Lead shot and lead bullets for live quarry are being phased out in Great Britain. The ban was made in March 2026 and takes full effect on 1 April 2029. Until then, the older lead shot rules for wetlands and wildfowl still apply in each country. Every point below links to the legislation.
In force since 1 April 2026: the Regulations add the restriction on lead in projectiles to UK REACH, with the dates below.
From 1 April 2028: bullets and other non-shot projectiles with 3% or more lead may not be used at outdoor shooting ranges, unless the range has taken action to reduce the risks, keeps records of it and has notified the enforcing authority.
From 1 April 2029: shot with 1% or more lead, and bullets with 3% or more lead, may not be used or placed on the market.
Exempt from the bullet rule: bullets under 6.17 mm calibre used for live quarry shooting (including zeroing), and bullets for indoor target shooting.
From 1 April 2029, suppliers must label packs of lead bullets of 6.17 mm or more "Must not be used for live quarry shooting".
Air weapons have their own derogation, and elite target shooters can be exempted for lead shot if they notify the Agency each year.
The Regulations apply in England, Wales and Scotland. They do not apply in Northern Ireland.
England: no lead shot below high-water mark of ordinary spring tides, over the SSSIs listed in the Regulations, or at ducks, geese, swans, coot, moorhen, golden plover or common snipe anywhere.
Source: Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999
Wales: no lead shot below high-water mark, over the listed SSSIs, or at ducks, geese, coot or moorhen anywhere.
Source: Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Wales) Regulations 2002
Scotland: no lead shot on or over any wetland, as the Ramsar Convention defines it (marsh, fen, peatland with visible water, or water, including land covered seasonally).
Source: Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004
Northern Ireland: no lead shot (more than 1% lead) on or over wetlands. This is the main lead rule there, since the 2029 ban does not apply.
Source: Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Scotland lowered its minimum deer bullet weight from 100 to 80 grains on 3 November 2023, to allow lead-free bullets such as copper.
Source: Deer (Firearms etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023
See registered land boundaries, protected sites, open access land and season dates on an offline map in the HuntScout app. A boundary on the map is never permission to shoot.
Seasons by country: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland · all UK shooting seasons
By species: pheasant season, partridge season, grouse season, woodcock and snipe season, duck and goose season, deer season, roe deer season · lead ammunition ban