Kent Bismuth issue - always verify what you’re purchasing.

[ID2NM]

Just a quick reminder to always verify that what you buy is actually what you’re getting.

I ordered a case of #5 upland bismuth shells from Kent recently to give them a try instead of my usual steel loads. Like most folks, switched from steel to bismuth because I wanted to increase my pattern density, and according to Kent's website I should be getting around 248 pellets per shell in the configuration I ordered. Upon receiving the case I went ahead and cut a few open to confirm pellet counts.

I opened Three shells from three different boxes and all came in 20% below their advertised pellet counts (I.e. 195 pellets vs 248). I contacted them to initiate an exchange and they sent a return label so they could evaluate my claim. I sent them off immediately.

Just received the replacement case from “a recent production lot”, and the pellet counts are still 20% low. I’m now working on getting a refund of my money.

I spent a lot of money on these shells and it’s unacceptable that they are this far from the advertised counts. I don’t expect each shell to have exactly 248 pellets, but holy hell, 20% low is a giant f***-up on their end.

Long story short, trust but verify. Also, maybe pick a different ammo company (Boss, Federal) if you want to jump to bismuth shotshells. Kent appears to either have some serious issues with their production line or they are outright lying about their product specs.

 

[bigbassfish]

Kent's Marketing Team: Surely no one is going to cut these open and count out the pellets just throw a number on there to make it look good.

ID2NM: Hold my beer...

 

[MThuntr]

what did the total pellet count weigh?

 

[mullet dredge]

This is disappointing. I purchased a case of Kent Bismuth Waterfowl 20ga 3" 1oz #5s recently and have shot thru a couple boxes so far. No complaints but I will be cutting one open this afternoon to confirm.

 

[KurtR]

what did the total pellet count weigh?

That was exactly what i said to my self at first.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I bought the exact same shells (I think). And I patterned a few through my O/U and counted pellets. I had 197 in a 30" circle at 40 yards...so I had at LEAST that many in my shell.

Rather certain this is the EXACT same ammo you bough. 2 3/4 #5s Bismuth.

Had several in the 187 pellet count range as well.

 

[ID2NM]

That was exactly what i said to my self at first.

These were 2 3/4 inch, 1.25 oz, #5 shot. Advertised at 248 pellets per shell per their website. They weren’t even close to their advertised count.

Unfortunately I don’t have a sensitive enough scale to weigh them out to the Quarter oz. Not that it matters, either way they screwed up.

 

[ID2NM]

Kent's Marketing Team: Surely no one is going to cut these open and count out the pellets just throw a number on there to make it look good.

ID2NM: Hold my beer...

I spend $300 plus on anything and you bet your ass I’m gonna get what I paid for. That’s a lot of money these days, my guy.

 

[KurtR]

These were 2 3/4 inch, 1.25 oz, #5 shot. Advertised at 248 pellets per shell per their website. They weren’t even close to their advertised count.

Unfortunately I don’t have a sensitive enough scale to weigh them out to the Quarter oz. Not that it matters, either way they screwed up.

Actually it does matter as they are loaded by weight not pellet count. If the shot is a fraction bigger than the original shot that could throw it off. A powder scale would weigh it just fine. That would tell you the truth if they are shorting you or not. It’s like rifle ammo it’s factory you want to be that picky it’s time to roll your own.

 

[ID2NM]

Actually it does matter as they are loaded by weight not pellet count. If the shot is a fraction bigger than the original shot that could throw it off. A powder scale would weigh it just fine. That would tell you the truth if they are shorting you or not. It’s like rifle ammo it’s factory you want to be that picky it’s time to roll your own.

So is it not a big deal they are sending me 4 shot when I ordered 5 shot? That’s a pretty significant fraction to be “off” by. I paid for 5 shot, I should get it.

If I pay for a gallon of milk and it says 1 gallon on the bottle, but there’s only 3 quarts in there, do I not have the right to be pissed off?

