Lead Shot Ban Ireland Cartridges: What's Legal in 2026
Buying cartridges to comply with Ireland's lead shot ban in 2026 means picking steel, bismuth or tungsten shot for any wetland, foreshore or callow shooting — lead shot has been banned in and within 100 metres of those areas since 15 February 2023 under an EU-wide restriction. Lead cartridges are still legal to buy for inland clay grounds and dry-ground game shooting, and the restriction has no effect on centrefire or rimfire rifle ammunition.
- Lead shot is banned in Irish wetlands, on the foreshore and within 100 metres of both since 15 February 2023.
- Steel, bismuth and tungsten shot are the legal substitutes for wildfowling and any wetland-adjacent shooting in 2026.
- Lead shot cartridges remain legal for inland clay grounds and dry-ground game shooting.
- The restriction covers shotgun pellets only — centrefire and rimfire rifle ammunition is unaffected.
- Steel shot needs a gun proofed for it; bismuth is the safer swap for older guns.
Why this matters
Buying steel shot cartridges for wildfowling in Ireland before you head out solves the compliance question in one step, but the boundary of where you need them is wider than most hunters assume. Getting caught with the wrong cartridge box in the wrong place isn't a paperwork issue — it's a breach of the regulations transposing the EU restriction into Irish law, and not knowing where the wetland boundary sits isn't a defence.
The definition of "wetland" used for enforcement is the Ramsar Convention definition: any marsh, fen, peatland or water body, natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, fresh, brackish or salt, plus tidal water down to 6 metres at low tide. That definition catches turloughs, callows, farm ponds, drains and river margins that most hunters would never have flagged as wetland before checking. Buying the right cartridge before you leave the shop, not sorting it out on the day, is the only way to stay compliant every time you're out in 2026.
Where does Ireland's lead shot ban on cartridges apply?
| Shooting ground | Lead shot legal? | What to buy instead |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands, marshes, callows, turloughs | No | Steel, bismuth or tungsten shot |
| Foreshore and coastal water (to 6m depth at low tide) | No | Steel, bismuth or tungsten shot |
| Within 100 metres of any wetland or the foreshore | No | Steel, bismuth or tungsten shot |
| Inland clay grounds away from wetlands | Yes | Either lead or non-toxic works |
| Dry-ground game shooting away from wetlands | Yes | Either lead or non-toxic works |
| Centrefire or rimfire rifle shooting | Not covered by this restriction | Standard lead-core rifle ammunition |
Wildfowling and wetland shooting: steel, bismuth or tungsten only
Any shooting on wetland, callow, turlough or foreshore ground, or within 100 metres of it, requires non-toxic shot. Steel shot is the cheapest and most widely stocked non-toxic option. Bismuth patterns closer to lead and suits older or lighter guns that were never proofed for steel. Tungsten-based loads cost more but pattern densest at range, which matters on open water where birds sit further out.
Wildhunter Gunroom stocks non-toxic wildfowling cartridges, including the Eley VIP Lightning Steel and the B&P Valle Steel Magnum, both loaded for wetland and foreshore work. Steel shot is harder than lead and can damage a fixed choke that isn't rated for it, so check your gun's proof marks before switching cartridge types. Bismuth avoids that problem entirely and is a straightforward substitute in guns not proofed for steel.
Clay grounds and dry-ground game shooting: lead is still legal
Lead shot cartridges remain fully legal to buy and shoot on inland clay grounds and dry-ground game shooting away from wetlands and the 100-metre buffer. There's no blanket lead ban for shotgun shooting in Ireland in 2026 — only the wetland and foreshore restriction. Clay shooters and inland game shooters can keep buying standard lead-loaded cartridges without changing anything about their setup.
Rifle ammunition: the shot ban doesn't apply here
The EU restriction covers shotgun pellets — it does not touch centrefire or rimfire rifle cartridges, even though most rifle bullets still use a lead core. If your shooting is stalking or vermin control with a rifle rather than a shotgun, nothing about your cartridge choice changes because of this ban.
