tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568087049707971913.post4947619981380170531..comments2022-08-16T05:23:32.989-04:00Comments on Wingshot: Lead shot - fading into history?Mark Colemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00105837142551567890noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568087049707971913.post-25625080316943049422013-11-04T06:22:28.638-05:002013-11-04T06:22:28.638-05:00The news that the only primary lead smelter in the...The news that the only primary lead smelter in the US is closing at years' end is receiving comment at the hook and bullet forums. The Doe Run facility in Missouri is the only smelter in the US that turns lead ore into lead bullion for shipment to secondary smelter which make bullets, tire weights, shot, etc.<br />The relatively small size of the operation makes me wonder if the US relies more on imports than domestic primary smelting for lead products. If not, this closure could do more harm to hunters than legislation. <br />http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/doe-run-workers-to-be-cut-at-end-of-december/article_56182c9f-0413-59a5-865e-e864715f3c2d.html<br />In that Doe Run made the announcement 3 years ago, have we been asleep at the switch regarding this news?Gilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16586106608274313864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568087049707971913.post-71080259271647890632013-10-24T06:25:26.348-04:002013-10-24T06:25:26.348-04:00For turkeys, I've made the switch to high dens...For turkeys, I've made the switch to high density tungsten shot several years ago. The stuff I use has a density of 18 grams/cubic centimeter and is not available in commercially loaded shells. Lead shot is about 11 g/cc. For reference, depleted uranium is 19 g/cc. Tungsten shot of such density is expensive with limited sources but it enables me to use significantly smaller shot than lead which means lighter loads and gauges for turkeys. A .410 can be made a lethal 40 yard turkey gun. 20 gauge guns shooting the tungsten shot have or exceed the lethality range of a 12 gauge gun shooting any commercial lead load. With a Georgia limit of 3 birds, the cost of shot and ammo is irrelevant as far as turkey hunting goes. I'm more concerned about gasoline costs during the season. . Gilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16586106608274313864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568087049707971913.post-30581299164827351582013-10-22T21:04:23.390-04:002013-10-22T21:04:23.390-04:00Stranger things have happened around here. Rememb...Stranger things have happened around here. Remember the lizard man of Lee County?Mark Colemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00105837142551567890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568087049707971913.post-61494604571374918722013-10-22T17:31:10.452-04:002013-10-22T17:31:10.452-04:00Living in the state of SC as you do, I wouldn'...Living in the state of SC as you do, I wouldn't be concerned about the legislature banning lead shot. Same here in Georgia. The likelihood of lead shot being banned in SC is about as likely as cadets at the Citadel firing on Ft. Sumter. ;) GilGilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16586106608274313864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568087049707971913.post-4915434415629752742013-10-21T12:24:05.104-04:002013-10-21T12:24:05.104-04:00I hope your wrong, because the lead ban is coming ...I hope your wrong, because the lead ban is coming wether we like it or not. I think the difference between my weak gasoline analogy applied to shotgun shells is we NEED gas, we can live without recreational shooting and hunting. <br /><br />I think the amount of people the shooting sports would lose because of a total lead ban would warrant ammo manufacturers to drop prices accordingly. Back when lead was banned for waterfowl I heard of and know of countless died in the wool water fowlers who walked away from duck hunting forever because they couldn't adopt steel shot. And who could blame them, back then steel shot was outrageously expensive and performed horribly - not to mention all the old duck guns it put into retirement because of potential barrel damage. <br /><br />If lead were banned everywhere with no affordable alternative ( some shooting ranges have banned lead shot already) I can see the same fallout but on a much larger scale due to higher price and that so many old guns would be rendered useless- which might inspire ammo manufacturers to figure out away to make things more affordable.<br />Back when Bismuth hit the scene it blew peoples minds that a box of ten shells could run you $35.00 -$45.00, but people bought it because of its lead like qualities and that you could shoot it in your Granpas old model 12 safely. That competitive price point seemed to be the standard for all soft or heavy non toxics for years, $35.00 - $45.00 for ten shells all across the board, the people that could afford them bought them while those that couldn't bought steel shot - which has grown much easier on the pocket book. Now Rio is producing Bismuth loads at around $23.00 for a box of ten, Im guessing if they keep offering it at that price their competitors might adjust their own accordingly.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />uplandishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10492606017361856076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568087049707971913.post-18504917349592397592013-10-21T08:17:18.312-04:002013-10-21T08:17:18.312-04:00Agree with most of what you say but I don't se...Agree with most of what you say but I don't see no-tox prices dropping if lead is banned. We're paying $3.50 for gas because we don't have a viable alternative and the people who supply it know we're willing to pay $3.50 for it.<br /><br />If I'm a no-tox manufacturer and lead is banned I don't have any reason to drop my price because the guys who still want to hunt will have no choice but to buy my ammo. I might even consider raising my prices slightly. There's a sweet spot, obviously, beyond which the average man can't afford the ammo and quits hunting and sales fall off, same reason OPEC doesn't charge $200/barrel of oil.Mark Colemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00105837142551567890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3568087049707971913.post-71011231643012402102013-10-20T23:41:32.623-04:002013-10-20T23:41:32.623-04:00as far as price goes...
Like any thing it has to d...as far as price goes...<br />Like any thing it has to do with what the market will support. We are paying $3.50 for a gallon of gas because no one else is offering it at $2.50. If lead was banned across the board you would see non toxic prices drop dramatically. You can already find many average grade steel loads that are cheaper than many premium lead loads. it is getting people wrap their mind around the fact that comparing steel shot performance and lead shot performance is like comparing apples to oranges. steel does have its advantages over lead and lead isn't necessarily better just because it can kill farther. uplandishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10492606017361856076noreply@blogger.com