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I think you have to use steel shot in Oregon, I could be wrong. If you do, use a modified choke for steel.The shortest barrel you can find with ability to use extra full choke tube. This isn't about swing stability… It's aimed shooting. Save the weight and the brush snags.
Steel shot is typically just for upland and waterfowl, most states still allow lead for turkey.I think you have to use steel shot in Oregon, I could be wrong. If you do, use a modified choke for steel.
If you reload bismuth (for Andy, stuff it down your muzzle) it costs about a buck for an ounce of shot. That's about what steel on the shelf is going for these days. Tungsten prices have gotten ridiculous, even for reloading.Steel shot is stupid...but I digress...
With that said...we have areas here in Washington that are non-toxic shot only...even if you ain't hunting waterfowl.
I do wish non-toxic shot shells weren't at a second mortgage on your house price point.
Andy
I wonder if one could melt bismuth and make rifle round ball with it....and if it would weigh close to the same as a lead round ball of the same caliber...?If you reload bismuth (for Andy, stuff it down your muzzle) it costs about a buck for an ounce of shot. That's about what steel on the shelf is going for these days. Tungsten has gotten ridiculous.
It's melting point is only 520 degrees, so my propane forge could easily melt it, but it looks like it oxidizes very easily.I wonder if one could melt bismuth and make rifle round ball with it
I think I could melt it in my lead pot...and yeah knowing what the exact alloy is would be good.It's melting point is only 520 degrees, so my propane forge could easily melt it, but it looks like it oxidizes very easily.
I'd be curious to know what the exact alloy the shot actually is.
Yeah, anyone setup with lead casting should be able to easily handle bismuth.I think I could melt it in my lead pot...and yeah knowing what the exact alloy is would be good.
Andy
So it looks like most the higher quality bismuth shot is being pressure-cast, which means they can control the environment and either surround it with an inert gas, or purge as much oxygen as possible.I think I could melt it in my lead pot...and yeah knowing what the exact alloy is would be good.
Andy
I usually cast lead round ball outside on my patio...and yeah some slag shows up...easy to knock off.So it looks like most the higher quality bismuth shot is being pressure-cast, which means they can control the environment and either surround it with an inert gas, or purge as much oxygen as possible.
So melting and casting in an open-air environment, you're going to pick up some oxygen in it. Probably not a big deal and it will just show up as slag on the exposed surfaces that you have to knock off, but could reduce your final weight a tad. I've never cast lead, so I'm not sure if this is something you usually deal with anyway?
You're talking to a former production machinist/annodizer/welder here. Accuracy and repeatability matters!Weight does not have to be clinically accurate down to the nearest grain.
It does indeed...however for me...say a Bismuth .530 round ball weighs in around 220 grains...well that is close enough to the 223-224 advertised weight.You're talking to a former production machinist/annodizer/welder here. Accuracy and repeatability matters!