Lead Bullet Ban

[subfan]

With the ban of lead bullets at FHL, has this influenced anyone in their choice to apply? This is the first domino to fall. I can see folks drawing then realizing they can not use their favorite load and scrambling at the last minute to get the Barnes bullet to shoot.

 

[wmidbrook]

Yes.

Muzzleloaders will be the hardest hit in general by this lead ban...

I understand banning lead for waterfowl, for hunts in agricultural fields, for ground squirrels, prarie dogs and the like but banning it elsewhere is unwarranted imo.

 

[Speckmisser]

Just wondering why you'd think it's gonna be hardest on ML hunters, Bill?

As far as the ban changing my plans, I wasn't planning to put in at FHL anyway, but if I were, it wouldn't matter to me. I'd say you'll still have the same number of applicants this year as any year.

 

[wmidbrook]

I think muzzleloading components will be the last to catch up with projectile regulatory changes. For example, it could take years to find a lead-substitute ball for patch & ball shooting that's on a par with lead balls. Non-lead solid projectiles at muzzleloader velocities will take years of R&D to become effective as lead once were.

Sure, the TSX is a fine example of projectile development but they are designed for modern rifle muzzle velocities of over 2500 fps for proper expansion on impact. I have little doubt level rifle hunters using older calibers such as a .35 Rem and .30-30 are going to see bullet failure (failure to expand) on a much larger scale than before due to slower impact velocities. Not only that, but not all rifles digest the Barnes X family of bullets as well as other projectiles.

I imagine some muzzleloader hunters will give up on muzzleloading until the technology catches up again. I do know some people who like Barnes Xpanders but most who've tried them in their muzzleloaders who I talked to did not like them. (Sheesh, is Barnes donating any significant sums of money to CA politicos these days or funding any lead studies?).

The lead ban movement is nothing new. In fact we both posted on a thread back in the Yahoo CA Hog forum in 98 or 99 about it...

All in all, I have little doubt technology will catch up with the ban...build the market and they will come.

 

[Neil San Diego]

I have to agree about the ML being hardest hit also. At least the roundball and patch shooters. My Hawken has a 1:66" twist barrel on it, and it very accurate for a blackpowder rifle. It needs full soft lead to do its thing. Sabots with copper handgun bullets do exist for ML, but they need a fast twist barrel (1:32" or less). I don't see any good substitute for soft lead roundball anytime soon, if ever.

Since most all of my pig hunting was done at FHL, I may just sit it out pig hunting for a year or two and see where this goes. At least roundball is still good for the San Diego ML deer hunt. In the mean time I will start looking into changing one of my centerfire rifles over to copper bullets. And I'll keep writing my congress-critters.

 

[Speckmisser]

I haven't tried the X-panders in my Hawken, so can't speak to it. It likes roundballs anyway, but I almost never hunt with it.

Key thing is, though, that at least initially the lead ban is only centerfire rifles (except Tejon... and I never asked about ML hunting there). I know FHL is planning to go lead-free on shotshells next year as well, but no word (that I've heard) about ML hunting.

I foresee a possible exemption there, and this is where sportsmen need to start making their voices heard. And yes, I know SOME of you are out there doing it, but for most folks, all the hell-raising has been done on forums like this... not at the Fish and Game Commission meetings. There are a lot of hunters in this state. We can't rely on USSF or other small organizations to speak for us.

Ah.. I see DFGElk is reading this... maybe he's got some clarification?

 

[scottosan]

I just found a box of 7WSM so I can go down and hunt FHL for pigs.

At $50 a box I wont be buying many of these. I just hope they shoot half as good as the other load I have been using so I dont need to sight in again. This sport is getting expensive

 

[Rancho Loco]

Start reloading!