Alternatives to lead shot

Updated 22 October 2021

Steel Shot and the Alternatives to Lead – Briefing Document

Written by: William Powell Gunroom

Following the widespread discussion about the phasing out of lead shot in shooting and its likely replacement by steel shot; we have prepared a briefing paper that highlights the various aspects and considerat...

Updated 13 July 2021

Steel Shot Shoot Update

Written by: Mark Osborne

Where are we now regarding the future of lead shot? The simple answer is that for Game shooting, there is in the longer term not really a future, but for clay shooting there almost certainly is, but perhaps no...

4 June 2021

Advice to Shoots when Game Dealers no longer accept lead shot

Written by: Mark Osborne - JM Osborne Rural & Sporting

The shooting industry is currently facing significant changes which will undoubtedly shape the future of the sport to varying degrees. One such change is the move away from lead shotgun cartridges to non-toxi...

Updated 13 July 2021

What is the future for English guns with steel shot?

Written by: Mark Osborne

Many of us have been using old English shotguns and particularly Side by Sides for a very long time; indeed many guns made in London, Birmingham or the provinces in the 1880s and 1890s are still in use today, ...

21 January 2021

Is there a lead-free future for those that don’t shoot 12 or 20 bore?

Written by: Mark Osborne

At William Powell Sporting, we believe that for most of us, shooting game with lead shot will probably be a thing of the past much sooner than we had originally thought. The talk now is that we may realistical...

6 November 2020

Review of Gamebore’s Dark Storm Precision Steel Bio-Wad Quad Seal Cartridges

Written by: Ollie Severn

Here at William Powell Sporting, we are very conscious of the changing landscape within the shooting industry. Alongside our sister company, William Powell, we have been working with cartridge manufacturers in...

26 August 2020

Steel yourself for a new dawn of Game Shooting

Written by: Mark Osborne

As our previous lead article details, we see the lead ban as inevitable, and something we are moving towards rather rapidly. In order to adapt to the changes, we must be well informed and prepared, approaching...

26 August 2020

Steel proofed Side By Sides…

Written by: Mark Osborne

With the potential lead ban looming, it leaves the traditional game shot at a bit of a crossroads, especially if they are in the market for a new gun. Game shooting as a sport is built on tradition, from the c...

3 July 2020

The future of side by side shotguns

Written by: Mark Osborne

Following on from our mid-June article, 'Lead shot in game shooting - what is the future?' you will be aware of  the changes that will be coming to game shooting. During the 2019/20 season, the future of ...

17 June 2020

Lead Shot in Game shooting – What is the Future?

Written by: Mark Osborne

As fellow field sports enthusiasts, you will likely be aware that the main field sports organisations, recently issued a press release confirming that they were working towards a voluntary ban on all single-us...

3 June 2020

Is your gun future proof?

Written by: Mark Osborne

The issue of the future of lead shot and questions of “what next” are regularly discussed amongst guns. We therefore wanted to provide an insight into the work that our sister company, William Powell, has ...