Joe Hunter
Active member
12 GA 2 3/4” Kent 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 3/4" Kent Upland Bismuth load
1 1/4 oz #5 Bi (197 pellets) @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 ¼ ounce = 546.9 gr)
200 / 523.2 gr
198 / 518.4 gr
197 / 514.0 gr
196 / 518.6 gr
194 / 516.1 gr
Aver. 197.0 / 518.06 gr
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #5 pellet dia. = .120”)
.135”, .132”, .130”, .130”, .129”, .129”, .128”, .128”, .127”, .126”, .125”, .124”, .124”, .124”, .123”, .123”, .123”, .122”, .122”, .122”, .121”, .121”, .119”, .118”, .117”
Aver. .12488” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
28.8 gr
28.8 gr
28.6 gr
28.5 gr
28.4 gr
Aver. 28.62 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.
Kent Upland Bismuth load
12ga 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (197 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 137, 116, 116, 113, 112
Aver. 118.8 (60.30%)
12 GA 2 3/4" Kent Waterfowl Bismuth load
1 1/4 oz #4 Bi (212 pellets) @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 ¼ ounce = 546.9 gr)
219 / 518.2 gr
217 / 520.1 gr
209 / 513.1 gr
209 / 507.1 gr
208 / 511.5 gr
Aver. 212.4 / 514.0 gr
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #4 pellet dia. = .130”)
.134”, .135”, .133”, .133”, .132”, .132”, .131”, .131”, .131”, .131”, .129”, .128”, .128”, .127”, .125”, .123”, .121”, .117”, .116”, .112”, .112”, .111”, .108”, .107”, .104”
Aver. .12364” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
30.3 gr
30.1 gr
30.0 gr
29.5 gr
29.5 gr
Aver. 29.88 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.
Kent Waterfowl Bismuth load
12ga 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (212 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 137, 133, 124, 121, 115
Aver. 126.0 (59.32%)
So, how did the Kent Bismuth loads perform? Well, here are a few more of my pattern numbers from some other bismuth, bismuth/steel 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!
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 3/4" Kent Upland Bismuth load
1 1/4 oz #5 Bi (197 pellets) @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 ¼ ounce = 546.9 gr)
200 / 523.2 gr
198 / 518.4 gr
197 / 514.0 gr
196 / 518.6 gr
194 / 516.1 gr
Aver. 197.0 / 518.06 gr
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #5 pellet dia. = .120”)
.135”, .132”, .130”, .130”, .129”, .129”, .128”, .128”, .127”, .126”, .125”, .124”, .124”, .124”, .123”, .123”, .123”, .122”, .122”, .122”, .121”, .121”, .119”, .118”, .117”
Aver. .12488” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
28.8 gr
28.8 gr
28.6 gr
28.5 gr
28.4 gr
Aver. 28.62 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.
Kent Upland Bismuth load
12ga 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (197 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 137, 116, 116, 113, 112
Aver. 118.8 (60.30%)
12 GA 2 3/4" Kent Waterfowl Bismuth load
1 1/4 oz #4 Bi (212 pellets) @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 ¼ ounce = 546.9 gr)
219 / 518.2 gr
217 / 520.1 gr
209 / 513.1 gr
209 / 507.1 gr
208 / 511.5 gr
Aver. 212.4 / 514.0 gr
PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #4 pellet dia. = .130”)
.134”, .135”, .133”, .133”, .132”, .132”, .131”, .131”, .131”, .131”, .129”, .128”, .128”, .127”, .125”, .123”, .121”, .117”, .116”, .112”, .112”, .111”, .108”, .107”, .104”
Aver. .12364” dia.
POWDER / SHELL (grains)
30.3 gr
30.1 gr
30.0 gr
29.5 gr
29.5 gr
Aver. 29.88 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.
Kent Waterfowl Bismuth load
12ga 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (212 pellets)
40 Yards / Modified Rem-choke
Patterns: 137, 133, 124, 121, 115
Aver. 126.0 (59.32%)
So, how did the Kent Bismuth loads perform? Well, here are a few more of my pattern numbers from some other bismuth, bismuth/steel 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!