A year or two ago, someone noticed a real good price on Kent Bismuth and posted it here. I capitalized on that, but now I'm thinking I may need a little more this season. Pheasants are seemingly pretty abundant, and I have used up a fair bit on ducks.

I thought maybe I would be proactive and buy a case if a good price pops up. AmmoSeek.com lists very good prices from Carolina Munitions, but they have horrendous reviews and excessive shipping ($60+/case).

If anyone sees or knows of a good price on a case, please post it here. Anything under $300/case would be good, if shipping is not excessive and service is reliable.

Thanks,
Brent

Brent, these guys are reputable and have free shipping on orders over $99.

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/Ammu...Kent&page=1

Dave, thanks, that's very helpful.

Brent, you might want to try your local Theisens. The one ear me carries Kent bismuth at good prices.

https://www.hinterlandoutfitters.com/dep...restfilter=2937

Flat rate shipping last time I ordered, regardless how much you order at the time it's only $9.99 for the order ............TX to GA.

SRH

Maybe they just charge liberal/socialists prO'fessors that much.

If they only knew they would refuse to sell you any ammo...and I sure as heck wouldn't tell you of any deals.

Matt,
I would never have even bothered with them. Thanks for the suggestion.

I get mine from Roger's

Rogers is looking like the best deal so far.

Matt, I went on line and can't find Kent at Theisen's. I may call the store later, but doesn't look good. I will try Fleet Farm though. They have more ammo than Sportsman's Warehouse by a large margin.

Where is pricing on this these days? My inventory is at about 1.25/oz

Just a little over $300/case for 1.25 oz/2.75"

That’s not all that bad.
As long as they’re suitable to the gun you’re using.

YEs, that is an issue. They do not list pressure. So, okay for the Merkel, but not sure what else. I may have to research this a bit and see if I can get Kent to tell me or find it listed somewhere.

Well, Kent is very prompt with their reply. The load that interests me (their "Upland" offering) "sits right at 10,000 PSI". A bit higher than I had hoped, but I am not surprised.

I asked Kent about pressures last year and got this response:

"Our 12g 2-3/4in HEVI-Bismuth shells are loaded to 11,000 PSI. These shells are modern hunting shells and they are up there in pressure so they ignite well in cold weather".

That's cheaper than reloading them, if cost is the only consideration. Bought from Rotometals #3.5 bismuth shot is $1.17 per 1.25 oz. At $319.99/case you get the loaded shell for $1.28.

However, for many of us, cost is not the only consideration. We've got guns that we don't want to put that heavy a load through (almost 4 - 1 1/4). I wish they'd offer a 3 1/4 or 3 1/2 - 1 1/4 loading. I reload to that and find that it hammers big ducks plenty hard enough and plenty far out, with tight chokes. Have gone 6 for 6 on with that load over dekes.

Once I run out of shot I'll likely try these. They're gaining a big following. Pricing as cheap as Roger's for Kent, and American owned and operated. Copper plated bismuth.

https://bossshotshells.com



SRH

Yes, I can reload them, but right now I can't find the powder or hulls that I want. I can and probably will load more with blackpowder in once fired Rio (Cheddite) hulls. I have the materials for that.

I know nothing about the Boss shells but will take a close look at them.

Hmmm, no listing of pressures on their website. They have the same velocity as the Kents. I sent an email and got an automated response that due to overwhelming numbers of inquiries it could be several days before they respond.

I'll post whatever I find out.

Kent doesn't make the Hevi-Bismuth loads, they are from a company called "Hevi-Shot."

https://www.hevishot.com/catalog/hevi-bismuth-waterfowl/

These guys are also making bismuth ammo. (see link below) They are getting low on stock tho. A while back I ordered a couple boxes of 16 gauge bismuth 4's from them. They only had one box left, so they sent me that box and a complimentary box of 16 gauge bismuth 6's. Hard not to appreciate that! Their velocities were a little lower in 16 gauge than the Boss loads.

I see they are completely out of the 16 gauge ammo now, and the 12 gauge offerings are low, but they are someone to keep an eye on.

https://www.backridgeammunition.com

The Boss people were quick to get back to me, and I will just post their reply in full.

I've purchased some tungsten ammunition from this company. Some of the shells looked to be swelled in the hull and they also jammed in an autoloader I was using. Food for thought.

Thanks for posting that, Brent. It piqued my interest enough that I emailed them to get further info, and pricing, on the 8500 psi loads. They sent an automated reply back saying that they're overwhelmed with requests for information and it might be a few days before I receive a personal reply.

Sounds like a load I would be very interested in. I asked if they are in paper hulls, as well as having fiber wads, because of the extreme reduction in pressure (a 2000 psi drop). It will be interesting to hear back from them.

Best, SRH

Well, I'm looking to hear back too. I got the same automated reply but Zach replied within an hour the first time. Haven't heard anything on my follow up. I'd rather have 7500, but I'll stand for 8500.

I don't mind, too much, using the others in my SuperFox, at 10,500. But would rather back it down to 8500, if possible. Sounds promising.

If it all works out I'll use up the rest of my bismuth shot loading low pressure 1 1/8 oz. loads for my other Foxes and LC Smith, and use the 1 1/4 oz. BOSS loads in the SuperFox.

Silly me, thinking that I can think in the wee hours.

