Lead ammunition restrictions - government announcement

[Conor O'Gorman]

Well from what you've said previously, BASC volunteered for a lead ban and stated its members agreed (which didn't happen), they've then decided to try and fight said ban after a complete 180. You've then welcomed the ban when its gone through?

I'm pretty sure the bashing is fair on those points alone.

There's certainly more than a dozen currently though isn't there and they/we are the ones who will actually engage on an open forum. There's plenty for and against that don't bother expressing their opinions for whatever reason it is. I don't see the 30k+ members congratulating BASC either?

BASC did not 'volunteer for a lead ban' so perhaps that hyperbole is where you are going wrong on this. BASC has consistently fought against lead bans since the 1980s and I have been part of that fight since the 2000s so please don't tell me different. The BASC bashing by a dozen or so people on this forum is mostly from ex-BASC members with various axes to grind, some going back decades. With that in mind, given your comments, are you a BASC member?

 

[Liveonce]

just look at the age profile of firearms owners 69% over the age of 50 years and just 11% 18 to 34 years it’s going to die out with the 50+ generation. The next 10 years will see a rapid decline.

 

[Liveonce]

BASC did not 'volunteer for a lead ban' so perhaps that hyperbole is where you are going wrong on this. BASC has consistently fought against lead bans since the 1980s and I have been part of that fight since the 2000s so please don't tell me different. The BASC bashing by a dozen or so people on this forum is mostly from ex-BASC members with various axes to grind, some going back decades. With that in mind, given your comments, are you a BASC member?

What evidence did BASC submit to help show clay shooting at proper clay grounds had virtually zero risk to the environment and zero risk to human health as nobody eats clay pigeons, to support the continued use of lead shot on such grounds, or an exemption for small gauge guns?

 

[hendrix's rifle]

BASC did not 'volunteer for a lead ban' so perhaps that hyperbole is where you are going wrong on this. BASC has consistently fought against lead bans since the 1980s and I have been part of that fight since the 2000s so please don't tell me different. The BASC bashing by a dozen or so people on this forum is mostly from ex-BASC members with various axes to grind, some going back decades. With that in mind, given your comments, are you a BASC member?

Well, BASC appear to take great pride in starting the ban a few years ago...

I was a BASC member. I stopped the membership after BASC when I realised they were not fighting the right battles (in my opinion) and had actively lied about the voluntary ban to member of the SD and everyone else. Then when people requested details and minutes from various meetings, they either weren't available or got 'lost' somewhere.

 

[terrier1]

BASC have caused more harm than good in the lead free debate.
They did not consult the membership on this decision.
And why are the discussions on lead free
ammunition being hidden in the minutes of the meetings at BASC.
If you have nothing to hide why.

As for your BASC council they should all be ashamed at their decisions and resign.

If game dealers will only take lead free bird this would have forced all the big bag shoots to comply and would work to reduce the amount of Lead shot into the environment voluntarily most of the game dealers for venison are asking for lead free ammunition to be used.

And before you say it I am a BASC basher and proud of it. You are making decisions that are affect us all and as you are finding out there are a lot of people not happy about this.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

What evidence did BASC submit to help show clay shooting at proper clay grounds had virtually zero risk to the environment and zero risk to human health as nobody eats clay pigeons, to support the continued use of lead shot on such grounds, or an exemption for small gauge guns?

BASC argued the case against restrictions on the use of lead shot on clay grounds in its responses to the HSE consultations, the last consultation being in 2023, and the BASC response (in two parts) is here:

BASC response to HSE lead ammunition consultation

Read BASC's response to the Health and Safety Executive's socio-economic consultation on proposals to restrict the use of lead ammunition.

basc.org.uk

Search the response with the word "clay" for the evidence based arguments in the document "BASC review of the HSE Annex 15 opinion on lead ammunition restrictions".

