UK Lead and Plastic Wad Ban

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MuskokaJoe

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I follow a fair amount of UK based hunting and shooting media outlets. On Feb 24th the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, along with 8 other shooting and it conservation groups released a statement asking for a voluntary lead shot and single use plastic wad ban for all hunting activities in the UK. This seemingly came as a big surprise to members of those groups and the shooting community there at large.

http://basc.org.uk/a-joint-statement-on-the-future-of-shotgun-ammunition-for-live-quarry-shooting/

What’s interesting, is the response from some cartridge manufacturers. According to game bore, manufacturers were not consulted prior to the press release, and raise serious questions as to the viability of the plan.

Regardless, it appears the ban will come into law as proposed by the groups.

http://gamebore.com/uk/news/news/joint-statement-uk-cartridge-manufacturers

Although I’d probably buy and try eco-friendly cartridges for hunting if available (not that I’ve seen any here), I think that move on behalf of the UK gun orgs is a bit to bold. Kinda find it ironic that the proliferation of plastic wads really came with the banning of lead for waterfowl And the use of steel. I don’t know,.. but I figure arguably the plastic wad is just as bad if not worse for the environment than lead shot to begin with.

Anyone here a member of a conservation group that follows this subject matter as it pertains to Canada? I recall there being talk a few years ago of banning all lead projectiles in Canada but haven’t heard anything since... and for that matter, anyone ever see a box of Eco-Friendly shot shells in the shelf of a gun store here? I can say I never have. Also curious what shotgunners here think about eco-friendly shells(i.e. non toxic shot, biodegradable wads, and potentially biodegradable hulls). Would you pay a premium for that even though you weren’t forced to for any of you shotgunning activities?
 
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My current understanding that this was proposed by only three shooting organizations, one of them.being BASC. And it was at this time a voluntary changeover with deadline of 2025.

This sounds kind of ridiculous because how could you utilize steel shot without a plastic wad protecting the barrel?

This is obviously just a way to discourage UK shotgun shooters. I remember the 1997 cost to modify ones barrel from.lead to steel friendly was $60 back then per barrel. Obviously today it would cost considerably more.
Brits lost thier semi auto rifles in 1988 and almost all handguns in 1997. Now it's an attack upon the shotguns with an environmental twist.

Gun control by prohibitive expense.
 
I completely agree.

On the BASC press release in the link there are at least 8 signatures from presidents of other groups. That’s where I got that from.

I’d consider buying an eco friendly option for my own use, but I don’t think it should be by law... let the market decide... I do a fair amount of shotgunning on my own property. I routinely pick up wads and hulls as best as I can. So I’d be in the marked for a shell like that. But I don’t agree with it being law..
 
Theres not a cheap enough lead alternative yet for high volume clay shooting. Steel pellets bounce back off clay targets often. At least with lead pellets theyre flattened out if they come back
 
brybenn said:
Theres not a cheap enough lead alternative yet for high volume clay shooting. Steel pellets bounce back off clay targets often. At least with lead pellets theyre flattened out if they come back
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Agreed. But the UK proposal is currently for all hunting activities. Of course this could change in the future.
Probably when the combined organizations push this into parliment and the political animals add thier own little flyer.
 
So. If this timing is right for EU appeasement I wonder what the Faroe Islanders and Norwegian hunters do with thier export market of red grouse?
As far as I know they are all shot with lead shot.

Maybe this has changed very recently?
 
This as I understand it was part of the reason, most of the game shot is sold to fund the raising of the birds especially pheasant and many diners are balking at lead shot game so the move to steel is at least partially fired by this. Last year a British firm came up with a biodegradable wad so this could be the reason for banning plastic wads
 
fibre wads have been available for years as well as biodegradable wads
plenty of shooting grounds made this a rule.
i always used them when decoying crows and pigeons.

as for the BASC they are a org of pompous arrogant useless fcks
 
hunter5425 said:
This as I understand it was part of the reason, most of the game shot is sold to fund the raising of the birds especially pheasant and many diners are balking at lead shot game so the move to steel is at least partially fired by this. Last year a British firm came up with a biodegradable wad so this could be the reason for banning plastic wads
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Humans are weird. A lead shot pellet ingested would pass through your system much like a seed. I think in the course of a daily commute in the tube a Londoner would be exposed to more toxins and more often.
However they are more willing to break a tooth on harder steel pellet 12 August pheasant dinner.
 
