Lead poisoning

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Ucsdryder

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Curious what other people think of this and how others view hammer bullets participation in this video.
 
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I did not watch the video but I agree with the comments entirely. We have seen such drastic changes within the products available. Other than a few remaining they all seen to be going towards bullets that blow up.

Forcing us into lead free ? Preparing the case to outlaw hunting? Working at playing into the hands of "wild meat is bad for you" ? I can't figure it out. I just wish they would continue to make what has worked for a century rather than the path they are on.

And No!! I am not going to shoot copper. Especially now.
 

jolemons

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The data at this point is fairly conclusive that lead is contributing to raptor morbidity and mortality. Viscera from hunter killed game is a vital part of raptor diet in the fall and the portion of the carcass that usually contains lead. Anti-hunters are aware of this fact. Let's be proactive as a hunting community and beat them to the chase by adopting new technology to demonstrate our concern for non-game species.

I don't understand the mentality of wanting to "die on the hill." Hunters are the minority and change is coming, whether or not we are reactive or proactive is to to us.

Feel free to keyboard bash me.

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slatebuilder

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In full disclosure we shoot hammers in 4 rifles at our house. I tried them because as a machinist I love the concept of how they are made and machined products are awesome. We also shoot a ton of Hornaday Interlocks in almost every other rifle.

The world has seen some of the greatest conservation successes that it will ever know in the form of raptor and predator recovery. All of which has happened while the world is shooting lead ammunition.

Copper is not exactly pleasant stuff either. It is used as a fungicide in agriculture. It has the potential to be very nasty stuff as well. It is even acceptable for use in organic applications since it is “natural”. Even organic is not what people think it is.

Here’s a solid fact too. Today it’s lead these “environmental conservationists” are after. Once lead is banned they will be after copper, tungsten, or the next thing. Environmentalists are never happy and will continue to be mad at everything and everyone as they continue to work at banning hunting one step at a time until it’s gone.

Sometimes I wonder if we (people, especially the “smart people”) are really as smart as we think?
 
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Will_m

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The data at this point is fairly conclusive that lead is contributing to raptor morbidity and mortality. Viscera from hunter killed game is a vital part of raptor diet in the fall and the portion of the carcass that usually contains lead. Anti-hunters are aware of this fact. Let's be proactive as a hunting community and beat them to the chase by adopting new technology to demonstrate our concern for non-game species.

I don't understand the mentality of wanting to "die on the hill." Hunters are the minority and change is coming, whether or not we are reactive or proactive is to to us.

Feel free to keyboard bash me.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk
I swear I thought I read that lead was not an appreciable factor in raptor deaths. Electric lines and solar farms were the problem.
 
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Well done video and the absolute truth. Lead poisoning is a significant issue in eagles and other raptors. Guys need to educate themselves on the effects of lead.

I admire Hammer’s willingness to participate in the video. May have to go buy some of their bullets.
 

Jon Boy

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Does anyone have some of these studies that show raptor mortality via hunter killed game containing lead? I just can't wrap my head around that hunter killed deer, with lead, have much of an effect on that. The bird would have to find the hunter killed carcass, eat the entrance and exit wound, and hope the hunter was using a splashy bullet that left lead remnants in the wound channel. Thats always sounded a bit far fetched to me to have a significant affect on raptors.

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Ucsdryder

Ucsdryder

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Does anyone have some of these studies that show raptor mortality via hunter killed game containing lead? I just can't wrap my head around that hunter killed deer, with lead, have much of an effect on that. The bird would have to find the hunter killed carcass, eat the entrance and exit wound, and hope the hunter was using a splashy bullet that left lead remnants in the wound channel. Thats always sounded a bit far fetched to me to have a significant affect on raptors.

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Before the coyotes get to it. What about magpies? In my experience the magpies are on a carcass first. What about buzzards? I imagine there are plenty of examples of raptors eating carcasses but in my experience it’s bears, coyotes, magpies and buzzards.
 
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Here is a documentary that we participated in about the effects of lead on birds of prey. We are most definitely not for legislation against lead bullets for hunting. We would much rather have people find us and use us because we make a better product than what they have used before. With that said, I have talked to enough people that are highly educated and deal with lead toxicity in birds to understand that it is a real thing that comes form them eating lead contaminated meat and gut piles. The problem is that the birds have the ability to break down lead to the point that they can absorb it, and it is a cumulative effect. There is definitely an uptick in the problem during big game hunting season when the birds of prey are transitioning from hunting live prey to scavenging dead animals going into the winter.

Again, terminal performance was the reason that we got into lead free pure copper bullet production. Nothing else. We also look at ourselves as stewards of the land and the animals that inhabit it. If something as simple as using pure copper bullets for hunting big and small game will make a difference in populations of scavenger birds and birds of prey, that is a good thing. I liken it to when we stopped using DDT on crops and it made a huge difference in the birds of prey and their nesting success. Anyway here is the documentary. I was very apprehensive about doing it because we did not want to be painted as the "mean hunters". I think it turned out well.

This fairly well sums up our thoughts on participating in the documentary. We did it with the agreement of first right of refusal if there was any hint of anti hunting or anti gun in it. There is nothing in the documentary talking about banning anything.
 

UTJL

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Legit question, for the guys who aren’t concerned about lead poisoning of eagles how do you feel about the ban on lead shot for waterfowl or your own risk of lead exposure at gun ranges?

I’m not trying to start any fights. I just see that as hunters we often will fight tooth and nail for the preservation of species we pursue, but don’t show the same tenacity for non-game species.

Personally I shoot copper bullets for big game, but shot lead bullets in the past with great results. I understand copper bullets have terminal performance limitations, which are most prominent at longer ranges. There’s no comparison between copper and the violent destruction a lead jacketed bullet like a ballistic tip can cause.
 

87TT

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The local zoo where I used to live was a bird rehab. They had an eagle with one leg that was burned off by a powerline.
 

crrakcrrak

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its all about general hygiene, wash your hands and cover your nose and don't get in contact, It's pretty simple.
 
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