The relevant positions stated in that response as follows:

• BASC believes that the shooting of targets with lead shot on registered clay grounds could continue where registered grounds can evidence that they can comply with current legislation. The need for “de leading” would not be required.
• There is a lack of evidence to support the proposed restrictions. Furthermore, the restrictions for lead shot for target shooting are not based upon the impacts but an attempt to stop lead ammunition that could be used for clay shooting being also used for live quarry shooting. BASC believes that any proposed restrictions for lead shot should be aimed at controlling the risks, rather than risk elimination. The evidence for lead shot for target shooting is theoretical and inconclusive, and any restrictions based on this would be deemed as over precautionary.
• BASC notes that the HSE is in effect proposing restrictions on lead shot for clay target shooting to ensure no crossover can take place for live quarry shooting. Restrictions on the use and the sale of lead shot for target shooting as a means of enforcing restrictions on the use of lead shot for live quarry shooting are not appropriate because this is mission creep and outside the scope of the HSE review.
• BASC notes that where grounds can evidence the correct control measures then they should be able to continue with lead in line with clay pigeon shooting and ranges.
• BASC believes that clay shooting can and should continue with lead shot where risk management measures are in place.

The above are snippets - have a look at the detailed response for context.

 

[Kyle_hill98]

I'm a current BASC member and at this point just feel let down. Like others have said this will push many people not to shoot or at least as much. I'm in the 11% 18-34 and shoot most evenings. I home load to make it cheaper, but at this rate if we're having to go non lead the financial hit is going to massive and certainly hard to continue how I currently operate...

Far more serious issues within the UK, they're only coming after us for one reason, gun control....

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Well, BASC appear to take great pride in starting the ban a few years ago...

I was a BASC member. I stopped the membership after BASC when I realised they were not fighting the right battles (in my opinion) and had actively lied about the voluntary ban to member of the SD and everyone else. Then when people requested details and minutes from various meetings, they either weren't available or got 'lost' somewhere.

What year did you resign and if you joined another organisation who were they?

 

[hendrix's rifle]

What year did you resign and if you joined another organisation who were they?

Im not sure exactly what year however I went with NGO.

 

[Stevie/P]

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.

I wonder how many small local gun shops will survive as less and less people participate in shooting. clay shooting has albeit finished in my area I think we are witnessing the demise of shot gun shooting not blaming BSAC as it’s the decision of the government typically labour old thinking that’s it’s the toffs that go shooting and fox hunting so we’ll target them.
While water companies continue polluting are water ways and DEFRA consider lead shot bad for Britains countryside.

 

[Liveonce]

BASC argued the case against restrictions on the use of lead shot on clay grounds in its responses to the HSE consultations, the last consultation being in 2023, and the BASC response (in two parts) is here:

BASC response to HSE lead ammunition consultation

Read BASC's response to the Health and Safety Executive's socio-economic consultation on proposals to restrict the use of lead ammunition.

basc.org.uk

Search the response with the word "clay" for the evidence based arguments in the document "BASC review of the HSE Annex 15 opinion on lead ammunition restrictions".

The relevant positions stated in that response as follows:

• BASC believes that the shooting of targets with lead shot on registered clay grounds could continue where registered grounds can evidence that they can comply with current legislation. The need for “de leading” would not be required.
• There is a lack of evidence to support the proposed restrictions. Furthermore, the restrictions for lead shot for target shooting are not based upon the impacts but an attempt to stop lead ammunition that could be used for clay shooting being also used for live quarry shooting. BASC believes that any proposed restrictions for lead shot should be aimed at controlling the risks, rather than risk elimination. The evidence for lead shot for target shooting is theoretical and inconclusive, and any restrictions based on this would be deemed as over precautionary.
• BASC notes that the HSE is in effect proposing restrictions on lead shot for clay target shooting to ensure no crossover can take place for live quarry shooting. Restrictions on the use and the sale of lead shot for target shooting as a means of enforcing restrictions on the use of lead shot for live quarry shooting are not appropriate because this is mission creep and outside the scope of the HSE review.
• BASC notes that where grounds can evidence the correct control measures then they should be able to continue with lead in line with clay pigeon shooting and ranges.
• BASC believes that clay shooting can and should continue with lead shot where risk management measures are in place.

The above are snippets - have a look at the detailed response for context.

So simply put the HSE ignored the shooting organisations and individuals like myself that completed the consultations so they were just a tick in box process.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I'm a current BASC member and at this point just feel let down. Like others have said this will push many people not to shoot as much. I'm in the 11% 18-34 and shoot most evenings. I home load to make it cheaper, but at this rate if going non lead the financial hit is going to be hard to continue how I currently operate...

Far more serious issues within the UK, there only coming after us for one reason, gun control....

