Non Lead for vermin/pest control - questions for the operators

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Those of you who are under contract to control vermin on land with Non-lead policies in place.

If there was a factory solution covering the primary cartridges say .223 and .243 and it was under £40 a box would you use it?

This is not a question about the policy

I would like to know what people are using for this specific task.
Do you reload? Is the use of reloads allowed on your land/contract?


We are hoping to produce a 75gr .243 and potentially a 50/55gr .223 non lead ammunition at a very reasonable rate and I am interested in whether there is a market

 

[Mike1979]

Appreciate that I may not quite tick the box for responding at the moment.

Once "non toxic" is mandated for my .243 (which I will keep as I love the round) I would happily look at an affordable option for fox control. I know I should look to reload at some point but I just dont have the patience

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Not so much patience as that fact many contracts don't allow use of homeloads

 

[Mike1979]

Not so much patience as that fact many contracts don't allow use of homeloads

 

[BLUEROLL]

I use 243 (80gr TTSX and 80gr Yew tree) for deer on some of my contracts and allowed home loads. The contract only specifies non toxic bullets, no mention of factory ammo.
I would welcome a reliable and fragile 243 light load for fox control.

 

[Rutland lad]

I have permissions where they like non lead. No mention of factory ammo thankfully, but I’m home loading 6.5x55, 308 and 300 Winmag so I’m slightly out of your target user.
Tried Fox Classic factory in .308 - £60+ a box !

 

[BLUEROLL]

I use 243 (80gr TTSX and 80gr Yew tree) for deer on some of my contracts and allowed home loads. The contract only specifies non toxic bullets, no mention of factory ammo.
I would welcome a reliable and fragile 243 light load for fox control.

Or even just a light/fragile 6mm bullet for home loads Ed.

 

[Liveonce]

Not so much patience as that fact many contracts don't allow use of homeloads

what’s defines a factory loads rather than home load? both can be tested at the proof house.

Do landowners or contracts even know how to identify the difference between the two?

are they thinking factory ammo offers indemnity if something goes wrong? Risk management? insurance?

I doubt they understand the classification process or CIP Homologation.

As Proof house testing whilst useful is not mandatory in the U.K., however to transport them as commercial explosive articles they must obtain an HSE classification as the competent authority and a packaging classified by the vehicle certification agency. Which as homeloaders we are not required to do.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

what’s defines a factory loads rather than home load? both can be tested at the proof house.

Do landowners or contracts even know how to identify the difference between the two?

are they thinking factory ammo offers indemnity if something goes wrong? Risk management? insurance?

I doubt they understand the classification process or CIP Homologation.

As Proof house testing whilst useful is not mandatory in the U.K., however to transport them as commercial explosive articles they must obtain an HSE classification as the competent authority and a packaging classified by the vehicle certification agency. Which as homeloaders we are not required to do.

but seldom are in the case of homeloads.

regardless, question about use and interest not policy or procedure

 

[Liveonce]

but seldom are in the case of homeloads.

regardless, question about use and interest not policy or procedure

possibly because of the high quality of homeloading data supplies by powder and bullet manufactures makes proof house testing unnecessary.

back to your question, none of the permissions i shoot rifle have requested the use of non toxic ammunition for vermin control. That may change if or when the HSE lead restrictions become law depending on the finial exemptions.

I mainly reload but do buy “factory” occasionally usually to obtain new brass.

 

[Rural Management Services]

Sako 223 Rem 55GR Powerhead Blade Lead-Free Ammo | Livens Gun Shop | Sako 223 Rem 55GR Powerhead Blade Lead-Free Ammo

Sako 223 Rem 55GR Powerhead Blade Lead-Free Ammo, UK Cartridges for Centerfire Rifles available to buy or order in store or online at Livens Gun Shop |Lead Free Ammunition

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The price would need to be less than £40 a box for me to walk past Sako Factory ammo at £44 a box (without bulk discounts applied). Especially as it would be PPU brass most likely used in a proposed replacement?

 

[Home Loader]

I currently use Barnes 62gr varmint grenades in my 243 very effective home loaded a factory option would be good.

 

[kenbro]

What is the lightest non lead x 6mm bullet currently available?
Thanks, Ken.

 

[jthyttin]

Don't know if they go any lower than 55gr (or if anybody wants to go lower) but that's available in 6mm both components and factory (at least Winchester 243 Varmint X Lead Free).

While more choice is always good, there are factory centerfire leadfree varmint in UK for plusminus £30 per box. So cannot deviate too much from that to be competitive, although prices might change when new shipments come in etc.

 

[Heym SR20]

what’s defines a factory loads rather than home load? both can be tested at the proof house.

Do landowners or contracts even know how to identify the difference between the two?

are they thinking factory ammo offers indemnity if something goes wrong? Risk management? insurance?

I doubt they understand the classification process or CIP Homologation.

As Proof house testing whilst useful is not mandatory in the U.K., however to transport them as commercial explosive articles they must obtain an HSE classification as the competent authority and a packaging classified by the vehicle certification agency. Which as homeloaders we are not required to do.

Landowners and contracts definitely can determine and dictate what ammo you are using. Any land that is under the FSC certification has to use non lead ammo for any shooting activities on the land in question. If the land fails the audit they loose the certification for the timber they produce. No FSC certification, no going into products that are FSC certified etc. and that is worth a lot of money for the timber producer.

@Edinburgh Rifles sorry to hijack thread.

What’s the lightest 224 non lead bullet - is there a 30 ish grain copper bullet for slow twist 22 Hornet barrels.

 

[jthyttin]

There is at least 30gr Barnes Varmint Grenade (marketed for Hornet), 30gr Speer TNT Green. Lehigh and I suspect other boutique manufacturers make lightish more stout bullets. In Lehigh case it's 32gr Controlled Chaos (also marketed for Hornet).

TNT Green is .475", Lehigh gives .605" for Chaos and JBM library gives .555" for Grenade. Stuff like Hornady 45gr is .610" so the above bullets should have no problem stabilizing in Hornet.

 

[remmy243]

I have permissions where they like non lead. No mention of factory ammo thankfully, but I’m home loading 6.5x55, 308 and 300 Winmag so I’m slightly out of your target user.
Tried Fox Classic factory in .308 - £60+ a box !

Out of interest what you running in your 6.5x55
Also species and range please
Thanks

 

[Liveonce]

Landowners and contracts definitely can determine and dictate what ammo you are using.

Fully understand that, do they also state factory ammo only?

 

[Heym SR20]

Fully understand that, do they also state factory ammo only?

No

 

[Rutland lad]

Out of interest what you running in your 6.5x55
Also species and range please
Thanks

I love the 6.5x55.
Homeloaded using RS60, Fox Classic Hunter in 123 grain. Tried the Peregrine but couldn’t get it group. Neither would Barnes TSX in 120 grain.
Taken fallow out to 200m with no issues. If I do my job properly !
Mostly shooting sika (occasional), muntjac and fallow with 6.5 x 55