Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Received a nice email.

I and many other Maine sportsmen received a nicely worded email from the Maine F&WL. In it they are asking/ suggesting that hunters consider switching to lead free bullets and shot.
I'm not against it, I will probably switch once my current ammo supply is gone. But I do not like the idea of suddenly becoming the owner of a white elephant(s).
This email was a hint, mandated lead free ammo and shot is just around the corner. This is something to consider if you are planning to stock up for the future.

Politics, plain and simple

They went lead free in freshwater fishing. Why should we not think they will ram this down our throats

Washington is not far behind.

Resist all you can

Hey, mono metal are not all bad. I think these guys were actually very nice. At least they gave you a heads up. I bet california was not as pleseant with their mandate...
SnT

Where?

Maine. Got to protect the loons. I believe it’s a half ounce or smaller can’t be lead in freshwater. Not sure about salt.

I’ve been shooting mono copper bullets in big game rifles for years, but don’t want such hogwash rammed down our throats either.

Low and behold if I didn't get another email on the same subject. Here it comes, someone from away must have gotten a seat in the legislature.

Watch someone will be looking for lead free bullets AND large rifle primers.

If the goal is to save loons, Maine already prohibits the use of lead fishing weights less than 2.5" long or under 1 ounce, so loons and other water fowl are unlikely to get lead poisoning that way. Lead shot for hunting migratory water fowl has been outlawed for years, but there must be tons of lead fishing weights and shot on the bottom of Maine waters from years and years of lead being legal.

I can't see how going to no-lead hunting bullets is going to help loons, but might save a few scavengers from ingesting lead fragments that they could get from deer that are wounded and not recovered.

I'm not against it, I just don't want a short implementation period. I will no longer be buying any lead ammo. I hope to use up what I have before this happens.

Guess you don’t shoot rimfires. Every hunter and shooter should stand fast against this kind of nonsensical legislation.

Yep, many of us still like to hunt small game and varmints with .22 rimfires and the lead free rimfire ammunition sucks ass in accuracy and down range terminal performance. Some of us also have many years worth of lead .22 ammunition stashed away and would like to be able to use it. Same for lead shotshells. Many still use it for upland birds and small game and the lead free alternatives are either way more expensive or inferior in performance.

It never entered my head to think about rimfires. Most of my hunting is shotshell or centerfire. I do hunt with 22, that is a considerable difference. My stance just changed, thank you.

Give them an inch, they’ll think they’re a ruler!

If they do introduce legislation contact reps, get it shot down. Good job getting the word out. Keep at it to raise awareness.

There’s no good substitute for lead I believe. Also, may not be able to shoot ducks with lead pellets, but you can shoot clay targets with lead till the cows come home. The stuff comes out of the ground, we can put it back in the rifle backstop target practicing. Along with the 2A, Maine’s Constitution Art1, Sect 16 says, “ Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned.” So, such a restriction for general use would be unlawful.

Keep your powder dry, and your projectiles lead.

Won't be short.
Ask.
Start leaning on stores. Prohibit sales?

Once a bunch are on board and WGAF, slam it into the rest.

If they do it here, I will not comply until I truly fear (expect) getting caught.
And the penalty exceeds F' u money.

Don't need to buy a rifle bullet for many years, sure don't plan
on buying expensive, trendy, pretty boy stuff, and working up new loads,
when everything needed is in the basement now.