"Newbie", from a purely medical/physiologic/chemical standpoint, solid lead, as in shot, passes through the human alimentary tract like the proverbial "S--- through a tin horn". The human digestive tract is not set up to break down any metallic solids. Further one probably gets more lead in ones drinking water as copper pipes were/are lead soldered at the joints. Alternatives to lead include Bismuth(also a heavy metal) and the various "matrix" "non-toxic" loads. Finally the number of lead pellets it takes to kill a given bird depends on many factor, but suffice it to say the number rarely exceeds 5-6 over the entire body. Good Luck, Dr. BILL