Lead shot’s end date is set: 1 April 2029.

When exactly does lead shot end in ​Great ​Britain? The restriction came into law when the REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026 took effect on 1 April 2026, and the deadline is 1 April 2029: from that date lead shot can neither be placed on the market nor used. The 2029-30 game season is the first that cannot be shot with lead. One carve-out survives: elite athletes, as defined in the legislation, keep a conditional exemption for lead shot. Lead shot’s end date is set: 1 April 2029. The 2028-29 season will be the last with lead in the bag for clay and game shooting, with only limited exemptions remaining. The message from the HSE is clear: a successful switch depends on preparation. Now is the time to test alternatives, check patterns and make sure your gun and cartridges are ready. Have you started trying non-lead loads? Read more: https://sporting-gun.com/news/lead-shot-ban-2029-cartridges