What's been decided
In July 2025 the Government confirmed a restriction on lead in ammunition under UK REACH, following the Health and Safety Executive's review. It covers England, Scotland and Wales. Two products are going:
- Lead shot: shotgun cartridges whose shot is 1% or more lead, for all shooting, live quarry and clays alike.
- Larger rifle bullets: bullets that are 3% or more lead, in calibres of 6.17 mm and above. That line is drawn to include .243 Winchester and everything bigger. A copper-jacketed bullet with a lead core counts as lead; "lead-free" means genuinely lead-free construction.
The legislation is now law: the REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were laid before Parliament on 3 March 2026 and came into force on 1 April 2026. The bans bite on 1 April 2029 for most shooting.
Shotguns: all lead shot is going
The existing wetland and wildfowl rules stay in force meanwhile; the new restriction finishes the job everywhere else. For most guns the move is to steel, with bismuth and tungsten-based loads covering the guns steel doesn't suit. The practical points:
- Standard steel works through most nitro-proofed guns in sound condition, with half choke or less the usual advice.
- High-performance steel needs a gun with the fleur-de-lis steel-shot proof mark. Check your barrels, not the brochure.
- Older and classic guns, including anything damascus-barrelled, should stay away from steel; bismuth shoots like lead and is kind to old barrels, at a price.
- Cartridge makers have moved fast and the gap in performance has narrowed every season. Pattern your gun with the new load, exactly as you would have with lead.
Shotgun cartridges ›
Rifles: .243 and up go lead-free
For live quarry, lead bullets in calibres of 6.17 mm and above are going: that is every deer calibre, from .243 through 6.5 Creedmoor to .308 and beyond. The replacement is monolithic copper and copper-alloy ammunition, which is already proven on UK deer. Three things to know before you switch:
- Copper is longer for the same weight, so marginal barrels can struggle to stabilise it. Usually the answer is simply a lighter copper load, which penetrates like a heavier lead one. Our twist rate guide covers it.
- Stay legal on weight. If you drop a weight class, check the load still meets the deer minimums where you shoot, especially Scotland's 80 grain floor for deer other than roe. The numbers are in our deer calibre guide.
- Zero and velocity change. Copper loads rarely shoot to the same point as the lead load they replace. Re-zero properly and, ideally, chronograph the new load.
Lead-free ammunition ›
What's not affected
- Airgun pellets. Explicitly excluded. Nothing changes for airgunners.
- Small calibres. Bullets under 6.17 mm are outside the restriction for live quarry: .22 rimfire, .17 HMR, .204, .223 and .22-250 carry on with lead. Most foxing and all rimfire work is untouched.
- Permanent outdoor ranges can apply to keep lead bullets under a derogation with risk-management conditions, and limited zeroing of a quarry rifle is allowed for the exempt calibres.
- Military, police and security services, and Olympic and Paralympic athletes (for lead shot, by notification).
- Collectors and museums: non-firing lead ammunition held under certificate conditions is exempt.
The timetable
- July 2025: Government confirmed the restriction.
- 1 April 2026: the REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026 came into force, starting the transition periods.
- 1 April 2028: lead bullets end for outdoor target shooting, except at ranges with lead recovery systems.
- 1 April 2029: the end for lead shot, and for lead bullets of 6.17 mm and up for live quarry. From this date it is illegal to sell or use them, whenever they were bought.
Until each date passes, buying, selling and using today's lead ammunition remains perfectly lawful (the existing wetland rules aside). There is no requirement to hand anything in, and no restriction has been announced on ammunition you already own beyond the use dates above.
The paperwork. UK REACH restriction on lead in ammunition: Government decision published 10 July 2025, following the HSE's restriction report. Covers England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland follows EU rules. The existing wetland lead shot regulations (England, Scotland and Wales each have their own) remain in force throughout. Dates above assume the published timetable holds; we'll update this page if it moves.
What to do now
- Don't dump your lead stock. It stays legal to shoot for years yet. Use it up in the normal way.
- Deer stalkers: start testing copper loads this season rather than in 2028. Find the load your rifle groups, confirm it's legal for your ground, re-zero, and you're ahead of the queue when demand spikes.
- Shotgun shooters: check your proof marks, pattern a steel or bismuth load that suits your gun, and factor steel-proof into any new gun purchase from here on.
- Buying a rifle today? Ask us about twist rate with copper bullets in mind: it costs nothing to choose a barrel that will shoot the ammunition you'll be required to use.
We stock lead-free centrefire and steel and bismuth cartridges now, and we're happy to talk through what your particular gun needs: ask us or book a visit.
Common questions
Is lead ammunition banned right now?
No, but the law is in force. The REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026 took effect on 1 April 2026, and the bans bite on 1 April 2029: lead shot, and lead bullets of .243 and above for live quarry, become illegal to sell or use from that date. The long-standing wetland lead shot rules do apply today.
Is my .223 or .22LR affected?
No. Bullets under 6.17 mm are outside the restriction for live quarry, so .22 rimfire, .17 HMR, .204, .223 and .22-250 continue with lead. Airgun pellets are explicitly exempt too.
Can I use up the lead ammunition I already have?
Yes, up to the relevant date, in the normal lawful way. Nothing announced requires a hand-in, and collectors may keep non-firing ammunition under their certificate conditions.
Will my rifle shoot copper bullets?
Almost certainly, with the right load. Copper runs longer than lead for the same weight, so some barrels prefer a lighter copper bullet; check your twist rate and test before you depend on it. Our twist rate guide covers the detail.
Do I need a new shotgun for steel shot?
Usually not. Most nitro-proofed guns in sound condition handle standard steel with sensible chokes; high-performance steel needs the steel-proof mark; older and damascus guns should use bismuth instead. If in doubt, bring the gun in and we'll check the proof marks with you.
Last reviewed 9 November 2026. The timetable here reflects the published Government decision; if it moves, tell us or check back and we'll have updated it.