Lead ban date announced

[Heym SR20]

I think that any SD members on Scotland need to immediately contact their MPs and say that this will remove the ability of crofters to lawfully shoot deer using shotguns as NO non-lead buckshot and no expanding non-lead 12 bore slug or the require weight exists. And ask that a "prayer" be laid until that is addressed.

This also needs to be considered by all about an exemption for .22 R/F, 9mm R/F and possible two inch (2") and two and a half inch (2 1/2") .410" shoguns throughout the UK. I will be contacting my Mid Leicestershire MP on Monday. I hope that others here will contact theirs.

Up here Police Scotland don’t like authorising slugs for use on deer. If you have a problem with deer, they prefer to grant a rifle.

 

[Smellydog]

Up here Police Scotland don’t like authorising slugs for use on deer. If you have a problem with deer, they prefer to grant a rifle.

That is irrelevant, the law makes it is a statutory provision and could be disputed in a court of law.

 

[North Cornwall Deer]

As a question, what are the issues with copper and other monolithic bullets?

I am currently using lead, but will move to copper when the time comes. There are a fair few studies out there and reviews by people such as Tim Pilbeam, Paul Childerley etc who aren't small names in rifle shooting, and they are happy with the lethality and stopping power of copper and other loads with some good testing on all deer and large game species. I know several keepers who use copper for everything, and seem to get very good results with ballistically and with stopping power.

Just interested to hear peoples views on the move over as after the info online I would be happy to use copper in all my rifles, and can't quite understand the backlash that copper seems to get!

EDIT: I know there a few on here who are quite vocal about the effectiveness of copper, I'm not looking to start a shouting match, just after genuine reasons why it isn't suitable

Sandy

I have moved over using copper in my .308 for the last 3 years and it does everything I need it to.
However I did dapple with lead free in my 6.5x55 tin or some form of alloy I believe however at £65 a box of 20 compared to £27 for the ppu lead
It’s just down to economics for me.

If I need to cull a few reds that are destined for the game dealer I take the .308
If I’m taking a client out who will fire a few practice rounds and then try their luck at a roe doe I take the 6.5x55, I guess I’ll either have to absorb the cost of lead free in the future or pass in on.

 

[jedi]

No, my Sako 75 in 243 shoots fine with Hornady CX handloads and also Hornady Outfitter factory ammo (same bullet).

That’s with the factory 1:10 barrel.

If you like it, you could just have another 1:10 fitted or have a 1:9/1:8 for peace of mind.

I’ve killed muntjac, roe and fallow with it. With a standard chest shot the fallow ran a little further than I might have expected but they were still very dead. That said, I had a roe run a few hundred meters last year having been shot through the heart with a 165gr Gameking from my ‘06.

80gr is legal for reds in Scotland now too, so there’s no ‘need’ to swap a 243. Of course, you can if you want to. My experience with the Creed (which I’d imagine mirrors other mild 6.5s) is that, even with lead, it doesn’t knock things over with the authority of the 270, 308, ‘06 or magnums - so you may want to step up a fair degree if you want to guarantee more authority on quarry.

Thanks for the advice.I have a .308 aswell just use the .243 for foxes.

 

[Point17]

how they going to police it?

Who’s going to stop you buying lead bullets in bulk, between then and now?

You've just raised your head above the parapet. Hopefully they won't come knocking your door in order to find one to make an example of. If you know what I mean?

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

You've just raised your head above the parapet. Hopefully they won't come knocking your door in order to find one to make an example of. If you know what I mean?

Nope, I’ve got enough copper in stock to re-pipe half of Norfolk , I’ve also got enough lead to see me out until the ban comes in

 

[Ukhunter]

Hey guys,
It's very simple.... shoot anything with LEAD-free bullets and charge more for the Game.
BTW I forgot ....get a Deer Dog, because Lead-free shoot animals running far.
The EU is making a turn back to Lead ... wonder

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Hey guys,
It's very simple.... shoot anything with LEAD-free bullets and charge more for the Game.
BTW I forgot ....get a Deer Dog, because Lead-free shoot animals running far.
The EU is making a turn back to Lead ... wonder

The run if you drive them too fast with a light bullet!

