Comments on: Lead Fragments In Venison

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:50:08 +0000

I know… I grew up eating shot-peppered squirrel like many of us, but that doesn’t mean it was safe. People smoked for decades before research revealed just how dangerous it is!

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:47:36 +0000

I found this on a Google search, looking for issues related to round fragmentation/lead ammo alternatives. I’d be a little concerned about those who have absolutely no concern for the lead content of your and your family’s food. What brought me here, is that I’ll be hunting with 223/5.56 and was concerned I’d have a bunch of lead fragments in my dinner. At this point, I think I won’t shoot unless I can pull off a head or neck shot, unless they make a non-lead round that won’t typically fragment.
Thanks for the info!

By: David Gorn

David Gorn — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:59:22 +0000

What about the idea of not using lead bullets?
I mean, what the hell do we really know, toxic, not toxic. No one knows. But as I understand it, lead poisoning isn’t the problem, cuz you have to be super-exposed to lead to be poisoned by it. But small amounts of it can retard kids’ brain development. And if that MIGHT be true, and I MIGHT be hurting my kid, then why shouldn’t I just switch over to copper?
I don’t think I get this whole debate, is it just that lead’s cheaper?

By: alloy analyzer

alloy analyzer — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:40:20 +0000

Hi,
Nice post.I have a hard time worrying about lead in the meat that I am eating.I am so much worrying about this in my kids also.

By: anthony canales

anthony canales — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:54:12 +0000

Dear Jim,
As an NRA volunteer working on the Lead bullet/condor issue in California, I have a couple of comments on the article above-
1)Dr. Martin Fackler of the Army Wounds Ballistics Center published a number of reports on terminal performance of bullets.
Review of his studies, mindful of the test conditions that either gelatin or restrained pig leg shot 1-3 meters from the muzzle produced fragmentation effects. Greatest fragmentation was small caliber ammo (.223 or 5.56 NATO) at 1 meter.
2) Your advice to take “closer shots” may be counter-indicated with smaller calibers (.223, .243, etc) as that is when the bullet has greater energy and is subject to more shearing forces when shot close to the muzzle. This does not mean that one takes the riskier long shot, rather one must be mindful of fragmentation effects when selecting the rifle/caliber to hunt with.
On the other hand, lead is malleable, not frangible. The amount of “fragmentation” of the lead core, as posited by the antihunters, is suspect (Copper jackets are, of course, a different story).
3) Cornatzer’s xrays do not distinguish between bone and copper jacket fragments from the lead. All of these are radio-opaque. Hunt et al (2006) has the same problem, only that the test run by Peregrine Fund-related hunters “chose” a bullet known to fragment more (Nosler Ballistic tips) in 43% of the deer they x-rayed. I doubt that Nosler’s Ballistic Tip has a 43% market share.
4) CDC and Peregerine Fund numbers are not as likely to control for all forms of environmental lead with only a 783 person sample. MN especially so, since their policy of combustion of biosolids for power generation introduces quite a bit of atmospheric lead into the global equation. Likewise the use of land deposition of biosolids for fertilizing crops and fodder, same problem we have here in California. Of course, inhalation of soluble lead particles is a known and efficient means of lead absorption.
5) Lead is susceptible to certain organic acids such as acetic acid (vinegar) in terms of solubility, but primarily for oxides and other forms of soluble lead. Lead oxide and other soluble lead compounds, when exposed to organic acids, are very efficiently broken down into lead that is readily absorbable in humans. The same cannot be said of metallic lead from ammunition, unless an oxide layer has been formed over time. This should not be the case in hunting ammunition used,due to the time frames involved.

By: anthony canales

anthony canales — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:49:31 +0000

By: Jeremy Kaiser

Jeremy Kaiser — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:32:27 +0000

Great post. I have heard of this recently, but honestly, I have a hard time worrying about lead in the meat that I am eating. Heck, I have been biting the lead sinkers on my line since I was 8. If I have lead in me, it’s probably already there. I just heard today that my kids flip-flop might be giving them cancer. Where do we draw the line and stop worrying and just live. I don’t know. Call me crazy, but I would rather live a little and not worry so much. Thanks for the good post.
Kais
http://www.onetoomanyhobbies.com