasn't getting clean kills. Changed to Alphamax Bismuth in 4 shot and I'm very happy with these. Edited September 29, 2012 by IEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 tungsten matrix 1 and 1/8 of no 5 work very well. Wont touch steel gives too many cripples Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 Eley Alphamax are good bismuth loads. I used to use 1s/3s for geese and 4s for duck, anything between 32 and 46g... Although I'm a steel fanboy nowadays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted September 29, 2012 Report Share Posted September 29, 2012 tungsten matrix 1 and 1/8 of no 5 work very well. Wont touch steel gives too many cripples I totally disagree. Use a good steel shell and a decent shotsize, and steel performs very well. If you use no.5 steel on 40 yard mallard, you will get cripples - try 2 or 3 and shoot straight and a dead mallard will result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 30, 2012 Report Share Posted September 30, 2012 I totally disagree. Use a good steel shell and a decent shotsize, and steel performs very well. If you use no.5 steel on 40 yard mallard, you will get cripples - try 2 or 3 and shoot straight and a dead mallard will result. agreed, suitable size shot and enough speed and the rest is in the mind. I held similar thgoughts a few years back untill i grabbed the wrong shells on a crow shoot, i thought i was shooting 36 grm 5 lead untill i found i had grabbed steel by mistake as they were similar in appearance. I use gamebore 3" no3 through half choke it kills every duck if i doi my bit and a few opertunist geese now and again. Everyone gets one pellet hits and a wounder now and again but dont blame the ammo its no worse than lead if you choose the right load and keep it in range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted September 30, 2012 Report Share Posted September 30, 2012 I agree totaly with Motty and Kent. Steel when used correctly does the job within a sensible range. With bismuth I have found it pays to go up one shot size compared to lead , but i hate to think what my cartridge bill would be if bismuth was my main shell. But it does have its place. On one river where I flight duck , the shot has to be taken quickly as they weave through the trees. A game gun and bismuth does the job well while my semi auto with its steel load is much too slow and heavy for such shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted September 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2012 Thanks for the advice chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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