Non-toxic Shot in the Lower Mainland

[grousetrap]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to duck hunting, bought a shotgun, some decoys and some steel shot. My friend who was interested in starting with me inherited an old shotgun from his grandfather (I don't know the make and model but he says it can't shoot steel). He's currently looking for bismuth shot, and I've heard tungsten matrix works for the older shotguns as well. As for the specific model I'm not sure, but it is a 12-gauge 2-3/4 and has a fixed full choke.

My question is, where can I find these kinds of shot? I've looked at websites for Reliable Gun, Lever Arms, Cabela's (which I assume is similar to Bass Pro), Canadian Tire, Tiger Arms, West Coast Hunting, and the only place I've found bismuth is at Italian Sporting Goods.

I'm going to stop by there later this week and see if I can pick up a box or two for him, but are there any other places I should check out. I'm not ecstatic about the price, but I know being able to hunt ducks with his grandfather's gun would mean the world to him.

Thanks in Advance

[silveragent]

grousetrap, ammunition flies off the shelf which is probably why you have trouble seeing information on the websites. I would suggest you first find out more about the shotgun by taking it into the store. Not many will be able to or have the time to give a good answer over the phone. Reliable and Italian are your best bets for in person advice on this. Tiger does not have the best selection of ammo. And I would avoid Canadian Tire unless you know exactly what you want.

[limit time]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to duck hunting, bought a shotgun, some decoys and some steel shot. My friend who was interested in starting with me inherited an old shotgun from his grandfather (I don't know the make and model but he says it can't shoot steel). He's currently looking for bismuth shot, and I've heard tungsten matrix works for the older shotguns as well. As for the specific model I'm not sure, but it is a 12-gauge 2-3/4 and has a fixed full choke.

My question is, where can I find these kinds of shot? I've looked at websites for Reliable Gun, Lever Arms, Cabela's (which I assume is similar to Bass Pro), Canadian Tire, Tiger Arms, West Coast Hunting, and the only place I've found bismuth is at Italian Sporting Goods.

I'm going to stop by there later this week and see if I can pick up a box or two for him, but are there any other places I should check out. I'm not ecstatic about the price, but I know being able to hunt ducks with his grandfather's gun would mean the world to him.

Thanks in Advance

If you’re looking for great gun and ammo community ? Check out Canadiangunnutz. They also have a ton of sponsors that sell everything that is legal.

[grousetrap]

Thank you for the info silveragent. Looking forward to heading to Italian since it's basically on my way home from school.

[grousetrap]

Thanks limit time. I'll check this out tonight, never heard of this forum before.

[mooze]

kent and Federal used to make tungsten matrix shot, I still have some for my old Merkel my wife S&S with IM and full choke and 2/34 chambers. VERY hard to find. I have gone to reloading for this, there is one shop in Edmonton selling T-shot for reloading.

[180grainer]

Just have a gunsmith ream out the end of the barrel to Mod or improved Mod. Shoot all the steel you want then.

[Sharpish]

I’m in the same boat. You can’t even find the ammo online!

i spent several hours searching online and calling all the local retailers. Nothing to be found.

OP if you find some at Italian let me know perhaps they will ship to me.

[blackwater]

It might be worth your friends time/money to find out what type of shotgun he has. I might assume you are younger (going to school), and therefore a grandfathers gun for you might be a lot different for me. For instance a Remington 870 that has been made since 1950 is fully capable of firing steel shot if the fixed choke is opened up a bit or you use smaller shot size. Often people are told to buy a new gun by those that don't know...or are trying to sell new guns.

[Foxton Gundogs]

Just have a gunsmith ream out the end of the barrel to Mod or improved Mod. Shoot all the steel you want then.

This. I have built a number of waterfowl guns from A5, 1100, 58, 870 Mod 12 and other good quity "antiques" they all function flawless ley have the forcing cone lengthened at the same time. I have shot literally 1000s of rounds of steel through my 1947 Model 12 Trap, no issues. Cost to modify about $100. At the price difference between "heavy shot" and stel it takes no time to pay for the smith work

[grousetrap]

Thanks 180grainer, blackwater and Foxton Gundogs for the heads up, knowing the gun can handle steel shot if it gets modified is very reassuring. I recommended him go see an actual gunsmith rather than just reading forums online. I probed a little bit further and it turns out its a 1950's Winchester Model 12, 12 gauge. Hopefully he can get in to Reliable gun or Italian and talk to someone about getting the choke opened up.

Sharpish I was at Italian today, and they said they didn't have any bismuth unfortunately. Seems like this stuff is rarer than gold, but if it really is that easy to modify a gun to shoot steel I expect that's why.

I believe my friend is heading to Vancouver tomorrow to ask about his gun, I'll give an update once he tells me what the verdict is.

[dak0ta]

I was wondering about shooting steel in my 1978 Ithaca M37 with fixed mod choke. Ithaca actually ran an ad that their barrels could hold up to steel shot when the transition occurred in the 1980s. I fired about half a box through this season of #4 shot and didn't notice much scuffing of the bore. I'd limit my shot size to #2 and smaller.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?media/ithaca-steel.2684/full

[RyoTHC]

This. I have built a number of waterfowl guns from A5, 1100, 58, 870 Mod 12 and other good quity "antiques" they all function flawless ley have the forcing cone lengthened at the same time. I have shot literally 1000s of rounds of steel through my 1947 Model 12 Trap, no issues. Cost to modify about $100. At the price difference between "heavy shot" and stel it takes no time to pay for the smith work

if you don’t mind me asking, where did you get the barrels done ? Have a barrel with a fixed choke I’d love to get threaded for chokes.. not quite the the same but here’s hoping.

[blackwater]

I was wondering about shooting steel in my 1978 Ithaca M37 with fixed mod choke. Ithaca actually ran an ad that their barrels could hold up to steel shot when the transition occurred in the 1980s. I fired about half a box through this season of #4 shot and didn't notice much scuffing of the bore. I'd limit my shot size to #2 and smaller.

You won't see any "scuffing of the bore" as steel shotshells use a full length wad that holds the shot and eliminates steel on steel contact...this quickly drops away after exiting the muzzle, but does lead to tighter patterns...another reason it is recommended to use more open chokes for steel.

What did/can happen with larger pellets sizes through a full choke is that the constricted area was hammered out as the steel isn't malleable like lead shot was. Apparently this is reduced somewhat when using smaller shot size #4 and down.

[Dutch]

Reliable did my 1957 mod. 12 heavy duck punched it out to modified and no issues.Shooting some of these high velocity stuff the more open the better.Use a skeet choke on my Benelli shooting those and it does kill way out there

[Ferenc]

If you have no plans there’s a gunshow this Sunday at the Evergreen Hall and someone there may be able to help you out .... one table is usually full of shot stuff ... doors open at 9 am in Chilliwack , 9291 Corbould St

www.gunshowscanada.ca

[grousetrap]

So my friend went down to Italian today to ask about modifying his Model 12, they they wouldn't do it. I'm not particular on the reason why and he didn't tell me what they said.

I think deep down he doesn't want to have it modified since he's worried about something happening to it. Looks like he'll be in the business of a new shotgun so we'll have to put off duck hunting until a later date.

I never thought about gunshows that's an excellent idea! Thanks Ferenc​.

[guest]

I had 3 Remington old barrels honed from full to modified for field shooting . RSL gunsmithing 60 each......Abbotsford.1 way cheaper it was well worn from 40 plus years of shootin.