HEADING WEST
the customer demand that has prompted that investment. I expect to see lead continue to feature as the best projectile in a number of gun systems for many uses for years to come. It is fundamental to a level playing fi eld in competition shooting across the world. The use of lead in clay shooting, target shooting with shotgun, rifl e, airgun and pistol is the default position. Operators of ranges are already recycling lead from the target areas – and getting useful value from it. Its density and potential for delivering energy to the target will keep it in military and law enforcement use for a while yet. The transition to alternatives in live quarry shooting is progress – and I see that accelerating but taking a few years to complete. The design of gun systems is changing. Until now we designed our guns around lead - as we look for alternative projectile materials, the
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gun itself may change. The Trade has always adapted, met customer demand and enjoyed sales of new guns. But the day of the old gun
is far from over. Many of us will still want to use the guns we love. The ammunition manufacturers are looking to meet that demand. Expensive bismuth is an option but so too will be the biodegradable wad, standard steel solutions that are appearing. ‘Standard steel’ cartridges are designed in such a way that they can be fi red through nitro proved guns. 70mm chambers have a couple of options already and 66/67mm chamber solutions are coming. They have light loads and won’t answer every shooter’s needs but they defi nitely still kill. Like golf clubs, shooters
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might want different guns for different tasks – that can only be good for the Trade! Support your customers with knowledge, not uninformed opinion. There is a fact sheet on the GTA members’ site, based on scientifi c evidence and the Rules of Proof, that you might fi nd useful. There will be plenty more on this issue in the shooting press in coming months. Encourage your customers to try new things. Encourage them to arrange patterning and get out on the pigeons over the summer to build confi dence. We must lead the way
forward and not wait until we get told what to do. Defend lead where it’s essential; look for alternatives where we should and most importantly help to defend shooting!
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