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I did a search, nothing came up for "lead free" which surprised me. We all know eating lead isn't a good thing, but in reality is ingestion of lead from a bullet a real concern, or a hyped up thing? Seems lead free ammo runs 2-3 times as much, but is it worth it? What about if real young kids are going to be eating the meat?
IIRR if the lead bullet stays in you then you can get lead poisoning, if you dont't die from being shot. It takes time for the lead to leach into the blood stream so if you're eating an animal that was shot there is no chance of lead poisoning. YMMV
as long as you are smart about your kill, or your processor.
make sure you cut around the bullet's path and that will pretty well avoid any lead exposure. You won't have to worry about lead then.
For your processor, just go with someone reputable and make sure they cut around the wound area and leave that area to waste.
You also have to remember that animals have been killed for hundreds of years with lead bullets and there hasn't been mass death of lead poisoning problems among sportsmen. really not too much to worry about.
mostly what the EPA is worried about is lead getting into the environment in decent quantities, mostly in the water. That is why you see most states with lead shot bans when waterfowl hunting.
The new all copper bullets have very good performance and the bullet manufacturers will continue to work toward eliminating lead in most hunting bullets. that is my opinion at least. With technology and time, the price of the copper rounds will be more reasonable.
Barnes Bullets! Well worth the money. Pistol and rifle are available. Even better if you reload. [Beer]Quote:
Originally Posted by brianakell
I've read a lot on this subject and the "official" answer has always been: No real threat to humans. Keep in mind our forefathers and how all game thy harvested was using led - softer than the lead we use today in most cases and they lived long enough to perpetuate the species.
There are always lots of examples given by past middle-aged folks who've dined on lots of lead shot animals their entire lives and have no health issues.
If you still have concerns, follow snipers suggestions - that should eliminate all uncertainty.
Barnes - all copper.
Cutting Edge Bullets... IMO the finest bullets around. Solid copper, machined bullets with some awesome technology in the design.
And they're just so damn pretty....
http://site.cuttingedgebullets.com/
http://site.cuttingedgebullets.com/i...png?1266070304
Some very nice looking projectiles! Definitely not your plinking rounds!Quote:
Originally Posted by mcantar18c
Those probably aren't hunting bullets either.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcantar18c
You don't need lead free ammo for hunting. If you shot in an indoor range without adequte ventilation, I'd worry more about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by brianakell
That being said, I like the Barnes TSX for hunting. They are expensive bullets, but they work. I've killed a couple of deer last year with my 5.56. Worked like champs.
This is really a question about the chemistry of elements, particularly lead. In a bullet, you re dealing with either pure lead or lead mixed with antimony and tin; an alloy. In both of these cases, the lead is not molecularly bonded with another element. The way lead will react in this form is different than when lead is actually BONDED to another element.
Lead exposure from primers or old lead based paint is very different. The lead is attached to other nonmetal elements. In this form, the lead is an ion in SALT formation. The lead will come apart from the compound easier and then reattach to other things easier, thus it's absorbed by the body more readily. So eating a bullet is different than eating lead paint chips. The lead in the paint chips "disassociates" more readily and the person absorbs a much higher concentration. There is a very very small amour of lead that may disassociate from the bullet during digestion, but no like the ionized lead in a salt.
When shooting, the lead exposure is primarily from the primer compound. Most primers are the compound lead styphenate. This compound is a salt, so the lead is in ionized form and becomes aerated during deflagration. Inadequate ventilation in an indoor range exposes you to a higher concentration of the ionized lead.
Your biggest danger from lead bullets and shot is breaking a tooth. I don't recommend eating bullets..., but the actual lead absorption danger is minimal. Clean your game well and you and your kids are fine. I'm not a fan of solid copper bullets nor steel shot. They perpetuate ignorance and infer a problem at is nonexistent. Ive found both to shoot less accurate and both to wear out firearms faster. In some cases, they are just dangerous to the shooter and firearm.
Opinions vary on these bullets, but the chemistry doesn't [Tooth].
Another +1 for Barnes bullets. A little pricey but well worth it in my opinion. Their varmint grenade bullets are incredble.
(they will literally blow up a prairie dog. good times had by all[Tooth])