Projectile Energies

[Hartshot]

In line with the BBS thread our Chas highlighted, I had some thoughts on the energies and merits of projectiles and their relevance to quarry within law.

There is a reason why certain calibres and rounds are considered 'suitable' for different quarry, the energy needed to cleanly kill our intended victim is not just governed by simple math, it's more complicated and subjective than that !

Experience has taught me that (within reason) the larger you go up in calibre the more capable that round is of cleanly killing your quarry with the correct projectile type.

BUT

This does not mean that you can merely point roughly in the direction of the animal and expect it to drop out of respect for the math involved, it just doesn't work like that !

Why are UK air rifles restricted to 12 ft/lb before you need a license to own one ? Is this a restriction which causes potential suffering due to them being under powered and therefore, reduces the types of pellet that can be used more effectively and humanely in it, at reasonable ranges ?

Why, is there a .270 minimum calibre guidline regarding Wild Boar when they are still regarded within law as vermin and can technically, be legally shot with a .22LR.

Why, when I first got my .308 was I not allowed to shoot foxes with it, having held a .243 C/F rifle for 12 years up to that point ?

Why, do we have to use lead alternatives on wildfowl when clearly it causes more wounding and suffering than the effects of lead on our foreshore and wetlands ever could ?

We do need legislation but ..........at what cost to our quarry. Should this legislation dictate that calibres and terminal performance are always bordering on the side of being 'under gunned' and therefore possibly, unethical

Does this legislation detract from us cleanly killing our quarry every time, is it counterproductive ???

Are these rules created to restrict human activity which in turn rides slipshod over and above OUR primary concern which is - a clean kill ???

Are the Anti's (in their infinite wisdom ) and the authorities actually Anti animal welfare themselves, sometimes by putting 'people issue's' and prejudice above what they claim to be there protecting ?

You decide !

H

[sunndog]

surprisingly easy to answer mateypeeps

they are all arbitrary figures and rules that were at some point plucked out of thin air by some chin'less no-mark

[Hartshot]

surprisingly easy to answer mateypeeps

they are all arbitrary figures and rules that were at some point plucked out of thin air by some chin'less no-mark

Hurrumph Hurrumph Hurrumph.... I didn't get a Hurrumph outa that guy....Hurrumph....better...Hurrumph

H

[some bloke]

I believe there's two stories put around about the 12ftlb air limit.

1, Decided by UK airgun industry as a protectionist device to limit the import of better/more powerful rifles than were being made here at the time the legislation occurred.

2, Some cruds were shooting air rifle pellets at cars from an overhead bridge and hit an influential persons car. Kneejerk reaction prompted the above - or events similar to it.

there may be a third reason doing the rounds but age related memory issues prevent me form discussing them.

[sedstar]

i think the whole "oh my god, LEAD in the environment! Eek!" is completely ridiculous.

down south in my country? DO you know what they HAVE? SOme areas have... "lead bearing soil".

To get any quantity of LEAD you WANT? You simply make a big bonfire... you dump shovels of DIRT on it periodically... in the morning, you sidt thru the ashes i the shallow pit you built the fire in... and i the bottom center of the ash pit?

a big, dirty blob of pure LEAD. You just melt it, and skim off the dross... pure lead!

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NOW then... if "lead" were so DANGEROUS to the ENVIRONMENT????

why are there trees and grass there? Fish everywhere. Birds and amphibians too many to count down south.

its a bunch of CRAP.

==================================================

lead itself is practically harmless, if you dont grind it up into a powder and spread it on your sandwiches. Its the lead OXIDE(s) that are dangerous. And some of the fumes smelting are really bad especially if you OVER HEAT it.

but seriously, the dangers of lead are HIGHLY overstated. ALL the old farmers in the winters, would make fishing sinkers and lead bullets by the fireplace indoors. (gasp) THEY all lived to be 99 and still plowing the back forty.

to have any real chance of danger dealing with molten lead? You pretty much have to WORK in a lead molding factory. Even THEN, its only the workers that have smokes or eat without washing their hands like they are told to, that get the high levels on the quarterly test that have to administer.

if you dont cast lead pills for a living, you are about harmless.

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abotu as much sense? as this crap where anything with "carbon" in it, is almost a poison. carbon dioxide? PLANTS NEED IT TO LIVE!!!!!!

We are ALL CARBON BASED LIFE FORMS!!!!!

people are ridiculous....

[PESCA]

"down south in my country? DO you know what they HAVE? SOme areas have... "lead bearing soil".

To get any quantity of LEAD you WANT? You simply make a big bonfire... you dump shovels of DIRT on it periodically... in the morning, you sidt thru the ashes i the shallow pit you built the fire in... and i the bottom center of the ash pit?

a big, dirty blob of pure LEAD. You just melt it, and skim off the dross... pure lead!"

If you had that over here, there would be fires constantly burning so that the 'no-marks' had something to take to the scrap yard Suppose that would save them from putting your belongings, that they've just stolen from your property, into their magnetic Transits. Feckin' pikeys

George

[Hartshot]

Can't remember all the exact details of this but not so long ago, maybe a couple of years, there was a study conducted at a few clay shooting grounds around the UK. It looked into lead levels in the surrounding soils of these area's.

It covered several but concentrated on one in particular, following some initially high readings.

This ground has millions of rounds shot over it annually, it also has livestock reared for human consumption in the surrounding fields. The study concluded that lead levels in the surrounding fields were above those recommended and this was attributable to and exclusively due to - clay shooting activity.

The farming family, who have been there for a couple of generations graciously allowed the study to take more detailed soil samples etc.. When the boffins produced the results of these findings to the farmer they proclaimed that - clay shooting had contaminated the surrounding soil to such a degree that it posed a risk to his business enterprise and livestock.

This is where it get's interesting.

The livestock were tested by the relevant authorities and at the slaughter house, they were found to be safe, well within safety guidline limits.

The farmer continues to work as he always has, selling his livestock in the same places. The study maintained that clay shooting was to blame for the soil lead levels.

What the farmer had initially forgotten about and neglected to tell the study members, was that the farm and surrounding fields were built around the site of a disused LEAD MINE

H