Joe Hunter
Active member
12 GA Boss Bismuth loads
I cut open five shells, from the same box/lot as the shells to be patterned, and the components (powder and shot) were weighed, counted, and measured for consistency. Here are my findings from those dissections.
12 GA 2 3/4" Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth load
1 1/4 oz #4 Bi (192 pellets) @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 ¼ ounce = 546.9 gr)
195 / 552.9 gr
194 / 553.3 gr
193 / 553.9 gr
190 / 544.2 gr
187 / 541.1 gr
Aver. 191.8 pellets / 549.08 gr
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #4 pellet dia. = .130”)
.138”, .137”, .137”, .136”, .135”, .135”, .134”, .134”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .132”, .131”, .131”, .130”, .128”, .127”, .127”, .127”, .126”, .126”, .126”, .123”
Aver. .13140” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
27.7 gr
27.7 gr
27.6 gr
27.5 gr
27.4 gr
Aver. 27.58 gr
PATTERN RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified Rem-choke, .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth load
12ga 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (192 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 145, 130, 128, 113, 113
Aver. 125.8 (65.58%)
12 GA 3" Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth load
1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets) @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 3/8 ounce = 601.56 gr)
268 / 610.2 gr
267 / 606.4 gr
267 / 605. 9 gr
266 / 606.3 gr
265 / 605.8 gr
Aver. 266.6 / 606.92 gr
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #5 pellet dia. = .120”)
.129”, .126”, .125”, .125”, .125”, .125”, .124”, .124”, .123”, .123”, .122”, .121”, .121”, .121”, .120”, .120”, .120”, .119”, .119”, .116”, .116”, .112”, .110”, .109”, .108”
Aver. .12012” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
30.3 gr
30.3 gr
30.1 gr
30.1 gr
30.1 gr
Aver. 30.18 gr
PATTERNING RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified Rem-choke, .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth load
12ga 3” 1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 151, 148, 143, 139, 135
Aver. 143.2 (53.71%)
12 GA 3" Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth duplex load
1 1/2 oz #3 Bi (123 pellets) + #5 Bi (103 pellets) = 226 total pellets @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 1/2 ounce = 656.3 gr)
232 / 649.6 gr
231 / 655.3 gr
230 / 660.0 gr
220 / 648.8 gr
219 / 645.3 gr
Aver. 226.4 / 651.8 gr
(#3 Bi/123.2 + #5 Bi/103.2 = 226.4 pellets) (#5 Bi/45.58% of payload)
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #3 pellet dia. = .140”)
.144”, .143”, .143”, .142”, .141”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .138”, .138”, .138”, .137”, .136”, .135”, .135”, .134”, .134”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .131”, .129”
Aver. .13692” dia.
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #5 pellet dia. = .120”)
.128”, .126”, .125”, .124”, .124”, .123”, .123”, .123”, .122”, .122”, .121”, .121”, .121”, .121”, .120”, .120”, .119”, .118”, .118”, .117”, .116”, .116”, .116”, .113”, .112”
Aver. .12036” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
30.0 gr
29.9 gr
29.9 gr
29.8 gr
29.8 gr
Aver. 29.88 gr
PATTERNING RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified Rem-choke, .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth Duplex load
12ga 3” 1 1/2 oz (#3/123 + #5/103 = 226 total pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 132, 127, 124, 115, 108
Aver. 121.2 (53.53%)
So, how did the Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth loads perform? Well, here are a few more of my pattern numbers from some other bismuth, and steel loads using the same gun/choke as above for comparison.
PATTERNS / 40 YARDS / Modified Rem-Choke (.018” constriction)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (192 pellets) / pattern 126 (66%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets) / pattern 143 (54%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 ½ oz #3/#5 Bi duplex (226 pellets) / pattern 121 (54%)
Kent Upland Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (197 pellets) / pattern 119 (60%)
Kent Waterfowl Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (212 pellets) / pattern 126 (59%)
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (228 pellets) / pattern 85 (37%)
HEVI-Hammer Upland 3” 1 3/8 oz #3 Bi/#3 Steel duplex (181 pellets) / pattern 101 (56%)
Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) / pattern 128 (69%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) / pattern 146 (76%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) / pattern 131 (67%)
Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) / pattern 115 (75%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) / pattern 110 (72%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) / pattern 106 (73%)
I'm just the messenger so you can be the judge!
