Lead shot ban on the horizon?

Conor O’Gorman runs through some of the new EU lead shot restrictions, which could be adopted by the UK government despite Brexit

- BASC'S CONOR O`GORMAN

It seems a lifetime ago when in February nine shooting and rural organisations announced a voluntary transition away from the use of lead and single-use plastics in shotgun ammunition for live quarry shooting within five years.

That announcement was a watershed moment, removing the taboo factor from open discussion and cultural change has been most evident in the attitude of many shooters to lead ammunition over the last nine months.

As shooters, we are both customers of guns and ammunition, and conservationists, given our environmental awareness and contribution. As customers and conservationists, we want to see more sustainable ammunition manufactured and made available for all shooting disciplines, starting with shotgun ammunition for live quarry shooting.

Since February, a number of cartridge companies have launched a range of lead-free and plastic-free ammunition products and a sustainable future for shooting is looking very achievable.