HEVI Bismuth loads

Joe Hunter

Active member
12 GA HEVI Bismuth loads
I cut open five shells, from the same box 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 ¾" HEVI-Bismuth load
1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (228 pellets) @ 1400 fps

PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 ¼ ounce = 546.9 gr)
234 / 497.0 gr
231 / 491.2 gr
228 / 484.6 gr
227 / 485.8 gr
222 / 468.5 gr
Aver. 228.4 / 485.42 gr + flax seeds 12.68 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #5 pellet dia. = .120”)
.126”, .125”, .124”, .124”, .123”, .122”, .121”, .120”, .119”, .119”, .119”, .118”, .116”, .115”, .115”, .114”, .113”, .112”, .112”, .111”, .110”, .109”, .107”, .096”, .093”
Aver. .11532” dia.

POWDER / SHELL (grains)
33.8 gr
33.7 gr
33.5 gr
33.4 gr
33.4 gr
Aver. 33.56 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.

HEVI-Bismuth load
12ga 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (228 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 99, 97, 81, 74, 72
Aver. 84.6 (37.04%)

12 GA 3" Hevi-Hammer Upland Duplex (bismuth/steel) load
1 3/8 oz #3 Bi (55 pellets) + #3 Steel (126 pellets) = 181 total pellets @ 1350 fps

PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 3/8 ounce = 601.6 gr)
183 / 568.9 gr
183 / 565.1 gr
181 / 557.3 gr
179 / 545.9 gr
178 / 549.9 gr
Aver. 180.8 / 557.42 gr + flax seeds 16.38gr
(Bi/55.4 + Steel/125.6 = 181 pellets) (Bi/30.6% of payload)

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #3 Bi pellet dia. = .140”)
.149”, .148”, .148”, .146”, .146”, .146”, .145”, .145”, .143”, .143”, .142”, .142”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .138”, .138”, .138”, .137”, .137”, .136”, .134”, .131”
Aver. .14128” dia.

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #3 Steel pellet dia. = .140”)
.141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .137”
Aver. .13976” dia.

POWDER / SHELL (grains)
40.0 gr
40.0 gr
39.9 gr
39.4 gr
39.4 gr
Aver. 39.74 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.

Hevi-Hammer Upland Bismuth/Steel Duplex load
12ga 3” 1 3/8 oz (Bi/55 + Steel/126 = 181 total pellets)
40 yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 107, 102, 102, 100, 94
Aver. 101.0 (55.86%)

So, how did the HEVI Bismuth and Bismuth/Steel duplex loads perform? Well, here are a few more of my pattern numbers from some other bismuth, bismuth duplex, 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!
 
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