Steel shot alternatives for waterfowl

[bernie]

Next year I am going to try to use something different while waterfowl hunting. The steel shot just does not perform as well as what I am used to with lead. What are your experiences with hevi-shot, tungsten-iron, tungsten matrix, or bismuth. When you could buy bismuth shot reasonably, a bought 8 pounds and reloaded my duck loads. Even in a 2 3/4" shell the bismuth was much more deadly than a 3" steel load.

I know that this is anecdotal evidence only, but what have your experiences been?

 

[sm]

Bismuth.

Either buy it or reload your own.

I read the Nilo Farms Report...I agree with Nilo...

mumbleycussgummitmeddlinsoandsos...

I never used anything but 2 3/4" shells and felled any duck or goose I wanted. I had some really good lead loads...1 3/8 oz of HARD shot copperplated #2, lead #4 #5 and #6 . I shot CP #2 for Goose and #5 for Ducks....mostly. I had a similar loading in 1 1/4oz and ...err ... a little something I came up with in 11/16 oz...*smug grin* damn right it worked...heh, heh, heh....

Totally pissed at the gummit... I went Bismuth, came up with a loading to my liking as per Mr. Pattern board, and thought what the gummit could do with their regs and steel shotFelled my waterfowl.

I am a rebel, I'm supposed to do this thing I do.

 

[Dave McCracken]

HeviShot 2s work better for me than Steel anything, including Winchester's TT and TTT loads.

Had good reports in Bismuth from folks I trust, but no direct knowledge.

 

[HSMITH]

I tried bismuth and didn't like it. Won't buy it again. I was shooting #4 bismuth and it performed worse than high velocity steel 2's. Tried bismuth BB's on geese, worked well but so do BBB high velocity steel loads. Bismuth BB worked well on ducks, but no surprise there. I will be handloading some Hevi for the coming season. From the reports I have seen it flat works, but of course a few years ago I read the same about bismuth. The only way to find out is to use it though, so I will.

 

[Lee Woiteshek]

Hevi shot IMO is the best out there right now. Downside is that it's not cheap. If your shooting anything other than a SXS or O/U it will get expensive in a hurry. Expect to pay from 17 and change to 24 bucks a box for Hevi (10 shots). All that said, it takes me back to the days of lead. I don't know that I'll ever shoot anything else. Come Memorial Day I plan on picking up a box of Hevi every payday until season starts. If you purchase some in this last week of season, use an open choke, nothing tighter than Modified. I'm currently shooting Mod over IC. Hevi is made of Tungsten, Nickel, and Iron. While I have Hevi 4's and 5's I'm currently using 3 inch 6's and the ducks are falling stone dead to 40 yards. Beyond that I just don't shoot. Understand there is to be a new shot out there soon made of Tungsten Nickel and Tin. Supposed to be just as good and sell for 15 bucks for a box of 25. Haven't seen it yet or used it.

 

[bernie]

I have tried bismuth and liked it, but it is very expensive. IF you get any more poop on the tungsten-nickel-tin shells for $15 per box of 25, please let me know.

As it stands now, I will probably use 2 3/4" bismuth #4's. I have reloaded them in the past and had good results. However, if the tungsten-nickel-tin shells at the $15 price come around, I will use them because of price.

 

[TrapperReady]

I used a bunch of Hevishot this year. Mostly #4, but also some #2 and #6. I was really surprised at how well the 3" #6 worked. For this year, I'll probably use it almost entirely.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Tagged.

I'm curious how this goes, as I am also wondering what I should stock up on for next season, having been bit badly by the waterfowling bug. I downed one bird (only) last year with a 20ga and #4 steel. Though he was delicious, I was underwhelmed by the performance of the steel shot at what was about 30 yards. I'm sure high-speed #2s in my new 12 will be fine, but considering how much hunting I get to do, I'm not so positive that Hevi-Shot might be worth the additional expense.

FWIW, I have a coworker who took all of his birds this year with Remington Sportsman Steel. At $10/25, seems like a good deal.

 

[Kingcreek]

I've had poor results with bismuth. not every time but often enough I won't use it.
Hevi shot is great stuff. Compared to steel I go 1-2 sizes smaller. I've had great results with #4 and 6 on ducks and #2s on geese. Last year I bought it by the case for 13.25/box IIRC and split 2 cases with a buddy. 2.75 for ducks and 3" for geese more than adequate. Usually IC choke, sometimes Mod