21 replies to this topic

[Bronco]

OK this morning I'm at our new Bass Pro Mega store in Manteca and I'm trying to find some lead free condor approved .223 ammo. I find some Federal 43 grain TNT Green labeled box. So I'm thinking OK I found some "Green" lead free ammo. A sales clerk just happens to walk by so I ask him is this really "Green" as in lead free? Gee I'm not sure is his answer. I ask him if it's "Green" why is there a lead warning on the box? Well I really jamed him up this time, he looked at the box and said "well it must not be then". I'm thinking WTF don't these people know what they're selling? Then he leads me over to the Winchester E ammo display and says this is what we are told to be lead free. Gee no .223 here only 300WSM, 30-06 and 308 and it cost $54.95 a box of 20..... YIKES. So I thank him for his time and he wonders off to confuse another customer. I go back over to the Federal 43 grain TNT Green ammo and read the box again and no where does it state "lead free" and a box is only $23.95 so not knowing if this stuff is truely lead free I don't buy any. I get home and do a search for lead free ammo and I find this this post by nevjohn here on CPC. Moral of story do you homework first... Maybe tomorrow will be as nice and I'll take another nice drive to Manteca and educate some people and buy a box. Oh by the way I did see some .223 UMC 55 grain MC ammo box of 200 for $89.95 which doesn't sound too bad for some target shooting and plinking. http://www.californi...?showtopic=9721

[acousticmood]

I just bought a box of 40 S&W from Midway that I thought was lead free. Heck is was called "leadless". Only when I read the box do I find out that it has a lead core. Oh well I can shoot it but it shouldn't be this hard to find out if it is indeed "free from lead".

[.22guy]

This lead free thing is a real pain in the butt, isn't it?I'm going to say that the reason that there was a lead warning on the .223 ammo you looked at was because there is still lead in the primers.....

[fakawee]

Just remember fellows, not just any "lead free" bullets can be used in the condor zones. If I read it correctly, you can only use lead free bullets that were approved by the State and DFG. I just got my Cabela's Shooting Catalog and Cor-Bon makes .223 53gr TSX "lead free" bullets for $30.99 a box.

[autocrosser78]

Cal DFG has a list of approved bullets for our use in the Condor Zone. Isn't that nice of them?

[Bronco]

Does anyone know the link to the CA DOJ approved lead free ammo?

[ShooterJohn]

I don't know if the DOJ has an approved list but the Fish & Game departments list is on this page along with some other facts: http://www.dfg.ca.go...hunting/condor/

[Bronco]

Thanks John, for some reason I got stuck with CA DOJ had total blank out regarding Fish and Game.

[acousticmood]

Just remember fellows, not just any "lead free" bullets can be used in the condor zones. If I read it correctly, you can only use lead free bullets that were approved by the State and DFG. I just got my Cabela's Shooting Catalog and Cor-Bon makes .223 53gr TSX "lead free" bullets for $30.99 a box.

I haven't read the regs lately but I don't think you are limited to a Ca approved ammo. I think the reg speaks to the max amount of lead allowable. So there for I would think that any 100% copper bullet would be fine. I don't believe the regs speak to primer either.

[ShooterJohn]

I don't know about just any supposed non lead ammo. They have a link to certified ammo.http://www.dfg.ca.go...tifiedammo.html

[dirtgimp]

if you have anymore trouble finding the good tree hugger ammo you could get in touch with oleboy here on the site.he owns his own shop and is up on all the " green ammo " dog poop that we have to deal with now.best of luck with your search.

[acousticmood]

I don't know about just any supposed non lead ammo. They have a link to certified ammo.http://www.dfg.ca.go...tifiedammo.html

Well being certified by the state is insurance for sure but the reg says that any projectile containing more than 1% lead by weight is illegal.So there is nothing about the primer (which makes sense cause the concern is lead left in carrion). If a bullet is 100% copper even thought it hasn't yet been certified by the state it still passes muster. You just may have to proove it.

