Lead is on its way out, and the date is now set in law. From 1 April 2029 lead shot can no longer be sold or used for pheasant shooting in England, Scotland and Wales, so 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 are the last three seasons in which lead goes in the bag, and the makers already have the answer on the shelf.
Can you stockpile lead cartridges for after 2029?
The regulations also close off an idea some Guns have been quietly entertaining. The restriction covers use as well as sale, so boxes of lead bought in 2028 cannot lawfully be fired at a pheasant once the deadline has passed. Buying lead for the seasons that remain makes sense; stockpiling it for the seasons after does not.
How this first look compares lead and lead-free loads
The questions shooters ask online have not yet caught up. Search for pheasant cartridges and the questions that come back are almost all about lead: whether 5s or 6s are better, which 20-bore loads to choose, how long a box of cartridges keeps. This first look does things differently. For each of six makers, every one a familiar name, it takes the cartridge built for pheasant shooting and sets it beside the lead-free cartridge the same maker offers for the job. Every entry carries the same information, taken from the manufacturer’s own published specification, so you can compare like with like before you ever reach a stand.
What should you check before trying lead-free pheasant cartridges?
A few things are worth bearing in mind before you read the tables. First, steel is lighter than lead: Gamebore lists its Precision Steel shot at 7.9g/cm³ and its hardened lead at 11g/cm³, which is why lead-free loads generally use bigger pellets. The usual advice is to go up a shot size or two from your usual lead load and drop the payload slightly as a starting point, so if you use a 32g No 5 in lead, a 28g No 4 or 3 should see you right.
Second, proof matters. The makers here specify their standard steel loads for standard nitro-proofed modern guns, while high-performance steel is only for guns carrying the steel shot Fleur-de-Lys proof mark.
Third, choke matters. Manufacturers’ limits vary between cartridges, so check the specification for the particular load before using it. Lead-free shot naturally patterns tighter, so less-constricted chokes can produce similar patterns at the ranges at which you normally shoot. If you are unsure what your gun is proofed for, ask a gunsmith before you buy, and a show is the one place you can put the same question to several makers in an afternoon before you try a few brands, payloads and chokes on a pattern plate.
Prices are RRP at the time of publication and may have changed.
Popular 12-bore lead pheasant loads and their lead-free alternatives
Eley Hawk: Zenith Copper Plated PEW and Zenith Steel PEW
Eley Hawk makes its cartridges in Birmingham. The Zenith is the company’s premium game cartridge, combining copper-plated lead shot, which Eley says reduces pellet deformation, with its Pro Eco wad, which the company says is water-soluble and compostable. Its lead-free partner, Zenith Steel PEW, pairs steel shot with the same wad, and Eley describes it as a highly effective non-toxic load suitable for standard CIP-proofed guns.
| Specification | This season: lead | From 2029: lead-free |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Zenith Copper Plated PEW | Zenith Steel PEW |
| Shot | Copper-plated lead | Steel |
| Case length | 70mm | 70mm |
| Loads and shot sizes | 28g, 30g and 32g No 5; 36g No 3 and 4 | 28g No 5, and 32g No 4 |
| Wad | Pro Eco (water-soluble), full cup | Pro Eco (water-soluble), full cup |
| Velocity | 1,278fps to 1,345fps, depending on load | 1,230fps |
| Proof and choke | All traditional chokes | Standard CIP proof; up to ½ choke |
| Price per 1,000 (based on 32g load) | £652 | £612 |
| Contact | eleyhawkltd.com | eleyhawkltd.com |
Gamebore: Black Gold Dark Storm and Dark Storm Steel
Black Gold Dark Storm has been Gamebore’s best-selling game cartridge since its launch in 2014, and sales continued at the same pace after the Quad Seal arrived in 2020. Its lead-free Quad Seal partner, Dark Storm Steel, uses the new Bio-Wad Rapid, which Gamebore says biodegrades in the field in 30 days. Note that the No 3 load is a high-performance steel cartridge.
