16 gauge non-lead shot shells

[3S16]

I have an older, 16 gauge, LeFever double barrel shotgun that I have hunted quail and rabbits with for decades. I have boxes and boxes of lead shot rounds that are now "Evil".
I've searched the net for 16 ga. non- lead shotshells and have come up empty.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
This is my only shotgun

[jbk]

you'll probably have to order that in from someplace like Midway. that's a good excuse to go buy a new shotgun, lol

[Thefeeder]

.,

Try Ballistic Products.....by prepared for extreme price shock

[BOBGBA]

Dove & Quail can still be hunted in CA with lead.

Here's a couple of links for some non-toxic shot

http://store.fastcommerce.com/niceshot/16-gauge-ammo-ff8081811b7b39b0011b8fd7bad3084e-c.html

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/ammunition/shotgun-ammunition|/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104567580/kent-bismuth-shotshells-per-box/2263462.uts

https://www.ableammo.com/catalog/rio-bismuth-shotshells-rbi166-gauge-1200-fps-bismuth-shot-rdbx-p-140339.html

[Dutch Henry]

16 gauge bismuth is available at Able Ammo.

[XVIga_Rob]

Do you reload?

[pennstater]

BOBGBA named some good places. Also try "Ammoseek.com".
Man, that stuff is pricey, but, it's there.

[Ducky's Dad]

After 12/31/17, you will be completely screwed. No internet or phone sales, and good luck finding any 16ga nontox in CA. I hate this state.

[BOBGBA]

After 12/31/17, you will be completely screwed. No internet or phone sales, and good luck finding any 16ga nontox in CA. I hate this state.

Agreed. Unfortunately, that means you need to figure out what your future needs in Ca will be, take out a 2nd mortgage and to buy it all now.

My guess is that nontox will become available in CA in 2018 at highly inflated prices, compared to outside of CA.

[NapalmCheese]

The bismuth Kents have been a good deal. For a while last year I was able to buy them from cabelas cheaper than I could buy bismuth shot.

For my 16 gauge hunting needs I bought a Lee Load All II (not a fantastic press), learned it's quirks, and (so far as I can tell) seem to have a solid load now. Save your black Remington hulls for reloading. Bismuth shot is available in a couple of places now.
From rotometals you can get a 10lb bag of bismuth shot for about $160 bucks (before shipping), that works out to a dollar per oz, which is a good price and will beat out the Kent shells even when they're on sale. If you're loading 1 oz loads 10lbs of bismuth shot will give you 160 rounds which may or may not be enough for duck season; but would certainly be more than enough for squirrels and rabbits for myself.

Also, something nice about loading your own, you can load spreader rounds. The LC Smith I hunt with was developed long before the plastic shot cup and is chocked F/F. Sure, I could have the chokes reamed, but since I reload, I can just load spreader rounds to move my pattern out.

[Novak77]

Kent Bismuth. Cabelas has #5 and #6 in 16ga

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/ammunition/shotgun-ammunition|/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104567580/kent-bismuth-shotshells-per-box/2263462.uts

[3S16]

Thanks so much to those who responded to my plight. I'm 68 now and just like the feel of the old Lefever. I have bad knees, but I still like to get out and hunt, albeit, at a slower pace than in my youth, and middle age.
I just ordered 3 boxes of Kent Bismuth from Cabellas. That should last me until I can convince my wife to leave this God forsaken state. Such a beautiful state - such a horrible governing party.

[BOBGBA]

I just ordered 3 boxes of Kent Bismuth from Cabellas. That should last me until I can convince my wife to leave this God forsaken state.

Once you've convinced her, please let me know how you did it!

[edgerly779]

rabbits non lead now with shotgun. good luck with ammo. cabelas has 16 gauge steel in stock

[shotgunjock]

I strongly caution you against firing steel shot in your classic LeFever!!!
The chokes just can't handle the harder shot passing through them,
and over time will ruin them.

I don't shoot any of my own classic SxS's with steel shot. The steel in them is relatively soft compared to the modern steels used in firearms today.

When steel shot was first thrust upon us for waterfowl hunting, a lot of nice old guns were ruined learning this lesson!

I use Kent Bismuth in my 16 gauge Winchester M21. Good stuff, but expensive.