I cut open five shells, from the same box/lot as the shells to be patterned, and the components (powder and shot) were weighed, counted, and measured for consistency. Here are my findings from those dissections.
12 GA 2 3/4" Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth load
1 1/4 oz #4 Bi (192 pellets) @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 ¼ ounce = 546.9 gr)
195 / 552.9 gr
194 / 553.3 gr
193 / 553.9 gr
190 / 544.2 gr
187 / 541.1 gr
Aver. 191.8 pellets / 549.08 gr
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #4 pellet dia. = .130”)
.138”, .137”, .137”, .136”, .135”, .135”, .134”, .134”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .132”, .131”, .131”, .130”, .128”, .127”, .127”, .127”, .126”, .126”, .126”, .123”
Aver. .13140” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
27.7 gr
27.7 gr
27.6 gr
27.5 gr
27.4 gr
Aver. 27.58 gr
PATTERN RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified Rem-choke, .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth load
12ga 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (192 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 145, 130, 128, 113, 113
Aver. 125.8 (65.58%)
12 GA 3" Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth load
1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets) @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 3/8 ounce = 601.56 gr)
268 / 610.2 gr
267 / 606.4 gr
267 / 605. 9 gr
266 / 606.3 gr
265 / 605.8 gr
Aver. 266.6 / 606.92 gr
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #5 pellet dia. = .120”)
.129”, .126”, .125”, .125”, .125”, .125”, .124”, .124”, .123”, .123”, .122”, .121”, .121”, .121”, .120”, .120”, .120”, .119”, .119”, .116”, .116”, .112”, .110”, .109”, .108”
Aver. .12012” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
30.3 gr
30.3 gr
30.1 gr
30.1 gr
30.1 gr
Aver. 30.18 gr
PATTERNING RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified Rem-choke, .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth load
12ga 3” 1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 151, 148, 143, 139, 135
Aver. 143.2 (53.71%)
12 GA 3" Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth duplex load
1 1/2 oz #3 Bi (123 pellets) + #5 Bi (103 pellets) = 226 total pellets @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 1/2 ounce = 656.3 gr)
232 / 649.6 gr
231 / 655.3 gr
230 / 660.0 gr
220 / 648.8 gr
219 / 645.3 gr
Aver. 226.4 / 651.8 gr
(#3 Bi/123.2 + #5 Bi/103.2 = 226.4 pellets) (#5 Bi/45.58% of payload)
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #3 pellet dia. = .140”)
.144”, .143”, .143”, .142”, .141”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .138”, .138”, .138”, .137”, .136”, .135”, .135”, .134”, .134”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .133”, .131”, .129”
Aver. .13692” dia.
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #5 pellet dia. = .120”)
.128”, .126”, .125”, .124”, .124”, .123”, .123”, .123”, .122”, .122”, .121”, .121”, .121”, .121”, .120”, .120”, .119”, .118”, .118”, .117”, .116”, .116”, .116”, .113”, .112”
Aver. .12036” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
30.0 gr
29.9 gr
29.9 gr
29.8 gr
29.8 gr
Aver. 29.88 gr
PATTERNING RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified Rem-choke, .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth Duplex load
12ga 3” 1 1/2 oz (#3/123 + #5/103 = 226 total pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 132, 127, 124, 115, 108
Aver. 121.2 (53.53%)
So, how did the Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth loads perform? Well, here are a few more of my pattern numbers from some other bismuth, and steel loads using the same gun/choke as above for comparison.
PATTERNS / 40 YARDS / Modified Rem-Choke (.018” constriction)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (192 pellets) / pattern 126 (66%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets) / pattern 143 (54%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 ½ oz #3/#5 Bi duplex (226 pellets) / pattern 121 (54%)
Kent Upland Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (197 pellets) / pattern 119 (60%)
Kent Waterfowl Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (212 pellets) / pattern 126 (59%)
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (228 pellets) / pattern 85 (37%)
HEVI-Hammer Upland 3” 1 3/8 oz #3 Bi/#3 Steel duplex (181 pellets) / pattern 101 (56%)
Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) / pattern 128 (69%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) / pattern 146 (76%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) / pattern 131 (67%)
Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) / pattern 115 (75%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) / pattern 110 (72%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) / pattern 106 (73%)
I'm just the messenger so you can be the judge!