Questions on Bismuth smelting

[Spencer_Murphy]

I recently accquired a percussion double 10 gauge from the 1840s and I want to yse bismuth as steel will tear up the bore. The previous owner used copper plated lead for waterfowl (illegal) but never got questioned by DNR when he said he used copper mixed with tin (sneaky). I want to use bismuth since its non toxic and roto metals has a lot of it. I live in Maryland and the local waterfowl laws state that non toxic shot only can be used in no excess of .20" or 1/5th in diameter. So I picked up some T Shot and F shot moulds and then it hit me.... can bismuth be used in a mould designed for lead ? I assume so right beings as Bismuth is soft just like lead and melts at a pretty low point. Anyone have experience smelting bismuth and making shot out of it ? I have never used anything but lead to make shot, buck and ball, round ball, minié and pritchett balls. Thanks for any input.

[LAGS]

I made shot out of Bismuth.
It melts at like 190 °
I ran the melted material thru a screen and let it drip into water.
It came out ok , and sized were separated by sifting thru several sized screen sifters once they came out of the water.
Now have you considered trying Zinc.
You can probably use Zinc Wheel Weights.
I don't know if they are ok to use where you go shooting.
But they are not Lead.
And they are much harder than Bismuth.
Bismuth is also very light , and that is why I never preferred it.

[garandsrus]

Bismuth is less dense than lead but more dense than steel.

A shot dropper would probably be able to make bismuth shot. Bismuth shot is also available, but expensive. I don’t know how the price per pound of shot compares to the metal in ingot form.

[Andy45]

Unfortunately zinc is also toxic if ingested by waterfowl so it cannot be used where the regs require non-toxic shot.

[uscra112]

Zinc is also too light for practical use as shot.

[LAGS]

Just Copper plate Zinc Shot.
Then you can call it a Penny