Lead Ban- UK Reach 2nd Consultation

[JTO]

Some years back, Begbie's wildfowling website assessed the number of people actively shooting below high water mark in the country at, I think, about 800. Out of a membership of about 112,000 at the time, I don't suppose they were worth bothering about if lead was banned, well it's a bit different now!

 

[Trickyd66]

Anyone put a lead free (10 grain .22) through a sub 12 air rifle and cronoed it ??? lots of illegally held springers. Hence the exemption on Air?

 

[Liveonce]

I thought I'd also PM this to the BASC contributor but post it here as well.

So it is hoped that those with such guns will follow this up as an "economic consequence". I have looked yesterday on the Eley website an find that there are no steel cartridges for 12 bore guns in 2 1/2" that are the shot size allowed on clay grounds which is mostly maximum English #6 or of the maximum payload which is 28 gram. Yes there's 30 gram English #4 steel but no clay ground will allow such that I know of. Ditto for 12 bore and .410" gauge.

Hull Cartridge sell their Comp-X steel in 65mm but this has 21 gram of steel English #7 and clay grounds I have spoken to that have tested it describe it as "useless". And again there are no Hull steel clay 16 bore cartridges in 70mm with suitable smaller shot size for clay ground use. Nor do there appear to be any at 2 1/2" chamber 16 bore steel cartridges in any shot size.

So irrespective of clay shooting being outwith BASC's remit there does need, please, to be a study of just what 2 1/2" steel clay loads are available and what 2 1/2" steel 16 bore cartridges of any type be that clay or live quarry. And of course other SD members reading this may also need to check if suitable steel in both shot size and payload weight exists for their 2 1/2" chambered guns be they 12, 16, 20, 28 or .410". As they may not!

Are their none in 67mm cases ?

However a few years back when lead clay cartridges were spiralling in price some cheap 12bore steel shot cartridges were introduced and then disappeared, i guess with so far no legal ban on lead for clay shooting the manufactures have decided to wait and see. Especially at this time with all components in short supply why use them on a product that may not sell. But hopefully we will keep lead shot for clay target shooting.

As for 16 bore it’s never really got accepted in the UK few lead shot choices so not surprised no steel shot cartridges.

28 and .410 will struggle to be viable with steel shot for anything but close range.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Some years back, Begbie's wildfowling website assessed the number of people actively shooting below high water mark in the country at, I think, about 800. Out of a membership of about 112,000 at the time, I don't suppose they were worth bothering about if lead was banned, well it's a bit different now!

I was a member of the wildfowling forum and I do not recall that. Here is an article from back in the day - estimated 10,000 foreshore wildfowlers.

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/shooters-tales-from-down-on-the-riverbank-1986412

As regards the wildfowl and or wetlands restrictions on use of lead shot, these were introduced in the UK from 1999 after the government signed a treaty committing to such restrictions, as already explained earlier in this thread. At that time BASC Council was made up mostly of wildfowlers so I think BASC was rather bothered about the impact of those restrictions on the wildfowling community. There were challenges for sure as a result of the cliff edge of legislation - however we adapted and wildfowling on the foreshore continues with lead alternatives today.

 

[JTO]

I was a member of the wildfowling forum and I do not recall that. Here is an article from back in the day - estimated 10,000 foreshore wildfowlers.

There might have been 10,000 members of wildfowling clubs with foreshore shooting, but how many were actively taking part regularly? Some people will be members of several clubs, and are thus counted as individuals. We had about 70 members in 1970, it's down to less than 50 now, and that's after extending the catchment area for joining . Lots of people joined just for the insurance.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

There might have been 10,000 members of wildfowling clubs with foreshore shooting, but how many were actively taking part regularly? Some people will be members of several clubs, and are thus counted as individuals. We had about 70 members in 1970, it's down to less than 50 now, and that's after extending the catchment area for joining . Lots of people joined just for the insurance.

Thanks. Whether a wildfowling club or a gym not everyone will be active at the same time. Not sure what point you are trying to make TBH - 10,000 wildfowlers or some figure below or above that is still a relatively small proportion of the number of lead ammunition users potentially impacted by the lead restriction proposals.

 

[tim@tcs]

Thanks. Whether a wildfowling club or a gym not everyone will be active at the same time. Not sure what point you are trying to make TBH - 10,000 wildfowlers or some figure below or above that is still a relatively small proportion of the number of lead ammunition users potentially impacted by the lead restriction proposals.

The fact that it affects the members whether or not they are active in that discipline at the time is immaterial. The mere fact that it impacts upon members is enough of a reason to stand up for them unless they aren’t important enough to matter!

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

The fact that it affects the members whether or not they are active in that discipline at the time is immaterial. The mere fact that it impacts upon members is enough of a reason to stand up for them unless they aren’t important enough to matter!

Exactly.