Where are we up to with the lead ban for rifles?

[Elmer fudd 1]

Hi all

Does anyone know what the current state of play is regarding the use of lead bullets?

The BASC website seems to reference a number of 2022 consultation dates but I can’t find anything concrete.

As far as I can tell, we are all moving toward lead free ammunition but there doesn’t appear to be any dates or deadlines other than a now outdated reference to 2024

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[timbrayford]

Hi all

Does anyone know what the current state of play is regarding the use of lead bullets?

The BASC website seems to reference a number of 2022 consultation dates but I can’t find anything concrete.

As far as I can tell, we are all moving toward lead free ammunition but there doesn’t appear to be any dates or deadlines other than a now outdated reference to 2024

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

No acts of parliament yet

 

[Heym SR20]

I think the legal ramifications, Health and Safety Executive is generally held up in the Lunatic Asylum of Westminster.

Most conservation agencies, government agencies, certification protocols etc are stipulating lead free only ammo, and on many farms, estates, stalking tenancies, syndicates etc again state non toxic ammunition.

Many game dealers and other outlets want lead free. Others don’t.

If its your own land, you are eating it yourself etc you can do as you please. If it belongs to others - then its your choice to argue, accept or go elsewhere.

Syndicate I am part of has always stipulated DSC2 and full insurance, it now states lead free ammo as well.

Potentially a couple of days pheasant shooting later in the season, again lead free requirement.

 

[Night òwl]

No legislation in place yet or dates set .
Carry on as normal. I have encountered no issue's whatsoever with using lead

 

[geoshot]

As Heym SR20 says.
I only went to non-lead because landowners/syndicates I was involved with stipulated their use instead of conventional bullets.
I wasn't overly keen to do so, but have got on ok with them since first using them.
Used correctly I have begun to think that most of the non-lead ammo I have tried actually surpasses the performance of a lot of the conventional ammo which I have used in the past
But
Still no actual legislation ordering the use of non-lead though

 

[Dickie]

Unless your land owner or game dealer stipulate non lead.
Keep Calm
Carry On.

 

[finnbear270]

I'm still putting the lead back where the romans took it from
But I will have a non lead load for the Sako Vixen when sorted.

 

[Jh1986]

My cousin is still shooting lead. I send him a pic every time I buy copper, and he has a little laugh.

 

[Cottis]

My cousin is still shooting lead. I send him a pic every time I buy copper, and he has a little laugh.

View attachment 330276

Sh*t the bed, my car is not worth much more than those 5 boxes of ammo

 

[wytonpjs]

Barnes 130gr TTSX have made it to £90 per box, ie £4.50/round! Thank fcuk I reload the same item for about £1.20/round

 

[Jh1986]

Barnes 130gr TTSX have made it to £90 per box, ie £4.50/round! Thank fcuk I reload the same item for about £1.20/round

I've not yet delved into reloading, but I will at some point. Some copper rounds are ridiculously priced and I also struggle to find shops that stock more than one brand/weight per caliber.

The federal is what my local place stocks, and I managed to grab 2 boxes of Fox copper whilst on the road for work. They were slightly more expensive than the federal but the packaging was crap and the brass was PPU and looked second hand.

 

[Bowland blades]

Barnes 130gr TTSX have made it to £90 per box, ie £4.50/round! Thank fcuk I reload the same item for about £1.20/round

still most folks biggest spend on shooting is the fuel they put in the car £4.50 for a deer dont sound to bad when we look at it like that !

 

[Elmer fudd 1]

still most folks biggest spend on shooting is the fuel they put in the car £4.50 for a deer dont sound to bad when we look at it like that !

Unless you’ve got a permission shooting for a deer cull, 20 rounds in a day starts adding up a bit!

 

[HonestJohn]

Believe my local charges around £85 per box of 20 norma non-leads… frightening!!

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
I suspect most SD members only shoot one or two boxes of ammo a year at deer so price-wise £2.50 upwards a pop is not a huge deal.
However, if the legislation bans all lead projectiles regardless of purpose or location it will hit hardest those who like to shoot considerably more on a typical range day. In my own case a typical day at the club will easily see 100 rounds of mixed c/f chamberings going downrange - I reload all my ammo and have done for many years but already at £1.50 upwards this can be a pricey day. We have all seen steep increases in the component parts for reloading but if you factor in a non-lead round requirement and the associated further increased costs it will inevitably lead to some guys giving up altogether - the cynic/realist of course may well say that is precisely the desired end-game.

 

[long_range_rob]

I use lead on some ground and copper on others dependant on the requirements. They both work well (originally had problems with copper not expanding and spending ages searching for deer with little or no blood trail)

 

[long_range_rob]

Hmmm.
I suspect most SD members only shoot one or two boxes of ammo a year at deer so price-wise £2.50 upwards a pop is not a huge deal.
However, if the legislation bans all lead projectiles regardless of purpose or location it will hit hardest those who like to shoot considerably more on a typical range day. In my own case a typical day at the club will easily see 100 rounds of mixed c/f chamberings going downrange - I reload all my ammo and have done for many years but already at £1.50 upwards this can be a pricey day. We have all seen steep increases in the component parts for reloading but if you factor in a non-lead round requirement and the associated further increased costs it will inevitably lead to some guys giving up altogether - the cynic/realist of course may well say that is precisely the desired end-game.

Don’t forget the restrictions placed at some ranges on monolithic projectiles.

 

[Bowland blades]

Unless you’ve got a permission shooting for a deer cull, 20 rounds in a day starts adding up a bit!

I suppose it does ! I hardly ever use factory ammo unless someone is supplying it maybe shot 60 factory in the last decade. Yet to have someone tell me I had to use factory but i often test new guns with factory hence the 60 or so i have perhaps used
However its rare paid days dont have an extra amount per deer shot and i bet that isn't just £4:50 a beast

 

[NoIDeer]

I got told I would have to use non lead by a certain date, ammo is in short supply and the deadline has been postponed. I'm guessing that it will be reinstated when supply eases. Does anyone have a crystal ball?

In the meantime I am ready to go when the time comes.

 

[Old Waltonian]

I have not yet made the transistion to centrefire calibres. Could someone please briefly tell me what, if any, the implications are for the ballistic performance/accuracy of non-lead ammunition of a given calibre when used in barrels which have twist rates traditionally used for lead bullets? In short, is it going to matter much in practice if lead ammunition eventually becomes completely outlawed?