doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lead out, nontox in - will the patient live

Well Ted, it was a sroke of good luck for me then that I've renewed my interest in those lead shootin' rifles. In the heat of September I was testing my Kimber 22lr and and squirrel hunted in the cooler woods. Then came my '92s, and before I knew it I was deer hunting. I'll chase a few crows and call it a good year.
There were more than plenty enough to do, and I don't mind if the shotguns had a restful year. They look nice in the cabinet.
I've shot Kent's TM in my Beesley and still have a pocket full left...maybe a fat Christmas goose is still in the plans too.

Ted,
As a former resident of MN, I still do most of my hunting there because I still own a piece of property north of Itasca Park. Mostly for deer and ruffed grouse, (occasional woodcock, although I have not seen one in 2-3 years).
I have followed this topic with great interest. Appreciate the insights you have shared. As I really don't know too much about this, I have a question for you. In your opinion will the 20 gauge double suffer the same fate as the 28 when steel is required?

Thanks,
Gary

They still make double barrels and they make them for steel!!! A Ruger for $1,500.00 have it restocked in some beautiful English walnut and you have your go to gun for the future and all less then what a Parker Trojan in 30% condition will cost you!!!!
All the best

The people I know who are serious about the 20 (2 or 3 people) have laid in a big stock of bismuth. I've never shot the stuff. It is better than steel, but, it isn't lead.

The Ruger DOUBLES I've seen lately weren't selling for $1500, more like $3200. The Gold Label has become a bit of a mystery, maybe Red Labels are at $1500....and I'll be damned if I throw money for a restock at a Red Label.

I have a 20 or two about the place, but, they are just (pump) shooters, and if I couldn't hunt with them next season, I'd not shead too many tears. If we are told non toxic only, a 20 would be about useless for shooting anything save woodcock, in my opinion. And I haven't shot the very few woodcock I've seen for about five seasons.

Attempting to ease my guilt, I guess. There are plenty of grouse, however.

I would hunt grouse with a 16 loaded with steel, or a 12, with steel. Pheasants, the kind that are raised around farmland, not on a farm for pheasants, would be 12 gauge only for me when loading steel.

We have plenty of folks that insist a 28 loaded with lead is just fine for pheasants. They don't hunt with me. But, they insist it, all the same.

Drew, some heavy hitters in the outdoor scene are pitching lead free shooting at Arizona, the usual suspects including Sierra club. Time will tell, but, the opposition is well funded and persistant.

If not this year, when? And, when will voluntary become manditory?

Steel for waterfowl came up suddenly, as I remember it. They didn't care if our guns could take it, didn't care what it cost us, didn't care if we continued hunting ducks, which, I didn't, after the first year. Maybe this time, it will be different, but, it hasn't worked that way in past experience.

Best,
Ted

Actually it was just wishfull thinking....we need to get the NRA behind us on this lead issue.
They took our rights away when they started banning lead shot and the 8 gauge.

We can either fight to get our rights 'back' or give in ?

The lead ban was pushed through, because duck numbers and duck hunters were at an all-time low.
Remember the wetlands were drying-up!
Waterfowling was a dying sport - just a few ol'boys caught in a time warp.
Not anymore!
Today, duck hunters and deer hunters are the bread and butter of hunting's future.
...and btw Ted, the US Fish and Wildlife Service ranks Missouri #5 in resident hunters, and not because of the birds you mention - it must be those ducks, deer and turkeys eh!

Bad news. I looked into my giant crytal ball, and RGL ain't coming back, plus RRL isn't going to be made much longer either.
Don't worry there will be plenty of Linguini Guns and Turklus.

What is RGL and RRL ?

Ruger Gold Label & Ruger Red Label

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...2285631f#UNREAD thread on this BB might give a low pressure load that is easier than transfusing pellets.