Most non-toxic ammo that is denser than steel has been very volatile in price since the various types have been introduced. Sometimes they are available for 3-4 years, but they all seem to have pricing swings and availability issues or bankruptcies among the actual manufacturers of the shot itself over time. Roy hints at this around the tariff issue, but the real problem is that the US, while needing these metals (for things more important than non-toxic shot), has had no industrial policy to keep a basic supply chain in country from ore to finished material. Being in the auto parts industry for my adult life and sometimes dealing in exhaust, I saw this happen several times in substrate for catalytic converters.
I started using premium non-toxic ammo probably 20 years ago when you were looking at $1-$2 a shot. For me, I was willing to pay it because duck hunting is one of the few recreational things I do and I was willing to spend the $ because it was limited to maybe a couple hundred rounds per year during my most active hunting years and I already had the rest of the gear I needed. I was willing to do that because even though steel is a much better product than when I first had to use non-toxic in the early 80's it was still inferior to lead and I saw lots of birds get hit, drop feathers, and keep flying mostly to die elsewhere. Most of that is because people shoot at ranges they shouldn't shoot at, because steel is very effective when used at the proper range, but that effective range is much closer than people think or can accurately gauge.
The very best commercially available shot I ever used was the Remington Wingmaster HD and the Winchester Extended Range tungsten, and believe they were better than lead. While I largely shoot ducks, I also hunt some snow geese, and found that #6 was all you needed for either one. Again, knowing your range and being responsible about it makes all of the difference, but 40 yards was a lethal range with those loads because they would penetrate, and regardless of what anyone else may believe, that range is just too far for steel loads for most people to consistently kill ducks and not wound many unless you are a new version of Tom Knapp. I almost never knocked out feathers and saw a bird continue to fly using premium tungsten shot. I also had a friend handload some shells for me one year using Ballistic Products tungsten which was also excellent. Both of the brands discontinued their offering several years ago because their shot supplier had gone bankrupt due to the volatility of the pricing of the base metal.
Until that changes I don't see how you will find a a brand you can stick with for many years. I have bought some Hevi XII the last couple of years and have found it to be pretty good also, and just bought another hundred rounds today for $76/box of 25 rounds from Able Ammo in 2-3/4 #4 shot. I have also used over the years various bismuth loads when they were all that was available in a premium load, which are better than steel but not even close to tungsten or tungsten blends, at least to me. I did like the Rio bismuth I bought a few years back, but am not sure they're still available.
Unfortunately, due to a medical issue I have not been able to hunt this year (but will again next year) and have some stock, but went ahead and bought what I referenced above because also don't think this problem is going away any time soon until there is supply available outside of China that is more stable.
I only buy and use 2-3/4 shells for premium ammo, I don't think there is any need or advantage to using 3", but that is just me. I am not master duck hunter or one of these dudes from TV that are pro-staffers(whatever that actually means), just a regular avid duck hunter like many of you out there, and certainly not a better shot than most of you. But that is what I believe and it is from my experience both shooting and watching, and why I use the premium stuff.