Why the rules catch some hunters out
- The wetland definition is wider than "marsh" — it includes artificial and temporary water bodies, not just obvious bogland.
- The 100-metre buffer applies on dry ground too — standing on a dry field near a drain or pond still falls inside the restricted zone.
- Shot type is marked on the box, but load weight isn't always obvious — steel and lead loads at the same nominal shot size aren't interchangeable in performance.
- Older guns aren't all steel-proofed — a gun made before steel-shot proofing became standard may not tolerate it, which is why bismuth exists as a swap.
- Transport has a narrow exception — carrying sealed, unopened lead cartridges through a restricted zone without using them there is treated differently from carrying them to shoot with.
“If you're shooting within 100 metres of any wet ground, buy non-toxic before you leave the shop — the buffer applies whether or not you're standing in the water.”
Is steel shot as effective as lead shot for wildfowling?
Steel shot patterns lighter than lead at the same shot size, so most wildfowling loads step up one or two shot sizes to keep pattern density and range comparable to lead. It's the standard, widely stocked non-toxic option for duck and goose shooting in Ireland in 2026.
Can I still buy lead shot cartridges in Ireland in 2026?
Yes — lead shot cartridges are still legal to buy and shoot for clay pigeon shooting and dry-ground game shooting away from wetlands and the 100-metre buffer zone. The ban only removes lead from wetland, foreshore and near-wetland shooting.
Do I need a different choke for steel shot cartridges?
Steel shot is harder than lead and can damage a fixed choke that isn't rated for it, so check your gun's proof marks before switching. Bismuth shot avoids this problem entirely and is a straightforward substitute in guns that aren't proofed for steel.
FAQ
What is the lead shot ban in Ireland?
The lead shot ban in Ireland is an EU-wide restriction, in force since 15 February 2023, that bans lead shot in and within 100 metres of wetlands and the foreshore. It doesn't apply to rifle ammunition or to shotgun shooting on dry ground away from wetlands.
What cartridges are legal to buy for wildfowling in Ireland?
Steel, bismuth and tungsten-based non-toxic cartridges are legal to buy for wildfowling in Ireland in 2026. Lead shot cartridges cannot be used on or near wetlands, callows or the foreshore.
Is bismuth shot better than steel shot?
Bismuth shot patterns closer to lead than steel does and is safer in older guns not proofed for steel, though it costs more per box. Steel remains the more widely stocked and cheaper non-toxic option.
Does the lead shot ban apply to clay pigeon shooting?
The lead shot ban does not apply to clay pigeon shooting on inland grounds away from wetlands — lead cartridges remain legal there in 2026. It only restricts shooting in or within 100 metres of wetlands and the foreshore.
What counts as a wetland under the lead shot ban?
A wetland under the lead shot ban follows the Ramsar Convention definition — any marsh, fen, peatland or water body, natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, fresh, brackish or salt. This includes turloughs, callows, farm ponds and river margins, not just obvious bogland.
Can I carry lead shot cartridges through a restricted zone?
Sealed, unopened lead cartridges transported through a restricted zone without being used there are treated differently from cartridges carried for shooting on the spot. If you're heading to a wetland shoot, buy non-toxic cartridges before you leave rather than relying on this distinction.
Are rifle bullets affected by the lead shot ban?
No — the lead shot ban covers shotgun pellets only, so centrefire and rimfire rifle ammunition with lead-core bullets is unaffected. The restriction is specific to shot loads fired from shotguns.
One last thing
Check the shot type printed on the cartridge box before you leave the shop — steel, bismuth and lead loads are marked plainly on Irish and EU packaging, and it's a five-second check against getting turned back at a wetland shoot. If your gun is an older double without steel-proof marks, buy bismuth rather than steel: it's the one non-toxic option that behaves close enough to lead to skip a full choke check.