- Location
- Sunny Manitoba
Good question -- I think I've seen the shot for reloading but not in shell form yet.
Opening fixed full on Wingmaster?
- Thread starter crunch68
- Start date
Good question -- I think I've seen the shot for reloading but not in shell form yet.
Here is the last info I read on it and last december cabelas in the US had some of the new rio in stock. Have not seen anything so far up this way
Cheers
Bismuth, the first non-toxic alternative to steel shot, is back. With the price of tungsten ammo going from expensive to “if you have to ask you can’t afford it” prices, that’s good news, at least for those who can pay $2-$3 per shell for shotgun ammo. Bismuth pellets are actually a bismuth-tin alloy that is almost as dense as lead. It’s brittle, rather than hard, so it doesn’t damage gun barrels and it reacts to choke about the way lead did. Bismuth is a good choice for those who hunt waterfowl with older guns and nice doubles that can’t tolerate steel.
Bismuth shot appeared in the 90s, first sold in the U.S. by the Bismuth Cartridge Company, then by Winchester, then under the Bis-Maxx brand, then it went away. Now it’s back, loaded by Rio Ammunition of Spain. Rio is actually owned by the same parent company as Eleyhawk, the English ammo maker that originally sold bismuth shot, and Rio had a hand in loading previous incarnations of bismuth. The new bismuth should be available at some larger mail order outfits like Natchez Shooting Supply this fall.
These bismuth pellets are supposed to be improved over the old ones but they are still quite brittle. Some broke upon striking bone of the two geese I shot with them, others broke when I bit them. I never had trouble killing anything with the old bismuth shot, and always counted it as an advantage that it didn’t hurt when you bit down on a pellet at the dinner table. Still, it would be better for terminal ballistics if some of the pellets didn’t break up in the bird. Bismuth comes in no size smaller than 3, which is what I used, and what I would consider on the small side for a goose pellet. I predict these shells will do very well on ducks and pheasants. I will be trying them on both and will report back.
Bismuth will initially be available in 3,4,5,6 and 7 shot in 2 ¾-inch and 3-inch 12 gauge and 3-inch 20 gauge loadings. Other gauges may become available if the 12s and 20s sell. Rioammo.com
We will have to all get together I think to be able to afford a box.
Too bad they cannot come up with a reasonable priced alternative for lead so we can shoot these older guns like this wingmaster with factory full choke as they were designed. I think they can but maybe the market it not there any more.
- Location
- Sunny Manitoba
Thanks for that.
We will have to all get together I think to be able to afford a box.
I agree and disagree 3macs1 I think they can do it and the market is still there but they won't because, if waterfowlers could get a load that would give us similar to lead performance and handle chokes and classic double guns like lead for a price that was competitive with the high end steel loads so $30-40 for a box of 25 it would destroy a major portion of the steel shot market and it would also impact the sales of new waterfowl guns. I know many waterfowlers would stop shooting premium steel in favor of this.
I am a member of the generation that has never fired a lead load at waterfowl, but I would be eager to try it and if it performed similarly to what lead did I would have a hard time going back to steel or using any shotgun other then my great uncles 98 year old model 12.
Buy a Remington 1100 wave washer or a big 0-ring and slip in over the magazine tube between the barrel and the mag cap. This will prevent it from unscrewing.
Check your local hardware store first they call them spring washers I think or you can buy a Remington 1100 stainless steel wave washer from Brownells
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I'm with you. My dad has a beautiful old Winchester Model 21 that I'd use happily for the rest of my days.
Model 21's I have two also but those after I got them appraised I will never shoot again other than maybe a club. Have you had yours looked at as far as value.
870's I have no problem taking into the trees and salt water but not 21's
Cheers
I'm in the same situation, just rebuilding an old 1954 wingmaster with a fixed full choke. I have no decoys and rely on hiding in a bush for geese! I think I'll get it opened up to modified so I can use something more than #2
Theres a local guy that will do the reaming for $75, I had a berretta 303 done a few months ago and it patterns beautifully now with everything I've tried.
Theres a local guy that will do the reaming for $75, I had a berretta 303 done a few months ago and it patterns beautifully now with everything I've tried.
