Lead ammunition restrictions – your questions answered

- Latest news

March 9, 2026

On 3 March 2026 the Government announced plans to legislate to restrict lead ammunition following recommendations arising from the UK REACH process.

The new legislation will introduce a phased timetable for restrictions between 2028 and 2029.

Read our answers below to frequently asked questions about the new regulations and what they mean for shotgun, rifle and airgun shooters.

General

When will the lead ban come into force?

Restrictions will be introduced in phases.

Shotgun cartridges

The use and sale of lead shot for live quarry shooting will be banned from 1 April 2029.
The use and sale of lead shot for indoor and outdoor recreational target shooting will also be banned from 1 April 2029, with exemptions for elite athletes.

Rifle ammunition

The use and sale of lead bullets for live quarry shooting in calibres 6.17 millimetres and above will be banned from 1 April 2029.
Small calibre rifles below 6.17 millimetres are not affected by the restrictions.
The use of lead bullets for outdoor target shooting will be restricted from 1 April 2028, except at ranges that meet the required risk management measures.

Airguns

There are no restrictions on the sale or use of lead airgun pellets for either target shooting or live quarry shooting.

Is the whole of the UK affected?

The restrictions apply to England, Scotland and Wales.

Northern Ireland is not affected by these regulations.

Does this affect all types of shooting?

The regulations affect different types of shooting in different ways.

Shotgun live quarry shooting – the use and sale of lead shot will be banned from 1 April 2029.
Shotgun target shooting – the use and sale of lead shot for indoor and outdoor recreational target shooting will also be banned from 1 April 2029, with exemptions for elite athletes.
Rifle live quarry shooting – lead bullets will be banned from 1 April 2029 for calibres 6.17mm and above.
Rifle target shooting – restrictions apply from 1 April 2028 for outdoor ranges unless risk management measures are in place.
Airguns – not affected.

Please see the sections below for further detail.

Shotgun

Does this affect all shotgun calibres?

Yes. The restriction applies to all shotgun calibres.

From 1 April 2029, lead shot must not be used or sold for live quarry shooting.

Are there any exceptions?

For live quarry shooting, there are no exemptions.

The use and sale of lead shot for live quarry shooting will be banned from 1 April 2029.

For target shooting, exemptions exist for elite athletes competing in Olympic or Paralympic disciplines.

Additional exemptions also apply for certain professional or specialist uses, including:

military and police
government security services
technical testing and proofing of firearms and ammunition
museum collections

Can I stock up and then shoot my lead cartridges after the ban comes into force?

No. The restrictions apply to both the sale and use of lead ammunition after 1 April 2029.

Does this affect clay shooting?

Yes. Lead shot for recreational target shooting will also be restricted from 1 April 2029.

However, elite athletes competing in Olympic or Paralympic disciplines may continue to use lead shot under specific conditions.

Who qualifies as an elite athlete under the exemption?

The exemption applies to elite athletes competing in Olympic or Paralympic shooting disciplines that still use lead shot.

This includes athletes who have been selected by their national governing body to compete at future Olympic or Paralympic Games, as well as athletes who are actively training for those events and have achieved medal success in the relevant discipline at national or international level.

Athletes using this exemption must notify the relevant authority and meet specific conditions set out in the regulations.

Will I need to get rid of any lead ammunition I have?

From 1 April 2029, the use and sale of lead shotgun cartridges for live quarry shooting and recreational target shooting will be prohibited.

Shooters should ensure that any lead cartridges intended for these uses are used before the restriction takes effect.

Individuals with collections of lead ammunition that are not intended to be fired may continue to hold them, provided the appropriate condition is included on their firearm or shotgun certificate.

Rifle

What calibres will this affect?

Restrictions apply to lead bullets in calibres 6.17mm and above. This includes .243.

Small calibres such as .22 rimfire and .22 centrefire are not affected.

Will this affect target shooters?

Restrictions apply from 1 April 2028 to the use of lead bullets for outdoor rifle target shooting.

However, this does not apply to ranges that implement risk management measures designed to minimise environmental impact.

Many ranges already operate such measures.

What if the quarry I shoot is not entering the food chain (e.g. foxes)?

Whether the quarry is consumed as food or not is irrelevant.

Lead bullets cannot be used for live quarry shooting in calibres 6.17mm and above after 1 April 2029.

Will I need to get rid of any lead ammunition I have?

You may continue using existing lead ammunition until the dates set out in the legislation.

After the restrictions come into force:

Lead ammunition cannot be used for live quarry shooting in in calibres 6.17mm and above after 1 April 2029.
Ammunition used for permitted target shooting must be labelled accordingly by manufacturers.