As a follow-up........ I ordered a "case" of 200 rounds of 1 1/4 oz.no. 5 copper plated bismuth, loaded with fiber wads and having 8500 psi and a velocity of 1275 fps, for $255, from Boss.

Spoke with them and learned that the fiber wad loads pattern a little more open than the shot cup loads. No prob for my SuperFox, choked .042" and .043".

They would be fine in my Greener. And probably good enough over decoys in my Cashmore. Not sure if they would be perfect for the Cashmores and pheasants however. but can work with that.

I'll order the same. Not sure why the copper plating for Bi, but can't hurt I suppose.

I bought 100 16 gauge Boss loads for ducks this year. Opening day my shooting was so horrible with my 16 ga. Remington 11 I quickly switched to my BSS 12 and did quite well with Kent Bismuth 5's. Not sure how I'll proceed with the 16 gauge Boss loads, but I believe my Iside can handle them for nontoxic pheasant loads. Seems I've grown apart from my old M11, and my BSS cemented its position as my duck gun.

My grandfather's Model 11 was impossible for me to shoot. I find them very difficult guns in all respects. But you might pattern one or two shells through the M11 and see where and how it shoots with that load.

It wasn't the gun or load. I just haven't been shooting it lately, and I seem to have myself grooved-in to SxS's that fit. I've worked hard for the last 20 years at becoming competent with SxS's and now I think I've boxed myself in.

Brent, they say the plating hardens the shot enough to improve patterns. Same reason Olin came out with Luballoy plated shot in the 1920s. Less deformation, thus, less "flyers" out of the main pattern.

Bi is pretty hard though - that's why I was wondering. I've had a few pellets shatter, but most are basically reusable. With copper coated lead, I always thought is was something about penetration and reducing drag on entry. Not sure where that idea came from, but certainly it was pre-internet.

Anyway, copper cant hurt. Those shells should be perfect for ducks and pheasants.

I have bismuth shot from two different places, that I use for reloading. Have also cut open shells and tested it (pliers test). It's not all the same, hardness I mean. Rotometals bismuth shot is alloyed with 6 % tin to help hold it together, and not be frangible like the pellets in some loaded shells a few years ago were. It's density is 9.6 gr./cubic centimeter. Don't know about other sources.

If it's true copper plating, and not just a wash, it should help patterns.

SRH

Too bad you can't shoot it in your old clunker of a gun...

Ordered 200 Boss lower pressure, no. 5 bismuth, on the Friday the 20th, they charged to credit card that day, arrived on my front porch Sunday the 22nd. That's crazy fast service. Shells look good, too. Patterning is next, in my "old clunker of a gun", but I expect good results, optimist that I am.

I have 200 coming as well. Nice folks over there in Bridgeman. My ultra low pressure shells may let me down this winter. I've had to FtF events out of about 100 Pb or Bi rounds fired.

Stan I wasn't talking to you...how long you been here Stanley. Go look at the top of my post and take note my reply was to BrentD your buddy the Socialist pig.

Since you chimed in Stan what is a guy that was on his death bed literally weeks ago and might never walk or talk again need with 200 rds of Bismuth ?

Why do you work so damn fuckking hard at being such an ass Frank? Were you born this way, or did you develop these skills along your twisted sorry lifetime travels?

A few folks like to chide me over my alleged lack of collector's knowledge about double barrel shotguns and wonder out loud why I'm hear, yet you don't even seem to own one or be interested in owning or using one. What's your excuse?

Dave, if you ever bother to read your website at all, why the hell do you encourage such crap?

Why do I bother ?

Easy answer because you are a liberal
socialist pig.

Actually because you don't have a frickin' leg to stand on.

As usual Frank, all you can do is hurl insults. I am happy to hurl the back now. I imagine you are too feeble to even lift a shotgun anymore. One sick puppy, you are.

I owe you an apology, Frank. That was my carelessness. My bad. I will be more careful.

Thank you for taking the high road and gently pointing that out to me.

Of all posters here, I can't imagine how I could have suspected you of dissing me.

SRH

Well, at least he didn’t call you a commie.


__________________________
Keep that up Homeless we’re going to start calling you Gentleman jOe.

Your point? Perhaps a veiled attempt at some sort of insult?

If that’s where the boogeymen in your mind take you...


__________________________
I betcha he’s got a Commie flag tacked up on the wall inside of his garage.
C. Daniels
https://youtu.be/952h-AJ3Bcg

A somewhat cowardly person, you seem to be.

My shells arrived today. They were dropped off without signature, which is not that unusual here. A look superb and are almost excellently labeled. Each shell lists gauge, length, shot size, copper plating, velocity, and even wad type. But, unfortunately. Nowhere, not even on the invoice, do they list pressure or bismuth.

It may be interesting to have to convince a CO that they are legal loads.

If you're worried about that I'd suggest you take your cell phone so you can pull up the website to show him. It's what I plan to do.

Boss doesn't make anything but bismuth loads, IINM.

SRH

I'm not that worried, but it would be the single most important thing to print on that shell, in my opinion. I've never had a CO or warden check my ammo. They look at whatever gun I'm carrying and want to talk about that. They never seem to realize it is the vintage double guys that would be most tempted to cheat. I've always wondered what they would do with my handloads.

All of them have been good people so I don't think there would be any problem. But it would be nice to have the Word Bismuth on that hull.

I'll stick a few in my pocket on Sunday and see if I can find some ducks (unlikely) or pheasants (very likely) to try them on.