Brutus said:
Humans are weird. A lead shot pellet ingested would pass through your system much like a seed. I think in the course of a daily commute in the tube a Londoner would be exposed to more toxins and more often.
However they are more willing to break a tooth on harder steel pellet 12 August pheasant dinner.
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I disagree, Had a CAT scan about 5 years ago on my guts and the doctor came in and asked me if I ate wild game, out of the blue. Affirming his question I asked how could that be an issue. He said I had 5 pieces of lead shot in my appendix and he said he usually didn't see it much in folks my age. He informed me it was not the cause of my problem and it would not harm me in any way. After using miles of 50/50 solder and poring lead joints a few pieces of shot are the least of my worriesLOL
 
hunter148 said:
I disagree, Had a CAT scan about 5 years ago on my guts and the doctor came in and asked me if I ate wild game, out of the blue. Affirming his question I asked how could that be an issue. He said I had 5 pieces of lead shot in my appendix and he said he usually didn't see it much in folks my age. He informed me it was not the cause of my problem and it would not harm me in any way. After using miles of 50/50 solder and poring lead joints a few pieces of shot are the least of my worriesLOL
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Wonder what would happen with steel shot in your appendix
 
interesting dates of lead bans

1975Mauritania hunting laws prohibit use of toxic ammunition for large game and sport hunting.

1980Liberia bans lead shot due to military coup.

1985Denmark hunters initiate use of nontoxic shot.

1989

1990

1991USA bans the use of lead shot over wetlands. Norway bans lead shot in wetlands for hunting of all ducks, geese, and waders.

1992

1993South Australia, Australia bans the use of lead shot. Victoria, Australia bans the use of lead shot during duck season.

Denmark bans the use of lead shot over wetlands. Cyprus bans the use of lead shot over wetlands. Germany bans the use of lead shot over wetlands in 8 Lander and recommends voluntary use of nontoxic shot over all wetlands. Belgium bans the use of lead shot over Ramsar wetlands. February-Netherlands bans the use of lead shot for hunting over wetlands. 1994

1995Victoria, Australia bans the use of lead shot for duck hunting. Netherlands bans the use of lead shot in all hunting. UK instills voluntary use of nontoxic shot over wetlands. 1996Denmark bans the use of lead shot in all hunting. Finland bans the use of lead shot over wetlands.

1997Canada bans the use of lead shot for hunting migratory game birds near water.

1998Switzerland bans the use of lead shot for hunting over wetlands and shallow water areas. Belgium bans the use of lead shot over all wetlands. Northern Territory, Australia bans the use of lead shot during duck season.

1999England prohibits use of lead shot over wetlands and for all waterfowl.

Canada bans the use of lead shot for hunting all migratory game birds (with a few exceptions).

2000Japan bans the use of lead bullets for deer hunting in Hokkaido. Latvia bans the use of lead shot over wetland special protected areas. Spain bans the use of lead shot at Ramsar sites. Denmark bans the import of all lead products including ammunition.

2001Queensland, Australia instills voluntary ban on the use of lead shot over wetlands. 1 June-Spain bans the use of lead shot over all wetlands.

2002Sweden bans the use of lead shot over wetlands.Wales bans the use of lead shot over wetland sites of special scientific interest. Sweden bans the use of lead shot for clay pigeons. 2003

2004Netherlands bans the use of lead shot for clay pigeons. Tasmania, Australia bans the use of lead shot over public wetlands and Crown Land.

2005Hungary bans the use of lead shot over wetlands.

31 March-Scotland bans the use of lead shot over wetlands. Norway bans the use of lead shot for all hunting.

2006New Zealand bans 10 and 12 gauge shot for waterfowl near water. France bans the use of lead shot over wetlands.

2007Camp Roberts, California, USA bans all lead ammunition for hunting. Fort Hunter Liggett, California, USA bans lead ammunition for hunting.

2008Tejon Ranch, California, USA bans all lead ammunition for hunting.Camp Roberts, California, USA bans use of all lead shot and ammunition for hunting. California, USA bans the use of lead ammunition when taking big game and coyotes in the California Condor range in California. Sweden enacts a total ban on lead shot and ammunition. Belgium considers a total ban on the use of lead shot. Portugal proposes a ban on the use of lead shot in wetlands.
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Fanatics and extremists controlling a sport and a industry and for many a life style . Yet trillions of litres of pesticides, herbicides and many other chemicals are contaminatg every inch of soil and water on the planet to the point of a catastrophic disaster and nothing is done . What a fallacy
 
Yep as I look out this morning and see the miles of smoke from the stacks two coal burning power plants to the tune of 4 million tons a year burned and tons of lead released I look at a box of shells and think yep I am going to make a difference
WTF is wrong with people today. Yes green is cool but get the big problems
Years ago here they banned lead shot at a fairly active club. Within a year it was closed
Boys just gave up there and would not use their mandatory steel and I agree with them
Cheers
 
Two words seem to dominate the world today - environment and danger. They are both exaggerated and never disclosed to the fullest. Lead comes from the ground and goes back down into the ground. There's a few that are making a lot of money by misinforming and scaring the public. It doesn't have to be that way.
 
struff55 said:
Fanatics and extremists controlling a sport and a industry and for many a life style . Yet trillions of litres of pesticides, herbicides and many other chemicals are contaminatg every inch of soil and water on the planet to the point of a catastrophic disaster and nothing is done . What a fallacy
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Great point!

I was reading about a company that was experimenting with bio degradable wads made from some sort of plant based stuff.... Can't exactly remember which company but it may have been Rio.
 
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