Just curious here. When shooting pest birds and knowing that cats will probably munch them, does anybody use non-lead ammo? I've got a chance to go help clean out a couple barns and i'd like to be a good guest as the owner has cats. I'm thinkin' no-lead might be the way to go.
Lead/No-lead question..........??
- Thread starter gadballs9
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I've done some shooting with lead-free pellets. I've found the H&N Baracuda greens work well along with the Predator GTO series. Some lead free pellets will not shoot well if there's any lead in the bore, so a thorough cleaning and some experimentation is called for. The downside is they are far more costly than lead pellets. If you're using a springer be aware the lighter pellets may cause you to need a rebuild after fewer shots due to their lighter weight.
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gadballs9,
If the pellet passes through the pest bird, as most do, there's not a problem. If the pellet lodges, then I'd bet that a cat, who chews this food thoroughly, as most cats do, will spit out the pellet. I think your only real concern is that the cat might break a tooth on the pellet before he spits it out. In the rare case that a cat would swallow the pellet, my guess is that it would pass into the kitty litter long before much lead was absorbed into his system. And even then, the cat would have to live long enough, and digest enough lead over his lifetime to suffer any ill effects.
Now, good sense tells me to steer clear of cat jokes here. But, I don't always use good sense. And since I'm in such mature company here on AGN, I will end by saying that, in humans, lead poisoning can adversely effect cognitive ability. If the same is true of cats, my question is, how would one know if the cat was suffering the effects of lead poisoning, or simply demonstrating normal cat cognition?
..........It was ONLY A JOKE, Guys and Gals.....a harmless joke.
Have a delightful day.
BeemanR7
If the pellet passes through the pest bird, as most do, there's not a problem. If the pellet lodges, then I'd bet that a cat, who chews this food thoroughly, as most cats do, will spit out the pellet. I think your only real concern is that the cat might break a tooth on the pellet before he spits it out. In the rare case that a cat would swallow the pellet, my guess is that it would pass into the kitty litter long before much lead was absorbed into his system. And even then, the cat would have to live long enough, and digest enough lead over his lifetime to suffer any ill effects.
Now, good sense tells me to steer clear of cat jokes here. But, I don't always use good sense. And since I'm in such mature company here on AGN, I will end by saying that, in humans, lead poisoning can adversely effect cognitive ability. If the same is true of cats, my question is, how would one know if the cat was suffering the effects of lead poisoning, or simply demonstrating normal cat cognition?
..........It was ONLY A JOKE, Guys and Gals.....a harmless joke.
Have a delightful day.
BeemanR7
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Yeah, although CA would disagree, lead solids are not near the potential issue as particulate lead is. Pellet isn't likely to disintegrate in anything I would call a pest bird. I'd like to go a step further on the cat joke... but no...
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I agree with JohnL57, H&N Baracuda Green work very well in my TX200. The tin pellets are harder than lead and pass through is to be expected.
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That's a good question. I've been pesting birds since I was 7, I'm 50 now . Used everything from Daisy Red Ryder, to Crosman 760, n countless others .. My cat of 15yrs ate every bird I shot. She grew into old age, n eventually had to put her to sleep .She was great, I cld pick a bird off in the neighbors yard, she wld jump the fence retrieve it, I'd admire my work, give it back to her n there she wld feast under the hedge .if you want to play it safe for the eco n cats go no lead. Back in the day lead or copper bb's. Have fun n keep shooting.
Jon
Jon
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The pellets I shoot always pass through the bird, so being lead free wouldn't really make a difference. I suppose if you were shooting at a low enough FPE that the pellet stayed lodged in the bird, then lead free would be the way to go. Otherwise, I don't see the benefit.
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Possibly just having that capability to shoot tin pellets might make landowner/barn owners feel better about avoiding lead, if that's the kind of person they are, even though it doesn't seem that lead pellets pose a health hazard in the scenarios we shoot. I am shooting Predator GTO .25 pellets with good results but no hard data. It is kind of expensive.
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