What’s everyone using for non toxic shell’s? For pheasants

I have had great success with Kent Bismuth and Kent SuperSteel. I bought some Winchester Drylok 12 gauge 3" #2 and I think they are garbage.
 
I shot a flat of boss over a few seasons now I went with Kent. Winchester makes a bismuth now, although the weight of the shotload seems on the heavy side if you ask me. Stay away from any bismuth shells with the gimmick word "hevi" in the name. First off it's bad grammar, second they're terrible shells. Still surprised Federal puts up with it.

I have had 3 squibs from my flat of boss shells. Not sure if it's moisture got in, or powder leaked out of the shell, or both. I've got a few where the crimp opened up a lot. I'll shoot those at clay pigeons.
 
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Bob Peters said:
I shot a flat of boss over a few seasons now I went with Kent. Winchester makes a bismuth now, although the weight of the shotload seems on the heavy side if you ask me. Stay away from any bismuth shells with the gimmick word "hevi" in the name. First off it's bad grammar, second they terrible shells. Still surprised Federal puts up with it.

I have had 3 squibs from my flat of boss shells. Not sure if it's moisture got in, or powder leaked out of the shell, or both. I've got a few where the crimp opened up a lot. I'll shoot those at clay pigeons.
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Winchester is .... like hevi
 
Here are a few of my pattern numbers to give you an idea of the kind of performance you might get from these loads.

Now you can be the judge!

Patterning results from a 12-gauge 3-inch Remington 870 Special Purpose with a 28" barrel and factory flush Rem-chokes (pattern average of five, 30" post-shot inscribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, in-shell pellet count average of five, and true choke constriction from bore gauge).

40 YARDS / Modified Rem-Choke (.018” constriction)
Boss Warchief Bismuth buffered 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (169 pellets) / pattern 123 (73%)
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%)

40 YARDS / Modified Rem-choke (.018” constriction)
Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) pattern 128 (69%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) pattern 146 (76%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) pattern 131 (67%)

Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) pattern 115 (75%)
Hevi-Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (148 pellets) pattern 100 (68%)
Kent Fasteel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (155 pellets) pattern 103 (66%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) pattern 110 (72%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) pattern 106 (73%)
 
Any of these brands bismuth I would run away from. Being they're all under the same conglomerate now, formerly Vista, bought out again by a Czech group I believe. They all have "hevi" in the name. My guess is that they're all made in the hevi shot factory and placed in different boxes. Between Joe Hunter's results posted above and some real world anecdotes I've come across best to look elsewhere.
4V05UKUNJYFFP1HME4EU5ESSV6P8V912.jpg
 
I shoot only Boss, both in 12 and 20.

I buy by the case so I don't have to always search around for a box or two. To me, hunting private and public along with waterfowl I never have to worry whether I'm legal or not and with a Veteran discount it's really not that bad. I spent a lot of time patterning different ammo/chokes out of my A400's and Muller chokes along with Boss ammo seem to pattern the best (to my liking).

12GA - #3/5 combo for pheasants and ducks, #2's for large geese
20GA - #5's for both ducks and pheasants

Those are the 3 different cases I buy. That's it. I like to keep it as simple as possible
 
I’ve never shot boss or bismuth or any of that stuff other than steel. Just never felt the need to.

Pattern your gun and see what your chokes like the best.

For me 3 inch #3 steel shot knocks the dog snot outa a phez. It’s what I shoot mallards over decoys with. Seems to pattern about as good or better than any other steel I’ve shot. I’ve even killed my fair share of canada geese with it over decoys.
 
I started with Kent Bismuth in 5 or 6 in both 12 and 20 and have switched to Boss. Being from Michigan i like to support local business' and i can get them the next day and they provide a first responder discount. I liked Kent other than the shattering of the bismuth on impact i found alot of fragments and with Boss' copper plating that is eliminated. I shoot 5's in both 12 and 20 with Boss.
 
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