If we airgunners keep lead pellets from showing up in the gullets of ducks and predatory birds, then this kind of legislation is unlikely to affect airgunning.Just stating a few " FACTS ". The " LEAD BAN " has been in place for years throughout the USA
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" The ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl was phased-in starting with the 1987-88 hunting season. The ban became nationwide in 1991. Nontoxic shot regulations apply only to waterfowl, defined as the family Anatidae (ducks, geese, [including brant], and swans) and coots. Nontoxic shot is defined as any shot type that does not cause sickness and death when ingested by migratory birds. "
But, it's just a matter of time before the " LEAD PELLETS & SLUGS PROJECTILES " , will also be BANNED...
What people are failing to consider is that lead ammunition was banned for a reason. People fire this stuff near rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and never consider the effect of lead on these places we go to because we enjoy them. The rounds people miss with, and leave behind can contaminate water sources. Animals can eat them or drink lead contaminated water. People fire these and leave them on their land in large amounts. As this airgun hobby grows, and more people hunt and target shoot with their lead ammo, eventually some government knucklehead will notice and pay attention to it. Imagine if just the members on this forum got together for an Airgun Nation potluck, and everyone was busy showing off their awesome airguns, how much lead do you think might end up laying on the ground somewhere? I think it's up to us to promote responsible shooting, or the government will step in and take the choice from us sooner rather than later.
I've seriously considered " Casting " my own " ALLOY BISMUTH - Bullets & SLUGS ..I received a tip to look up someone on another forum for information on casting. While I was checking this forum out, I came across a sticky post with this link to a free online book with a downloadable pdf on the first page on the left.
Referrs to firearms , federal we are imitation firearms.Just stating a few " FACTS ". The " LEAD BAN " has been in place for years throughout the USA
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" The ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl was phased-in starting with the 1987-88 hunting season. The ban became nationwide in 1991. Nontoxic shot regulations apply only to waterfowl, defined as the family Anatidae (ducks, geese, [including brant], and swans) and coots. Nontoxic shot is defined as any shot type that does not cause sickness and death when ingested by migratory birds. "
( I bet,, You would be required to use " NON-TOXIC / LEAD-FREE SHOT." IF, you were using an " Air Powered Shotgun " to Hunt Waterfowl ),
Nontoxic Shot Regulations For Hunting Waterfowl and Coots in the U.S. | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl was phased-in starting with the 1987-88 hunting season. The ban became nationwide in 1991. Nontoxic shot regulations apply only to waterfowl, defined as the family Anatidae (ducks, geese, [including brant], and swans) and coots.www.fws.gov
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Nonlead Certification for Ammunition Manufacturers
Effective July 1, 2008, ammunition used for hunting of big game and nongame species within the range of the California condor must use a projectile which has been certified to contain less than or equal to 1 percent lead by weight. Projectiles here are defined as "any bullet, ball, sabot, slug, buckshot or other device which is expelled from a firearm through a barrel by force...."
Nonlead Ammunition in California
The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.wildlife.ca.gov
Somehow the " AIR POWERED " Rifles & Pistols were overlooked by the FEDERAL GOVT ? EPA ? ....?
View attachment 315369
Nonlead Ammunition in California
The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.wildlife.ca.gov
But, it's just a matter of time before the " LEAD PELLETS & SLUGS PROJECTILES " , will also be BANNED...
Barrel twist rates necessary for stability are governed by a lot of things, including, slug length, slug shape, internal mass distribution, moments of inertia and muzzle velocity. The closer the muzzle velocity is to Mach 1 (1116.5 ft/sec) the higher the twist rate needed for stability. Many of the graphs in the original post are based on the slug length.I was under the impression that barrel twist weights were not specific to the weight of the ammo, but to the length, as different lengths needed different twist rates to stabilize.
Did I misunderstand something here?
I'm still hoping somebody in the near future, will offer " .25 cal LEAD-FREE SLUGS ", in various weights ( 25 - 30 grains ) to " TEST FIRE "...The minimum gyroscopic stability occurs immediately after the slug leaves the barrel. As the slug travels down range, the gyroscopic stability increases. This is because the rate of spin loss is much less than the rate of forward velocity loss. Thus, the ratio of spin rate to velocity increases, which is what mainly increases the gyroscopic stability. There may also be some changes in the aerodynamics, giving further increases in stability. The barrel twist rate is normally dictated by the stability requirements at the muzzle.
The relative increase in spin with range may also give a decrease in dynamic stability, leading to an increase in maximum yaw, which will cause group sizes to increase more than normally expected with range. This effect will be dependent on the projectile design. It is all about getting the correct balance between the gyroscopic and dynamic stability factors for the best behaviour at all ranges.
You must be an ME.Barrel twist rates necessary for stability are governed by a lot of things, including, slug length, slug shape, internal mass distribution, moments of inertia and muzzle velocity. The closer the muzzle velocity is to Mach 1 (1116.5 ft/sec) the higher the twist rate needed for stability. Many of the graphs in the original post are based on the slug length.
However, many shooters choose their slugs on slug mass, not slug length, that is why I have included some graphs based on slug mass. When changing the slug material, it is the mass, not the length, that we are mainly changing. This is why I have said if you want to maintain slug mass you will need a much longer slug, which will further increase the barrel twist rate needed.
