Zimtrout Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 Hi all I have used a few bismuth carts in my 16g this season, i wondered.....do they pattern the same as lead? I think I understand that bismuth is slightly lighter that Lead, so a bigger shot may be required. so many questions, it only occurred to me sitting watching the sun go down this evening on a flight pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 Used it in both 16 gauge and 410 and to be honest could not tell the difference between that and lead. I was shooting #6 shot. Put it in the pattern and it will do the job just as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 If bismuth cost the same as lead cartridges I'd actually prefer bismuth (with no regard to the toxicity issue) as I think that it patterns better than lead and at the sub-30 yards range I shoot my game at kills just as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cawdor118 Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 I shot 2 geese with 10+ year old bismuth Eley Hi-Flyer 4's on Wednesday. It works... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted January 31, 2021 Report Share Posted January 31, 2021 You won’t know unless you get out at a pattern plate with both. There is no alternative as guns and bores all vary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted January 31, 2021 Report Share Posted January 31, 2021 14 hours ago, Zimtrout said: Hi all I have used a few bismuth carts in my 16g this season, i wondered.....do they pattern the same as lead? I think I understand that bismuth is slightly lighter that Lead, so a bigger shot may be required. so many questions, it only occurred to me sitting watching the sun go down this evening on a flight pond. You are correct that Bismuth is less fence than lead (9.8g per cm3 versus 11.g per cm3) as both are alloys adulterated with small amounts of other metals to modify their properties (to make Bismuth less frangible and lead harder). With regards pattern, hard materials pattern more densely than soft materials as it is the damage caused under high pressure on during which distorts the pellets causing them to not fly true and therefore a wider pattern. Bismuth is 85 on brnell hardness, lead is 8 to 12, whilst iron (for our steel pellets) is about 170. Most accept than steel shoots some 10% tighter patterns than lead, so there may be some better patterning from Bismuth theoretically but this will also be offset due to frangibility and not noticeable away from the pattern board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARSH GUN Posted February 4, 2021 Report Share Posted February 4, 2021 I feel Lead and bismuth are roughly the same in the field, Lead gains on Its density but bismuth patterns better in my experience. Buffering helps bismuth patterns like lead but i find bismuth responds slightly better to buffer than lead on %. I can onlty agree with the importance of patterning mentioned by Dave At Kelton is important, to get to know how it will work in your gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted February 4, 2021 Report Share Posted February 4, 2021 As above and if you have a choice of chokes then do a pattern with each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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