Sorry to hear that and happy to discuss on the phone next week if you wish - I will PM you.

BASC has been fighting lead ban proposals in the UK since the 1980s and recent policy developments are not unique to the UK. Shooters in ROI and NI, and mainland Europe, face many of the same restriction proposals and the various hunting organisations are doing their best to challenge these restrictions - namely for longer transition times than being proposed. The same has been happening in USA, in Canada, in Japan, in Australia and NZ. To name a few. The move away from lead ammunition is a worldwide policy development that is based on societal concerns about the impacts of lead ammunition on wildlife, environment and human health. Yes, there are those against gun ownership and those against live quarry shooting in the mix but they are not driving this - research going back 100 years and broader more recent societal concerns are driving this.

 

[Liveonce]

I wonder how many small local gun shops will survive as less and less people participate in shooting. clay shooting has albeit finished in my area I think we are witnessing the demise of shot gun shooting not blaming BSAC as it’s the decision of the government typically labour old thinking that’s it’s the toffs that go shooting and fox hunting so we’ll target them.
While water companies continue polluting are water ways and DEFRA consider lead shot bad for Britains countryside.

i was told the other day by someone in the trade one RFD a week is closing.

edit to add just look, nearly two a week closing.

 

[User100]

Many will know I use a shotgun for HAD work and dont fancy using steel as a replacement! H & S executive have said no to a dispensation for HAD work even with BASC backing for this.

This is one of the sides I am worried about. I can't believe a compromise can't be found here because the HSE will end up prosecuting themselves. I do hope Police forces will present the case for the position they will be put in if lead shotgun cartridges aren't available. Anyway, thanks for that post - at least the question has been asked.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Im not sure exactly what year however I went with NGO.

Thanks. BASC and NGO were amongst 9 organisations that collectively announced a voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting in February 2020. The NGO response to the December 2024 HSE recommendations to the government was: "Lead exposure poses serious risks to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, particularly children. This move supports conservation and aligns with existing efforts across Europe". With that in mind, was it the voluntary transition announcement supported by BASC and NGO that motivated you to leave BASC for NGO, or something else?

 

[Greener Jim]

Can I just say please.

I hate this country and all that it has become.
It's as oppressive as any other oppressive state only they spin the yarn more finely.
They tax me on nearly every God dam thing then tell me how bad my interest is and it's got to go.
Meanwhile thousand's of illegal immigrants flood in. There has been murders and raping. You can smoke and drink yourself stupid. You can play violent games while eating $hite. You can rob, you can take hard drugs. The list goes on and on but shoot lead! Pathetic.
Hypocrisy hypocrisy hypocrisy all the dam while.
God I hate this land.
When I see some fool flying the flag I don't know whether to laugh, cry or vomit!

Though I don't disagree with the first sentiment, you mustn't forget that some of us serve that flag and accordingly fly it with pride for what it did, and what it can, represent.
Tread lightly my friend.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Thanks. BASC and NGO were amongst 9 organisations that collectively announced a voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry shooting in February 2020. The NGO response to the December 2024 HSE recommendations to the government was: "Lead exposure poses serious risks to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, particularly children. This move supports conservation and aligns with existing efforts across Europe". With that in mind, was it the voluntary transition announcement supported by BASC and NGO that motivated you to leave BASC for NGO, or something else?

It was something else, I'd already cancelled with BASC and unfortunately needed insurance. I happened to have a NGO rep sat in front of me and went with it for ease!

 

[Dunwaters]

The lead ban is an inconvenience, nothing more.
Most of you will still be here, still shooting and still bitchin’ in 5 years time.
Relax, have a beer and enjoy the summer evening.

 

[jall55]

i was told the other day by someone in the trade one RFD a week is closing.

edit to add just look, nearly two a week closing.
View attachment 428206

What isn't closing in this country
Seems to be everything - pubs - car dealers - massive range of shops

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

So simply put the HSE ignored the shooting organisations and individuals like myself that completed the consultations so they were just a tick in box process.

My understanding is that a key concern during the HSE review was that shooters would use lead shot intended for target shooting for live quarry shooting, based on evidence of widespread non-compliance by inland shooters for the species/wetlands restrictions that have been in place for two decades.

See:

Statement on HSE proposals to restrict use of lead ammunition in Great Britain – HSE Media Centre

press.hse.gov.uk