I just called the Bismuth No-Tox company and spoke to a gentleman working there. Bismuth shot production ceased several months ago. Due to the death of the owner the company is now for sale. According to the person I spoke with they expected the company to be sold and business to resume as usual. He mentioned there were offers on the table. I did get the sense from further discussion that continued operations are not definite and hinge upon a successful sale. The heirs of the estate are not interested in running this business. In further discussion he informed me they own the patent for Bismuth shot so unless someone buys those rights production of Bismuth shot becomes in my opinion unlikely. Overall the person I talked to was optimistic but the future of Bismuth shot has not been finalized.
Here is the patent (# 5513689) that they own:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=9TkiAAAAEBAJ&dq=bismuth+shotThere were 75 inventors. Bismuth Cartridge, L.L.C is the assignee. The patent seems to center on producing consistent size shot. After the drop, they place the bismuth shot into a tumbler with steel balls to break up the bismuth.
Here is a later patent (# 5540749) that claims to make spherical Bismuth shot. The key seems to be dropping the hot bismuth shot into an anti-freeze type liquid.:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=ol0hAAAAEBAJ&dq=bismuth+shotThis one is owned by: Asarco Incorporated
There are earlier patents for making lead shot. Including some interesting stuff filed and owned by Inland Steel in the late '70's.
Pete
