Bismuth Cartridge out of business

[Trifler]

I was looking at buying some Bismuth Buckshot, but it's been out of stock everywhere online for quite some time now so I sent an e-mail off to the company and I just received a response from someone saying he's the Accountant and the company closed its doors in April of 2007. This is sad news. :( Their shells were expensive, but they were the only ones that sold zero lead buckshot.

Anyways, I thought I'd post this information in case anyone was interested.

[sm]

Dammit! I hate this!

Bismuth most closely replicates Lead shot loadings...

I have not checked around, but what about Ballistic Products?
Anyone else?

I do not do steel , or tungsten or ...
I was messing with Bismuth before the NILO reports were done for other reasons and applications...I like bismuth...

I am going to be nice and not mention that .gov can shove all the lies and hype about toxic shot for migratory birds dated 'back when' both up their noses and rear ends at the same time. The dirty Bastids!

[JohnBT]

You're not going to like this:

BP site:

"Home > - Shotshell Components > - Link To: Shot - > Bismuth No-Tox

Note: We only have a few sizes of bismuth pellets remaining in stock. It does not appear, at this time, that bismuth pellets will be available again any time in the foreseeable future. Please check back for updates."

[DBR]

What about: http://www.hevishot.com/home.html The tests I have seen look very good.

[JohnBT]

HS is great, but you can shoot bismuth in old shotguns that aren't safe for steel or HS.

John

[MCgunner]

What was great about Bismuth is that if you had an old shotgun like my old side by side that was retired due to steel shot laws and was not steel compatible, Bismuth would get you back in the field with it once in a while. Yeah, it was expensive, but I liked that about it. The alternatives are hard like steel and can't be fired in old doubles without risk of damage.

Is there a chance, I wonder, of someone buying out their production and crankin' it back up? Probably not since they're probably run out by all the new alternatives and the cost of metals. But, last time I looked, Bismuth had come down a little bit and Tungsten had sky rocketed. I was thinkin' about getting some for my old double to get it back in the marsh, but I guess not now. :(

[Woodyard]

Check out the Hevishot website. They have announced a new Hevishot "classic" load that's supposed to be denser than Bismuth and suitable for older fixed choke guns like classic doubles, Model 12s etc. Kent's Tungsten Matrix loading is also suitable for such guns. Too bad about Bismuth. It was owned by Robert Peterson, publisher of Peterson's Hunting, who died in April. Apparently his heirs have no interest in continuing the company. I keep hoping an investor will come along and revive the company. In the meantime, I just bought 100 rounds of 2.75 inch Bismuth 4s from Able Ammo.

[Durby]

Can you shoot the magnum Bismuth loads in those old shotguns too? I have an 80 year old Montgomery Ward I want to use for duck hunting at least once or twice before I modify it so it is not full/full with 32" barrels. The regular game loads would work, but I like shooting magnum loads at ducks, more pellets downrange means more of a chance as far as I'm concerned.

[Trifler]

I found Hevi-Shot "Dead Coyote" '00' Buck in 2-3/4" and 3" shells on their website. Guess I'll give it a try.

[Dave McCracken]

Durby, there's not a shotgun in the world made before WWII I'd chance steel or Hevi shot in. Nor in plenty of those made since.

TTBOMK, Bismuth was the sole non tox shot suitable for older guns.

Sorry.....