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Do Lead Bullets Continue To Be A Hazard After They Land? Virginia Tech 05/11/04 There were 20 million metric tons of lead bullets fired in the United States in the 20th century. Is that lead having an environmental impact? Not at or near the U.S. Forest Service firing range near Blacksburg, according to research by Virginia Tech geological scientists. Donald Rimstidt, a professor in the Department of Geosciences, College of Science at Virginia Tech, will report the conclusions of a five-year study at the 116th national meeting of the Geological Sciences of America in Denver Nov. 7-10. There are 9,000 nonmilitary shooting ranges and a lot of military ones in the United States. Some 60,000 metric tons of lead are expended by shooting (Metric Ton = 2,200 lbs). “So, there is lead shot and bullets everywhere.” Rimstidt said. “We were invited by the U.S.F.S. to look at the shooting range in the National Forest near Blacksburg.” The researchers’ survey found 11 metric tons of shot in the shotgun range and 12 metric tons of lead bullets in the rifle range. “These ranges are 10 years old. Most of the lead shot has accumulated on about four or five acres. Some shots have been into the woods, which cover hundreds of acres,” Rimstidt said. Professor James Craig and Rimstidt looked first at lead corrosion and whether lead is leaching into the water table or streams. Lead metal is unstable when it is in contact with air and water. It corrodes and forms hydrocerrussite, the white coating seen on old bullets in museums. “That slows corrosion,” Rimstidt said. However, some lead escapes. But we learned that it is absorbed in the top few inches of soil and does not migrate beyond that. Lead is not very mobile. It does not wash away in surface or ground water. We found no evidence that birds were eating shot, but this portion of the research was not completed. “We are not saying that wildlife would not ingest lead, but it does not appear to be a problem on this range. Other shooting ranges may be different.” Rimstidt said. Rimstidt’s conclusion is that shooting on controlled ranges reduces the overall risk to the public from lead in the environment. |
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28th Annual Potluck Dinner & Awards Ceremony A Night of Food, Fun, Friends and Fantastic Prizes! The 28th Annual Potluck Dinner and Awards Ceremony in January had a nice attendance of 132 people! If you didn’t know it, we have some really good cooks in the Club. There were great salads, side dishes, meats, casseroles, and oh, my, desserts galore!!! Trust me, we didn’t leave hungry. The certificate for the Ruger 40th Anniversary 10/22 Carbine was hidden in an ammo can selected by Loren (Edit) during the main raffle. In the Participation Raffle, Barbara W(Edit) won the Ruger 10/22 Target Rifle, Jim L(Edit) won $100 cash, and Lane B(Edit) won $50 cash. If you’d like to qualify to win similar prizes next year, make sure you get your 2005 LRC Membership card dated and initialed on the back by someone in authority each time you participate (get it? - participate … Participation Raffle) in a club match or event. You get one ticket per signature. The Zick Service Award was deservingly presented to Cal S(Edit) for his hard work and dedication to the Club and for the matches he runs. I would like to thank all those who helped with invitations, ordering, setup, working during the dinner, bringing prize donations, and with cleanup. But what I really want to know is “Oh where, or where did the infamous shell lamp go?” This is the first time in all the dinners I’ve attended that it hasn’t resurfaced in the door prize raffle. Last years’ winner must be displaying it proudly at home! So, if you’re looking for a place to visit with others who share your similar interest (and possibly win some nice prizes) mark your calendar for next years’ dinner on January 28, 2006! |
