Has Calif killed the use of 28ga shotguns for hunting?

[358wcf]

I've loved my 28gauge shotguns (both over/under and sidebyside) for 4 decades now for upland game in the hills of Calif- everything up to pheasants and squirrels and rabbits.
It now appears I will not be able to purchase non-toxic shot from Ballistic Products to load my own nontoxic shells, as the law states it must be Certified nontoxic ammo. It also appears none of the major ammo factories will be selling certified 28ga loads-
With that end in sight, I think I will have to quit hunting in this state altogether, and relegate my funtimes to trap and skeet.
****, I hate this state!
358wcf

[triggerhappy243]

With all due respect................. get the he double tooth picks out of cal.

[Idz]

outfits like www.mackspw.com have a bunch of USFWS approved non-toxic 28ga. Does CA have its own approval system? To be accurate I think you should probably say " I love California, but hate its socialist government!"

[richhodg66]

I wonder if having the receipt from Ballistic Products for the Bismuth shot and showing the shells are actually reloads (seems most COs would be smart enough to tell) would suffice? Besides, don't COs in most states carry some means of testing other than a magnet to determine what you're shooting is not lead? I looked into what Bismuth shells cost a while back, wow!

If they are really gonna be that kind of Nazis about it, either get a 20 or 12 gauge or move out of California. I'd opt to move.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Anyone actually get checked? How much is the ticket? Any chance of losing hunting privileges? Be decent/polite/honest with the warden, abide the spirit of the law, and things usually go okay.

[mart]

Which BP nontoxic are you referring to? They carry ITX 10 and 13, Hevi Shot, Spherotungsten and Bismuth. I was under the impression they were all approved for use as nontoxic shot and had the blessing of the feds.

[skeettx]

Two of my 28 gauge guns have 3" chambers
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018743672/fiocchi-high-velocity-ammunition-28-gauge-3-1-oz-6-chilled-lead-shot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZKLzix2nbA

NON-TOX shot from Rotometals is approved by Calif.

https://www.rotometals.com/bismuth-shot/

Mike

fun reading:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition/Certified

[elmacgyver0]

Anyone actually get checked? How much is the ticket? Any chance of losing hunting privileges? Be decent/polite/honest with the warden, abide the spirit of the law, and things usually go okay.

Riiiight!

[Baja_Traveler]

Yes, we are allowed to load our own lead free - if we weren't there would no longer be any muzzle loading hunting left here, and I use my muzzle loading shotgun for upland all the time.

[Buzzard II]

California is like New Jersey. If they can mess it up, they will.

[white eagle]

certify them yourself

[Winger Ed.]

Be decent/polite/honest with the warden, abide the spirit of the law, and things usually go okay.


My experience has been:
Things do go fine as long as you're in compliance. Everybody is all smiles.

If you're not, that Warden ain't your friend, has no sympathy, or any sense of humor what so ever.

[skeettx]

MORE happy news

https://www.hevishot.com/catalog/hevi-bismuth-waterfowl/

[Bigslug]

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition/Certified

Check the first paragraph and click on the links therein.

Pick yourself a legal shot type, do your handloads, Sharpie-mark those shells, carry a copy of your shot invoice with your hunting license, and hunt on. That's essentially my plan for Rotometals pewter & I'll be fitting a lid from a box of Barnes TTSX's somewhere into the pack. DFW is not the entity out to get us. Unlikely to be a big issue.

[Tripplebeards]

I think you should run for governor. It’s time to run all the liberals out of that state and blow their skirts up!

[megasupermagnum]

ITX is all federally approved non-toxic, however, California has their own standards which have to now be followed. I do know that the bismuth shot sold by Rotometals is California approved, and is better than ITX shot anyway. Cheaper too.

Or... your location is listed as Yuma. Hunt in Arizona. I'm sure the Arizona non-resident licenses are spiking this year.

[Jedman]

I feel your pain ! The 28 ga. Is also my favorite for most upland game. That's a shame that as long as you could prove your not using lead that is not good enough. Its like hunting with a wildcat cartridge that meets all regulations but the name of the cartridge is not on the approved list.

Jedman

[seetrout]

https://www.ableammo.com/catalog/rio-bismuth-shotshells-rbi285-gauge-1250-fps-bismuth-shot-rdbx-p-140340.html

Still expensive, but not nearly as bad as hevi-shot.

[Duckiller]

Local ammo store has both steel and bismuth shot in 28ga shells. Store is open Thur,Fri, Sat. Locatd in West Covina. If you can't find non-toxic shot in your area and you want to take a road trip (only face to face sales after 7-01-2019) send me a pm and I will get whatever details you want/need. Store had non-toxic last week. I didn't ask the price. 28ga lead is not cheap so I would assume 28ga non-toxic would be even more not cheap.

[gwpercle]

The left leaning lawmakers have learned that effective ammo control = gun control .
Nothing in the 2nd protecting ammunition...think about it .
CA has outlawed internet sales...the noose tightens .
The only ammo you can buy is from a dealer , over a counter , face to face in CA. How long will dealers be allowed .