Non-lead shot for the small but mighty

They might be lacking clout in the marketplace, says Simon Reinhold, but fans of the 16-bore are a committed group and there is a demand

- Simon Reinhold

It’s a question I hear frequently: “With the move away from lead, should I get rid of my small-bore side-by-side?” The answer is: if you shoot well with it and enjoy using it, then no.

The 16-bore has always had its devotees, in love with the perfect combination of handling and effectiveness. They are a small, committed group and that is part of their problem. They lack financial clout and the cartridge business is a hard-headed one based on volume sales. It is not based on the romance of a relatively niche calibre, no matter how ardent its fans.

The move away from lead shot as the principal lethal component of our cartridges has dominated the conversation in and around the gun trade since it was announced. In my day job as head of operations for Holts Auctioneers, I spend much of my time advising clients, both based here and overseas, what is possible and what is most effective for them when they come to shoot here. Many of the serious Shots have been preparing,  testing and trialling for some time. For those shooting a 12-bore, that is all well and good and they have a range of products to try. For those shooting a 16-bore, there has been very little to get their teeth into.

It is true that 16-bore steel shot does exist. It has been around for several decades. I was sourcing Remington Nitro Steel several years ago for a fanatical 16-bore fan who wanted to shoot duck legally with his Browning White Lightning. Although it was tricky to find, the main problem was and remains that, like most US steel cartridges, it is loaded with a high-density polyethylene wad.

Shotgun wads