Sustainability and environmental friendliness shape the crucial discussions of the 21st century, and these trends are also affecting hunting. Both at the national level and through the federal government and the EU Parliament, increasingly stricter regulations are being imposed on hunters, leading to new hunting methods and new requirements for equipment.

Some innovations, such as the relaxation of the use of thermal imaging and night vision technology, are welcomed by hunters. However, other changes, such as the ongoing ban on lead-containing ammunition, are met with resistance. Critics argue that steel shot has poorer flight characteristics compared to lead shot and is only effective up to a maximum distance of about 30 meters, while lead shot shoots further and with more energy. Additionally, lead-free ammunition generally requires a larger shot size.

For many experienced hunters who have hunted with lead-containing ammunition their entire lives, the transition poses a significant challenge. In particular, owners of older, emotionally valuable shotguns face problems, as these weapons are often not suitable for the use of steel shot unless they are officially approved for this type of ammunition, which involves high costs and effort.

As an alternative, ammunition types such as bismuth shot are proving to be effective, as they can be used without special steel shot shooting and independently of the choke bore of the shotgun. Although these options are more expensive, they offer a practical solution for hunters who only occasionally hunt with a shotgun and do not want to give up their familiar weapons.

With the growing interest and increasing production of bismuth shot by leading ammunition manufacturers, there is hope that prices will decrease in the future due to increasing competition, which could further promote the acceptance and spread of these more environmentally friendly options.