Show Student Life Wednesday Jan shot Steel (Continued from page non-existe-nt 12 ) biologists with high to steel no wtls of exposure were experienced effects adverse that steel the ducks It appears answer to may well be the in the lead poisoning problem number of studies determined that even L taienu" shot is not Because it is lea than lead an equivalent at the sued pellet of steel shot a shorter same velocity will have a lead pellet 5tnking range than will result Some critics claim this of bird in an increased rate this problem However cnppling by can be largely eliminated amply using a larger size pellet thereby compensating for the Of course steel e totally trouble-fre- weight been minor (expansion of 002 to 006 inch) or Such expansion has been found to occur with lead shot although to a lesser extent Industry has introduced a protective liner to enclose the shot column in modem shells thereby eliminating much of the barrel scratching and wear problem of the past A small number of barrel bursts occur annually in the U S with lead shot ammunition Normally such bursting is the result of an obstructed barrel or when too strong a charge is discharged for the strength of the barrel Even though 1 4 million rounds of steel shot have been fired there is no evidence that barrel bursts will occur more frequently with the use of steel shot as opxsed to lead ammunition Steel shot loads will undoubtedly cost the hunter more — at least 50 per cent more than lead shot loads For example a box of 12 gauge number 4 size 14 oz difference number 4 steel corresponds roughly in 6 lead pellet weight to a number There is an added advantage of Because it is the use of steel little much harder than lead For example a pellet deformation occurs when it is Bred Thus the steel shut emerges from the barrel as a perfect reducing the erratic deformed energy to target in a more effective steel loads costs about $8 45 while a comparable box of lead shots costs $5 65 But how mu( h is this increase really going to affect the typical waterfowl hunter? FWS estimates reveal that the average waterfowler makes six hunting trips a year bags an average of six birds and fires about 35 shelLs Thirty five shells — that is less than two boxes per season Because raw material for steel and lead are very similiar most of this price difference can be attributed to increased costs of low volume production of steel shot ammunition And until ammunition industries produce greater quantities of steel shot ammunition hunters in restricted zones will have to pay the higher price In the meantime research continues as biologists attempt to find additional alternatives to lead Some recommendations have been made about the use of a lead-irocombination shot or "sintered shot” But even this is not completely For the present sportsmen will have to accept steel shot as the most viable alternative we have in the prevention of lead poisoning in waterfowl The support of FWS's recent decision to limit the use of lead shot is just one more way sportv rnent can contribute to the conof preservation and wise-us- e cious wildlife resources for generations to come n non-tox- ic 5 1977 Page 13 Enforcement effort steadily increasing taken from The H iidllfe Report Enforcing state wildlife laws t ontinues to be a growing proposition according to a rec ent nationwide report from the Wildlife Management Institute The Institute reports conservation officers make up more than 30 percrnt of Other improvement were noted bv the report T)i number of hunters and anglers per officer decreased by 342 tour more states required college degree for enforcement officer Tha number of officer with BS degrees in wildlife Increased by 47 percent the nation's fish and wildlife Statistics revealed Hie "averpersonnel That amounts to a age" officer polices 7326 hunters and anglers and patrols a district total of more than 6500 conof 455 square miles He make 54 servation officers The Institute prepares the naarrests a year Twenty-fou- r tionwide figures every four years states now grant full polic e poin an effort to inform wildlife wers to their officers last year state wildhfe offagencies about changes progress icers were assaulted 150 tunes and needs of individual and Inc luding 5 ini Idents whic h Inlaw enforcement program In the last four years t!e volved serious injuries More number of wildlife officers in the intensive training and higher nation grew by some 630 I aw qualification requirements will continue to fa tter prejuire conenforcement budgets increased servation officers to meet their by some J50 million due primarily to inflation according to data responsibilities according to the collected in the study rrjairt sphere flight pattern typical of shot and delivering the the manner Other concerns have been raised over the use of steel shot Since steel is harder than lead will this increased hardness res- increased barrel damage such as scratching or erosion expansion of the choke or splitting and bursting of the ult in - damage barrel? the According to the FWS problem of barrel damage with steel shot appers to be "primarily one of dimensional changes at or near the choke" The choke is a diameter constriction near the end of the shotgun barrel "Choke expansion" occurs when the hard this constriction phenomenon of choke expansion need not be a problem The actual amount of choke expansion that does occur depends upon the type and make of the shotgun Shotgun barrels made a soft steel or d construction seem to be more usceptible to choke expansion However tests by the arms and ammunition industry demonstrate that choke expansion with the use of steel shot generally has shot expands But the thin-walle- 50-- 70 FAMOUS NAME BRAND FASHIONS AT SAVINGS OVER ORIGINAL RETAIL PRICES ) SWEATERS (Values PANTS & JEANS (Values GAUCHOS & SKIRTS (Values $12-2DRESSES & PANT SUITS (Values $499-149- 9 $10-40- $14-2- 599- 399- - 4) 4) It all $16-3- 999 999 699-129- 9 8) adds up! STC 9999?3 99999o 9 99 9 are forever Unless you help PROTECT THE TO UNBORN AND THE NEWBORN March i I "Cf of Dimes ( ftv fh( FEMININE FASHIONS AT YOUR PRICE thru Friday Open seven days a ueek Evenimjs Monday THE FAMILY CENTER IN LOGAN 80 East Fourth North (Next to Samons) ALSO in Orom Murray £ Salt Lake? City |