UK REACH proposals -
rimfire ammunition
Terry Behan
With significant concerns from the shooting community over the efficacy and availability of non-lead rimfire rifle ammunition, Terry Behan shares the findings of BASC’s testing of products available on the market currently.
The UK REACH consultation on lead in ammunition is proposing a total ban on outdoor uses of all forms of lead ammunition.
In terms of rifles, 37 per cent all those on sale in the UK are rimfire calibres. Assuming that sales figures are representative of firearms ownership, we can therefore estimate that England and Wales rimfire rifles could number more than 161,000.
Under the current UK REACH proposals, any outdoor use of lead ammunition for rimfire calibres greater than or equal to 5.6mm would be banned, with an 18-month transition period from the point of the restriction coming into force.
However, this is coupled with uncertainties among the shooting community on the viability of existing non-lead rimfire ammunition. This includes but is not limited to the following popular loading: .22 short, .22LR, .22WMR, .17HMR and .17WSM. Of these – the time of writing – there are only four types of non-lead ammunition available in the UK; three for .22LR and one for .17HMR.
Fit for purpose?
A key concern is that lead-free rimfire ammunition options are not sufficiently accurate for target shooting or live quarry shooting. Recent research have provided evidence of issues related to use of lead-free ammunition for live quarry (Hampton et al, 2020).
Accuracy of bullets downrange is imperative to a shooter’s ability to humanely dispatch their quarry, with sufficient energy at the target so it can be placed in vital areas to cause lethal trauma and instant incapacitation and death.
To be accurate, a bullet must remain stable in flight. Bullet stability is related to velocity of the bullet, twist rate and length of the rifle barrel, as well as the length, shape, and weight of the bullet.
Owing to the lightweight nature of lead-free rimfire bullets, they must travel at higher speeds than a heavier lead bullet of the same size to retain energy and allow expansion and transfer of kinetic energy to the intended target.
Testing protocol
A series of range-based accuracy and penetration tests were undertaken with a variety of non-lead alternatives in .22LR calibre (the most popular rimfire calibre in circulation) and compared to a lead round in the same calibre.
Two types of expanding non-lead .22LR calibre ammunition were tested, alongside one expanding lead loading of .22LR calibre.
Rounds were fired through four different models of .22LR rifles from a variety of manufacturers and of varying ages. Rifles were randomly chosen from a pool of staff and volunteers who have rifles chambered in .22LR.
Shots were fired at targets positioned 50m from the firing point. Shots were initially fired at an NRA ‘non-lead’ ammunition zeroing target, where three shots must be placed in a 125mm target area as a confirmation of zero before further firing can take place with the rifle and ammunition combination (this process is a requirement of range orders to ensure safe use of non-lead ammunition).
Upon recovery of the targets, each group was measured using a digital calliper. The group size was measured from the outside edge to outside edge of the two furthest apart bullet holes in each group of shots.
Separate testing extended to 60m and 75m to ascertain the accuracy of the lead and non-lead ammunition at ranges beyond 50m, which might reasonably be encountered by those shooting small game.
Penetration testing was conducted with each of the ammunition brands at 50m and 75m, shooting into ballistic soap blocks.
The penetration testing and 60m and 75m accuracy testing were conducted on an open field range, which had no requirements for ‘accuracy confirmation’. Due to availability of ammunition, it was only possible to shoot two no. 3 shot groupings with each type of the lead-free ammunition at these ranges.
Results
While there is no set standard for accuracy for live quarry shooting with a rimfire rifle, a maximum of 50mm is necessary to achieve a humane shot on quarry species such as rabbits.
The 24grain copper jacketed, zinc core bullet had an average group across all four rifles of 44.9mm, with the smallest group being 26.3mm and the largest 78.6mm.
The RWS Green high velocity round did not consistently achieve this level of accuracy with three of the four tested rifles. Only the CZ model 452 rifle consistently grouped below 50mm.
The 21grain copper polymer bullet had an average group across all four rifles of 36.0mm, with the smallest group being 18.9mm and the largest 57.9mm.
The CCI Copper round did not consistently achieve a sub 50mm level of accuracy with two of the four tested rifles. Only the Anschutz and the CZ model 452 rifles consistently grouped below 50mm.
The 40grain lead bullet had an average group across all four rifles of 30.3mm, with the smallest group being 15.3mm and the largest 58.8mm.
The Winchester lead subsonic 40grain round achieve sub-50mm groups in all test rifles with the exception of one group of 58.8mm, which was shot with the Colt model M4.
From an accuracy perspective, the non-lead alternatives would likely prove effective to 60m in some rifles, but there this would not be universal.
Beyond 60m, our tests show that the lead-free options would not be accurate enough to dispatch small game humanely. The lead option by comparison was accurate enough to allow for the shooting of small game out to 75m.
At 75m the lead round created a permanent wound channel of 16.5mm at its widest point compared to just 7.5mm and 4.5mm in the non-lead alternatives. The lead rounds penetration performance improved at 75m, creating a 13 per cent larger permanent wound cavity at the widest point, compared to performance at 50m.
The wound channels created by the non-lead alternatives decreased at 75m in comparison to performance at 50m, by 25 per cent and 37 per cent respectively.
The results indicated that the lead round is likely to be more effective in humanely dispatching small game species out to 60m and was the only option that would be suitable for a distance of out to 75m.
The proposals must be revised
Our testing provided evidence which demonstrates that current lead-free options for popular rimfire calibres (.22lr tested) may not be universally effective for the humane shooting of live quarry. Furthermore, there are limitations in the technical suitability, availability/supply of product options in the UK.+
Without significant development of lead-free alternative rimfire ammunition, the current UK REACH proposals are likely to have a significant impact on the ability to conduct humane shooting of small game species.
As it stands, significant development of lead-free products is required to ensure that a variety of technically suitable products are available in the UK, and at a scale of supply that will meet market demand.
It’s for this reason that BASC recommended in its response to the consultation that current UK REACH proposals should be revised. Any restrictions and transition period for rimfire ammunition must reviewed before implementation, ensuring these do not come into force until such a time that the suitability, variety, and supply of non-lead rimfire ammunition can be guaranteed.
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