12ga 3” 1.5oz Simple & Effective Bismuth Hand Load with Patterns

[@mikeholston9263]

Thank you for the info and getting back with me.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

That’s what I’m here for.

[@mrsmith9079]

Very good patterns, definitely good enough for serious work. On your point about TSS - you can load down to the 7/8 -1 ounce payloads in a 20 gauge and the cost of the shot isn't all that dissimilar to that of bismuth in a 10 gauge load. 1 ounce of TSS 8''s have ~ 250 pellets next to ~200 in 2 ounces of bismuth 2's, and the tungsten pellets will hit harder. You could even move up to 7's and you'd still have ~184 pellets, with enough punch to kill anything out to 100 yards.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Funny you brought up TSS in those exactly payloads for the 20ga. I ordered 4lbs of 7.5’s to experiment with. You get around 225 pellets in an once. My plan was to buy 7’s but they weren’t available at the moment. If TSS does as well as I’m hoping, I’ll be making 7/8oz 8’s and 1oz 7’s.

[@mrsmith9079]

@@avidwaterfowler7522 I managed to pick up 2kg of 7's too, in hindsight I should have gone with 8's given how 7's are apparently equivalent to FF sized steel. I look forward to seeing your review of your tungsten homeloads!

[@AndrewHouse-mj9qr]

Great video, those are good looking patterns. I’d love to see you Win Xpert clone as well

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

I’ll add that one to the list!

[@mikeholston9263]

Can a blue Rio 3 inch hull be reloaded using same recipe as a 3 inch Cheddite hull ? I was given a bunch of Rio once fired hulls.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Straight wall is straight wall in regards to Hulls as far as I’m concerned. What I would base it on is internal volume. Use something to measure the inside height and compare it to the cheds you have. Odds are you can use those Rio with no problems.

[@HawkEye02088]

How has longshot preformed for you in colder weather? Like low 20s or teens temperature, even single digits. Any differences in FPS?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Long shot has been good. I don’t use it as much as other guys do (I’m more of an alliant guy). It has done well in cold weather and I have not had an issue yet. The thing that I don’t like about LS is it can be a little spikey with pressure and it’s known for it.

[@nickpotter4825]

What buffer would you use for #4 shot?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

I’d say the precision reloading PSB would work good, but it is a little large. BPI special mix 47 has worked well for me. A lot of people like the BSB buffer as well.

[@deputyja1]

Why'd you go with WAA12F and not WAA12R? I apologize for my ignorance just new to reloading hunting loads and trying to learn

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

So I went with the 1-1/4oz field wad over the 1-3/8oz field wad because the fill is about perfect if you load on a mec. If you use a Lee load all like I did for these couple, you can’t get the crimp as tight without creasing the shell. Basically I’m trying to get stack height correct. I sometimes do tests with the load all because I don’t need to fiddle around with set up.

[@deputyja1]

@@avidwaterfowler7522 sounds good. I have both and was just curious

[@goldwp2]

Where are you buying your Bismuth Shot from?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

Mostly rotometals and I also like plated BPI bismuth, but not the budget bismuth.

[@goldwp2]

@@avidwaterfowler7522 have you thought about making your own bismuth shot?

[@michaelcavazos3671]

What the cost of bismuth 12 ga 3inch 1 1/4. Is it worth the investment of getting into the reloading thing.

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

I would not load 1-1/4oz of bismuth in a 3” shell, just go to 2-3/4”. As for cost, you would have to get costs of all components you plan on using. I would have to guess you could load those for about $1.50ish a shell or less depending if you reuse hulls or not.

[@user-iv8hc8fm5o]

Do you have a 12 gauge bismuth 2/4 shot load?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

You can mix shot if you wish. There will be no major changes to pressure.

[@michaelcavazos3671]

What payload are we looking at in a 2.75 hull?

[@avidwaterfowler7522]

1.25oz is the standard. I run 1.5 in 3”.