Bob Peters
Well-known member
I'm wondering if anyone has tried these shells and how they have performed? I'm trying to stock up on the RIGHT shells before season starts, as last year I had a tough time finding shells once the season started.
Winchester rooster XR
- Thread starter Bob Peters
- Start date
dukxdog
Active member
From what I see about them I'd never use one. Looks like they are made to shoot tight patterns and touted to kill pheasants at 50+ yards. Shot encased in resin plus inner wad? Just another gimmick. Turkey load shot at pheasants. You will either miss a lot of birds close or blow them to smithereens ruining them to eat. You don't need a Howitzer shell to cleanly kill pheasants. No need to spend $1.50 per shell either!
Just get some regular 4,5 or 6 size shot at 1200-1300fps and be happy.
Just get some regular 4,5 or 6 size shot at 1200-1300fps and be happy.
Bird Buster
Active member
I have used them and patterned them. They patterned extremely well in my Benelli, "Turkey load shot at pheasants" nah don't think so. If you do a lot of longer range shooting maybe later season especially a good load IMO.
goldenboy
Well-known member
Bobby kills a lot of birds and late in the season. He knows what he is talking about. I would suggest patterning them if you are sold on the shell. That takes care of the questions. Many times I have watched buddies miss on the first two shots and kill the bird with the third shot. Tight patterns are for those that shoot a lot and know their gun.
fallin skies
New member
If you take those longer shots you need to use a premium shotgun shell IMO. I have gone to the Hevishot Bismuth loads because they hit harder and pattern so well in my Beretta. I can use a smaller shot size and reach out further than anyone I know that uses either lead or steel. Also, the non-tox is a major plus.
A5 Sweet 16
Well-known member
Yeah, reaching out further w/ bismuth than w/ lead would have nothing to do w/ the fact that it's bismuth. I shoot plenty of bismuth, but still shoot lead whenever I can. Because it simply performs better in almost all cases & usually cheaper. Granted, all gun/choke/load combinations perform differently. But in general, what I've found is that, all other things being equal, bismuth patterns very close to lead; maybe a twitch tighter. But not enough to increase effective range by improving pattern density. Any "tightness increase" downrange are offset by the facts that bismuth loads tend to be a tad lighter than a similar lead load & that to have the same pellet energy as lead at long range, you have to increase pellet size a smidgen. (fewer, bigger pellets) Achieving equal pellet energy with bismuth 5's as lead 5's at, say, 50 yards is practically impossible to do simply by increasing muzzle velocity. Gotta go a size bigger.
the wings of Fall
New member
With lead being toxic and obviously a bad deal for the environment, I am also a big proponent of both bismuth and tungsten. I think that eventually you will not see much lead offerings. I think that the density of the tungsten does make it a better shot comment in shotgun shells and the minimal cost difference is not that significant to me especially when I am getting a better shotgun shell. When I use shells like Hevi Shot, I find that I can use a smaller shot size (more pellets) and not sacrifice knockdown power or shot distance.