| Specification | This season: lead | From 2029: lead-free |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Black Gold Dark Storm | Black Gold Dark Storm Steel |
| Shot | Diamond Shot hardened lead | Precision steel |
| Case length | 70mm | 70mm |
| Loads and shot sizes | 32g No 4 and 5; 36g No 3, 4 and 5 | 32g No 4 and 5 (standard); 32g No 3 (high-performance) |
| Wad | Fibre Quad Seal | Bio-Wad Rapid, full cup, with Quad Seal |
| Velocity | 1,525fps (32g); 1,460fps (36g) | 1,400fps |
| Proof and choke | All traditional chokes | No 4 and 5: standard CIP proof; No 3: high-performance steel proof (Fleur-de-Lys). Up to ½ choke |
| Price per 1,000 (based on 32g load) | £578 | £653 |
| Contact | gamebore.com | gamebore.com |
Hull Cartridge: High Pheasant Extreme and High Pheasant Extreme Steel
Hull Cartridge has been making shotgun cartridges since 1947. High Pheasant Extreme, voted Game Cartridge of the Year 2023, has been re-engineered with the company’s new Hydrowad-MAX. Hull describes the cup, launched this year, as 100% plastic free and says it leaves no residue, which suits a busy peg, with a faster degradation time than the original. The cartridge’s new lead-free partner, High Pheasant Extreme Steel Hydrowad-MAX, is a high-performance steel load that Hull positions for guns stamped with the Fleur-de-Lys proof symbol. A High Pheasant Standard Steel is also available.
| Specification | This season: lead | From 2029: lead-free |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | High Pheasant Extreme Hydrowad-MAX | High Pheasant Extreme Steel Hydrowad-MAX |
| Shot | Xtreme hardened lead | Steel |
| Case length | 70mm | 70mm |
| Loads and shot sizes | 32g, 34g and 36g No 4, 5 and 6 | 30g and 32g No 3 (Fe3) |
| Wad | Hydrowad-MAX, full cup | Hydrowad-MAX, full cup |
| Velocity | 1,475fps | 1,410fps |
| Proof and choke | All traditional chokes | High-performance steel proof (Fleur-de-Lys), up to ¼ choke |
| Price per 1,000 (based on 32g load) | £648 | £676 |
| Contact | hullcartridge.co.uk | hullcartridge.co.uk |
Lyalvale Express: Supreme Game and Ultimate Steel
Staffordshire-based Lyalvale Express has been part of the Fiocchi group since 2022. Supreme Game is its flagship game range and, according to the company, a two-time winner of Best Game Cartridge at the Shooting Industry Awards. It is loaded in a traditional 65mm case, as is its lead-free partner, Ultimate Steel, which achieves that short case length with a rolled turnover closure and uses Lyalvale’s own Green Core Wad. That makes this pairing one to look at if your gun has 65mm chambers, provided it carries the right proof.
| Specification | This season: lead | From 2029: lead-free |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Supreme Game | Ultimate Steel |
| Shot | Lead | Steel |
| Case length | 65mm | 65mm |
| Loads and shot sizes | 28g to 34g; No 4, 5 and 6 | 30g No 5 |
| Wad | Fibre with biodegradable card | Green Core Wad (bio-compostable) |
| Velocity | 1,400fps | 1,378fps |
| Proof and choke | All traditional chokes | Standard CIP proof; up to ½ choke |
| Price per 1,000 (based on 30g load) | £500 | £558 |
| Contact | lyalvaleexpress.com | lyalvaleexpress.com |
RC: HPF3 and HPF3 Blue
Shooting Star imports and wholesales RC cartridges to the trade. The HPF3 is RC’s high-performance fibre-wad load, with super-tempered shot that the company says reduces deformation. Its new lead-free sibling, HPF3 Blue, uses Blueshot, a soft, zinc-based alloy that sits close to steel in density and has been reported to be usable through full choke in any nitro-proofed gun, which makes it one of the more straightforward options if your gun has fixed chokes. A 24g 20-bore cartridge is reported to be launching soon.
