LEAD!

[John Joseph]

Or more accurately no lead.
For hunting, it is the law in most of CA and will be in all of CA in a few short years, no?
AFAIK, this puts the kabosh on hunting with the .22lr at longer ranges. My .22, while very accurate with Minimags, Stingers, and Super-X flags at 75-90 yard distances with Winchester tin bullets. I've yet to try(or even find) other leadless rimfire ammo alternatives to test.

Traditional black powder? Forget about it

Handgun hunting? Barnes coppers seem to be the only game in town I know of. Expensive loaded ammunition but I've heard very good reports. The bullets are available for reloading, which helps although I haven't seen a lot of published loading data for Alliant or Hodgdon powders with the Barnes.

CF Rifles? Once again, Barnes coppers to the rescue and once again, not much published loading data.

Shotgunning? Steel has a long track record with waterfowl and all the major companies load non toxic shot of one composition or another. What this does is consign a lot of great old shotguns (unless you want to hand load ITX) to wall hanger status or kept for things that go bump in the night
Oh wait, no wall hangers or burglar boomsticks--in LA they have to be kept locked up in a safe now
Non-lead buckshot? I'm unaware any exists. Sabotted slugs in rifles barrels is as close as it seems to come.

Maybe I'm in error. Maybe I just don't appreciate the challenge. But without any hard evidence to support the lead ban I think California hunters have been thrown under the bus

[Fishslayer]

I've yet to try(or even find) other leadless rimfire ammo alternatives to test.

During the depths of the Great .22LR Drought lead free .22 was about all you could find.

https://www.google.com/webhp?source=search_app&gws_rd=ssl#q=leadless+.22LR

Everybody & his dog makes copper bullets. Bring money. Lots & lots of money...

[John Joseph]

I just remembered CCI shot cartridges in handgun calibers. Right handy for buzz worms and rats, but I suppose now they'd be illegal (or at least rare)since killing nasty critters is really all they'd be good for.

[edwardm]

I came across some non-lead black powder/muzzle loader projectiles on the DFG approved list just last night. Performance is unknown, though. CF rifle, the 3 big ones are Nosler E-tip, Hornady GMX, and Barnes TSX/TTSX. None of them shoot well in any rifle I own, and this is after spending $300 on projectiles, plus powder, time, and effort to try everything I could.

This from a Rem 700 that will regularly print 5 rounds inside a nickel with 'cheap' Sierra Pro Hunter bullets, IMR4350, and whatever '06 brass I have on hand, plugged with WLRs. This from the same Rem 700 that put a 3 point buck down a month ago on an overcast, drizzly, low-light morning at 210 yards. Give it lead, it's a laser beam. Give it copper, it turns into a #*!@# shotgun. Let's not forget the outrageous copper fouling, too.

My Marlin has yet to be tested, but my Ithaca LSA-65 in 270 Winchester is the same. There's going to be lots of wounded, suffering animals out there in the coming years, thanks to this non-lead BS. Most folks will get a box of whatever is lead free, be happy if they put 3 rounds in the 10 ring, and head for the woods. Take that '10 ring' shooting rifle, put it in the hands of a hunter with a pounding heart and veins full of adrenaline, and I predict lots of gut-shot pigs, deer, and bears. Most of which will not be recovered.

[Whiterabbit]

Handgun hunting? Barnes coppers seem to be the only game in town I know of. Expensive loaded ammunition but I've heard very good reports. The bullets are available for reloading, which helps although I haven't seen a lot of published loading data for Alliant or Hodgdon powders with the Barnes.

Let me correct you then.

Here is home cast lead at 100 yards, 440 grain 95% lead bullet (plus gas check), shot at 100 yards @ 1430 fps (elephant load):



Holes are not touching, but hey, it is a hand gun. I don't see many groups this good at 100 yards from a revolver. Never a semi-auto. Contenders don't count

Here is the best I can do with solid copper bullets, 200 grains at 2000 fps:



Top is 50 yards, bottom is 100 yards.

----------------------------

Cast lead costs me a couple bucks a pound. About 24 cents per bullet after gas check and bullet lube. 100% copper is 92 cents on sale, before shipping.

lead free is terrible. Lead is the finest material out there for shooting and hunting.

[CSACANNONEER]

Several years ago, at SHOT, I did see lead free roundballs for frontstuffers. However, I don't know if they are being imported into the US yet and, they sure aren't on the CA approved list.

[Calif Hunter]

Here's a link to Midway with a lot of copper bullets. The "Copper" brand of pistol bullet works well in my handguns. Use Barnes starting load data. They also make loaded ammo. Either way, it is cheaper than Barnes ammo or bullets.

http://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearchQuery=Copper+bullets

Here is a link to loaded ammo from them at Midway. Probably available elsewhere -

http://www.midwayusa.com/s?usersearchquery=Copper+Only+ammo&itemsperpage=20&pageNumber=1

[Whiterabbit]

Several years ago, at SHOT, I did see lead free roundballs for frontstuffers. However, I don't know if they are being imported into the US yet and, they sure aren't on the CA approved list.

ITX. They are on the list.

Nothing for 58 cal though. 58 cal muzzleloader is the one firearm I can think of that might get a pass on that "nothing available" exemption.

edit: I bought some ITX 45 cals by the way. They are more expensive than any barnes bullet, and they shoot like crap.

[CSACANNONEER]

ITX. They are on the list.

Nothing for 58 cal though. 58 cal muzzleloader is the one firearm I can think of that might get a pass on that "nothing available" exemption.

edit: I bought some ITX 45 cals by the way. They are more expensive than any barnes bullet, and they shoot like crap.

Cool. I haven't looked into it in a few years. ITX is made in America and the ones I saw where made in Germany but, at least there are some RBs on the list now.

[Whiterabbit]

all calibers minus 58 cal. The 45 cal I tested shot poorly at 50 yards. Not easily retrievable either so once it is shot it is gone. Makes shooting 45 cal about as expensive as shooting 338 lapua.

[Whiterabbit]

During the depths of the Great .22LR Drought lead free .22 was about all you could find.

https://www.google.com/webhp?source=search_app&gws_rd=ssl#q=leadless+.22LR

Everybody & his dog makes copper bullets. Bring money. Lots & lots of money...

And now you can;t find lead free 22 magnum to save your life.

[Fjold]

Hornady publishes the GMX lead free data in their manuals
Barnes lists there data on their website. http://www.barnesbullets.com/load-data/
Nosler lead free data is in their reloading manual.

The lead free muzzle loader bullets require a 20" or faster twist to stabilize them, the older 48" and 60+" twist barrels will not work with them.

[ar15barrels]

Or more accurately no lead.
For hunting, it is the law in most of CA and will be in all of CA in a few short years, no?
AFAIK, this puts the kabosh on hunting with the .22lr at longer ranges. My .22, while very accurate with Minimags, Stingers, and Super-X flags at 75-90 yard distances with Winchester tin bullets. I've yet to try(or even find) other leadless rimfire ammo alternatives to test.

I hunt squirrels in the condor zone which has been lead free for a few years now.
I use this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2900114380/winchester-super-x-ammunition-22-long-rifle-26-grain-hollow-point-lead-free

For longer range shots, I use a 17hmr or 204 ruger.