​Non-Lead Ammunition

     Non-lead ammunition, what is it and why should I use it? While non lead ammunition isnt a new concept there seems to be some uncertainty surrounding the topic, and variable information regarding the benefits and downfalls to be found. More and more states seem to be putting in research and really looking into the effect lead ammunition has on wildlife as well as putting limits on hunting with certain ammunition into effect. The state of maine in particular has been putting effort into researching the effects of lead ammunition on wildlife, more specifically avian scavengers and recently has been putting more information out there for residents to be aware of on the topic: So, let's take a look at the effects of lead ammunition and other alternatives to consider!

The effect of lead ammunition on wildlife is still being researched and is definitely nowhere near being completed, but, there's more information available now as to what exactly is so harmful about lead ammunition and why some alternatives are better for not only wildlife but hunters as well. So, why is lead ammunition harmful? For starters lead ammunition is more prone to fragmentation which can be found in your harvest, and at times those fragments are too small to see or feel and pick out and i'd like to think most people know ingesting lead isn't really good for you (Ya know they stopped using lead paint for a reason…) as lead is a known neurotoxin. Now, if lead is harmful to humans what about otherwild life? Well, most notably we are seeing studies of the effects lead ammunition has on avian scavengers- it only takes a rice sized grain of lead to be toxic and often lethal to avians (Bald eagles are a prime example.) Maine happens to be a state who is doing a lot of research on this topic at the moment but it seems to be a common theme across the country. While birds are the topic of the non-lethal ammunition switch at the moment more research is also being done on to see the effects on other wildlife, coyotes are also a point of interest.

In 1991 it became illegal nationwide to hunt waterfowl with lead ammunition, which is considered the start of the alternative ammunition search. That search led us to many options, Tungsten super shot (TSS) and copper being the two most popular you see today. Of course you won't see TSS in anything beside shotgun ammunition, and it definitely has a much higher price point compared to lead, steel, or any other option out there- but for good reason. Tungsten is an expensive material that happens to make a great high density and very effective round, most popular for turkey hunting. A box of five TSS rounds is normally around $50, which can be seen as a bit much for some hunters but you can read more about our take on tungsten ammunition HERE. The other alternative to lead that we see most often for rifle ammunition is copper! Copper ammunition was met with a lot of uncertainty when it was first introduced, a lot of hunters were worried about the effectiveness of the round and if it would affect their ability to harvest or even how it works with their firearm: Now with more research, we know its the complete opposite and copper rounds often perform better than traditional lead! Copper ammunition only loses up to 5% of its mass when it makes contact with a target, but honestly you will normally only see a 1-2% loss vs lead that can lose up to 40% upon impact! The retention of mass of copper ammunition also gives you another point to consider, you won't have to use as high of a grain count with copper as you would lead ammunition and will still end up with a better terminal performance. Copper is also less prone to fragmentation because it's harder than lead, if you go with a tipped copper round it expands more rapidly and penetrates deeper then lead which will give you better results for a lethal shot. Copper is also very close price wise to lead ammunition, generally you can expect to be within $5-10 a box of lead ammunition when looking at copper. Copper also generally offers a better Ballistic coefficient for better down range trajectory and energy disbursement. One downfall for some people with copper ammunition is, copper can foul a barrel very quickly so you really want to be on top of your cleaning regiment and make sure you take care of your firearm to make it last and maintain accuracy, but see our blog post about cleaning and maintaining firearms HERE for more information.

Hunting with non-lead rounds is not mandatory for anything except waterfowl (as stated above) in the state of Maine but you can check HERE to see what states have regulations in place that limit ammunition that can be used. While it is not mandatory it could be a good switch to make, one that will make for a more efficient hunt from the sounds of it. As always, with any change in ammunition it's recommended to sight in your firearm using that specific ammunition and really get a feel for it before using it on a hunt. If you are thinking of making the switch it is important to note that not all calibers have non-lead options as of right now, I think that moving forward we will have more manufacturers looking in the direction of having non-lead alternatives for rounds produced but for now select rounds are being produced most commonly in copper. It seems that there's more movement and push for the switch to non-lead ammunition constantly one of the driving forces behind that being the North American Non-lead Partnership which is a group of hunters education instructors and biologists researching, testing, and advocating for the stitch to happen- You can find more information on them HERE. With all that information being said, what do you think? Would you make the switch?