This may sound stupid but

[paulvallandigham]

16 gauge: You are not quite right about lead toxicity. Even Glen Sanderson, who wrote the first " study " on this problem admitted later that their data was all wrong, that while they could induce deaths in ducks by stuffing their crops with lead pellets, the pellets they used were " clean " and not picked up in the wild, nor were they covered in the usual calcium layers that are typical of what is found here in Illinois, North of I-70, or with Iron South of I-70. They can induce death if too much lead is picked up by geese and ducks, but the number of geese and ducks that were found to be dead with Significant amounts of lead in their blood DID NOT INCREASE THE NORMAL MORTALITY RATES FOR ANIMALS THAT DIED FROM WOUNDINGS.

The whole " Crisis " about migratory waterfowl dying because of the use of lead shot was a manufactured event, from the beginning to the end. Its one of the Government's big lies, but placated the Left Wing bunney-huggers that support National Dem. office holders. Even now that everyone in the field knows that the crisis was a lie, NO one is willing to change it, and get all the PITA groups picking their offices again. The truth is no longer relevant to politics on this issue.

 

[Old Charlie]

I am with Paul on this one. If they get lead banned, the shooting sports are finished! If you could come up with a substitute, the cost will make it to costly to use.
We are at the cross roads, we win this one or we are through!
Old Charlie

 

[roundball]

If they get lead banned, the shooting sports are finished!

I don't believe that all...something usable / affordable will surface to take it's place...the shooting / hunting industry is too huge a part of our economy for it to just go away or to only be affordable to a handful of wealthy people.

Methods may have to change as well...we shoot for enjoyment today using light target charges, then for hunting we use different charges...could do the same thing with projectiles.

What's that old saying: "necessity is the mother of invention"

 

[oldwolf]

Whatever they use as a substitute for lead, it will have to be used for wheel weights too.

 

[Protrucker]

:cursing:
Where does lead come from, in the first place? It's not like it's a man made pollutant. We just use it & put it back....right?

 

[Old Charlie]

hunting industry is too huge a part of our economy for it to just go away or to only be affordable to a handful of wealthy people.


The tobacco industry was one of the largest slices of the economy in the country, it is on the ropes and will be compleatly gone in a few more years.
Old Charlie

 

[roundball]

hunting industry is too huge a part of our economy for it to just go away or to only be affordable to a handful of wealthy people.


The tobacco industry was one of the largest slices of the economy in the country, it is on the ropes and will be compleatly gone in a few more years.
Old Charlie

Apples & Oranges OC...you've swiched the focus.

The point (focus) was about a possible ban on lead (a product) causing the demise of the shooting / hunting industry...and I said a substitute will emerge to take it's place because of it size, popularity, and economic standing in our economy.

You're comparing what I said to a known proven human health/death related bad habit causing the demise of the tobacco industry. The difference is and the comparison focus is that the tobacco industry could also come up with an alternative to nicotine that is not harmful to the health of humans who use it but to date have not.

The tobacco industry may well ultimately go out of business around the entire world but it certainly won't be in the lifetime of anyone on this Forum...the US based companies are still making money hand over fist because they've simply shifted their attention to overseas markets.

 

[hbennett]

The latest MassWildlife magazine has a long article describing the hazards of lead and its effects on wildlife, children, nursing mothers, the elderly, turkeys foraging in hunting areas and even predators scrounging gut-piles. The article set off my BS meter as would any other marketing scam. I definitely smell a setup in the making.

FYI- I recently tried to acquire some wheelweights from an auto service center to cast some bullets for my CF rifle. I was told that they could not give or sell them to me as they were considered "hazardous waste" and could only be released to a licensed reclamation facility.

 

[mazo kid]

hbennett, that is becoming the norm, finding wheelweights for my BPCRs is getting harder and harder. And you're right, it is a bunch of BS. EXCEPT.....you can go to any salvage yard and they will be happy to sell you all the lead and wheelweights you want! Personally, I am going to scrounge up all I can as I feel the noose tightening...

 

[flashpanner]

Ask your local dentist for his lead that he uses for x-ray film. I get all kinds of it for free! Saves him the hassle and expense of the haz-mat disposal.