Home Forums Birds & Dogs Waterfowl Non toxic shot in older guns.

I have a dwindling supply of Nice Shot and haven't had luck in contacting them for more. I guess I'll be switching to ITX.

An ounce of Nice Shot #2's over 28 grains Longshot and a AA wad has been smacking geese with alacrity for me for a lot of years now. It's my load for in my 1923-vintage LC Smith.

Thanks erich. The Flues has Damascus barrels and is in nice shape, bp or low pressure smokeless loads?? MM

There is currently little if any available loaded ammo in non toxic for the 10 gauge 2 7/8". RST lists their Nice shot loads in 10 gauge 2 7/8" but I've not seen it available for order for well over a year. I have had no luck getting them to return a call or an email so don't know if it is or ever will be available.

I reload bismuth and ITX for my Ithaca Lewis 10 gauge, Lefever 12 gauge, Browning Sweet Sixteen and my ancient Ithaca 37 20 gauge. If you reload for your Flues I have a data base of short ten loads from multiple sources. I'd be happy to share it with you. A 1 1/4 ounce or 1 3/8 ounce load of bismuth or ITX 5's or 6's absolutely crushes ducks.

I'd appreciate the short 10 data and thanks for the offer. MM

Ballistic Products manuals have plenty of data for 2-7/8 inch 10-gauge loads.

Not a thing a guy ought to forget mentioning but this particular Flues has damasscus barrels. Thanks all for the info. MM

I don't get too worried about Damascus barrels. A lot of hype around a non issue. Unless the barrel is badly pitted, internally or externally, I'd shoot it. Ithaca used good barrels. I'd not worry about it.

Shoot me a PM with an email address and I'll fire off that data base. It was shared with me by a short ten aficionado and I'll be happy to pass it on. It's a collection of short ten data from multiple sources.

Mart

I shoot with Damascus barrels in 12 and 10 gauge hammer guns
using ITX , Bismuth, and Nice Shot hand loaded with either low pressure smokeless loads or black powder hand loads and flatten geese and ducks with both.
Cat

bkraft,

If it were me, I would put your dad's gun away, and go buy an 870 Rem or some other inexpensive shotgun (pawn shops will be full of them after duck season)if your just getting into shooting ducks. Most will have screw in chokes that will take steel shot or any other kind of shot. If your dad's 20 is 2 3/4" chamber your not going to get much powder or shot. But if you must use it, I would shoot Kent Tungsten Matrix as it will not hurt your Mod and Full gun, and it patterns close to lead. It is costly, but if you can work them in to your decoy spread, be patient, limit your max range to 30 yards or so your 20 will kill ducks. Also you don't need larger size shot. Kent TM #5's work well for me in various 20ga guns I own. Before we had to go to non toxic shot I used #5 and #6 lead on ducks. Season opened here (Arkansas) today. We have the water, but the weather up north has not pushed the Mallards and Pintails down here yet. Our best hunting here is usually in January if the temp does not get too cold and turn the water into ice. Good luck to you sir.

G2