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As bird hunters with versatile gun dogs, it’s not uncommon for us to be hunting greenheads in the morning and roosters in the afternoon. For pursuits between flooded timber and WMAs, you must ensure you’ve swapped your lead shot for non-toxic before hitting the field. That can be a task when all you want to do is drop the tailgate and go. To ensure your vest is always filled with non-toxic shot, opting for a hard-hitting Winchester Bismuth is a great choice, not only for your wallet, but to ensure you’re always following the law.

What are Bismuth Shotgun Shells?

Steel was the answer when lead shot was banned for waterfowl hunting in 1991. However, Steel is less dense than lead (7.86 g/cc compared to 11.1 g/cc), meaning steel pellets do not retain velocity and energy as well as lead. It also meansmanufacturers had to increase the size of steel pellets in an attempt to compare to the weight of lead, reducing the number of pellets that could be stuffed in a shell. Over the years, manufacturers have worked to eliminate the problems found with steel shot, and they have come a long way.

With the evolution of steel, other non-toxic materials, such as Bismuth, have made their way into the market as well. Bismuth is denser than steel by over 20 percent (9.6 g/cc). The increased density lets manufacturers make pellets smaller without compromising on weight, allowing them to pack more pellets into each shell.

Winchester Bismuth

As with all products, traditional Bismuth has had its issues. Bismuth is brittle. Plain and simple. It is known to fracture under pressure, sometimes breaking apart as it is forced out of the barrel. When this happens, it kills the load’s energy and penetration down range. Winchester has gone to great lengths to fix that issue.

The Winchester Bismuth is tin plated like other Bismuth loads, but what really sets it apart from the rest is that the shot is “cushioned” inside the shell by a polymer buffer (12- and 20-gauge only). This buffering, which looks like tiny plastic balls,serves as a padding for the shot to help eliminate fracturing from the stress of being discharged at high velocities. Keeping the Bismuth pellets intact produces consistent shot patterns at longer distances—meaning more shot on fast flying birds.

In addition to the unique buffering, the Winchester Bismuth is made with their Drylock Wad and primer system. For wet and snowy days in the pheasant fields or an accidental dunk in the marsh, this system serves as a sort of raincoat to protect the gunpowder for consistent and dependable ignition, no matter the hunting conditions.

Field Testing Winchester Bismuth Shotgun Shells

Winchester Bismuth is available in a range of shot sizes—including a new 28-gauge offering—and payloads that fit the bill for hardcore duck hunters and pheasant hunters:

• 28-gauge, 3”, #5, 1 ounce
• 12-gauge, 3”, #1, 1 3/8 ounce
• 12-gauge, 3”, #4, 1 3/8 ounce
• 20-gauge, 3”, #4, 1 ounce

Ranging from 1,300 fps to 1,450 fps, depending on your gauge and shot size, the performance of the shot speaks for itself. At 40 yards with a modified choke, the patterns are impressive, with upwards of 70 percent of the load hitting inside a 30-inch circle. The polymer buffer is unique for a Bismuth load and seemed to perform as promised by Winchester. The patterns I shot showed no indication of fractured pellets.

Although only offered in four different loads, the #1, #4, and #5 payloads are great options for a range of game.

Particularly if you’re looking to buy one shell for multiple hunts, a box of #4 Winchester Bismuth in your truck is perfect for limiting on greenheads in the frosty morning and heading to the field later for ringnecks to warm up.