Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Bismuth & teeth

I have been using Bismuth on ducks and geese long enough to become convinced of Bismuth's superiority over steel.

Yes, it costs more but that is offset by largely eliminating the need for second and third shots on wounded birds.

I have been curious, due to recently busting a molar, whether the softer Bismuth is easier on teeth than other non-toxic shot. I have bitten down on lead pellets in years gone by and have gotten away with it but have taken care not to chew on steel or tungsten. In the fullness of time this will likely happen though.

My solution, search “Little Wizard II Nail Finder Woodworking Metal Detector” on Amazon.

I started hunting ducks 65 years ago, before lead was poisonous and, in fact, was the only option. I think any superiority of lead over steel is way over-stated. I can recall a lot of ducks that had to be blasted on the water to get them to stop swimming. One of the old guys we hunted with had a .22 pump in the blind to shoot cripples with, regulations be damned. From what i've seen, the guys who moved up a size to 2's for ducks, actually pattern their guns with different loads and chokes, and can shoot, kill ducks a little further than we thought was normal back in the "golden years of lead shot."

I tend to be very careful about how I prepare and eat waterfowl these days. I guess the cost of bismuth isn't so bad for the guy who hunts a couple of times a season. I always liked to start the season with two flats of shells and could usually make it through with that. For me, the cost of buying that much bismuth or other fancy non-toxic loads would be a little insane.

I have often considered getting something like the poster above suggests, maybe this year I will.

Doesn’t work on bismuth, unfortunately. Mine costs about 5x as much as that one and won’t detect bismuth pellets.




Definitely NOT overstated. You should re-assess today. Boss shells are actually fairly reasonable. I was so blown away when I tried some in my 12 ga. a few years ago, I immediately ordered some for my 20 ga. and have used that regularly on waterfowl ever since.

Ever heard of someone shooting a triple on honkers with a 20? I did it, IIRC, on the second day I tried them. Then my wife did it with the same gun and load a few weeks later.

Now, if you’re one of those guys who goes through 3 boxes of shells to shoot a limit, they may not be for you…

I started using bismuth shot in the mid-1990s, and even then (when it was pretty primitive) found it killed as well as lead shot with the same shot sizes and charges. Have suspected since then, after considerably more "field-testing," that's because the slightly lower weight also results in a slightly denser pattern, about 10% more shot than lead. And more shot in the bird generally results in quicker and more consistent kills. Have used bismuth enough since then to confirm my first impressions--which is why it's still my first choice as a lead alternative.

Also soon discovered that it was also very easy on teeth, certainly more so than steel, and also beats plated, high-antimony lead shot.

Handload a lot of bismuth, but last year bought a case (250 rounds) of Bismuth #5, 2-3/4" 20-gauge shells due to a very good price-sale. So far it has worked great on both mallards and pheasants at "normal" ranges out to 40 yards.

It is easier on the teeth. Regarding the comments on cost, I did the math awhile back and based on my experience, bismuth is the same price or less costly than steel once you factor in the extra ammo to knock a wounded bird down or shoot a crippled bird on the water that I've seen when using steel.

I solved that problem.
I folded up all my waterfowling and put it away.
I AM NOT spending that much money just to shoot a duck or goose. 😖

The "lead ban" is a "HOAX" foisted on hunters by anti hunters!
You can set up a trap thrower on the shore of a lake and shoot targets all day with lead shot.
NOT illegal.
Shoot ONE duck with lead shot?
Highly illegal because you're putting lead into a wetland!
Shooting geese (and ducks!) over a grain field does NOT put lead into the wetlands or lake.
Why isn't lead legal there?
You can shoot any game, birds or animals, along a waterway or a lake....EXCEPT waterfowl!
What's the freaking difference?
NONE!

Tree hugger, antihunter, climate freak, rhetorical insanity!!! 😡

P.S. - if I'm ever in a survival situation, I won't give two hoots in hell whether my shot is "non-toxic" or not! Goose or duck either one!

No one's going to snatch the plate from you unless you live in a bunk house that's out of chuck. Back when I hunted squirrel with an old shotgun because we didn't own a 22.. I chewed slow and spit the occasional pellet in the cuspidor.

It's unpopped popcorn kernels that are hard on the teeth.

:-)

“I have been curious, due to recently busting a molar, whether the softer Bismuth is easier on teeth than other non-toxic shot.”

Certainly easier on teeth than hevishot.

Is it better to use bismuth in older fixed-choke shotguns, instead of steel?

i have to use non-toxic shot, even on upland birds, where I live. Inherited a nice old Remington Model 32 and in deference to it's age I've been using only bismuth. Sure swats those pheasants! Haven't bitten any pellets yet this season.



Thanks, Guy

IIRC, the consensus is that the shot cup protects the barrel from steel (non toxic) shot until it exits the barrel.

Absolutely.

And especially double-barreled guns.

Steel shot charges, even when inside a plastic shot-cup, can peen the choke area more open with enough shooting, especially of larger shot--and steel shot needs to be larger than the equivalent lead or bismuth shot to kill well. This can cause problems with soldered-together double barrels near the muzzle, and occasional even soldered ribs on single-barreled guns, especially those with tighter fixed chokes.

I’ll have to “chew on” this topic a bit more before making a comment! memtb

Thank you. It's a real pleasure hunting with the gun that my grandfather used, and my father restored via Turnbull. It's a gem. Glad I selected bismuth #5's for it. They've worked well.

Regards, Guy

LOL!

Guy

Tungsten and steel are definitely harder on the dental work than bismuth. If it was all about the dental work Tungsten Matrix would be the winner it’s like chewing on plastic. For the price it’s out of my league. Bismuth on the other hand is a good compromise on price effectiveness on birds and as a added bonus dental work.