I’m not being picky. I don’t expect perfection. If they are off by a few pellets, sure, that’s to be expected given the manufacturer process like you stated. Being off by 20% of their claimed counts is far beyond what’s acceptable, though. If that’s within their tolerances then they are screwing people over.

 

[bigbassfish]

I get it man, just giving you a hard time. If you live near a harbor freight, you can pick up a 1000 gram scale for less than 20 bucks that would weigh it out for ya.

 

[KurtR]

So is it not a big deal they are sending me 4 shot when I ordered 5 shot? That’s a pretty significant fraction to be “off” by. I paid for 5 shot, I should get it.

If I pay for a gallon of milk and it says 1 gallon on the bottle, but there’s only 3 quarts in there, do I not have the right to be pissed off?

I’m not being picky. I don’t expect perfection. If they are off by a few pellets, sure, that’s to be expected given the manufacturer process like you stated. Being off by 20% of their claimed counts is far beyond what’s acceptable, though. If that’s within their tolerances then they are screwing people over.

You would know that if you weighed it and then have something to tell them that matters. I have never thought to cut open a shell and count pellets I am to busy killing birds for that to even cross my mind.

 

[ID2NM]

You would know that if you weighed it and then have something to tell them that matters. I have never thought to cut open a shell and count pellets I am to busy killing birds for that to even cross my mind

Yeah we’re all very impressed, trust me. Sounds like you should go bird hunting and butt out of something that you admittedly don’t care about.

Either I’m being shorted payload, or their shot size is wrong. Either way I am not getting what was paid for and I’m not going to spend MORE money on a scale to figure out which is which.

Now, getting back to the point of posting this. Everyone that buys Kent bismuth might check and make sure they are getting what THEY spent their hard earned money on.

Or don't. F— me for pointing out some bullshit going on.

 

[D S 319]

Cut open some winchester waterfowl shells that were supposedly squared shot..all were circular lol.

 

[Billy Goat]

Cut open some winchester waterfowl shells that were supposedly squared shot..all were circular lol.

Well, round stell shot starts square, but Winchester figured out how to sell it for a premium with less time in it.


Was there any buffer in the bismuth? I had some years ago when it first came out, and don't remember buffer in it. I wonder if they added it, and kept the payload weight the same, but never accounted for it in the product info.

 

[KurtR]

Never bought Kent before now I am.

 

[sickles107]

Unfortunately not surprised. I would bet alot of the spec numbers we scrutinize when comparing all sorts of gear are inaccurate, fudged, or "at the top end of a wide tolerance window"

 

[spur60]

195 pellets would be right at 1 oz for #5 bismuth. My first thought would be they screwed up packaging or something similar on a run of 1 oz loads, but looking at the website, they don't offer a 1 oz load in 12 gauge. It's quite possible they are trying to sneak one by the consumer. I ran into something similar with hevi-metal BB back when they used the 10g/cc tungsten in it. they advertised "20 percent more pellets" when in reality it was consistently 6%-7% more pellets vs the same weight load of straight steel BB. I've got a few different brands of bismuth sitting on the shelf currently, maybe I'll have to sacrifice a few rounds and see what pellet counts those have.

 

[ZNuke14]

I understand the being shorted argument of 248 vs 200. That is a big jump in payload on target, I’m a 20g shooter, so that would be a huge loss.

A couple things to consider:
-that BB count might be for a specific BB size/load and the marketing team isn’t tracking that on the load you bought.

-Depending on the bismuth source, they might be getting more of a #4.5 or #4 size pellet (USA sizing vs Euro), not that it justifies the incorrect marketing.

-average BB diameter and average load weight would be the great decider of the argument. It would tell you truly where they are coming up short, in the shot size or the load size.


Regardless, hopefully you find some resolution and end up happy with a type of biz.

And last question, have you tried to shoot birds with it yet? Does it hit as hard as the marketing says?

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Same stuff?