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Remington is introducing a new shotshell for migratory bird hunting that fires steel shot at 1,700 feet per second. This is an unprecedented speed for shot.

Federal law prohibits the use of lead shot for hunting migratory birds. Shotgun and ammunition manufacturers have been trying for decades to come up with an acceptable solution using steel or alloy shot.

Regular shot has a muzzle velocity around 1,100 FPS. The increase in speed means that the lead needs to be reduced. (My brain hurts just thinking about that).

Here are some articles:
http://allaboutshooting.com/article_inf ... les_id=342" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.texashuntfish.com/app/forum/ ... g-Gun-Talk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

Seamus????

"Federal law prohibits the use of lead shot for hunting migratory birds"


Are you sure you don't mean waterfowl?

Doves are also migratory birds, and I have yet to put steel shot down the tube of any of my bird guns.


surv

I dunno. What's the USC citation?

- Jim

OK!! I'm in for a case in 3" 000 buck.

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/Curre ... ntoxic.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's not all migratory game birds, just waterfowl and coots (which are waterfowl, not sure why they distinguish). The aim is to prevent lead pellets from settling in bodies of water to prevent waterfowl (especially those that "shovel" on the bottom) from ingesting the shot and developing lead poisoning. The regulations were a result of some long-term studies linking the ingestion of lead shot to the decline of several species of waterfowl.

Lead is fine for other migratory species such as dove.

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.

As for the new shells, I'm not overly-enthusiastic about them. I know from experience that steel, no mater how hard you throw it, is less dense and has significant range and penetration problems. While the higher speed will get you a little more range, it still slows down quickly and has less "punch" to it because it has less mass per surface area for penetration. Unfortunately, the alternatives to steel are incredibly expensive, and I don't have that kind of money to throw at ducks.

Looking at the design, my guess is that this is going to be one expensive round. I don't see it hitting a price point that would make it a viable alternative to bismuth or tungsten, which perform better than lead because of their densities.

Thanks for the update.

Apparently, federal law defines the species that must be hunted with non-toxic shot as the family Anatidae and coots. Coots are in the family Rallidae.

I lost my taste for game, so I guess I won't be worrying about the cost of non-toxic ammo.

- Jim