Testing HEVI-Shot’s New Turkey, Upland & Waterfowl Bismuth 12-Gauge Shotshells

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I recently learned two important things while testing HEVI-Shot bismuth shotshell loads.

First, avoid hunting turkey, upland birds, or waterfowl when winds are gusting up to 30 miles per hour. Second, use HEVI-Shot bismuth loads for hunting turkey, upland birds, and waterfowl. 

Heavier than steel, the bismuth loads I tested patterned well and hit hard, including HEVI-Shot’s all-new HEVI-Bismuth Turkey shells. Even with strong wind gusts, these bismuth loads performed effectively, though at times the patterns strayed from my aiming points!

The federal ban on the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting took effect nationwide back in 1991. Ammunition manufacturers introduced a variety of new steel shot loads. Steel made sense; it was abundant and relatively inexpensive.

Many hunters were less than thrilled, though. They complained the steel alternatives didn’t pattern anything like lead, plus impacted with less force, resulting in far too many cripples. 

This initiated the ongoing process of ammunition manufacturers experimenting with various non-toxic metals for shotshell production. The transition to lead-free shotgun ammunition on federal and state-owned hunting properties at many public hunting lands over the past decade has only accelerated this process.

HEVI-Shot is arguably the leading maker of lead-free shotshell options. Founded in 2000 and located in Sweet Home, Oregon, HEVI-Shot produces a diverse range of nontoxic shotshells, including loads for turkey, upland game, waterfowl, and even predator hunting. The company also supplies nontoxic shot to other top-tier ammunition manufacturers such as Federal and Remington.

The new HEVI-Bismuth Turkey loads are available in a 12-gauge, with 3-inch shells packed with 1.75 ounces of No. 4 and No. 5 size pellets, and 20 gauge, 3-inch shells holding 1.25 ounces of No. 4 and 5 pellets. HEVI-Shot rates the turkey loads in both gauges at 1,300 feet per second muzzle velocity. 

While native or pure bismuth exists, most of this metal is produced as a by-product of smelting and refining copper, gold, lead, and silver ores. Although it's not as heavy as lead, bismuth is 22% denser than steel by volume. Additionally, the HEVI-Shot wad keeps the pellets together for superior patterns.

“I didn’t come this far to miss!” That’s the HEVI-Shot motto. But given the steady 15 mph winds and gusts at twice that speed, I anticipated some misses. Which happened, but let me explain.

To evaluate the 12-gauge bismuth turkey load, I utilized my Remington 870 DM Turkey/Predator shotgun, a pump-action with a thumbhole stock, and an 18.5-inch barrel. The “DM” refers to the shotgun’s detachable magazine, which holds up to six shells. The stock, barrel, and pump forend are finished in Kryptek Highlander camouflage. This model 870 DM was made several years ago by the then-Remington Outdoor Company.

I mounted a ZeroTech Thrive HD 1x20 Micro Prism red-dot sight onto the gun. The optic was CNC-cut from a solid billet of 6061 T6 aluminum and featured a reticle etched directly into the prism. With 13 brightness settings and very comfortable eye relief, the optic proved to be a great addition to my Remington turkey hunter.

Using Caldwell’s 12-inch Orange Peel Turkey Targets, I began shooting the HEVI- Bismuth Turkey 12 gauge from a distance of 25 yards while seated in a low folding chair, with the forend of the shotgun resting on a bipod. Despite the wind, I managed to put more than 20 pellets in the head and neck areas. Moving back to 35 yards, I still put about 15 pellets in the head and neck.

I also ran HEVI-Shot Bismuth Upland and Waterfowl shells. For these rounds, I used a Mossberg Model 940 Pro Waterfowl semi-automatic shotgun with a synthetic stock finished in the Mossy Oak Shadow Grass pattern and a 28-inch barrel. I put in the modified choke. It wasn’t exactly an upland gun, true, but it worked fine.

I shot HEVI-Bismuth Upland’s 2¾-inch shells filled with 1.25 ounces of No. 5 shot, along with a 2¾-inch HEVI-Bismuth Waterfowl shell containing 1.25 ounces of No. 4 shot. I aimed at 36- by 48-inch sheets of white paper featuring blue marker-centered crosses as my target.

At 25 and 35 yards, my patterns were tight enough to fill the limits of waterfowl, pheasants, and quail. However, the wind wreaked havoc on placement, often shifting the patterns a foot upward or to the left.  

The heaviest non-lead pellets are made of tungsten alloys. They work amazingly well. They are also very expensive, with some 12-gauge options toting a suggested retail price just shy of $20—per shell!

Bismuth shells aren’t cheap, yet they cost considerably less than tungsten and still offer much better functionality compared to steel. The HEVI-Bismuth Turkey in 12 gauge costs $23.99 for a box of five, and $20.99 for five of the 20-gauge shells. 

HEVI-Bismuth Upland (seven options) and Waterfowl (25 options) shells come in boxes of 25 and are actually more affordable per shell than the turkey loads. For more information, visit hevishot.com.