NY is in the process of passing a law banning lead ammo from any state owned land. This is a BIG DEAL when u realize how much land we’re talking about. I would guess a lot of hunters have been stockpiling ammo when they can find it. As of 2023 public land hunters won’t be able to use it. Small game and Turkey hunters can simply use waterfowl loads. But copper rifle loads are few and far between around here. I don’t even know if any manufacture makes a copper shotgun slug. That’s important because NY state parks that allow hunting are mostly shotgun only. To further complicate things New Yorkers have to use an FFL for online ammo purchases. So do any other states have these restrictions or trying to pass them?

California has had both for a while. Deer hunting hasn't been a big issue because there are quite a few really good lead free rifle bullets available. They are more expensive. I reload so so availability hasn't been a problem (assuming you have primers) for exactly what I want.

Small game has been a bigger problem. I prefer .22lr for small game and CCI lead free shoots 9" high in my 10/22. Thankfully groups are decent. CCI is really the only option for .22lr and some guns just don't shoot them well. I have heard that the .17 rimfires are where to look if you have to use lead free.

I can't help with slugs.

Our ammo has to go through an FFL as well. They charge a $1 fee on the purchase. You can order online, but it has to ship to an FFL. most charge a small fee to accept the order. The bigger problem is most websites with decent prices won't ship to CA.

As of now, there are no restrictions on reloading components. I rarely shoot factory ammo.

Something additional that I thought of:

Since this all started, I haven't been hunting small game with a handgun. Barnes is the only lead free I have been able to reliably find. It gets expensive quickly. I do keep some .41 mag Barnes loaded up for deer season. They are very accurate.

State lands in Western NY are simply too crowded with idiot hunters to suit me. Don'y know about other parts of the state.

There are land leases and hunting leases available. Maybe that's a potential alternative.

You can have ammo shipped to your door in NY, there is no need for a FFL.

You can if seller will ship it. But you are doing so illegally. Safe Act 2013.

I agree Jim. I hunted Letchworth State Park for 25 yrs before buying my place. Tons of hunters but man there were a lot of deer. And they passed out doe permits like Halloween candy.

Sewards MOU changed that. It’s perfectly legal and plenty of places still ship ammo to NY.

“The two provisions that will be changed are both related to ammunition. The MOU, which was signed by New York State Director of Operations James Malatras and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, puts an end to the portion of the act that would establish a database and require those who purchase ammunition to undergo a background check. It also ends the moratorium on on-line purchases of ammunition”.

If I am correct the Federal Gov. banned lead shot for taking waterfowl in 1991 or thereabouts.

I think in 2017 there was some Gov. activity trying to work with the States to consider further banning of all lead projectiles of any kind.

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Who are? "They"

If you finally have to switch from lead to steel pellets to go duck hunting.................

Just remember to bite down on the meat a lot slower and gently to save
on BIG dental bills !!

Will be changed or has been changed ? I know the database was a problem because they wanted the State Police to operate it and the State Police said we can’t.

Has, places like Buds and Target Sports would not ship ammo to NY if it was illegal.

NYC is a different story.

Good to know. Thanks

This all just seems so crazy. I like to shoot, but gave up hunting in 1981. If people did not hunt for a few years, and animal populations exploded, States would be begging people to hunt.

How much lead does a deer hunter put into the environment anyway?

we have the lead ban in California,I reload so getting lead free ammunition isn't an issue for deer and pigs. it's still a pain.

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Larry

Heck there’s more lead water pipes out there that
States need to worry about, than a few lead pellets
laying around.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

Measure the lead on street easements. When our all knowing Federal Government passed the lead paint abatement bill requiring houses built before 1978 to be tested for lead before the removal of any finish I had to take a class on it. The teacher told us that years of leaded gasoline made easements and grassy divides in parkways and roads far higher in lead content than any house.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

OP, copper shotgun slugs are readily available from the ammo manufacturers.

My son has killed truck loads of deer with the 20ga Federal 3” load. It is very accurate (2-3” groups at 100yds, which very good for a shotgun) in his Mossberg pump with rifled barrel and cantilevered scope mount. I have a recovered slug from a front on shot, the expansion is perfect.

There were a scant few folks shipping into NY the whole time. It was a big secret for awhile on the couple of NY gun forums, but it was happening.
Then Target Sports pretty much opened the floodgates and others followed.

I just renewed my NYC DEP permit though I haven’t hunted on their lands in at least 6 years and likely never will again.
Used lead slugs all the time.

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Sure you did

Buffalo Barnes is good, but it’s a shame New York is being this way. Any infringement should be fought all the way.

Way more lead ends up in the environment from lead tire weights being thrown from the rims I'll bet, than from hunters.

Now target shooting is a far far larger volume than hunters' projectiles.

The gun club I shoot at had a company come out to remove the build up of spent bullets that might cause ricochets from the backstops. As I recall they removed 70 tons of lead.

The club actually made money instead of having to pay. The company resold the lead and after a threshold was hit split the proceeds with the club. And the rebuilt the backstops too.

It took 35 years to build up that much lead but that is indeed far, far more lead than hunting would generate.

I think those lib states have already banned those and most other states have been phasing them out. Seems all I find lately are Zn.

I want to see the study that proves the lead from bullets is a issue with the environment other than another one of those feel good laws.

Rosewood

There are very many outfits that will ship to NY state..

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Bit concerning for sure. Especially when the law extends to banning lead shot for Upland game. Being forced to use steel shot loads in older Full Choke shotgun barrels will render some guns useless as far as causing a barrel bulge from the use of steel shot. Guess one could use Bismuth but the cost is really up there!

Lead at gun clubs goes into an embankment, and is easily reclaimed.
When I was president at the Hartford Gun Club in CT, we had 12 trap fields and 8 skeet fields. Every so many years, we had a company come in, remove the top 6" of dirt where the shot fell, and run it through a centrifuge, reclaim the lead and then spread the dirt back onto the field. Our share of the take was about 40K, and that was when shot was 8.00/bag, and new shells could be had for 3.50 a box. I am sure it is an ongoing process, and nets considerable more money now

Steel shot does not compress like lead and will stretch your fixed choke guns for sure.

You will never see the study. This is what closed the Remington Gun Club in Lordship, CT. The shot was falling into the ocean at a depth of 60 feet, and the state was worried about ducks ingesting lead. To my knowledge, ducks do not dive 60 feet to forage on the bottom of the ocean. Gun clubs in CT, tried to get info from the state, and got nothing. A moot point anyway, Remington wanted out of CT, and did not squawk at all. They just closed up shop. Closed the club, ammo plant and shot tower, and moved down south. That is why since 1987, I have bought no Remington products. The gun clubs of CT, collectively put money in a legal fund for Remington to fight this. It was a considerable amount. Never even a thank you

I remember that, I shot at that club in the 70s!. I was shooting 4 gauge NSSA back then. That was a very nice club!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Death by 1000 cuts. If you can't go in the front door, go in the back.

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Bill