Non-Toxic Shot

What is the issue?

For many years, lead pellets have been the preferred projectiles for shotguns.
Lead is a toxic substance that can harm humans, wildlife and the environment.
Research has shown that lead from expended pellets may leach into our waterways and soils, or accumulate on the soil surface or on the bottom of the waterway where it may be consumed by native waterbirds.
Lead poisoning causes a long and painful death. Moreover, if death does not occur, the lead in the tissues of affected animals may be passed onto humans or animals that consume these animals.
Non-toxic alternatives do exist and perform well.
In the Northern Territory it is still legal to use lead pellets in some areas, all other states in Australia have banned the use of lead shot.

Most hunters are also concerned with the sustainability of the natural environment so that they may continue to hunt into the future. Thus, it is important for them to consider using non-toxic shot to maintain a sustainable environment.
The use of non-toxic shot will greatly reduce the amount of lead being released into the wetlands, therefore maintaining water quality, enhancing biodiversity, and increasing the quantity and quality of wildlife that is available for hunting or to simply enjoy.

Expended lead pellets tend to accumulate in those areas where waterbirds, such as the Magpie Goose, ingest hard material to assist the action of grinding food in their crops. Unfortunately, the sizes of lead shot commonly used by hunters fall within a similar size class of material selected by the birds and hence become ingested. The highly acid environment within a bird’s crop combined with the grinding action quickly releases lead in a soluble form which is then absorbed into the bird’s tissues. It has been shown that ingestion of just one or two pellets can kill an adult Magpie Goose. The lead is then ingested by scavengers such as raptors and so moves through the entire wetland food chain with a potentially disastrous impact.
By using non-toxic shot, you are creating a better environment and a sustainable hunting future.

You can use non-toxic shot and educate others of the effects lead is having on our wetlands.
There are many types of non toxic shot available such as:

While bismuth has a similar specific gravity to lead and therefore a similar ballistic performance, it is very expensive. Tungsten and other alternatives are similarly expensive. Steel shot is the most practical and cost effective alternative and has very acceptable ballistic performance. Steel, being harder than lead, produces tighter and more consistent shot patterns. Steel shot is as effective as lead shot provided the appropriate shot sizes are used. A hunter should on average, use steel shot two sizes larger than lead shot to obtain equivalent performance. Shooting skills as well as range estimation need to be somewhat better than with lead. However, most shooters recognise the need to be highly proficient to ensure humane kills and minimise wounding, irrespective of what shot is being used.
All the information on loads, chokes and alternatives is available at your local gun shop. When you purchase non toxic shot ask your dealer for all the relevant information for your firearm.
Help create a lead free environment and promote non-toxic shot.

We would like to thank Bob Fox and Tim Lloyd for their assistance in the preparation of this information.