doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Tungsten shot news

Jeff,

TM shells are running about $3 each on average, I've quit buying them new. But I've got a pretty big stock on hand so should be good for a few seasons yet.

Rocketman,

The new NiceShot is a heavy tungsten / iron core with a tin coating. We are there, it just ain't cheap.

DLH

As long as the tungsten is coated, Tungsten-Matrix or the older Federal shells Tungsten-Polymer then its safe to shoot in the older doubles, but the hevi-shot which is not coated cannot be used in older doubles.
If they get their way the days of the inexpensive shooting sports are over and done with.

Ben, you'll never replace Paul Harvey, for sure--because you conveniently leave out "the rest of the story". We're already well aware that tungsten, in loads such as Kent's Tungsten Matrix, is not only "green" but also a good choice for those guns in which one shouldn't shoot steel.

But the "rest of the story" would be . . . price. How many guys would give up hunting if they had to pay $3/shell? And if the only gun you have happens to be a non-steel safe older double, or even a more modern gun such as a Belgian Browning (the company recommends NO STEEL in those guns), you're pretty well shafted when it comes to clay target ammo if lead were to be banned. That's "the rest of the story", as the late Mr. Harvey would have said.

Almost two years ago, I bought a very nice 16 ga. Damascus Cashmore SLNE from our Ben Deeble. A great gun in great condition and at a more than reasonable price, to where I had to ask him 'why' would he even consider selling it?

He told me it was to "beef up his portfolio", but in hindsight, I suspect it was in preparation for this campaign of his. Apparently he didn't feel like feeding it non-tox at $3 a pop, but no reason you shouldn't.....

ROBERT, Robert, robert...

I only sold it to you because I made over $1K profit doing so.

I still have several other vintage shotguns which I'll happily feed only lead or bismuth. You know this.

You are caught lying again...

Duh,

Ben

I must be going crazy. No one here is giving up shooting at birds if the price climbs to $3 a shot. Are they? How many shots for a limit---10 or 12? What's $30-40 for a chance at ducks or geese, what percentage of the cost of the hunt, the pleasure and entertainment of buddies?

King, when my kids were younger and hunting with me, it was not unusal for them to burn through a couple of boxes in a day during dove season. Two boys times 50 shells each times $3 times a three-day opening dove weekend equals the end of bird hunting as we know it.

King Brown:

I've seen your posts here over the years, and it is always nice to see again the thoughts of a man with his head screwed on straight. You are exactly correct.

The whine we'll need to get used to hearing is that which emits from the firearms collectors and dealers who fear the value of their investments might decline if the cheapest ammo can't be fired afield at game. This will mostly come from amongst the low-end collectors like Rob, because the top-end merchants know your point's truth. I don't know whether to believe it or not, but Rob told me he took out a loan on his house to buy my Cashmore from me. If true, at least it was a better investment than the stock market!

I think people will always be able to fire lead at targets, just not everywhere at all game. That is my best guess, and I think it would satisfy a lot of interests. Better for gunners to work together than to hang apart.

Do you know what Rob did the night before a 60-gun sporting clays shoot I organized last August where I knew everyone would be shooting lead? He called me up and told me I better shoot steel, or "It will be viewed unfavorably." I told him to pack sand, squaded up in front of him the next day and blazed away with lead. He had sort of painted himself into a corner, so hasn't bragged about it here. Normally he does. He has lost the respect of a lot of folks around here, but can at least maintain a cheering section online.

To the future and our sport,

Ben

The price for bird hunting for me is constant practice. If I can't practice enough (a lot, in my own case) to feel comfortable shooting at birds, I'll quit.

The birds deserve better than that.

There is only so much tungsten in the world, and there isn't enough tungsten in the world to use it for making shot, when it has far more important uses.

Enviroweenies who believe it should replace lead don't understand that.

For every study you can find telling me about birds ingesting lead, I can demonstrate that a lead shot that rolls off an outdoor table onto the ground where a domestic chicken can see it will be picked up by the chicken.

He will then spit it out. Rooster or hen, it makes no difference.

Try it sometime. I'm guessing chickens don't sit near the top of the bird intelligence
heap, but, they are at least that smart.

Best,
Ted

Personally, I think Replacement had his head on pretty straight. $3.00 a shot would certainly put a crimp in my shooting. Maybe my head is not on too straight, but I do stand straight. I don't walk with a list to one side from all that money to "Burn" in my wallet. It has not been that long ago when one could walk in & buy a single bag of lead shot @ retail in the most uneconomical manner possible for about $18.00. Even for a 1¼oz load that is good for 320 shots which works out to a little less than 6¢ a load. Now $3.00/6¢ = 60 or an increase in price of 6,000%. If a price hike of that magnitude means nothing to you feel perfectly free to hike down to the mailbox with an envelope addressed to me. I don't shoot near as much as I did when younger, so that $18.00 bag of lead would probably get me through the season, so just make the check out to drop in that envelope for $1,080.00 which would be the new equivelent. Sort of puts it more in perspective don't it. Maybe you should re-think who's head is on straight.