16ga.com ~ View topic

Member Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 57 Location: Newport.OR

I hope that with my recent postings I don't seem like I'm beating a dead horse but... after reading with interest, the responses towards loading steel shot and the resulting advice to use bismuth, I started to research. I know that BP makes a multi-metal wad and that is reflected in BP's personal bismuth recipes but Hogdon's bismuth recipes now on line suggest that standard wads like sp16 are fine. Comments please.

I noticed the change also. I would think the old brittle Bizmuth might have been improved on and the more modern wads work OK now. The powder mfg. only really care about pressure and safety so I guess we will have to try some of their loads and see what it works on the patern board and in the field.
Best,
Ron

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

FWIW--I've recently loaded Bismuth in standard wads and found the resulting performance to be quite adequate. I've also used the 'Multi-Metal' wads and found them to be just more expensive.

Member Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 57 Location: Newport.OR

Britgun, the data I have is from BP and Hogdon. BP loads use the multimetal and also require filler wads and over shot cards. The hogdon data (online) lists the Rem SP16 or the G/BP16 depending on hull used. Sounds like woodcock may have some info in the future. Hope others weigh in on this.

Member Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 57 Location: Newport.OR

britgun, I wrote BP asking for advice on steel/bismuth for the 16 ga.. Many contributors on this web site have said that they are most helpful and well versed in nontoxic loading. BP sent me info about their multimetal wad and with it came loading data. Hope this helps.

[quote="spunky16"]britgun, I wrote BP asking for advice on steel/bismuth for the 16 ga.. Many contributors on this web site have said that they are most helpful and well versed in nontoxic loading. BP sent me info about their multimetal wad and with it came loading data. Hope this helps.[/quote

thanks, I'll email them for the data, that helped a lot!

b'gun

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

I have no information as to the substitution of BP's 'multi-metal' wad with any other wad BUT my surmise is that there would be no such animal. The 'multi-metal' wad is, to some degree, specific for 'harder' types of shot and therefore made of a special plastic.

Member Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 317

Bismuth requires no special wad. Any 16 ga. wad will do. Just remember that bismuth is less dense than chilled lead, so more bismuth pellets of a given diameter will be dropped per ounce of weight than chilled lead of equal diameter. Hence they take up more space. Probably the best wad for 1 oz. bismuth loads is the Rem. SP-16. But you can use the TC-16, SG-16, G28 and R-16. It all depends on the payload and the hull.