Lead ammunition restrictions - government announcement

[HonestJohn]

Yes I do , as there’s zero evidence eating lead shot game causes harm , not one study showing it , I’m sorry for your family’s heath problems but it’s not conclusive evidence is it

No Conclusive evidence, but, sometimes if you wait for conclusive evidence you might just wish you hadn’t

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

The problem with BASC is the long standing two faced approach to this issue and others (hunting ban anyone?) BASC set themselves up as the voice of field sports but don't like the criticism when found wanting!

BASC's strongly opposes a ban on hunting with dogs, and believes land owners and managers should be able to choose the most effective methods of pest and predator control for their circumstances. That has been the case in England, Wales, Scotland and NI in our efforts to argue against hunting bans. Are you a BASC member?

 

[Chris Richardson]

No Conclusive evidence, but, sometimes if you wait for conclusive evidence you might just wish you hadn’t

I like my evidence conclusive good job you’re not a judge

 

[Chris Richardson]

BASC's strongly opposes a ban on hunting with dogs, and believes land owners and managers should be able to choose the most effective methods of pest and predator control for their circumstances. That has been the case in England, Wales, Scotland and NI in our efforts to argue against hunting bans. Are you a BASC member?

Just like you’ve strongly opposed a lead ban , what was it no evidence no change

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

If someone else volunteers me for something how is that voluntary or democratic? Did you ask members if they’d like to be volunteers?

That is an illogical viewpoint. Volunteering to move away from lead shot for live quarry shooting was and is your choice. Nobody has been forcing you to do anything. However, if you disagreed with the strategy on this all those years ago did you make representations to BASC Council about your concerns? There was an online AGM on 11 July 2020 for example.

Also, to ask again, which HSE consultation did you respond to and what were your arguments?

 

[enfieldspares]

Not really, minimising risk. I don’t put lead shot venison on the table with my kids, would you?

I don't either.

But not meaning to be flippant which it isn't meant to be I also don't feed them on lead shot rats, lead shot carrion or lead shot squirrels. Nor on fragments of clay pigeon targets.

So, yes, I agree regarding the venison but in respect of a de facto ban on my 9mm Rimfire garden gun that I used rats (because the only cartridges available are lead) I have a different opinion. There is no risk to human health and little risk to birds either as the excess fired shot buries itself into the ground.

And the yearly weight of shot discharged throughout the entire UK by all 9mm Rimfire shotgun users is likely less than the weight of lead shot that will be discharged in a month by one "elite" athlete. But I suppose their lead shot has magic properties that render it different from our lead shot?

 

[Greenmist]

BASC's strongly opposes a ban on hunting with dogs, and believes land owners and managers should be able to choose the most effective methods of pest and predator control for their circumstances. That has been the case in England, Wales, Scotland and NI in our efforts to argue against hunting bans. Are you a BASC member?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't BASC against or unsupportive of the countryside march in 1998, I am a BASC member

 

[Chris Richardson]

That is an illogical viewpoint. Volunteering to move away from lead shot for live quarry shooting was and is your choice. Nobody has been forcing you to do anything. However, if you disagreed with the strategy on this all those years ago did you make representations to BASC Council about your concerns? There was an online AGM on 11 July 2020 for example.

Also, to ask again, which HSE consultation did you respond to and what were your arguments?

How is it illogical someone volunteered the members there was no consultation so in what way was it democratic?

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Just like you’ve strongly opposed a lead ban , what was it no evidence no change

BASC has been fighting lead ammunition bans since they were first proposed in a 1983 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution report.

The following perspective may help:

Lead Shot: A Historical Reflection

In this blog, BASC Scotland director, Dr Colin Shedden, explores BASC’s long-standing involvement with lead shot and how the policy and science has evolved over the years.

basc.org.uk

Here is the WWT version of events:

Features

Immerse yourself in these interactive stories and reports on key issues in wetland conservation. What to look out for, from dabbling to loafing, whiffling to quartering.

features.wwt.org.uk

Here is the latest from Raptor Persecution group, which includes having yet another pop at me.

Press release from Defra: Toxic lead ammunition banned to protect Britain’s countryside

Press release from Defra (10 July 2025): TOXIC LEAD AMMUNITION BANNED TO PROTECT BRITAIN’S COUNTRYSIDE New ban on use of lead in ammunition to protect iconic wildlife and clean up the nation’…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

Maybe its now time to drop the axe and get back behind BASC, or at the very least stop using your spare time to spread misinformation about BASC on this forum - how about using your spare time challenge the WWT and Raptor Persecution group on their platforms.

