HEVI-Bismuth No. 5 load update

[Joe Hunter]

12 GA 2 ¾” HEVI-Bismuth No. 5 load (Replacement shells)
After dissecting and patterning the HEVI-Bismuth shells I originally purchased from Hevi-Shot, I contacted them about my unusual results and findings. See my previous post about the HEVI-Bismuth load.

Hevi-Shot wanted my left-over shells for inspection and agreed to send me a “replacement” box of the same load. After receiving the replacement shells, I proceeded to dissect and pattern these shells just as I had done with the original shells I purchased. Here are my dissection findings and pattering results from the replacement shells.

12 GA 2 ¾" HEVI-Bismuth load
1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (232 pellets) @ 1400 fps

PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 ¼ ounce = 546.9 gr)
237 / 547.7 gr
235 / 545.7 gr
234 / 541.5 gr
228 / 533.7 gr
228 / 531.8 gr
Aver. 232.4 / 540.08 gr + flax seeds 13.92 gr

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #5 pellet dia. = .120”)
.128”, .127”, .126”, .126”, .123”, .123”, .122”, .122”, .122”, .121”, .121”, .120”, .119”, .119”, .119”, .118”, .118”, .116”, .115”, .115”, .115”, .113”, .112”, .112”, .109”
Aver. .11924” dia.

POWDER / SHELL (grains)
35.7 gr
35.6 gr
35.4 gr
34.9 gr
34.7 gr
Aver. 35.26 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 (232 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Pattern counts 121, 118, 116, 114, 103
Aver. 114.0 (49.05%)

So… How did the “Replacement” shells that Hevi-Shot sent me measure up and perform compared to the “Original” shells I purchased? Well, here are the patterning results and component highlights for comparison.

Five-shot average from 40-yard patterns shot through a Mod. choke (.018” const.)
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (228 pellets) / pattern 85 (37%) “Original” shells
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (232 pellets) / pattern 114 (49%) “Replacement” shells

Measurable / Original shells / Replacement shells / Difference (+/-)
Pellet counts / 228 / 232 / +4 pellets in replacement shells

Pellet size / .11532” / .11924” / +.00392” in replacement shells

Payload weight / 485 gr / 540 gr / +55 gr in replacement shells

Powder weight / 33.56 gr / 35.26 gr / +1.70 gr in replacement shells

Pattern % from Mod. choke (.018”) @ 40 yards / 37% / 49% / +12% in replacement shells

As you can see, I did find the pellet size and payload weight in the replacement shells to be much closer to what is expected in the load. I don’t know if that means they loaded those just for me or if it was just another box off the shelf. Since I haven’t been able to talk to anyone at the company, I must wonder why the two loadings of the same load would be so different.

There were 1.7 grains more powder in the replacement shells than the original shells and the replacement shells patterned a little better than the originals (+12%), but the replacement shells still registered a lower pattern percentage (49%) for a modified choke at 40 yards than all of the other bismuth loads I tested. See below for the patterning results.

I would have liked to discuss some of these load and pattern performance differences with Hevi-Shot personnel but following several phone calls, voice messages, and emails; I’ve still not been contacted by them or been able to talk to anyone at the headquarters.

Short of any explanation from Hevi-Shot about their load’s performance, you’re free to be the judge of my findings!

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%) “Original” shells
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (232 pellets) / pattern 114 (49%) “Replacement” shells
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%)

 

[A5 Sweet 16]

I'm guessing you got a special box.
You must not have experimented to see what it'd take to hold 'em together better?
I wouldn't either, as I don't think they're worth the cost of the cardboard box.

 

[Joe Hunter]

After several comments that bismuth needs to be shot in tighter chokes, I've gone back and done some more patterning with the same replacement shells that Hevi sent me.

The IC patterning was just for the heck of it and the Full choke patterning is for those that commented that you need tight chokes for bismuth.

I hope this helps, good luck!

“Replacement shell patterning”
The patterning results are from a 12-gauge 3-inch Remington 870 Special Purpose with a 28-inch barrel and a factory flush Rem-chokes, constrictions from a bore gauge. The pattern counts and averages were derived from five separate pattern shots at 48-inch x 48-inch paper pattern sheets, and a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle was used to define the pattern. The in-shell pellet count averages were obtained from dissecting five shells from the same box/lot as the shells to be patterned and counting the pellets. The 40-yard patterning distance was established with a measuring tape from the muzzle to the pattern board.

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (232 pellets) / IC (.009”) / pattern 70 (30%)
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (232 pellets) / Mod. (.018”) / pattern 114 (49%)
HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (232 pellets) / Full (.037”) / pattern 134 (58%)

 

[carptom1]

I'm guessing you got a special box.
You must not have experimented to see what it'd take to hold 'em together better?
I wouldn't either, as I don't think they're worth the cost of the cardboard box.

I don’t know the fact they wanted the old shells back makes me think possibly they are going to do some investigation on their own. I don’t know enough about all the manufacturing to make a judgment, but I always get suspicious when what I am buying is short of what I am expecting. Maybe they are getting hoodwinked by someone also. A little cut here and a little cut there spread out over 10’ s of thousands of shells would really add up. Profits go up and bonuses get bigger. See it often in the industry I am in.