ITX shot

[ike]

Can I shoot ITX shot with my smooth bore without a plastic shot cup?

Thanks IKE

 

[BrownBear]

The original stuff, yeah. The newer stuff, no.

It's weird looking stuff, but in my guns it patterns better than lead even without a cup. Seems to kill better too, for some reason. I don't understand it, but I sure like it.

 

[coloradoclyde]

The original stuff, yeah. The newer stuff, no.

Can you expand on that a little BB? :hmm:

 

[Lorne Johnson]

They make two types Original 10, and Extreme 13. The extreme is denser, and much harder.

 

[BrownBear]

That's it. The Original 10 is fine without cups, but I sure wouldn't use the Extreme 13 without them. Never tried the 13 with or without cups, but I believe what they say at the site.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Thanks....

 

[Historian]

Yes, you can use ITX 10 without a plastic shotcup. It is very similar to Bismuth in weight but is not as fragile as Bismuth. It is also cheaper. Remember it wieghs about 9% less than lead pellet for pellet. The 4's and 2's are pefect for most upland and waterfowl as well as small game. I get fantastic patterns with it. You can also use NiceShot when the guy has it in stock. Do not be fooled by the Marketing though of BP. The ITX 13 weighs closer to regular lead or regular Hevi-Shot but is extremely hard. If you choose to shoot the 13 g/cm3 stuff I would go with Bucks Run. That's where I buy mine. It's not quite 13 either but close enough to count. Safe Shooting. :grin:

 

[Flintfan69]

I wouldn't. ITX (both versions) contains powdered tungsten, which is much harder than the steel of your barrel. While ITX can be crushed with a pliers, there is a difference between the "softness" of the pellet and it's abrasive properties.

Currently there are only two shot choices available that can be safely shot naked (no shotcup) without worrying about potential damage to your barrel, lead and bismuth.

 

[laufer]

original works just fine in muzzleloaders, i use #4 for ducks and #2 for geese, works like a charm.

 

[Historian]

I agree. I think it is great stuff. Original ITX is mildly abrasive but I do not think that is enough to cause serious concerns. Could not be any worse than nickel plated lead. If it is just patch the shot like you do a round ball. That will work just fine and tighten patterns up. I love both the ITX 4's and 2's. :wink:

 

[azmntman]

How many shots can one get outta 2lbs of ITX (20 GA duck loads)??

 

[BrownBear]

Approximately 25 at 1 1/4oz each.

 

[azmntman]

Geez, makes CF shotgunning sound cheap :shocked2: Hell I bought a duck stamp first time in 15-20 years so I guess I will see bout it.

Whats the least expensive route for non toxic in our guns? I hunt over decoys.

 

[BrownBear]

I'm buying it in the 7# bags, which works out at less than a buck a shot. Pretty "cheap" compared to what my CF buddies are shooting beside me at around $3 per shot.

Performance for me with steel in muzzleloaders is so poor I've written it off (even though I happily use it in CF), though several folks on here report complete happiness with it.

 

[Historian]

Depends on what you shoot? I use 1 oz. loads which is 16 loads a pound. 2 pounds would be 32 loads. I buy in the 7 pound bags. It's about 1.37 per once. By the time you add the other components it is about 1.49 per shot. Comparable to Premium Steel loads. Steel in a muzzle loader is worthless in my opinion. Some like it though but to me it is too much of a crippler. I only waterfowl hunt about 20-25 days a year so the price is not an issue. Makes me take my time and shoot better. :wink:

 

[Golfswithwolves]

Weighing out a volume-equivalent load of ITX #4 shot compared to 1 1/4 oz. of lead shot, my figures show that 1 oz. of the ITX is the same. Same number of shot pellets as the lead load too. So the ITX should (?) show a higher velocity than the 1 1/4 oz. lead because it is lighter. If you weighed out 1 1/4 oz. of ITX it should be a higher volume than this standard lead weight, but might have a similar velocity.

 

[BrownBear]

I'll be interested to hear how it patterns for you compared to lead. In my guns it's enough better, it's almost like adding a some choke to the CYL bore.

 

[BillinOregon]

I do wish someone would come up with less expensive high-performance non-toxic shot. Surely it can be done.
Brownie, I tend to take your advice to the bank on this stuff.

 

[Historian]

The problem is density. I have been handloading non-toxic since "95" and everybody has been chasing that dragon. The lead density like materials are just not cheap either to mine or to produce for loose shot. It sucks! :cursing:

 

[Golfswithwolves]

I'll be interested to hear how it patterns for you compared to lead. In my guns it's enough better, it's almost like adding a some choke to the CYL bore.

Mr. BrownBear- I scrounged some large paper sheets and did just a few shots for pattern with #4 ITX today. Here are my results: (1 oz. of #4 ITX 10 shot which is 170 pellets and equivalent in pellet number to 1 1/4 oz. lead, 3 3/4 dr. Fg GOEX, 2 overshot cards and 1 overpowder card as per V. M. Starr) At 40 yards, the Improved Cylinder barrel printed 32.75% of the hits inside a 30" circle. At 40 yards the Modified barrel printed a 39.5% pattern. I shot once also at 25 yards in order to compare to previous lead shot patterns at this range. This result (same load and with the IC barrel): 53.5% of the pellets inside a 30" circle at this shorter range. 150 out of the 170 pellets loaded DID land within the 4' X 4' sheet of paper with this shot. By way of comparison previous lead shot targets ran from 61% to 78% patterns at 25 yards (I haven't shot lead at 40 yards yet). The shot size with lead has been #6 and #5 so far though, so I can't provide at this time a closer comparison to the #4 ITX. Too few targets to make a definite statement, but it looks like to me that with my jug-choked Navy 12 gauge the ITX shot is showing a poorer patterning than with lead shot. I didn't expect this :hmm: , and will experiment more with loads to see what might happen.