Airgunners escape lead ban

Airguns fully exempt from new rules

Airgun shooters have been exempted entirely from the Government’s new lead ammunition regulations, which will ban lead shot and bullets across many other forms of shooting in England, Scotland and Wales from 2029.

Parliamentary under-secretary of state Emma Hardy signed off the new regulations in early March, fixing 1 April 2029 as the date from which the sale and use of lead shot will become unlawful for live quarry and clay shooting. For airgunners, however, there is no restriction – lead pellets remain legal for both target shooting and live quarry in all circumstances, with no notification requirements or conditions attached.

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Small-calibre rifles also outside the scope

Small-calibre rifle shooters have also escaped the net. Calibres below 6.17mm, including the .22 rimfire and .22 centrefire rounds widely used for pest control alongside airguns, are equally unaffected. Niall Gallagher, technical compliance manager at the British Pest Control Association, said: “It’s particularly important for pest professionals that small-calibre rifles and airgun pellets remain outside the scope of these restrictions, as these are commonly used tools for controlling pest species safely and effectively.”

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Shooting bodies welcome exemptions

BASC also welcomed the reprieve for airgunners and others falling within an exempted category: “We’re pleased to see that the exemptions BASC successfully argued and lobbied for have been included in the Government’s plans, reflecting the practical realities of pest control, target shooting and competitive shooting,” said the organisation’s deputy director of shooting operations Terry Behan.

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Stricter deadlines for other shooters

For the rest of the shooting community the picture is more demanding. Game and clay shotgun users must switch to non-lead cartridges across all gauges by 1 April 2029. Rifle shooters using calibres of 6.17mm and above, which includes the popular .243, face the same deadline for live quarry. Mr Behan expressed disappointment that the 6.17mm threshold was not raised to 6.5mm as the shooting sector had requested, warning that around 60,000 deer stalkers could be adversely affected.

Outdoor target rifle shooters face a shorter deadline – 1 April 2028 – but can continue to use lead bullets on ranges with lead recovery measures in place. BASC says many already meet the standard.

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Industry warns of supply pressures

Concerns have been raised about whether the industry can meet demand in time. The Health and Safety Executive recommended a five-year transition for shotgun ammunition; the Government has allowed three. Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner said: “Bringing in a ban on lead shot in advance of the Health and Safety Executive’s recommendations will be challenging for ammunition manufacturers who are already having to cope with much increased demand for military ammunition.”

For airgunners, none of that pressure applies. While the rest of the shooting world begins a three-year sprint to find alternatives, airgun shooters can carry on exactly as before.