"Green" Bullets

[DeepSouth]

I have been hearing more and more about green bullets, I have even been told there are a few states considering forcing all ammo to be "lead free" although I do not know this to be true. Anyway I got to thinking what if this did happen, over a period of time it is possible we could see the complete removal (or at least sale) of lead ammo.

If this were to happen what would be the effects on us hunters, I do a little duck hunting so I know how the steel shot affects range and such in shotguns, but what about rifles? What would hunting deer, mule deer, wild hog, and the larger game be like with a "green" bullet? Is there anything out there that would expand even close to lead? Would we be able to afford "green" ammo or would it be like duck hunting with Hevi-Shot (to expensive to be practical, for me anyway)

 

[Mp7]

there´s always depleted uranium to fall back on.

 

[lgbloader]

The Barnes bullets work well. I personally am a Nosler Partition man but when I hunt certain areas of California, I have no choice.

LGB

 

[WardenWolf]

Unfortunately, many non-lead bullets only come in FMJ, and you can't hunt with FMJ in most states. Otherwise we'd have a field day with surplus steel core.

 

[desidog]

Gold? With the current costs of EBRs, it's keeping in the same price bracket.

I'd probably start molding rounds with old lead pipe. Accuracy would suck without a copper jacket on a high powered rifle, and there'd be much more bore fouling.

 

[brandonc]

Also there are many rifles/cartridges that don't have non-lead ammo available. Examples include .22 and traditional muzzleloaders.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

There are a lot of non-lead bullets out there, with more on the way this year, from the various Barnes bullets to Winchester's E-Tip to the Hornady GMX and a number of others. They will do the job, but there are some associated issues non-lead proponents don't like to talk about. For one, some of these bullets don't expand reliably, if at all, resulting in through-and-through shots with small wound channels. Secondly, many rifles simply WILL NOT shoot the factory stuff accurately. Here in the People's Republik of California, where copper is being forced down our throats, I exhaustively tested three rifles before finding a fourth in my collection that would shoot the factory stuff MOA. That turned out to be a 338 Fed., which is now my dedicated Calif. hog/deer gun.The other three rifles tested would barely group the stuff within three inches -- and all three are MOA shooters with their preferred lead ammo.

This accuracy problem raises a host of issues, from one-rifle hunters either giving up hunting or forging ahead with increased chances of wounding and losing game to the high cost of copper ammo and the impact on low-income hunters. It's too early to tell here in California, but I suspect the numbers will show a significant loss of revenue from license and tag sales. There's already anecdotal evidence of fewer deer hunters in the field last season. The lead ban across most of California was ramrodded through on the basis of flawed science (ostensibly to save the condor, a species which nature had already selected out) with the support of groups who would like nothing more than to price all hunters out of the game.

Beware their primary tactic of instituting a "voluntary" program initially, as is now happening in parts of Arizona. They did the same in California, and voluntary quickly became mandatory.

 

[Encoreman]

Okay guys wake up, we all know that what starts in California eventually makes it to us. The left chips away a little bit at a time!!

 

[Deer Hunter]

Grr....

I can eat a chunk of lead and it would pass through me rather readily.

I hate crappy science. I've probably eaten enough lead shot through the day to reload a couple birdshot 12 gauge rounds.

Unless the lead gets into your bloodstream in copious amounts, you would never notice it. And to get into your bloodstream you would need very very very finely powdered lead that is rather pure and maybe breathe it in.

Over a pretty long period of time.

honestly I would be more worried with the chemicals that operate freezers, car engines, cigarettes, and your average computer screen.

 

[bailer]

I tried the Barnes TSX when I drew a deer tag in condor range here in AZ. I guess I'm in the minority, because I love the things. The .308's I got with the free coupon with my tag are the most accurate factory load I've ever shot in my Savage 99. My mulie on that hunt was DRT, so 1 for 1 on game performance.

Since then I've worked up a load for my .264 that is consisently sub moa. I look forward to trying it on elk this fall.

I'll fight along with all of you to prevent laws banning lead bullets. For myself the cost would be an issue for plinking and competition. For hunting use, I personally will be using Barnes copper for the forseable future.

 

[Nugilum]

Mp7

there´s always depleted uranium to fall back on.

That was funny

 

[Flyboy]

I've heard good things about the Barnes TSX copper bullets; I'm looking forward to working up a .45-70 load for hogs as soon as I get my press set up.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

and traditional muzzleloaders.

I am experimenting with Bismuth, zinc, and food grade pewter. The advantage of a roundball from a muzzleloader is it's light in weight compared to a conical, and you only need a few so one can use some expensive metals if ya need to do so.

LD

 

[JImbothefiveth]

I think green bullets are a good idea. I will, of course, oppose any ban on lead.

 

[sonier]

i demand DU ROUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats not overkill!! its getting the job done according to military lol
regarless i want du rounds!!!!wonder if my 30?06 HOTTTTTTTrounds would be like ?????ARMOR PIERCING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bucktail]

I could probably hunt with barnes X's or e-tips and be just fine; it's the target and varmint shooting that worries me

 

[ArmedBear]

I guess I'm in the minority, because I love the things.

I haven't talked with anyone who has actually tried them on big game who doesn't like them.

That said, I don't want to be forced to use any particular bullet, but I'm mostly with bucktail (add bird hunting to that, since I sometimes use a gun built in 1926).

 

[bucktail]

It would really cramp my style with respect to 22lr as well.

 

[dougwx12]

TSX is all that I use, and performance has been great. I don't think this is really like lead versus steel shot, where one is clearly inferior. To each his own, but I use them by choice.

 

[gbran]

Also there are many rifles/cartridges that don't have non-lead ammo available. Examples include .22 and traditional muzzleloaders.

Winchester has or will have both 22wmr's and .22lr's in green. I've been shooting CCI .22wmr's in green for varmints, small game. Had to park my 17 rimfires due to no green. I'm in the lower central valley of CA where lead bans affect most of my hunting areas.

I've tested and used the Barnes stuff in 7mm, 308 and '06. It's worked well on deer, boar, but doesn't seem as accurate as my lead ammo. I might pass on some fairly long shoots.

 

[627PCFan]

DU is great ammo. You just dont want to hang around the kill after a bullet strike