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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
Sidelock
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Sidelock

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
How often do you see public (and for those of us who hunt on private) lands going "non-toxic" only?

I bring this up as I am facing more and more restrictions for hunting birds where a "wetland" is designated in the adjacent region.

Case in point:
I got permission last fall to hunt on private land (only cost me the effort to call ahead and sit down with the owners ahead of time), but, they had asked that I only shoot non-toxic.

1) they were aware that due to past flooding of a nearby stream, resource management had listed just a portion of their property as next to a "wetland". So, to avoid any possible implications, they don't let (bird) hunters use lead.

2) I got invited to a private hunting "game farm" (ironic that it is larger than the property I hunted on last fall) and they only allow non-toxic as well.

3) I was out a year ago and the other hunters who we exchanged pleasantries with had mentioned that the public land we were on is also home to migratory birds... to be "safe", they are avoiding issues by using steel.

So, for all of us "moving" (either voluntarily or by force) to non-toxic (for birds) loads, what are folks shooting in their doubles?

I had a chance to stop by Ballistic Products (home here in Coccran, MN) and they showed on a global map where they ship ITX and hevi-shot... They said 1/2 ton of ITX was shipped to the UK just last year. (didn't know there were that many reloaders over there)

My hunting buddy brought 50rds of ITX #6 loads with us last fall and it shot just fine. Same price as premium steel loads, but, since he loaded it himself, it was much cheaper than Bismuth or Hevi-Shot.

Joined: Nov 2002
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,409
Likes: 4
With exception of some 2.5" buckshot loads everything I have on hand is Bismuth or Tungsten Matrix. Some of the Bismuth stuff has Birmingham proof monogram on the boxes with cartridge bases stamped Eley. Most of the stuff is 3" which is assigned to be used in my 9lb Winchester pump gun. The
English also load "duplex" non-tox loads consisting of mix of iron and heaver softer non-tox pellets.

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
I have to say I like nontoxic shot, both Hevi and the Tungsten matrix have excellant ballistics that is better than lead. However, the expense is crippling.

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
Sidelock
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Sidelock

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 39
I think ITX is about as "cheap" and as close to lead as I can get w/o going to steel...

Load data for #6 on upland game is not as prevalent as I had hoped for. (BPI is working on more load data, I guess)


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