doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Bismuth vs Kent Tungsten Matrix

Hi guy's I am new to this site, and to having a classic double gun.

I got a 1911 Parker Brothers 16ga on an "0" frame with 26" barrels w/ Imp & mod chokes. It is all original and in very nice condition.

I was wondering if I want to duck hunt with this gun if I can use Tungsten Matrix. I know that Bismuth is what is best for the gun, but it is almost impossible to find 16ga Bismuth.

so what I am asking is, Is it o.k. for me to use Tungsten Matrix as long as I am not pumping a lot of rounds through the gun?

Thanks
Steve
http://www.firewatersd.com

Bismuth is gone in all gauges, not just 16. How about the new Heavy Shot Classic Doubles stuff? The Kent should be ok if you use their lighter loads (they make some stout duck loads!).
Joe

A buddy of mine runs Mack's Praire Wings in Stuttgart, AR. I had him look into Hevi-shots Classic double loads, and for right know they are only making it in 12ga and 20 ga. With no plans for 16ga. He is going to put some pressure on them to make some 16ga, but we will see what happens.

I might have to buy Bismuth shot and just reload it my self.

Since Bismuth is not loading factory ammo any more is the shot itself available for reloading? If so what is the source?

Welcome to the board, Steve.

There may be near-concensus that TM is better than bismuth where lethality on ducks is concerned, and you may use it as much as you can afford with those chokes.

If you haven't already, you may also want to have a gunsmith take a good look at the gun. Are the barrels twist, damascus or fluid steel? The Parker 16 0 frame with those chokes is good for upland birds and ducks over decoys to 35 yards.

Bismuth is just about totally gone off the market, loaded AND loose shot. Some folks are buying whatever loaded ammo they can find (often 3,5 inch 12ga, and often #2 or larger shot), just to get the shot to load.

I used bismuth and Kent TM interchangable for a couple of years. Not much, if any, difference in how they killed ducks over decoys. Both performed pretty much like Cu-plated hard Pb-alloy shot.

Only problem with Kent TM is that most of they ammo they load is overly heavy waterfowl loads. I buy the "upland game" or "field" loads whenever I can find them. They did (hope they still do) load some nice 1,0 oz loads in #6 shot at about 1250 fps. Most common 16 gauge loads are 1 1/16 oz of #5 at 1300 fps and 1 1/4 oz of #5 at 1250 fps. Both may recoil more than old wood will tolerate for long. Neither are pleasant to shoot in a 6,0 - 6,5 lb double.

Niklas

My concern with TM is hardness (see attached chart showing hardness for various shot materials). I guess if you believe that all pellets remain in the shot cup while traveling down the barrel you should be fine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62422934@N00/2001896011

Here is a website that sells ingets of bismuth to make into your own shot.

They also sell a "easy-to-pour spherical pellet.....corresponding to shot sizes Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7½. Because of certain patent considerations, we do not offer these pellets to the public as shot, even though they certainly look and act like the very finest highest quality non-toxic shot"

http://www.huntersbismuth.com/home.html


(read #4.)

I think this will work, for those that want to reload bismuth.

Steve

CParker,

Kent Tungsten Matrix is not in that chart. TM is a plastic polymer with finely ground tungsten mixed in to increase the density. It is a soft material. After shooting a hundred or so rounds in my old hammer doubles from the 1920s and 1930s, there are no scratches. The shotcups used in Kent TM loads are really nothing more than ordinary ones used for lead alloy shot.

Niklas

Has anyone actually been able to buy anything from Hunter Bismuth? Last I knew, attempts to contact them got no response.

Thanks,

Niklas