[ShooterJohn]

I'm not sure you're going to find anything 100% copper. Most have some amount of alloy in them. There are varying stages of copper alloys going into brasses and bronzes. The one that is of most concern in our state would be leaded coppers and that is one of the most common.Lead is frequently added to copper alloys to increase their machinability. The role of lead in copper alloys is two fold, it acts as a lubricant and, in the free machining grades, the lead assists in chip break up. Lead is added to many copper alloys, making all types of free machining alloys. Lead does not affect the structure and properties of copper because it is practically insoluble in solid copper. The pure copper solidifies first, leaving the lead to solidify last as almost pure lead globules at the grain boundaries or in the inter dendritic regions. The size and concentration of lead particles depends upon the concentration of lead in the alloy. Leaded coppers are categorized as low lead alloys, or free machining alloys and high lead alloys. In the free machining alloys, the lead acts as chip breaker and lubricant making these alloys easier to machine than their non leaded counter parts. The high leaded copper alloys are used in bearing applications. In the bearing materials, the lead acts as a solid lubricant and the copper is the load bearing support. Lead is added to many of the copper alloys producing free machining brasses, bronzes and other copper alloys. The free machining brasses and other alloys are presented in the sections with the specific alloy types. The cast, high leaded copper alloys used for bearings are presented in this section. They are designated by UNS C98200 through C98840.That's why I think it's best to stick with what the state says is acceptable. Just my .

[acousticmood]

That's why I think it's best to stick with what the state says is acceptable. Just my .

Hey John - I just checked that list (for the first time in many months). They've got just about everthing now to choose from - even .204 ! I also found 22lr and a couple of choices for 40s&w, 223 and 308 - that almost meets all my needsNow if someone could load a .17hmrThings have improved since the ban first hit.

[Oleboy]

We carry all the non-lead give us a call we can help you out.

[Braz]

Just what calibers do you carry in non lead?

[Oleboy]

What are you looking for??Call usThank you Justin Karr

[acousticmood]

I'm looking for .204, 22lr and 40 s&w cartridges that are on the approved CA list.

[Braz]

Hey, I know I can call you. So can everyone else on here. It would just make it a lot easier on everyone if you would post what you have for sale. You are in business to sell ammo aren't you? Then do us all a favor and don't make us call you. It is kinda a poor way to do business to not try and please the customer.

[Oleboy]

Non-Lead Rifle Loads Corbon, Federal, Winchester, Hornady22wmr 30gr204 VG 26gr243 Win VG 62gr 3 to 4 weeks out243 Win 85gr 223 Rem VG 36gr223 Rem VG 50gr223 Rem 53gr 223 Rem 62gr 22-250 Rem VG 36gr22-250 Rem 53gr 22-250 Rem 62gr 25-06 Rem 100gr 257 Wby Mag 115gr 260 Rem 120gr 270 Win 130gr 270 Wby 130gr 270 WSM 130gr 280 Rem 140gr 284 Win 140gr 30 Carb 100gr 300 Win Mag 180gr 300 WSM 168gr 300 Wby 180gr 300 RUM 180gr30-06 Sprg 168gr30-06 Sprg 180gr 308 Win 130gr308 Win 168gr 338 Win 225gr 338 RUM 250gr 338 Lapua Mag 250gr 340 WBY 225gr 375 RUM 235gr375 H&H Mag 235gr 30-30 Win 150gr 375 H&H Mag 300gr375 RUM 300gr 416 Rigby 350gr 444 Marlin 225gr 45/70 Govt. 300gr 458 Win Mag 450gr 475 TURNBULL 400gr 7mm-08 Rem 120gr 7mm Wby Mag 160gr 7 WSM 140gr 7mm RUM 160gr 7mm Rem Mag 140gr 7mm Rem Mag 160gr 7.62X39 123gr Non-Lead Hand Gun Loads Corbon, Federal380 Auto 80gr 9mm Luger 80gr 9mm Luger+P 115gr 9X23 Win 125gr 10 MM Auto 155gr 38 Special+P 38 Super 125gr 357 Mag 125gr 357 Sig 125gr 40 S&W 140gr 45 GAP 160gr 45 Auto+P 185gr 45 Auto 160gr 45 Auto Rim 160gr 44 Rem Mag 225g45 Colt+P 225gr 41 Rem Mag 180gr 44 S&W Special 200gr 454 Casull 250gr 480 Ruger 275gr 460 S&W Mag 200gr 460 S&W Mag 275gr 500 S&W Special 275gr 500 S&W Mag 500 S&W Mag 325gr 6 X45mm 85gr Will up date when we have more time.

[Braz]

Wow, that's great. Nice going.

[Bronco]

Wow, super list. Thanks Justin.