OTHER NON-TOXIC SHOT MATERIALS

TUNGSTEN

Tungsten is a hard but malleable greyish element with a density of 19g/cm3. Initial problems have been largely overcome, with a variety of tungsten shot appearing. Eley, working with Royal Ordnance, introduced Black Feather in 1989. In this, tungsten powder and a plastic polymer were moulded together (production has now ceased, Eley concentrating its efforts on bismuth and steel). Federal developed a tungsten-polymer shot (first announced in January 1998) and a tungsten-iron shot (relative density, 9.99). Hevishot – a combination of tungsten, nickel and iron – was developed in the same era. Other tungsten options exist in the US, including tungsten-iron-nickel, tungsten-bronze and tungsten-bismuth-tin. Gamebore continues to work with tungsten as well as steel. It offers tungsten matrix, using a nylon-based polymer as a binding agent. Tungsten matrix has a density close to lead at 10.8g/cm3 (pure lead is 11.3, 11 with antimony added). In some situations it is ballistically superior. Tungsten loads are expensive but, when loaded well and matched to the right choke, can produce good patterns similar to lead. Tungsten is not easily exchangeable for lead because it raises pressures significantly, though its mass is similar. It requires progressive burning, lowpressure powder and, being abrasive, necessitates protective wadding.

BISMUTH

Bismuth shot, which appeared in the mid1990s, is quite like lead save for its lack of toxicity. It’s lighter (9.6g/cm3 when alloyed with tin, 9.8 without) and occupies greater volume. Being relatively soft, it can be used with fibre wads without extra bore protection. Its performance is almost as good as lead, though critics point to fracturing issues. The latest pellets have an increased tin content to counter this. Like tungsten, bismuth loads are much more expensive. They may be loaded in the normal manner with fibre or other wads. Most advise going up a pellet size compared with lead. Recently, new bismuth products have been announced, including copper-plated bismuth shot in the

US. Bio and Jocker are both now using bismuthaluminium-zinctin pellets.