Lead alternative

[SAJones]

Yes there are, and they are expensive, and when it comes to shooting, they won't protect your health. They will protect you from criminal charges under environmental laws in a very few states.

The lead that is a problem for most people is Lead Oxide. It's a white powder that makes great pigment for white paint, and white paint makes a great base for other colors, HENCE the reason lead got into paint, and why today titanium oxide which is also white (the white stuff lifeguards put on their noses to stop the sun) is now used for white paint, and in the past was used on the chicken in McNuggets to make them white.

Folks at indoor shooting ranges had/have very limited exposure to lead, but employees at such ranges had problems as lead fragments left on the range over time, would oxidize and the employees would then get prolonged exposure to the lead oxide. Such ranges were often swept up by hand and there was a lot of dust which was tiny lead fragments. Now they are required to have massive ventilation.

Lead shot pellets from shotgun shells that fell into water or marshy areas would also oxidize, and then be gobbled up along with stones for use in the crop of waterfowl birds like ducks and geese, and would poison them. So we use steel shot now for waterfowl.

Hot water coming into contact with lead will transfer lead into the liquid, and if you then drink that (or if you're an ancient Roman warming your wine in lead lined warmers ) you can get poisoned. Lead hot water pipes build up scale that prevents lead transfer, and cold water in lead pipes also builds scale but really isn't a problem.

AND eating lead by accident (or a doctor deciding to leave a lead projectile inside a shooting victim) will not poison you.

LD

That's true: when I was 17 (1966) I accidentally shot myself. The bullet fragmented, & the Air Force docs decided it would cause more damage to remove that leave it in. It's still there, in 3 big pieces & 7 smaller pieces. Does make for interesting X-rays. Plus I've cast I don't know how many lead balls/bullets, & my twice a year blood test shows no lead.

 

[JoJoLesh]

To answer your question there is ITX roundballs which are non-toxic ITX Muzzleloading Roundballs-ballisticproducts.com

Here is a whole thread on the ITX Rounds mentioned as a lead free alternative.

Maybe... we will see if I do this right...

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/itx-lead-free-round-balls.92934/

 

[dave951]

That's true: when I was 17 (1966) I accidentally shot myself. The bullet fragmented, & the Air Force docs decided it would cause more damage to remove that leave it in. It's still there, in 3 big pieces & 7 smaller pieces. Does make for interesting X-rays. Plus I've cast I don't know how many lead balls/bullets, & my twice a year blood test shows no lead.

Absolutely true. I was shot and left for dead years ago. I'm still carrying 3 bullets in my body. All are in places that would cause quite a bit of damage to get out. Forty years later after breathing air pollution from leaded gas, shooting, casting boolits, painting, remodeling, and my lead levels are normal.

Don't believe all the hype when the media tells you something, especially when that something contains the word "control". That's when you have to ask- why do they want it, what are they planning to do with it, and more importantly- WHO BENEFITS ULTIMATELY. Odds on, it ain't you.