For over thirty years, non-toxic shot has been required in the United States for waterfowl hunting. Shotshell manufacturers strive to produce loads that meet the demands of hardcore wingshooters without the environmental impacts of lead shot.

More recently, non-toxic shotshells have gained popularity for upland hunting as well. The demand for non-lead loads is in part driven by the increasing number of state and federal public hunting areas that prohibit lead shot. In addition, more upland hunters want to minimize their impact on the landscape.

Raptors become sick and die if they ingest lead shot from wounded birds. Similarly, grit-picking upland birds are at risk if they pick up lead shot in popular hunting areas. As ethical hunters, it is important to improve our chances of making clean, humane kills. While lead shot has long been considered the benchmark when it comes to shotgun ballistic performance, recent product developments have blended the lines.

How I Tested Non-Toxic Shotgun Ammunition

I tested non-toxic loads from top shotshell manufacturers to bring you some of the best options for your next hunt. For our objective pattern testing, I fired each offering through Weatherby’s Sorix autoloaders in both 20- and 12-gauge. Instead of the standard 40-yard testing distance, I used improved cylinder chokes at 30 yards to better simulate upland hunting presentations.

I looked at the percentage of pellets that fell within a 30-inch diameter circle and also looked for evenly spaced shot distribution. I subjectively evaluated shotshell components, recoil, and shot size consistency to assess overall quality and reliability.

Federal HEVI-Bismuth Review

A flagship of Federal’s premium shotshell line, HEVI-Bismuth strikes a balance between the densities of lead and steel with bismuth shot. Federal combines bismuth in an alloy to reduce cracking. They say their Flitecontrol Flex wads provide better pattern density, something that we observed at the pattern board.

I tested HEVI-Bismuth in 12-gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 ¼ oz #5 shot, with a velocity of 1,350 FPS. It yielded average 90 percent patterns that were relatively even, with only a few gaps over four inches wide.

When I cut open the HEVI-Bismuth, I found that Federal buffered the top of the shot column with flat plastic discs. I don’t know the story behind this component, but I liked the results. Recoil was manageable through the Sorix autoloader, but it might be a bit much in a light double gun.

I really like HEVI-Bismuth as a crossover ammo for hunts where you are likely to encounter a combination of wild pheasants and ducks. I wish it was available in smaller shot sizes and lower velocities for grouse and partridge hunts, but otherwise, this is a do-it-all load.

Boss Unleaded Review

Boss has swiftly become a household name amongst wingshooters, thanks to their small-shop American brand story. While Boss built this reputation with their copper plated bismuth loads, they recently pivoted to the more predictably available steel shot.

Unleaded is Boss’ latest drop of premium steel shot loads. Boss says their proprietary wads break down faster on the ground due to an Ecopure additive, and the wad helps to protect barrels from the hardness of steel shot.

With the approach of dove and grouse season, I was excited to test Unleaded in 20-gauge 3-inch ⅞ oz #7 shot. Our test gave us an impressive 91 percent average pellet count at 30 yards, but the patterns were center-heavy with less than uniform margins. I counted multiple gaps in each test pattern that a dove or quail could fly through.

When I cut open the Unleaded hull, I thought the shot size looked uneven, but I liked the design of the wad. The 1,350 FPS velocity dished out a little more recoil than I like, at least for a lighter dove and upland load. I didn’t mind the clean cycling in the Sorix, but I think that Boss could back off the spice on these to make them more comfortable for high-volume shooting. I was excited to see more steel shot offerings from Boss soon.

Kent TealSteel Review

Kent Cartridge has been producing premium waterfowl loads for decades. They designed TealSteel to dominate early season ducks, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with it as a non-toxic upland load. Kent says their premium shotshell components include only the best primers, clean-burning powder, and a high-performance base wad.

Does this recipe equal results? When I patterned the TealSteel 20-gauge 3-inch 1 oz 6#, I ended up with average 82 percent patterns. Shot distribution was respectable, with slightly center-heavy patterns. Each test had one or two gaps over four inches around the pattern margins.

The cushioned wad inside TealSteel holds the most consistent shot that I saw in this test. In fact, I had to get out pliers and mash a few pellets to make sure our test shells weren’t accidentally loaded with lead. Overall, the components are the premium quality that Kent advertizes. At 1,250 FPS, the recoil on the TealSteel was quite manageable, but still enough to cleanly cycle the Weatherby Sorix.

TealSteel might be sold as a duck load, but I think it’s a do-it-all cartridge for hunters that like to chase sharptails, pheasants, and quail. If you happen to jump a flock of divers or teal off a prairie pothole, you’ll still be good to go.

Winchester Bismuth Review

Winchester’s premium lineup includes their Bismuth series. While bismuth shot retains more downrange energy than steel, it can be prone to cracking. Winchester addressed this by buffering the pellets with plastic granules to reduce the stress as the shot leaves your barrel. Winchester also uses a lacquered primer and double sealed cushioned wad to make these shells as Iatherproof as possible.

I tested the Bismuth 12-gauge 3-inch 1 ⅜ oz #4 with a 1,450 FPS velocity. On the patterning board, it averaged 70 percent patterns at 30 yards. Shot distribution was quite even across the pattern.

When  dissected the Bismuth hulls, I liked the healthy dose of buffering compound between uniform polished shot. While these shells pack a healthy wallop of recoil, it’s worth keeping in mind that these are primarily designed for waterfowl. Nevertheless, I think they are a good option for late season pheasants when you want long range knockdown power.

Fiocchi Golden Bismuth Review

Fiocchi’s nickel-plated Golden Pheasant line enjoys a long reputation for performance in the field. So, when they dropped the new Golden Pheasant Bismuth shells, I was excited to give them a try.

I patterned the Golden Pheasant Bismuth 12-gauge 2 ¾ inch 1 ¼ oz #4 and found an average 86 percent pellet count. While the patterns didn’t fill a 30-inch circle, I thought shot distribution was even, just denser than some of the competition.

I like the see-through golden hulls, and the shot inside was equally sized and spherical. At 1,400 FPS, this shell puts out a notable amount of recoil. As with the other shells in our test, I found ourselves wishing for smaller shot sizes and slower velocities to choose from. While not a versatile option for smaller upland game, Golden Pheasant Bismuth is indeed a great wild rooster load. I wouldn’t hesitate to carry it, especially on mixed pheasant and duck outings.

Test Non-Toxic Ammunition Before Your Hunt

As ammunition manufacturers increase their offerings in non-tox loads, I look forward to seeing further advances in product development.

With any shotshell test, it is worth remembering that shells are likely to pattern differently depending on gun and choke selection. If you aren’t sure if the new non-tox options are right for you, buy a box or two and give them a try before you head afield this season. That way, when you pull the trigger during an exciting flush, you can be confident in what your shot will do downrange.