Bismuth shot, waste of computer chip material... see update post 17

20 years ago I paid $135 for a 7 lb bag ( that is only about 85 shots of 1 1/4 oz loads) of Bi #4 to load for my SxS guns. 2 years ago I bought another 7 lb jug from Ballistic Products in the USA, one of the very few suppliers that I know of and it was $240 by the time I converted from USD to CDN. It would have been a lot more if I hadn't had it sent to a friend in the USA so I could pick it up and bring it home myself. $240 for 85 shots is $3 per bang so I sure don't waste them!
 
Chihuahua said:
Most likely fake - one of these "game changer" to bring the stocks up
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China has stopped the flow of Bismuth...plain and simple. It is not going to be a non-toxic shot alternative any time soon. Watched a video from Boss ammo. They are focusing their efforts on TSS and more recently Copper shot going forward and have found an American made source for the shot to eliminate buying from China.
 
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Ol' Flinter said:
20 years ago I paid $135 for a 7 lb bag ( that is only about 85 shots of 1 1/4 oz loads) of Bi #4 to load for my SxS guns. 2 years ago I bought another 7 lb jug from Ballistic Products in the USA, one of the very few suppliers that I know of and it was $240 by the time I converted from USD to CDN. It would have been a lot more if I hadn't had it sent to a friend in the USA so I could pick it up and bring it home myself. $240 for 85 shots is $3 per bang so I sure don't waste them!
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That Sir is some serious Chachinggggg !!!
Not judging, just saying.
 
the spank said:
China has stopped the flow of Bismuth...plain and simple. It is not going to be a non-toxic shot alternative any time soon. Watched a video from Boss ammo. They are focusing their efforts on TSS shot going forward and have found an American made source for the shot to eliminate buying from China.
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I watched an interview where they said they were moving to copper shot to replace bismuth
 
Interested. I have a couple older shotties and I don't want to go to steel. I was told recently ' Bismuth is now considered obsolete'.
I suspect it's not obsolete, as much as the price is beyond what the market is willing to bear for Bismuth ammunition.
Copper 8.935g/ cu cm. Bismuth 9.8g/ cu cm. Lead 11.348 g/ cu cm. Steel 7.75-8.05 g/cu cm.
Price of copper has been on the rise lately too $13.36/kg, Lead $2.67/kg, Bismuth $34.38/kg, and Tungsten in 1lb bags at Budget Shooter Supply is $70 (#6 shot), so for the win $154/kg. Ouch.
 
I noticed on the BOSS shotshell website this week that they are no longer loading their legacy series, as it is planted bismuth shot. And if you watch any videos or do any reading, that stuff in incredibly popular and highly rated. They said in the next month or so they'll come out with something new, non bismuth to replace it!
 
Does Bilozir not still offer Bismuth? There was never a truly legal way to get Boss shells across the border, so my go to has always been reloading with Ballistic Products shot that I've ordered from Will. They worked great last fall during my trip to Saskatchewan. It's not cheap, but that's the cost of doing business these days if you want to use a vintage gun.
 
He does, in fact I ordered some yesterday and they are getting a shipment coming in next week.

Not cheap but I have no choice. I have a papered antique W. C. Scott in 14ga - I have to make my own ammo.
 
KotKotofeich said:
He does, in fact I ordered some yesterday and they are getting a shipment coming in next week.

Not cheap but I have no choice. I have a papered antique W. C. Scott in 14ga - I have to make my own ammo.
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Funny, I was digging around in some stuff in my office and I found the receipt from last fall where I paid about $100 less for a bag of polished bismuth from Will than it's advertised for on his site. So the price has definitely jumped since then! Makes me wish that I'd bought more!
 
Bismuth is on the list of metals china put export restrictions on early this year and need all new exports licenses and approvals so it’s nearly all stalled and shortages are driving prices way up and causing many companies to have to stop assembly/production. On the list is also tungsten, lithium, rare earths, magnets and so on.
It’s retaliation against all the countries that put 100% Chinese Ev tariffs. Hopefully most will find alternatives, China shouldnt be able to keep the world hostage like this but here we are again.
 
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