EPA wants to ban lead ammo!

[Guest mahahn]

You don't need term limits, just change election day to April 16th.

[Dolomite_supafly]

There has been a push to use bismuth as the lead replacement. I wonder what they would say if they knew that technically bismuth is unstable and radioactive. It is radioactive but because of its long half life it is considered stable. Bismuth's radioactive half life is over one billion times longer than the age of the universe.

It is consdiered non toxic and as a matter of fact it is used in numerous products ingested by people. Pepto Bismol as well as Kaopectate use bismuth a their main ingredient for it antidiarrheal properties.

There are some good things about using bismuth in firearms. It is considered non toxic for us as well as animals who might accidentally consume it. It is heavier than lead, has a lower melting point (521°) and is harder as well. Maybe it could be used "as is" for casting bullets without mixing in other metals like needs to be done to lead.

The biggest problem to using bismuth is that it is not mined directly but is a by product of other mining operations. Because of this getting enough for ammuntition use would probably raise the cost substantially.

Personally, if it did not increase the cost I would not mind seeing bismuth used for the reasons above.

Dolomite

[DaveTN]

The EPA and OSHA are two very big costs that foreign competitors to our country’s industry do not have.

I didn’t read the article, but they are trying to ban the use of lead in our industry and we have nothing to do with ammunition.

Edited August 28, 2010 by DaveTN