 

[Chris Richardson]

BASC has been fighting lead ammunition bans since they were first proposed in a 1983 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution report.

The following perspective may help:

Lead Shot: A Historical Reflection

In this blog, BASC Scotland director, Dr Colin Shedden, explores BASC’s long-standing involvement with lead shot and how the policy and science has evolved over the years.

basc.org.uk

Here is the WWT version of events:

Features

Immerse yourself in these interactive stories and reports on key issues in wetland conservation. What to look out for, from dabbling to loafing, whiffling to quartering.

features.wwt.org.uk

Here is the latest from Raptor Persecution group, which includes having yet another pop at me.

Press release from Defra: Toxic lead ammunition banned to protect Britain’s countryside

Press release from Defra (10 July 2025): TOXIC LEAD AMMUNITION BANNED TO PROTECT BRITAIN’S COUNTRYSIDE New ban on use of lead in ammunition to protect iconic wildlife and clean up the nation’…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

Maybe its now time to drop the axe and get back behind BASC, or at the very least stop using your spare time to spread misinformation about BASC on this forum - how about using your spare time challenge the WWT and Raptor Persecution group on their platforms.

How is signing up for a voluntary ban fighting against a ban Connor ? Its been contrast capitulation over and over , and for record I do challenge them as for getting behind basc I wouldn’t hold your breath unless they show some backbone and is run democratically

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't BASC against or unsupportive of the countryside march in 1998, I am a BASC member

I remember BASC being supportive of all the marches from that era. There was a badge for the 1998 one as per image below. Not sure who made that one but I remember a BASC badge back in the day that said "I shoot, hunt and vote"

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

How is signing up for a voluntary ban fighting against a ban Connor ? Its been contrast capitulation over and over , and for record I do challenge them as for getting behind basc I wouldn’t hold your breath unless they show some backbone and is run democratically

It's about self regulation rather than imposed restrictions. As a case in point see the following:

Sustainable Shooting Code of Practice

Read our code of practice on shooting wildfowl, waders and rail species sustainably in England, Scotland and Wales.

basc.org.uk

To repeat. Yes, BASC is democratically run with a constitution and elections. Every year there are elections for BASC Council members. The voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting that was encouraged since February 2020 was voluntary. There has been over 5 years consultation on that. It was voluntary - it has been your choice whether to move away from lead shot for live quarry or not. I ask for the third time, if you were unhappy with the voluntary transition strategy as a BASC member, did you make representations to BASC Council about that? There was an online AGM on 11 July 2020 for example.

As regards the HSE review of lead ammunition, I also ask for the third time, which HSE consultation did you respond to and what were your arguments?

 

[Spear Chucker]

Now is a good time to buy a 45/70.
Use the right lube and they will shoot soft lead.

Spear Chucker, we in East Anglia are not yet blessed with motorways.

Long may it remain so...although the M11 comes close

 

[hendrix's rifle]

And yet another lead thread degenerates into misinformed and misguided BASC bashing

Some FAQs are here:

Lead ammunition restrictions - your questions answered

Read our answers to questions about the planned lead ammunition legislation and what it means for shotgun, rifle and airgun shooters.

basc.org.uk

Have you read what you've posted? I think the bashing on this occasion is WELL founded

 

[JTO]

So, will Swiftie now get a knighthood or a seat in the Lords?

 

[homer]

@Conor O'Gorman firstly thank you for all your continued hard work. The voluntary phase out of lead from field sports put forward a few years ago has prepared the way forward. There are plenty of good viable alternatives. BASC, GWCY etc are all membership organisations and frankly if the membership where unhappy with direction of travel they would have voted those running the organisations.

It is disappointing that the Game Dealers have not continued with their lead free approach. We all want much wider consumption of game meat, but unless and until the market has absolute confidence that it is free from toxic contamination, and contains a warning about lead shot or fragments, no buyer for a school kitchen will ever sign off on game meat being served. Venison prices are at an all time low, so much so I suspect many carcasses are just being dumped.

