Document Rd8yoOgDnjR9aDVm1Xyy8aRv

1 1 1 Jj mm iead zh AttwtmoB nr t h e u k t is d aims +T Robert L. Elegfald, Executive Tie* President teed Industries Association, Xno. Although the u h of load is the manufacture of wmmmltlon la tba Doited Btatea cannot ha classed la importance with such applications as storage batteries or anti-knock ccmpcwnde, It Is nevertheless oca of the brightest spots on the lead consumption scene. last year ammunition accounted for approximately 5 percent of total U.8. lead consumption. Zt has grown froo about 31,000 tona la 1925 to nsarly 57,000 teas la 196b. nils la a substantial increase la tonnage, but sore important, the per capita consumption over this kO-year spaa, whll* fluctuating considerably from year to year, vaa about 0.6 lb. la 196k conparad with about 0.55 lb- in 192$. Of even greater algnlflcaace la tba trend over tbs last fire yuars. Each of the last five years has shown an In crease, rising from about kk,000 tans In i960 to 57,000 tons In 196k or about 90 percent. Early figures for 1965 permit us to estimate a further major rise this year. Bow, no statistics are 100 percent accurate and those Z have quoted are no exception, for example, they do probably Include In recant years the small amount of lead ahot, a couple of thousand tons a year, that goes Into free machining steels, a use which did not exist ho years ago* They do include military ammunition which caused the figure to soar to 176,000 tens in 19^3* However, we do not consider that military aMiasltlon greatly distorts the picture In normal years. As nearly as we esn determine the great bulk of the tonnage la used In what may be termed sporting anraunitlen, that used far hunting, trap, sheet, and target shooting. Vhst are the factors that affect the use of leed in this Industry? Cta the negative side Is the great growth of concentrated population erase which tend to reduce the lend over which people can bunt. There has also been the general tendency to lower beg limits to protect game as mart hunters get Into the field, meaning leas shooting per person. A third factor has bees s trend to more restrictive legislation governing the sale and possession of firearms, oftsn 111 advised. In tba Interest of ccotrolling crime. On the positive side the American population ba much mors tins for recreation today than ever before. They need golf, bowling, boat ing and other participating sports. Including shooting, to occupy their time. And while the arms and anunltlon manufacturers may hsvs been a little slower than tome of the other sporting goods manufacturers to recognise their opportunity, they have recognised It and are doing a flM job of taking advantage of It. They are bringing the shooting sports cloear to tba people and making It tsalsr and ehsaper to shoot* Zt Is a many faceted program and Z will try to describe tba major steps briefly. They have encouraged, for example, the establishment of Preaanted at. t*v Baoewj fritamatlonal Confaranra m Tea*, Arnhem, Holland, October b-7, 1965 W-a^irle, 3r- if^eit^^^iSwJya^y.- V*v^ MM LIA16035 jr-ars^^T private ahootlng preserve* within nuouUt distance* of populated area* where game birds are bred and people can aboot for a fee for a Much laager period than the usual bunting season Is exchange for s o o n of the birds which ere tuned over to the state far release on public leads. They base en couraged farmers to bend together and open their lands to public shooting under controlled conditions, often in exchange for free advice on con servation. They have established franchised shooting ranges for akeet, trap and target shooting near urban areas where a nan can often stop off for a half hour of shooting on bis way hone frau work. 8one of theaa are even lighted so that a family can go out after dinner in an evening end have an hour of shooting fun. They have encouraged shooting duba in ccBBusltles or sponsored by large businesses for their employees. Man ufacturers snd blotters alike have contributed heavily towards conservation and gene propagation measures to Increase the wild Ufa population so there can be nore and better ahootlng. And they have encouraged women to look on the ahootlng sports as not just for man. These measures sound simple but there are many metrications such as safety instruction and Instruction In handling and shooting firearms. Plans for ahootlng clubs are made available and guidance Is provided. Often guna are supplied an same Inexpensive, convenient basis. Another development on the positive side Is the growth of reloading asnunltlon by shooters. This has become extremely popular because to the expert It means loading his own ammunition snd coming 19 with some thing he feels Is superior to anything he can buy. To the average shooter, on the other hand, it Is an economy measure which makes it less expensive for him to engage In shooting sports In a large way. This tread has established a whole new industry to supply shooters with reloading equip ment and the lead shot or bullets to reload. All of these factors have combined to popularise the shooting sports with the public. They have aade It easier, cheaper and mare fun far mors people to engage In them. Under these circumstances the future of lead la sporting ammunition In the United States appears to be not only assured but bright. N < % .fi si.n 1 Short _A. vy rrs 7^ -~ -ja- - - ~r- ,y j^g^-gggrr-.- -*jPy^-<gggWf?y * - ri*'ifflTArrtaMi>.rn^rarftiMlai^iihii iii*- n.iififfciwiy r^BUBr^ Ll M-b36 ------ !: __ ./;' ^ U.S. CONSUMPTION OF LEAD IN AMMUNITION N 3584.01