Is steel-only upland hunting coming to Canada anytime soon?

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huntingfish

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The UK passed a law banning lead shot in shotguns with a transition to occur in the next 5 years I believe.

Do you think this is going to happen in Canada as well? In what time-frame?

I wanted to maybe try a 20ga 2.75" #6 (3/4oz) steel shot to see how it patterns in my SxS (steel proof). I'm guessing it's going to happen eventually; Most probably in the next 4 years (think election results *cough*)

David
 
huntingfish said:
The UK passed a law banning lead shot in shotguns with a transition to occur in the next 5 years I believe. Do you think this is going to happen in Canada as well? In what time-frame? I wanted to maybe try a 20ga 2.75" #6 (3/4oz) steel shot to see how it patterns in my SxS (steel proof). I'm guessing it's going to happen eventually; Most probably in the next 4 years (think election results *cough*) David
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The lead shot (and tackle, etc) debate maintains a low key presence, but I haven't observed any recent significant moves on the issue as it pertains to upland birds.
 
Whenever an anti brings this up, just tell them you'll just have to buy more guns & ask them again if they are for or against proliferation.

I haven't seen any valid argument against lead for upland birds. I get why DU might want lead free on their properties. But there are no gut piles & lead oxides & becomes inert very quickly so there is no actual risk to the environment.

When it comes to the impact humans have on the environment, hunting is very low. Copper for big game I can see a tenuous link but a total lead ban is just an anti-hunting & sport shooting attack.
 
I am a cynical old fart - am quite sure the season AFTER I figure out how to make and screen my own #6 / #7 lead shot, that some rules will change... An acquaintance back in the day was sure he was set for his lifetime with #4 lead for ducks and #2 and BB lead for geese. Did not work out that way - last I heard he is still going...
 
The issue of lead in the environment is not going away.
You already have to use non-toxic shot on Federal lands.
Steel is not the only choice in non- toxic shot, just the cheapest.
 
I just bought a Supernova and first box of shells through was steel #2's through the extended Modified choke (steel full equivalent). Seems to shoot alright. I also put some #4's through it "just in case", I like my Long Beard #5's for turkey but this has been on my mind for a while. Still patterns decent, not quite as predictable as the Long Beard but good enough, I suppose.

That said, I'll be bringing the Long Beards with me on Saturday to go find some gobblers.
 
I don't believe it will happen in Canada. However we obviously have experienced stranger things with zero warning.
I find it interesting yet suspicious the timing for steel shot decision in England, Wales, Scotland and NI almost perfectly coincides with Brexit decision.

Example, British shot red grouse are a huge market export from Scotland (and Iceland and Faroe Isles) to the rest of the EU.
Lead shot red grouse could be a legal excuse to forbidden commerce via hostile Brussels/Strasbourg.
A mere trendril of a possible trade war.
 
My guess is not "if" but when. Non-toxic shot works well, it is just much more expensive in some forms. I don't think the public cares how much we hunters pay for shells. There doesn't seem to be any proposals in provincial legislatures at present, so Perhaps it will be many years from now, but I figure a lead ban for all hunting is coming. I don't like being told what to do by government, but there really isn't much public support for the use of lead shot by hunters. So anyone with a concern, whether the minute amount of lead ingested by people eating game birds, to the lead ingested by scavengers such as raptors eating lost cripples, could tip the legislative balance.
 
For those of you who follow TGS Outdoors on Youtube, you already know the story. For those who don't follow Johnny, the story is actually 2 fold. In the UK most birds are shot for sport and end up in the grocery store and, as was mentioned, exported to Europe. The UK grocery chains banded together about 2 years ago and decided after July of 2024 they no longer purchase birds shot with lead, this date was moved up earlier this year by Groundkeepers Associations to July of next year. This was done after new proof testing on steel hunting and target loads was established and extensive testing on steel shot loads was done. Remember, most testing we have seen was done by Winchester in 1959 in an attempt ot head off a lead shot ban on waterfowl hunting and frankly a lot of it has turned out to be not very accurate. Johnny has tested most of the new steel shot hunting and target loads produced in Britain in shotguns dating back to 1900 with no indication of any barrel damage, through chokes up to imp modified. The issue that cropped up at the same time is the ban on single use plastics that come into effect the end of next year, with at the same time as lead going away so does plastic hulls and wads. These new loads coming out of Hull, Eley and others are using bio wads and hulls. The results of this testing are on the channel and worth sitting down to watch.
 
I'm using 6 steel for ducks + geese past couple of yrs and it has been excellent - great for heads shots and pattern even at longer ranges is perfect. Tried it for pheasants and was awesome. Thus - wouldn't bother me if it did ...
 
mbogo3 said:
Not a fan of steel shot for anything.But banning lead would be great for gun control.
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This. Banning lead would kill casting bullets for most pistols and many big bore rifles. They could turn to plated but it drives up cost. Also a lead ban would absolutely crush the traditional muzzleloading community.

A lead ban would turn Cooey shotguns and all bespoke shotguns to scrap steel.

Edit: any good full choke 410 no good anymore
 
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