The UK is phasing out lead ammunition by 2029. With a 3-year transition ahead, shooters must adapt to new rules.
Here’s what this shift means for the future of UK shooting.
Introduction:
On 10th July 2025 the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced a ban on “Toxic lead ammunition”.
Environment Minister Emma Hardy said:
“Britain is a proud nation of nature lovers, but our rivers are heavily polluted, and majestic birds are declining at an alarming rate.
This new ban on lead in ammunition for most uses will help reverse this – rejuvenating pride in our countryside by protecting precious birdlife and cleaning up rivers.
Non-lead alternatives are readily available, and we’ll continue to work closely with the shooting sector throughout this transition.”
🧑⚕️ This policy is driven by strong evidence of health risks, especially for children and wildlife.
🔄 A major transition away from lead is coming— use the 3-year transition period to plan ahead for alternative ammunition.
🧭 Enforcement is likely at retail level, so supply chains will feel the change first.
The Message – in Brief:
The UK Government plans to introduce legislation restricting sale and use of lead ammunition by summer 2026, followed by a three-year transition period ending in 2029.
It rejected earlier proposals for a five-year transition saying that this extended time period had taken impact to supply chains from Covid-19 into consideration.
- 🗓️ Legislation introduced: Summer 2026
- ⏳ Transition period: 2026–2029
- 🚫 Full ban effective: 2029 – covering sale and use of lead shot and large-calibre bullets
Exemptions will remain for:
- Military and police use
- Elite athletes – proof will be required
- Indoor Ranges
- Outdoor ranges – provided control measures are present.
- Small-calibre ammunition
- Air weapon pellets
- Collectors (Not for firing)
- Academic and forensic work
Further detail:
Small Calibre – All calibres above 6.17mm (includes .243 and everything larger) intended for live quarry shooting will be restricted.
Packaging – All lead ammunition above 6.17 (.243) sold for target shooting will be labelled “must not be used for live quarry”.
Indoor use of lead shot – This will be formally restricted to ensure that the ban on lead shot generally can be effective at point of sale. This removes the possibility that any lead shot labelled for “indoor use only” would be used outdoors and closes this potential loophole.
Outdoor Target Ranges – Must be “permanent” – The detail of how this will be defined is unclear.
In conclusion:
Lead use can be traced back over 6,000 years in the widest variety of applications. It’s density, malleability and cost-effective nature are significant contributors to the longevity of its use.
Given the breadth of evidence, few would contest the rationale behind a transition away from but it seems as if the changes impacting on UK Shooting are happening almost monthly.
Having said this there is one section of the announcement that we would highlight:
“Alternatives to lead shot have become more efficient and widely available in recent years, with steel and tungsten-based shot being two popular options.
The government will continue to engage with the shooting industry to support the transition to alternative ammunition types.”
While non-lead alternatives are improving, uptake and availability remain varied.
We’d encourage the Home Office to remember that UK Shooting offers real benefits to both participants and the wider population. Moving forward meaningful consultation and engagement will be critical to ensure that this to ensure this shift does not feel disproportionate for UK shooting communities.
We’ll continue to monitor and update what this means for shooters, clubs, and retailers.
