How safe is it to use lead round balls while hunting?

[Kmcmichael]

Years ago the consensus was that the primers were responsible for putting lead in the air at indoor ranges.

 

[Spikebuck]

Shogun Ryan. Lead is banned in the entire United States for waterfowl and in California for big game. Lots of good info from Nuthatch. In other states we have to be concerned with any future bans of lead for muzzle loaders. What about lead for just target shooting? It would make the game much more expensive if I have to go to solid copper or bismuth to shoot matches.

Starting next fall, lead is banned in Minnesota for special hunts in scenic/natural areas (these are special designated units and would not have a huge impact on many hunters) and state parks. They tried to rush it in this year at the last minute but met stiff resistance since many hunters could not find and configure guns with a suitable alternative.

With our ultra liberal government in Minnesota I see this as the first stage heading toward a total ban. Our governor as already stated he wants Minnesota to be Cali #2.

 

[Snydly]

"My rule of thumb is to go with the consensus among those closest to the action -- especially when it's rather inconsequential to me."

Some of the most biased and uninformed people I know are those with an axe to grind that are closest to the action.

People believe what they want to believe. The desire to conform to what to others tell them in a small and specialized groups ...peer pressure...is enormous. They believe, in spite of the facts, because they don't want the stigmatism of being a non-believer...or as the environmentalists now so effectively call it, a "denier".

Confirmational bias amongst these groups is a given

Consensus is not science

 

[user 53891]

Years ago i fired on an indoor range near Houston: i could taste the lead.

https://projects.seattletimes.com/2014/loaded-with-lead/1/

You sir have a mighty sensitive palette.

 

[springfield art]

Does the lead contaminate the meat? Does it leave lead powder behind? If so do i have to get rid of the area of the meat that touched the lead?
(Also sidenote is it safe to use copperhead bbs in my smoothbore? Because lead is prohibited for hunting migratory birds where i am.)

It's really such a small amount; would be good to cut away where ball was, but other than that should be nothing to worry about.

 

[user 53891]

Years ago i fired on an indoor range near Houston: i could taste the lead.

https://projects.seattletimes.com/2014/loaded-with-lead/1/

The Seattle Times.....gentlemen, that says it all.....BS!

 

[Blitz]

It's not readily known, but the bear in The Revenant didn't die from bullet wounds and stabbings.

It died from lead poisoning.

AKA being shot

 

[totonap]

the answer is simple. If your are concerned, Don't use it.
,

 

[Ames]

At my age, many other things are trying to kill me. I fear they will succeed long before my lead catches up with me.

 

[PastorB]

Society worries about too many trivial issues these days. Shoot all the lead you want, eat all the critters you have taken, and you will be fine. Regulations are not about the enviroment, they are about gun control. Take the bullets, or make it so cost prohibitive, that folks will stop buying ammo and shooting. We poured mercury from glass bottles into bowls at school when I was a young fella. We put our fingers in it, used our pencils to move it around, and quite often, some got on our clothes or on the floor. We all lived. Nowadays a broken thermometer warrants a HAZMAT response.

 

[Lynnhawk]

Does the lead contaminate the meat? Does it leave lead powder behind? If so do i have to get rid of the area of the meat that touched the lead?
(Also sidenote is it safe to use copperhead bbs in my smoothbore? Because lead is prohibited for hunting migratory birds where i am.)

If you ever shot squirrel,duck,goose,or rabbits.pheasant….there’s a good possibility that you may have ingested a piece of shot…I know I have …still eating all of the above….!!!!

 

[Rifleman1776]

Not safe at all. It kills things you shoot at.

 

[cynthialee]

never gave it much thought
as I don't eat the meat around the wound channel or the heart and lungs worry of lead has never been there for me

just don't put your bullets in your mouth

I won't load powdery balls in my guns. Those get melted down and recast. I clean my rifle with nitrile gloves on because I don't like the smell of burnt gun powder on my hands and I don't want to make them rougher than they already are. I suspect my pickiness is already serving to keep me relatively safe.

As I know old timers who have been shooting for 60+ years or longer and they seem sharp to this day I doubt the hazard of lead exposure is one to worry about in this hobby so long as you do things smart.

 

[Shiloh]

Not a good example. 100% of those guys are dead. And they all ate meat from lead killed animals
Coincidence??? I think not

Everyone that has taken a drink of water has died.

 

[Shiloh]

Lots of guessing involved with this, with no proof.

I think the last sentence says it all.

 

[tenngun]

Everyone that has taken a drink of water has died.

And it’s well known that saliva causes death, but only if swallowed in small amounts over long periods of time

 

[SPQR70AD]

Does the lead contaminate the meat? Does it leave lead powder behind? If so do i have to get rid of the area of the meat that touched the lead?
(Also sidenote is it safe to use copperhead bbs in my smoothbore? Because lead is prohibited for hunting migratory birds where i am.)

geez if you are so concerned (about nothing) you can take up knitting. oops you might prick your finger

 

[TDM]

And it’s well known that saliva causes death, but only if swallowed in small amounts over long periods of time

Yep, that saliva poisoning is cumulative, few survive past 80-90 years. It finally gets them though.

 

[user 48702]

Yep, that saliva poisoning is cumulative, few survive past 80-90 years. It finally gets them though.

Clint agrees!

If you want to get some real dark spit worked up, try "King-B Twist" hoop chewing tobacco. You can cut a 1/2" wad and it will grow to the size of a golf ball before your done. I dip Copenhagen while deer hunting, but my happy tobacco while squirrel hunting is "King-B". Another plus, you can shoot all day without swabbing when using a spit patch. Them thar squirrels will say "His aim is true, cause he's a chewin on some King-B".

 

[TDM]

Clint agrees!

If you want to get some real dark spit worked up, try "King-B Twist" hoop chewing tobacco. You can cut a 1/2" wad and it will grow to the size of a golf ball before your done. I dip Copenhagen while deer hunting, but my happy tobacco while squirrel hunting is "King-B". Another plus, you can shoot all day without swabbing when using a spit patch. Them thar squirrels will say "His aim is true, cause he's a chewin on some King-B".

True to my old, southern roots, I too chew tobacco and have since my early teens. Copenhagen and Red Seal are my standard. My Sons don’t and my friends don’t. We’re sort of an anachronism I guess. Good thing is, my Wife now just accepts it as normal activity after spending the majority of 43 years trying to get me to quit.