why lead?
- Thread starter cuchullainn
- Start date
because lead is heavy and cheap to make and cast- that "news" special was wrong- it's not buckshot the swans are eating, but bird shot that they are SUPPOSEDLY getting off the bottoms of lakes and rivers to grind their food down in their gizzards- same as geese and ducks- and there is so far no alternative that's as cheap as lead- bismuth comes close,and steel is not as effective-that's why you have to move up a couple of sizes in shot
You also need something dense enough that it carries; rock is too light to carry very far when fired, and if you have to be within 20 feet of a target before you shoot it with a shotgun, it makes it sort of pointless. There are a couple of alternatives for hunting that have been tried (bismuth, which is only a little less dense than lead, but is a lot more expensive, and tungsten, which is denser, but more expensive, and has to be mixed with something else to get the required size of shot), but nothing comes close to lead. Lead is really only a problem when it falls in water that's shallow enough for birds to pick it up off the bottom and grind it in their crops.
Lead rules! It is heavy and retains alot of energy when it hits something. The expansion is a factor too. Lead kills with impact.
There is no cheap alternative. Steel would probably be the closest price wise, but it sucks as far as I'm concerned.
There is no cheap alternative. Steel would probably be the closest price wise, but it sucks as far as I'm concerned.
Few States or Provinces allow lead shot for hunting water fowl anymore. Haven't for years now. Buckshot is not, nor has it ever, been widely used for hunting birds. It's not much good for deer either.
Why lead is another question. The first firearm projectiles were stone or iron. Great big rocks, chiseled to shape and size, for cannon. Lead is and was much easier to shape than anything else. Low melting point, heavy, easy to find.
Why lead is another question. The first firearm projectiles were stone or iron. Great big rocks, chiseled to shape and size, for cannon. Lead is and was much easier to shape than anything else. Low melting point, heavy, easy to find.
cuchullainn
For your own refrence go pick up a copy of the Hunting and trapping regulations synopsis for BC (2005-2006) it is totaly free and in Most Guns, and out fitter stores.
it is also online in a free pdf form...methinks at the BC Wildlife page.
Ammo makers are catching up, and soon we will have some nice non-toxic shot to play with.
For your own refrence go pick up a copy of the Hunting and trapping regulations synopsis for BC (2005-2006) it is totaly free and in Most Guns, and out fitter stores.
it is also online in a free pdf form...methinks at the BC Wildlife page.
Ammo makers are catching up, and soon we will have some nice non-toxic shot to play with.
Lead was and is used because of its mass - it retains more energy at a distance than any other material ever conceived. Also, it deforms easily, allowing it to grind all the way down a barrel without causing damage. Steel, on the other hand, can cause damage to barrels that weren't designed to handle the additional abraision.
As far as I know, there isn't yet a range or club that doesn't allow lead shot for clays (although they often set a maximum shot size of 7 1/2). Lead is perfectly legal for upland hunting, too.
So, the only time you really need to worry about non-toxic shot is for waterfowl. For this, Tungsten matrix is the best (AKA Tungsten polimer, depending on the manufacturer). Why? Because tungsten polimer is a tungsten core (heavier than lead) with a polimer coating. The polimer coating is easily deformed and protects your barrels, similar to lead. The combination of tungsten along with the polimer coating is almost the same density as lead, which means it has similar energy retention characteristics as lead.
The main reason shooters give for not using Tungsten (or Bismuth) is the cost of the ammo. Don't know about you, but I spend a lot more on food, fuel, shotguns, and other gear then I'll ever spend on shells. Sometimes more and sometimes less, but in the average outing I only go through about a half box of shells. I'll pay extra for the right shells with the right load, especially if they pattern well through my gun. You'd be surprised how often its not the heavy load or the expensive brand that patterns the best. You'd also be surprised at how often the same ammo patterns completely differently in different guns.
SS
As far as I know, there isn't yet a range or club that doesn't allow lead shot for clays (although they often set a maximum shot size of 7 1/2). Lead is perfectly legal for upland hunting, too.
So, the only time you really need to worry about non-toxic shot is for waterfowl. For this, Tungsten matrix is the best (AKA Tungsten polimer, depending on the manufacturer). Why? Because tungsten polimer is a tungsten core (heavier than lead) with a polimer coating. The polimer coating is easily deformed and protects your barrels, similar to lead. The combination of tungsten along with the polimer coating is almost the same density as lead, which means it has similar energy retention characteristics as lead.
The main reason shooters give for not using Tungsten (or Bismuth) is the cost of the ammo. Don't know about you, but I spend a lot more on food, fuel, shotguns, and other gear then I'll ever spend on shells. Sometimes more and sometimes less, but in the average outing I only go through about a half box of shells. I'll pay extra for the right shells with the right load, especially if they pattern well through my gun. You'd be surprised how often its not the heavy load or the expensive brand that patterns the best. You'd also be surprised at how often the same ammo patterns completely differently in different guns.
SS
any candadian forces range prohibits the use of lead shotgun shot. this is kind of funny cause the amount of machine gun/rifle fire that most ranges see is amazing. common army rounds are steel jacketed lead core so basically its the governement biting its own ass. the enviro policies must be at a higher standard than the outside world nationwide so if one province bans lead all CF areas must ban lead. it makes interesting oxymoronic rules for sure.
