Boss Warchief Shotshells

AmmunitionEditor's Pick
Written By

Editor's Personal Pick — This is gear our editor carries afield.

Editor's pick: Boss's flagship bismuth load — the lead-free pheasant shell that closes the gap to lead.

Why we picked this

Boss Shotshells operates on a model the rest of the ammunition industry hasn't replicated: direct-to-consumer, premium bismuth, brass-base hulls, no retail markup. The Warchief is their flagship line — heavier payloads than the standard Boss bismuth, optimized for hunters who need lead-free performance that closes the gap to lead. For NorCal upland hunters operating in California's expanding non-lead zones, the Warchief is what we run when the shots are getting longer and the late-season birds are getting smarter.

Quick specs
Category Ammunition
Brand Boss Shotshells
Made in USA
Sales model Direct-to-consumer only
Hull Brass-base (premium construction)
Shot material Bismuth (~9.6 g/cc — about 90% of lead density)
Available gauges 12, 20, 28
Available shot sizes #4, #5, #6 typical
Approx. payload 1¼ oz (12ga 2¾"), heavier than standard Boss bismuth
Velocity 1,400-1,500 fps
Price starting around $40 a box ($$$)
Use case Lead-free pheasant, longer shots, late-season
Editor's verdict The bismuth load that closes the gap to lead.

The full review

Boss has been quietly rebuilding the premium upland shotshell category for the last several years by going direct-to-consumer with bismuth loads at price points that the major manufacturers can't match through retail. The standard Boss bismuth (12ga #5, 20ga #6, etc.) is what we recommend as the default lead-free upland load. The Warchief is the upgrade — heavier payloads, brass-base hulls (instead of plastic-base), and load specifications optimized for the longer shots that come with late-season hunting and chukar country.

The hull construction matters more than most hunters realize. Brass-base hulls (vs. the more common plastic-base) handle higher chamber pressures, seat better in chamber, and crimp consistently. The Warchief is built on the same hull that high-end European shotshells use; the result is a more consistent shot string, tighter patterns, and better cycling in semi-autos.

Bismuth's density (~9.6 g/cc) is roughly 90% of lead's (~11.3 g/cc), which means bismuth shells need slightly heavier payloads to deliver equivalent terminal performance. The Warchief addresses this with payloads that are notably heavier than the standard Boss bismuth — 1¼ oz of #5 in a 12-gauge 2¾" hull, which patterns and kills like 1⅛ oz of lead #5 in the same gauge.

The 28-gauge Warchief is a unique offering — 28-gauge bismuth shells are rare from any manufacturer, and Boss is one of the few options for hunters running a sub-gauge in non-lead zones. If you're running a 28-gauge 686 Silver Pigeon or similar in NorCal's non-lead counties, the Warchief 28ga is worth the brand-direct purchase.

The direct-to-consumer model is both the strength and the constraint. Pricing is dramatically better than equivalent retail shells (HEVI-Bismuth at retail is $32-35/box; Warchief direct is $40-45/box but with notably heavier payloads). The constraint is shipping — you can't grab a box at Sportsman's on the way to the duck club. Order in bulk during the off-season; Boss runs occasional sales.

For NorCal hunters, the practical workflow is: keep the standard Boss bismuth (12ga #5) as your default rooster load, and switch to Warchief for late-season hunts where the birds are skittish and shots are 35+ yards. The standard Boss handles 90% of the shooting; the Warchief handles the 10% that decides days.

What we love

  • Brass-base hulls — genuinely premium construction, not marketing.
  • Heavier payloads than standard Boss — closes the gap to lead.
  • Direct-to-consumer pricing — better than equivalent retail bismuth.
  • 28-gauge available — one of the few options for sub-gauge non-lead.
  • Boss customer service — small American operation, real responses.

What to know before you buy

  • Direct-to-consumer only — no Sportsman's, no Bass Pro. Order online.
  • Shipping takes time — order in the off-season for opener.
  • Older shotgun barrels — bismuth is barrel-friendly (gentler than tungsten-iron) but check with your gunsmith if running a pre-1950s shotgun.
  • Warchief is more expensive than standard Boss — for most hunting, the standard Boss bismuth is sufficient. Reserve Warchief for the long-shot situations.
  • Pattern verification — pattern your specific gun with Warchief before opener. Bismuth patterns differently than lead.

Where to buy

California reminder: check current CDFW non-lead requirements for your hunting unit before buying. Many CA upland zones now require non-lead shot, and Boss bismuth (including Warchief) is fully compliant.

CaliforniaUpland.com earns commissions from qualifying purchases at affiliated retailers. Boss does not currently offer affiliate commissions; we recommend them because the product is genuinely best-in-class for direct-to-consumer bismuth.

See also

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