| Specification | This season: lead | From 2029: lead-free |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | RC HPF3 | RC HPF3 Blue |
| Shot | Super-tempered lead | Blueshot alloy |
| Bore and case length | 12-bore, 70mm | 12-bore, 65mm, 70mm and 76mm |
| Loads and shot sizes | 30g No 5 and 6; 32g No 4, 5 and 6; 35g and 36g No 4 and 5 | 25g to 35g; No 2, 3 and 4 |
| Wad | Fibre | Fibre or biodegradable eco-wad, depending on load |
| Velocity | 1,329fps (36g) to 1,365fps (30g), measured 1m from the muzzle | 410m/s at 2.5m |
| Proof and choke | All traditional chokes | All traditional chokes |
| Price per 1,000 (based on 32g load) | £523 | £781 |
| Contact | shootingstarcc.co.uk | shootingstarcc.co.uk |
Just Cartridges: Purple Fury with Quad Seal
Oxfordshire retailer Just Cartridges sells its own-brand loads alongside the major makers. Purple Fury, its premium game cartridge, was developed with Gamebore and uses Gamebore’s Quad Seal fibre wad and Diamond Shot. At the time of writing, Just Cartridges does not list an own-brand lead-free game load, so shooters looking to switch will need to choose from the other makers’ cartridges it stocks.
| Specification | This season: lead | |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Purple Fury with Quad Seal | |
| Shot | Diamond Shot lead | |
| Case length | 70mm | |
| Loads and shot sizes | 31g No 5 and 6; 33g No 4 and 5 | |
| Wad | Fibre with Quad Seal | |
| Velocity | 1,480fps | |
| Proof and choke | All traditional chokes | |
| Price per 1,000 (based on 31g load) | £498 | |
| Contact | justcartridges.com |
Your pheasant cartridge questions answered
Is a 5 or a 6 better for pheasants?
There is no single answer, and it changes through the season. One widely followed approach is 28g of No 6 early in the season moving to 30g of No 5 later for side-by-side users, and 30g of No 6 moving to 32g of No 5 for over-and-under users. With lead-free shot expect to move to a larger pellet.
What about 20-bores?
The lead-free switch applies to every bore. Several makers in this first look already offer 20-bore steel game loads, including Gamebore’s 20G Black Gold Steel, Hull’s 25g High Pheasant Steel Hydrowad 20 and Eley’s 20-bore Zenith Steel PEW.
How should I store cartridges, and will old lead be usable after 2029?
Gamebore advises storing cartridges at room temperature in a dry place, away from extremes of heat and cold. However well they have been kept, lead cartridges cannot lawfully be used on pheasants after 1 April 2029, so buy lead for the seasons you have left rather than for the years beyond.
Frequently asked questions
When is lead shot banned for pheasant shooting?
From 1 April 2029 lead shot can no longer be sold or used for pheasant shooting in England, Scotland and Wales, so 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 are the last three seasons in which it can be used. The restriction covers use as well as sale, so lead bought before the deadline cannot lawfully be fired at pheasants after it.
What shot size should I use in steel for pheasants?
Steel is lighter than lead, so go up a shot size or two from your usual lead load and drop the payload slightly as a starting point. If you use a 32g No 5 in lead, a 28g No 4 or 3 in steel should see you right.
Can I use steel cartridges in my gun?
Standard steel loads are specified for standard nitro-proofed modern guns, while high-performance steel is only for guns carrying the steel shot Fleur-de-Lys proof mark. Choke limits vary by cartridge, so check the load’s specification, and ask a gunsmith if you are unsure what a gun is proofed for.
Which lead-free cartridge suits a gun with fixed full choke?
RC’s HPF3 Blue, loaded with a soft zinc-based Blueshot alloy, has been reported to be usable through full choke in any nitro-proofed gun, which makes it one of the more straightforward options for owners of fixed-choke guns.
Which lead-free pheasant cartridge fits a 65mm chamber?
Lyalvale Express’s Ultimate Steel is loaded in a 65mm case with a rolled turnover closure, like its Supreme Game lead partner, which makes it of particular interest to owners of guns with 65mm chambers, provided the gun carries the right proof.