Lead Free 22lr

[Donny1]

I just notice while surfing that what I thought was the only legal 22lr for hunting in ca, the CCI Copper was discontinued.

Is there any lead free legal 22lr in ca now? I have a box of it but I don't hunt with 22lr often. It should have been discontinued because it sucks. Groups at 50, but a 100 yards it's flying sideways of coming apart.

It begs the question though since a lot of people still hunt with rimfire, what are they using? If there is no alternative seems like a 2nd issue as well.

[NATEWA]

I looked into using .22lr lead free ammo for a squirrel hunt that didn’t happen. Loaded 500 rounds of .223 36 grain hornady (ntx bullets, I think). Saw more non lead options with .17hmr and would look into that.

[Donny1]

I looked into using .22lr lead free ammo for a squirrel hunt that didn?t happen. Loaded 500 rounds of .223 36 grain hornady (ntx bullets, I think). Saw more non lead options with .17hmr and would look into that.

I'm not really interested in it anymore. I just think it stinks that the law change changes what hunting with a 22 is. Seriously, I shot tight groups at 100 yards for several decades with 22lr. With the Copper my .25 PCP has better performance at 75 yards. I've also become a fan of 22wmr for rimfire, it at least has a little punch to it.

I'd be willing to bet most are just using lead anyway.

[Zenderfall]

I just notice while surfing that what I thought was the only legal 22lr for hunting in ca, the CCI Copper was discontinued.

Is there any lead free legal 22lr in ca now? I have a box of it but I don't hunt with 22lr often. It should have been discontinued because it sucks. Groups at 50, but a 100 yards it's flying sideways of coming apart.

It begs the question though since a lot of people still hunt with rimfire, what are they using? If there is no alternative seems like a 2nd issue as well.

Norma also has a lead-free .22LR round.

https://www.norma-ammunition.com/en-us/products/dedicated-hunting/rimfire/norma-eco

These also suck at longer ranges, and when I mean longer ranges for .22LR, I mean 50-75 yards. There's a reason why bullets are mead of lead, they need that weight. You really have to get close to the target to use these, and even then, they're very inaccurate.

[200Apples]

...the CCI Copper was discontinued.

Good. That stuff was horrible. As Sam Clemens would say, "The only safe place was 'round behind the gun."

Is there any lead free legal 22lr in ca now?

Good question. I haven't looked since the CCI Copper debacle.

I have BARNES pure copper projectiles to load in some .38 or .357 (as well as for .41, .44, .45-70, 7.62 X 39, .308 Win... even some commercially-loaded fare using these bullets).

I just throw lead around w/ my .22s.

[G-forceJunkie]

Every lead free .22lr I have tried sucks. Sucks to the point I bought a .17hmr to keep pounding squirrels.

[edgerly779]

Use google and look up approved non lead ammo for hunting in california.
Quality of ammo means nothing as to being on list. There are several mfgs of non lead 22lr

[Fjold]

Every lead free .22lr I have tried sucks. Sucks to the point I bought a .17hmr to keep pounding squirrels.

I tried every brand of lead free 22 lr ammo that I could find when I lived in Cali and nothing shot worth a damn in any of my rimfire guns.

[Donny1]

Use google and look up approved non lead ammo for hunting in california.
Quality of ammo means nothing as to being on list. There are several mfgs of non lead 22lr

As far as I can see there are no approved 22lr on the list(s) anymore. Even the Norma "approved" list does not show any 22lr.

So basically that's a ban on hunting with 22lr.

[k1dude]

If you want lead free accuracy, dump the .22 and buy a .17 HMR.

[deckhandmike]

Every lead free .22lr I have tried sucks. Sucks to the point I bought a .17hmr to keep pounding squirrels.

I spent as much on different types of lead free .22lr as I did just buying a .17hmr. Wish I had just bought the .17hmr first. The 17 was a game changer. I actually regret all those years I spent hunting with a .22lr. The 17 is superior and weirdly has no lead free issues.