Outdoors /
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Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, January 9, 1997 25
Moon Times For January
by FM Tomchin
According to Doug Harmon, noted author, eonser-
expert and innocator, your fishing
Sueceas will be drastically increased by
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and game, since feed!ng
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specific periods of each day, based on the times of the
exi water-
fowl orgamzatlon, more or less endorse Hann n s
ime
tag:
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Handloading Bismuth Shotshells
by Ed Tomchin
In this final article about the new bismuth shot, we will
take a general look at the characteristics, parameters and
requirements of handloading your own shells with bis-
muth.
The basic rules of the bismuth game, according to
Ballistic Products, Inc. are few, but important. First
among these is that bismuth is a highly unique shot load.
DO NOT SUBSTITUTE. Bismuth loads cannot use lead
or steel shot load recipes or proportions as bismuth has its
own unique characteristics and ballistic reactions. To
substitute recipes or pellet types is to sacrifice the advan-
tage of using bismuth and your own vital safety. Use only
bismuth specific load recipes.
Better loads are produced using very specific propor-
tions and components. Using "o n hand" components will
produce uninspired loads and could be dangerous. If you
want the best, if you want to produce a top quality, safe
load, you have to make use of the latest technological
breakthroughs and bismuth related components.
All bismuth applications will be very specific and no
general substitutions, no matter how small, should be
inferred. Though you will see certain components used
with lead and bismuth or steel and bismuth, or even all
three, this is not an invitation to create generalized substi-
tution rules, no matter how insignificant they may seem.
Follow bismuth formulas precisely and do not deviate
from the printed guidelines, no matter how much experi-
ence you have handloading your own.
Generally, lighter loads, using the advantages of high
velocity, are the best route to more lethal loads. Given the
same amount by weight, bismuth shot produces higher
pressures in a given load than does lead. Follow the
formulas carefully.
Nor can currently available or "on hand" steel or lead
shot bushings be used for determining charge. Special
bismuth shot bushings from Ponsness/Warren and spe-
cialized bismuth charge bars from MEC are the only
accurate volumetric way to measure bismuth pellets for
loads. If you do not have these specialized bars or
bushings, you must weigh out the shot charge on an
accurate, calibrated scale.
All gauges can use bismuth pellets effectively. This is
great news for younger and smaller shooters who have
been excluded from waterfowling by virtue of the heavier
equipment requirements of steel. All the small bore water-
fowl shotguns currently sidelined by steel shot will be
geared back into action by the use of bismuth. The 28
gauge is a very effective non-toxic upland game gauge
with bismuth shot. Smallbore .410 shotguns can also be
used with bismuth shot, although their application for
waterfowling is very limited (as it always has been.)
Skilled shooters, however, can use the .410 very effec-
tively.
The best part is that bismuth shot is totally non-toxic.
Bismuth is found as an ingredient in many over-the-counter
health products and cosmetics. The most common use of
bismuth is in the time-honored upset stomach remedy,
Pepto-Bismol. However, this does not mean that you
should pop open a shell and down the contents in the field
if you get an upset stomach. While the shot won't hurt you,
the powder could give you a bad case of heartburn.
Cost for bismuth shot, whether factory loads or hand
loads, is substantially higher than steel. However, since
your bird to shell ratio will increase substantially (aim
being equal) the cost per bird should be lower. And as
bismuth shot becomes more popular, the price should drop.
Currently average costs for bismuth factory loads $1.33
and hand loads $0.98 each, while the costs for steel are
factory loads $0.56 and hand loads $0.40 each.
Bismuth shot and shotsheils are still difficult to find in
the Southern Nevada area. The Pahrump Valley Gazette
has located a few gun shops in Las Vegas that stock some
bismuth shells, but call before you make the trip in. The
valley shops are Accuracy Gun Shop on Boulder Highway,
Nevada Air Guns on Las Vegas Blvd. North, and the Pawn
and Gun Shop on Boulder Highway in Henderson.
Both Pahrump Gun & Pawn and French's Guns & Gun-
smiths in Tonopah told the Gazette they would order the
Bismuth shot upon request.
You can also get both shotshells and handloading sup-
plies from either Dunn's Supply Co., a friendly little mail
order supplier out of Grand Junction, Tennessee (800-223-
8667) or Ballistic Products, Inc. in Corcoran, Minnesota
(800-273-5623). Ballistic Products will also send you a
free primer on handloading bismuth shot on request. Call
each to request their free catalog.
Happy hunting.
Lee Canyon Ski & Snow Report
by Ed Tomchin
As of Sunday, January 5, 1997, Lee Canyon had lost
some of its base due to rain toward the end of last week.
Currently the base is 20"-25" of packed powder, which is
being supplemented with snow-making equipment. Ac-
cording to Heather Bean, resort weather person, it was
snowing pretty hard Sunday morning and was expected to
continue all day. As long as the northern cold front contin-
ued to push south, snow is expected to continue.
At the time of this report, the only runs open were The
Strip and Rabbit Peak, but with Sunday's snow, the other
runs are expected to open again soon. Skiing is reported to
be fair to good.
Night skiiing is still closed until sufficient snow has
based. All chair lifts are open and operating from 9a.m. to
4p.m. Normal snow road restrictions were in place on the
mountain as of Sunday, but none are expected for the latter
part of the week.
Current updates on skiing and snow conditions are
available at: Las Vegas (702) 645-2754 and (702) 593-
9500, and on the mountain at the Ski and Snowboard
Resort (702) 385-2754.
00'00sh00wReport
by Geoff Schneider
Nevada Division of Wildlife
LAKE MEAD - Fishing had been hit and miss for
striped bass with some anglers reporting fair success while
others are having little or no luck.
One shore angler said the fishing was good for stripers
late last week at Pumphouse Cove, but was extremely slow
over the weekend. Fishing improved Tuesday morning as
he caught five stripers in the three-pound range.
Boaters are having fair success by drifting anchovies
and live shad in Las Vegas Wash. Most of the stripers in
that area weigh less than two pounds.
One boater reported having good success at the north
end of Saddle Island. Sporadic success is now being found
at the intake tower near Lake Mead Marina.
The Nevada Division of Wildlife is scheduled to stock
rainbow trout Friday at Government Wash, Hemenway
Harbor, Horsepower Cove, Pumphouse Cove, and Pyra-
mid Island.
LAKE MOHAVE - The few anglers who have been
trying their luck for striped bass at Cottonwood Cove and
Willow Beach have had little success to show for their
efforts. Anglers who braved last weekend's cold weather
and strong winds were generally disappointed with only a
few fish in the 14 to 16-inch range being caught.
ALas Vegas Bass Club fishing tournament held Satur-
day at Cottonwood Cove produced 14 largemouth bass for
the 14 contestants. Most of the fish were pulled from
shallow water in coves.
The Nevada Division of Wildlife stocked rainbow trout
earlier this week at Aztec Wash, Placer Cove and below
Hoover Dam. Cottonwood cove is scheduled to be stocked
Thursday.
EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR - Ice is approxi-
mately six inches thick at the launch ramp and three inches
thick in the center of the lake. Caution is urged when
walking on the ice, Evening temperatures have been
plunging to the single digits.
ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR - The lake is covered
with a three-inch layer of ice. Some open water is found
along the shoreline as the ice is being pushed up by
incoming water flows from the river.
SCHROEDER RESERVOIR - Dirt roads leading to
the lake are extremely muddy. The walking trail leading
from the parking area to the lake is covered with water that
is more than two feet deep. Anglers are being advised to
avoid the lake until conditions improve.