As I am always seeking some sort of administrative remedy (or perhaps court remedy) to create more options for hunters in CA, recently I authored a new CA petition (Request) for Partial Reconsideration which I submitted to the Fish and Gand Commission's FGC email on Feb. 15, 2023 pursuant to California Government Code 11340.7(c) and the statute to which it refers (11340.6).
Functionally this was submitted as an appeal of the Commission's February denial of my big bore airgun petition to allow hunting of wild pig in CA (2021-007). The Commission has not yet responded to my appeal (technically called a Request for Reconsideration under CA law), despite that the Commission is legally required by law to respond to my new Petition (Request for Reconsideration), which as mentioned is functionally an appeal of the Commission's earlier decision.
As I have already told the Commission, please note that the Petition (Request) for Partial Reconsideration is complete. As noted in the Petition (Request for Partial Reconsideration), where I cited and quoted the California Government Code,
"(c) Any interested person may request a reconsideration of any part or all of a decision of any agency on any petition submitted. The request shall be submitted in accordance with Section 11340.6 and include the reason or reasons why an agency should reconsider its previous decision no later than 60 days after the date of the decision involved. The agency’s reconsideration of any matter relating to a petition shall be subject to subdivision (a)."
The California Fish and Game Commission was required to abide by the California Government Code and process my request for reconsideration but so far hasn't done so.
On February 15, 2023 I submitted the Petition for Partial Reconsideration (a request for reconsideration) to the Fish and Game Commission as is allowed to me under California Government Code 11340.7.
California Government Code has certain requirements. In part, California Government Code Sec. 11340.7 Subsection (a) states the following:
"Upon receipt of a petition requesting the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 11346), a state agency shall notify the petitioner in writing of the receipt and shall within 30 days deny the petition indicating why the agency has reached its decision on the merits of the petition in writing or schedule the matter for public hearing in accordance with the notice and hearing requirements of that article."
This section requires that the Commission notify me in writing of the Commission's receipt of my Petition for Partial Reconsideration (my request for reconsideration) which I sent in on Feb. 15, 2023. As one can see from reading California Government Code 11340.7 Subsection (c),"Any interested person may request a reconsideration of any part or all of a decision of any agency on any petition submitted. The request shall be submitted in accordance with Section 11340.6 and include the reason or reasons why an agency should reconsider its previous decision no later than 60 days after the date of the decision involved. The agency's reconsideration of any matter relating to a petition shall be subject to subdivision (a)."
For this reason, subsection (a) does require the Commission to notify me in writing of its receipt of my request for reconsideration, in the words of the law, "upon receipt." The Commission should therefore have already have notified me in writing of its receipt of my request for reconsideration on Thursday Feb. 16, 2023, the business day following the evening when I emailed in my request to the FGC. Since the Commission has not yet notified me in writing of its receipt of my request for reconsideration, I must assume that staff did not generate and send a letter as required by California Government Code.
I believe an appropriate remedy is for staff to generate this letter of receipt now, to send it to me and to follow the requirements remaining for the Commission under CA Gov. Code 11340.7 (and I have informed the Commission of this).
For all of what the FGC must do, see https://casetext.com/statute/califo...tion-on-petition-upon-receipt-by-state-agency
What this means:
- Within 30 days from Feb. 15, 2023 the FGC is required by law to either deny my request for reconsideration (a petition for partial reconsideration of an FGC decision), or set the matter for hearing.
- The Commission should have already notified me in writing of its receipt of my request, but it can do so now and that part of the requirement will be satisfied so far as I am concerned.
- The Commission must follow the law and process my request for reconsideration. The fact that the Commission already reached a decision at its February meeting does not excuse the Commission from having to either deny my request for reconsideration (a petition for partial reconsideration of an FGC decision), or set the matter for hearing.
- The request for reconsideration is not a matter to be decided by the DFW (Department). By law, it is a Commission decision.
- Finally, the Request for Reconsideration (functionally an administrative appeal process back to the Commission) does not preclude me from later taking up the matter in court if I desire, as the law expressly states that pursuit of reconsideration does not keep the petitioner from following up in court on the matter.
Why are you putting antimony in here? Antimony is a toxic metal. Why exchange one toxic material for another?I've seriously considered " Casting " my own " ALLOY BISMUTH - Bullets & SLUGS ..
Lead-Free Bullet Casting Alloy Bismuth based
This ratio of~ 87.25% Bismuth, 0.75% Antimony and 12% Tin is the best ratio we have come up with as a substitute for lead. This alloy melts at about 395 F and is best cast or poured at about 500F. Testing the hardness with a Lee Hardness Testing Kit, we came up with an average of 19.3 on the Brinnell Hardness Scale, although there was a range during the testing.
The bismuth gives you the weight (as close to lead as possible) and the tin helps holds it together and makes it less brittle. This is an alloy we have been asked to make a few times so we decided to make a larger batch and have it easily available to everyone. As we are still testing this alloy, we are offering it at a lower cost and asking customers for feedback and their thoughts on how it works. Yes, we know it costs way more then a lead version, but hopefully with more volume, we can offer better prices in the future. One item of feedback we got from our customer follows: