Next Year....What will you do different!

[Capt. Cormorant]

Next year.... Maybe I'll go hunting, who knows???

 

[duckrogers]

Not sure what specific issues it has. But I have watched quite a few youtube videos where they shoot steel into ballistic gel and boss into ballistic gel at 40 yards. Usually at least an inch difference in penetration. Add that to the fact that I could go down in shot size (from 3s to 5s) increasing the number of pellets (158 1oz 3" 3s vs 285 pellets #5s) on target and I am thinking this is significant.

We are forced to be fairly selective on our shots due to having a 25 shell rule on our marsh. Later in the season though the birds get educated. You can get them into the deeks but you need to be sitting 30 yards off your deeks or they just flare off. If on your first shot you feather the bird now you are going to be at 40 yards+ on any follow up shots. I also hit birds, feathers drifting in the wind on 30 yard over the decoys shots and they just fly off. I went to 6s on the first shot, but in the wind that does not work. So I am thinking that significant bit of penetration is going to make a big difference in my situation. I am definitely going to try a few boxes next year. If I can reduce my shell count per hunt it can make the difference in the $$.

I shot a case of Boss #5 this year chukar hunting. I switched from lead to bismuth so it was not a happy experience for me, but switching from steel to bismuth will be an upgrade for you especially with a 25 shell limit. A few observations:

1. You can switch from #3 steel to #5 bismuth and still get the same gel penetration at 40 yds, plus (as you have already observed) you get a 30% increase in pellet count in a 1 1/4 oz load.

2. The boss bismuth has a more open pattern than my lead loads. It gave an average of 47% at 40 yds in a 5 shot pattern test with the modified choke I use for lead. The same choke with my lead shells gave an average of 63%. I had to increase the choke to get a useable pattern for chukar hunting at 40 yds. I don't know what choke/pattern percentage you are getting with your steel loads, but you may not be able to get a 70%+ pattern from bismuth with any choke. Nevertheless, the huge increase in pellet count should more than make up for any loss of pattern percentage.

3. I cleaned many, many shattered bismuth pellets out of my chukars. I'd say most (60-70%) of my birds had multiple shattered pellets. That has to degrade the real-world (as opposed to gel) penetration depth and lethality of bismuth shot. I don't know how Billy hill got less than 10% of his birds with shattered pellets. The bismuth pellets are not shattering out of the gun. I checked this during pattern testing. They are shattering when they hit the bird. Maybe when they contact bone? My pinpoint metal detector does not work on bismuth. You are going to be chewing on bismuth shards if you hunt with bismuth. I guess that's ok, it will keep your stomach happy.

 

[All Day]

Not sure what specific issues it has. But I have watched quite a few youtube videos where they shoot steel into ballistic gel and boss into ballistic gel at 40 yards. Usually at least an inch difference in penetration. Add that to the fact that I could go down in shot size (from 3s to 5s) increasing the number of pellets (158 1oz 3" 3s vs 285 pellets #5s) on target and I am thinking this is significant.

We are forced to be fairly selective on our shots due to having a 25 shell rule on our marsh. Later in the season though the birds get educated. You can get them into the deeks but you need to be sitting 30 yards off your deeks or they just flare off. If on your first shot you feather the bird now you are going to be at 40 yards+ on any follow up shots. I also hit birds, feathers drifting in the wind on 30 yard over the decoys shots and they just fly off. I went to 6s on the first shot, but in the wind that does not work. So I am thinking that significant bit of penetration is going to make a big difference in my situation. I am definitely going to try a few boxes next year. If I can reduce my shell count per hunt it can make the difference in the $$.

Looking at your situation, I would use 3 1/2 12 ga. 1 1/4 or 1 3/8 #2 steel
shot.

 

[Billy hill]

I am reloading my own. The soft wads and slower speed than boss helps with pattern and fracturing. I do not know if boss is 6% alloy like the rotometal, but i believe its the same. 1300 fps was the average of 10 over the chrono. Those numbers were mine. The other 3 guys i load for dont keep track.

 

[Dr Swane]

I would like to offer up a day to get a few more WA hunters started in reloading. I have enough supplies to start 2 or 3 hunters a couple boxes each. I cant give the components away but am willing to at actual cost them. Bismuth #4 12 ga 1oz. 2 3/4 dm me if interested western wa area.

We will be doing another trip next year to central WA.

 

[GoPackers]

Hunt less days, and hopefully make it to my 20th wedding anniversary next February

 

[GoPackers]

Beretta finally came out with the A400 Plus in a 20ga, so I'm going to try my hand at using a sub gauge as the shell cost is a bit lower.

 

[Billy hill]

We went to a 28 in the a400. Only problems have been due to small loading port, hard to get shell to lock in. The bolt release is strong. I wish that beretta made the a400 with a finish like benelli b.e.st. its super soft even with its light weight

 

[#1WATERFOWLER]

I shoot Federal 3” 1 1/8 of 2s at 1550 fps for all waterfowl but try to limit shots <= 40 yards. Tried BOSS but didn’t like the patterns or pellet fractures.

Work out more.

Bought some TSS loads to have on me for Jimmy Whomps and the fourth shot if needed.

Hunt more and sleep less.

 

[Action]

What I need to do different is quit buying decoys. DSD found my home again today.