DEC video: Your Choice of Ammunition

[Bunchberry]

New development of alternative non-lead ammunition allows hunters the same performance and accuracy of traditional lead-based ammunition without fragmentation. Often, lead particles are too small to detect by sight or feel, making removal practically impossible. Learn more about Non-Lead Ammunition: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/48420....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqBXl8OsnGE

[northernbill]

This is just another way to restrict your gun rights. Death by a thousand cuts. Say goodbye to affordable ammunition. And if you think ammo has been hard to find the past three years, try finding lead free .22 LR if this were to be law.

[Bunchberry]

I would think it is a way to expand gun rights. Eating lead causes brain damage! Brain damaged hunters are easier to outsmart! Lead free hunters also have less health problems and more money to resist gun restrictions.

[Tug Hill]

It must be something other than ingesting lead. Because if anyone really thinks that the NYSDEC or anyone in Albany is looking to expand gun rights, they are already brain damaged.

[EagleCrag]

I have no issue with the government educating hunters provided it is non biased (rare today) and leaves the choice to hunters as to whether or not to use non lead ammunition. That means no added tax on lead ammunition in an attempt to persuade hunters not to use it. I agree with northernbill's comments above.

[Bunchberry]

Just to make sure everyone is on the same page:

Lead is a neurotoxin. The only acceptable level of lead is zero. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems.

[forgedin78]

Im fine with "your choice of ammunition". It's when it's no longer a choice that I have a problem. I've tried the copper bullets, and they are simply inferior. The technology isn't quite there yet. They don't expand much at all, and leave pencil sized holes in a deer, leading to slower death to the animal, and more difficult recovery.

[tiogaguy]

New development of alternative non-lead ammunition

Barnes has been making monolithic copper bullets for 40 years. They've been loaded in factory ammo for almost that long. Its not new. Yes, there are some new companies jumping into the field, mainly because they want the California market. The whole lead in meat issue is just a new way to restrict and decrease ammo supplies. Thereby hunting. I guess they could restrict deer donated to food banks as having must been shot with lead free ammo. That would be the states choice. My guess donations would be down.

I've tried the copper bullets, and they are simply inferior

I would disagree. I've used copper bullets for nearly as long as Barnes has made them. Like any bullet, they have a time and place. I've kill numerous deer with copper bullets and had great success. I've seen lead core bullet fail miserably. There are several factors that dictate bullet performance, velocity, caliber, shot placement, bullet weight, etc.

[tiogaguy]

The DEC has much bigger environmental issues to worry about, but are unwilling or handcuffed to take on. The "elephant in the room" as far as real environmental/human damage is ROAD SALT!!! But, Cargill and Morton are huge employers in NY. Let alone the political money/clout. In typical NY fashion, they will step over a dollar to pick up a dime. The hunters will be the ones to pay so the DEC can claim they are "protecting" the environment.

[Bunchberry]

The hunters will be the ones to pay so the DEC can claim they are "protecting" the environment.

This is why the DEC will make copper bullets mandatory some day.

[Tug Hill]

This is why the DEC will make copper bullets mandatory some day.

Have to agree with Tiogaguy, 400lbs of salt per lane mile, and it all ends up in NY’s water ways, and the DEC is worried about trace lead in hunter harvested wild game ?
And good luck to DEC trying to enforce it in the NZ, especially on private land. Many NY firearm owners are already purchasing their ammo out of state, thanks to the so called SAFE Act. (Too bad Cuomos SAFE Act didn’t make women Safe from him ?)
Plus, anyone who is into primitive muzzleloaders, side and flintlocks, cast their own lead bullets.
lead poisoning does cause brain damage in NY ‘ers, that explains why so many of us stay in this state.

[chairrock]

Forty six beans for 20 rounds of copper 30/30 150g fn today... pretty box, used to be 12 beans for green box a few years ago....first 30/30 I've seen in over a year plus...

[Buckladd]

This is why the DEC will make copper bullets mandatory some day.

It won't be DEC, it will be the legislature, which has already come close to a lead ammo ban on state lands in NY. DEC sees the day coming and is trying to prepare hunters for it. The latest public awareness campaign educating hunters about wolves vs. coyotes is along the same lines. As for ammo, the day will come when lead is outlawed, but it should not happen during an ammo shortage like the one we're currently in. The biggest challenge will be for those who shoot obscure (likely older) calibers, .22-rimfire and older muzzleloaders that still shoot round balls. Again, DEC simply sees the writing on the wall as they will be charged with the task of enforcing the law if/when it's passed. Also, Gordon Batchellor, who is in the video, has been talking about non-lead ammo for nearly a decade.

[St.Regis]

You make it sound like DEChas no hand in the decision making process. I don't buy that

[BillyGr]

The DEC has much bigger environmental issues to worry about, but are unwilling or handcuffed to take on. The "elephant in the room" as far as real environmental/human damage is ROAD SALT!!! But, Cargill and Morton are huge employers in NY. Let alone the political money/clout. In typical NY fashion, they will step over a dollar to pick up a dime. The hunters will be the ones to pay so the DEC can claim they are "protecting" the environment.

So, they take the salt out of the ground in NY, then put it on roads in NY from which it goes back into the ground in NY.

Thus, all they are doing is moving it from one spot to another in the state, making the distribution more even statewide.