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The non-toxic shot varieties and dental damage
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Picture of Bill/Oregon
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We've gone from lead to steel with diversions into Hevi-shot, bismuth, tungsten matrix and now tungsten (in the Federal TSS loads).
Has anyone heard anecdotal evidence or seen actual research on the risks to teeth and dental work from biting down on these various pellets? I've spit out my share of lead over the years, but never had an issue beyond that. But I have not eaten any game birds -- upland or migratory -- riddled with any of the harder stuff.


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Posts: 16303 | Location: Sweetwater, TX | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Hi Bill, having a back ground in metal detecting, I've sold many pin pointers to hunters for just this reason: the ability to detect shot or bullets in wild game. It is a major saver of teeth, especially for those who hunt waterfowl where steel or other hard shot is mandatory. Cost of these units average $129 + USPS shipping. They are compact, come with a sheath and run on a 9v battery. They can detect "bird shot" up to larger BB's etc. Implants run $3,500-$5000 in my area.
Cheers, David


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Posts: 6804 | Location: Tennessee | Registered: 18 December 2006Reply With Quote
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Bismuth is about like lead if you bite it. Been there, done that.

Steel is actually softer than tungsten, and I know 3 guys who have broke teeth on steel.

The size of the pellet does matter some, I have been told, so the new #9 shot TSS might be better off than #2-3 steel.

Honestly, this is why I stick with bismuth. I suspect that the tungsten stuff actually performs better, but given that I like eating ducks, I just dabble with it a bit, and shoot bismuth for 99% of my waterfowl/nontox game shooting.

When I had to shoot steel, I would bring the cleaned birds to the office and X-ray them...
 
Posts: 10478 | Location: Minnesota USA | Registered: 15 June 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of Bill/Oregon
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David, thanks for the tip. I run a Tesoro and a "Garrett carrot" pinpointer.
And crowns run about $1,500 here ...
CR, bismuth would definitely be much more friendly than steel.
Here is another soft alternative, NICE shot ...
http://www.niceshotinc.com/


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Posts: 16303 | Location: Sweetwater, TX | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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I can tell you that the sound of steel B's trying to go thru the garbage disposal is quite disturbing.
C.G.B.
 
Posts: 1090 | Registered: 25 January 2005Reply With Quote
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CG, I'll bet. Almost as disturbing as the sound of a molar fracturing ...


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Posts: 16303 | Location: Sweetwater, TX | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by crbutler:

When I had to shoot steel, I would bring the cleaned birds to the office and X-ray them...


Wish my doc was inclined to do that...


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Posts: 7570 | Location: Arizona and off grid in CO | Registered: 28 July 2004Reply With Quote
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Bill,

Nice shot is softer than steel, but no where near as soft as lead or bismuth. Is it soft enough to save your teeth? I don’t know.

Tungsten polymer (federal) or tungsten matrix (Kent) is tooth safe, more or less... but it feels funny, like sand, in a cooked bird when you bite it.
 
Posts: 10478 | Location: Minnesota USA | Registered: 15 June 2007Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
quote:
Originally posted by crbutler:

When I had to shoot steel, I would bring the cleaned birds to the office and X-ray them...


Wish my doc was inclined to do that...


I didn’t ask permission... I just did it after everyone left! Lol
 
Posts: 10478 | Location: Minnesota USA | Registered: 15 June 2007Reply With Quote
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That's FUNNY! rotflmo
 
Posts: 18517 | Registered: 04 April 2005Reply With Quote
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Ive bitten down on quite a few steel pellets. It can bloody hurt! I had a molar already weakened by a filling, that split out one side when I bit down on a pellet some years back.
 
Posts: 4211 | Location: South Island NZ | Registered: 21 July 2008Reply With Quote
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