However stalking has much much bigger issues in Scotland. Frankly the way things are going it will academic whether or not a 243 can shoot copper bullets. In many parts deer numbers are now vastly reduced, so much so that many, many estates are no longer offering let stalking and having to cancel overseas clients because they have no deer to offer.

Once game starts getting shot with non lead alternatives, I cant see that making a button of difference to game sales.
I have been giving away game for nearly 50 years and not once has someone asked me what it was shot with.
They either take it because they like the taste and dont mind shooting, or they refuse it because they dont agree with shooting.

 

[Heym SR20]

Once game starts getting shot with non lead alternatives, I cant see that making a button of difference to game sales.
I have been giving away game for nearly 50 years and not once has someone asked me what it was shot with.
They either take it because they like the taste and dont mind shooting, or they refuse it because they dont agree with shooting.

But you are completely overlooking the commercial markets. Commercial buyers such supermarkets, restaurant chains, public sector will not run the risk of putting game products into the market when they contain lead. The few that do will put warning label about the risks of lead on the packet.

So Mrs Housewife who has read about, or seen on Masterchef venison being cooked. Following day in the supermarket she sees and picks up some venison steaks - all healthy, good nutritious meat according to everything she has read and heard. Then she reads the warning label about the dangers of lead and potential harm to children.

Puts packet of venison back on shelf and picks up some intensively reared pork or chicken product instead.

One potential customer and advocate for shooting wild game lost.

The venison industry has been shooting itself its own foot for last upteen years. Lead used to be commonly used to solder cans of meat and fish closed. This was prohibited over 60 years ago. Yet we still think its perfect OK to contaminate a beautiful free range meat product with one of the most harmful metals known to man.

Have a read of the proceedings in Parliament from 1961 on lead in every day foodstuffs. Linked below.

In those days if you survived more than a year or two after retirement at 65 you were considered to have done well. Now we expect to live into our 80’s.

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1961-11-30/debates/67290903-dcad-432f-81a7-d31974c5ec70/LeadInFood

 

[homer]

So Mrs Housewife who has read about, or seen on Masterchef venison being cooked. Following day in the supermarket she sees and picks up some venison steaks - all healthy, good nutritious meat according to everything she has read and heard. Then she reads the warning label about the dangers of lead and potential harm to children.

Puts packet of venison back on shelf and picks up some intensively reared pork or chicken product instead.

Sounds like mrs Housewife works for BASC!

 

[Bo Diddley]

Not really, minimising risk. I don’t put lead shot venison on the table with my kids, would you? Do you smoke in the car with kids in it, both legal, but just not the best idea when not doing it is safer. My late father ate lead shot game his whole life, and died from Parkinson’s. My grandfather did the same and died from heart disease. My other grandfather did the same and also smelted lead to make fishing lures, he committed suicide. My grandmother also grew up eating lead shot game, she got Alzheimer’s in her ‘50s. My uncle worked as a roofer with lead based components and also ate lead shot game and smelted lead into fishing lures, he died at 48. My sister was fed on lead shot game whilst we grew up, she died from pancreatic cancer aged 49. So was I, I was diagnosed with heart disease this year. My other surviving sister has early onset dementia in her 50s. We all are not over weight and eat healthily in general, etc.

The only underlying common denominator apart from genetics is we all grew up with a large amount of lead shot game in our diets, were exposed to lead fuel and melting lead, shooting in indoor ranges, etc.

The correlation coefficient may be low, but, it’s enough to make me not repeat the past with my kids

I didn't want to comment on this thread... but this made me chuckle... the only thing I can take from this is that we will all die of something... and we will all come into contact with lead.... Jesus, I even purchased a bottle of mercury from a school pal for .50p, that was 45 years ago, and I'm still alive... just.... (I have no idea where the mercury ended up)

I listened to LBC radio today with 'Alf an ear.. Some labour person has denied that they are looking to restrict privately owned firearms from being kept at the owner's home....

Have a good weekend, everyone xx

 

[enfieldspares]

Then she reads the warning label about the dangers of lead and potential harm to children.

Because if it says "May contain fragments of sharp copper shards" or "May contain quantities of small iron ball bearings" she'll now happily put it in her basket won't she? Some either live in ivory towers or in cloud cuckoo land IMHO.

And the first story of broken teeth from steel shot and the first piggyback claim "where's there's blame there's a cash payout" compensation case for such against a supermarket and steel shot gamebirds are off the shelves for good.