I do the polar opposite big bullet, mediocre middle for diddle speed is the was you go

Shot copper a very long time and lost 2 animals

 

[Puds]

Hey guys,
It's very simple.... shoot anything with LEAD-free bullets and charge more for the Game.
BTW I forgot ....get a Deer Dog, because Lead-free shoot animals running far.
The EU is making a turn back to Lead ... wonder

I’ve not noticed a difference between 150gr lead & 136gr Geco Zero in my .308; I’ve only shot 90-100 deer with them but I’ve had no more runners than before.

 

[Mike1979]

Hey guys,
It's very simple.... shoot anything with LEAD-free bullets and charge more for the Game.
BTW I forgot ....get a Deer Dog, because Lead-free shoot animals running far.
The EU is making a turn back to Lead ... wonder

Not sure game dealers will pay us any more for using copper but we can but hope

Ive switched as the one game dealer will only take copper shot so absolutely no choice for me. I ll rattle the "toxic" rounds through on a couple of range days.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Not sure game dealers will pay us any more for using copper but we can but hope

Ive switched as the one game dealer will only take copper shot so absolutely no choice for me. I ll rattle the "toxic" rounds through on a couple of range days.

And let me guess - they still offer peanuts for your deer

 

[Mike1979]

And let me guess - they still offer peanuts for your deer

To be fair I think the increased demand has actually helped the situation. 12 months ago when I was looking at taking on some ground with a mate they were £1 per kg. By the time Sep came and we started on the bucks and prickets it was £1.75 and now its £2 per kg.

Personally its not the money side that interests me (but it helps ease the pain) , its being able to get rid of the deer we have shot...but sometimes when you have shot 2 roe and have a 2 hour round trip to drop them off I do wonder whether the £60 justifies it ...but I dont pay for the diesel so win win

 

[nathan22]

Whats the issues with it? I can see if you shoot a 243 there might be hard finding the right ammo and the expense of copper bullets but other than taht whats the issue? I shoot a 308 recently changed to sako powerblades.. they work perfectly??

 

[jon2]

Lead will still be "legal" for the 243 and larger calibres, but for range use only where lead capture etc is in place.
Will be hard justifying possession of ballistic tips or even soft points though.

I don’t understand why it would be difficult to justify possession of ballistic tips or any other polymer tipped bullet for that matter for use on a range?

 

[andyk]

I don’t understand why it would be difficult to justify possession of ballistic tips or any other polymer tipped bullet for that matter for use on a range?

I agree, not least as a lot of match bullets now feature tips.

 

[jon2]

It’s also practicably an unenforceable law; especially since you don’t have to be a member of a club in order to shoot on a range.

 

[Liveonce]

So EU see sense and five years not three.​

28 Apr 2026​

Posted at 09:49h in Firearms & Ammunition by FACE

• 
  

This month, the European Commission made another revision to its legal proposal restricting lead in ammunition under the EU’s REACH Regulation. One of the most significant changes is that the transition period for the use of lead shot in hunting with shotguns has been extended from three years to five years.

This change reflects continued concerns raised by Member States regarding the practical, economic, geopolitical, and logistical implications of the proposed measures.

The next REACH Committee meeting takes place on 29 April, where Member States are expected to continue discussions on the revised draft. A vote on the proposal in the REACH Committee is expected in the coming months, after which the file will move to theEuropean Parliament for scrutiny.

FACE continues to closely monitor this important regulatory file, which remains highly significant for Europe’s 7 million hunters and the wider hunting and shooting sector.

The revised legal proposal can be accessed here: Comitology Register

 

[Buchan]

Sad to see the usual individual interests getting in the way of an entirely logical proposal. I was hoping the ban might reduce the appalling damage to migrating birds and songbirds on mainland Europe,.

 

[Tim.243]

Sad to see the usual individual interests getting in the way of an entirely logical proposal. I was hoping the ban might reduce the appalling damage to migrating birds and songbirds on mainland Europe,.

You cant contain bird flu with domestic birds dying who will never see a Number 6 lead shot EVER

 

[Liveonce]

Sad to see the usual individual interests getting in the way of an entirely logical proposal. I was hoping the ban might reduce the appalling damage to migrating birds and songbirds on mainland Europe,.

or the millions of domestic cats.