Thread: Air Rifle Laws

Now I have been searching the web for a clear cut answer on the air rifle laws.. I recently found my old rifle from 6 years ago decided to try it out... I hit a can at 20 yards with 2 pumps without a scope first try and managed to hit it clean and put a hole right the way through it on my first go was impressed with myself not used it for years was using steel 1.117 BB's. You can pump it up to 10 times for maximum power..but yeah after only 2 pumps it went straight through a cocke can at 20 yards so not to shabby for a small thing

The rifle is a crosman 760 pumpmaster fires at 620-25 FPS (feet per second) and the rifle itself is about 32.5 inches long. Now the laws i have found is the rifle has to be licensed( I think...) If it goes over 12lb per foot which is the maximum an air rifle can be without being classed as a fire arm. what ever the hell that means,, I think it means 12lb ft lb is muzzle velocity and so is 620 fps...I would like to convert 620 fps into the correct ft lb praying it falls under 12lb ft..... I don't know if there is a law concerning FPS or size etc.

I am just looking for the specifications of a rifle that fit the laws concerning licenses and things and see where my rifle fits in I am hoping that I don't need any licenses and permits and just want to crack on with it. But its best to be safe than sorry

The bottom line is do need a license and if so where do I get it? How do I go about making sure I am not doing anything illegal. I believe its ok for me to hunt in a field if I am given permission by the owner or even in my backgarden, we got a sh1t load of wild rabbits in the garden causing a nuisance plus crows and pigeons :P Who know's I may even make a meal out of the rabbit.. But anyway I may not have the heart to shoot anything only cans haha hope someone can help clear it up for me Cheers!

Can't help you other than to say go have a word with the old bill mate. They'd be able to offer you the best advice on it all.

don't want to get it confiscated or in trouble for having it haha

Originally Posted by offo

don't want to get it confiscated or in trouble for having it haha

HAha fair one. Phone up anonymously or go down and say "i have a friend..."

I would take it to a gun shop and they can test it. I have never heard of anyone having an air rifle testing by to cops before but if its over 12 foot pounds it'll be class as a fire arm and you'll be in deep ****. But if you bought the rilfe with out knowing it had been upgraded from some guy how would you ever know that it had been up rated?

you need the weight of the projectile and the exact speed it leaves the muzzle.there is a formula(search on the net for it) to work out the power in ft/lb from those two. a pnematic(i presume thats what yours is) will increase it's power with heavier pellets(a spring gun gets more powerful with lighter ones) and the law states that a gun "must not be CAPABLE of exceeding 12 ft/lbs" so it needs to be set within the limits with the heaviest pellet you can find as if the worst happens and the police do put it over a chrono,they can use whatever pellets they like(i.e,heavy ones!)

And be carefull shooting in your garden as the land has to be a certain size to be shooting on and where general public cnt be within 100 metres of where u are shooting from according to armed police that nicked me a few year back for it

You do not need a lisence for an air rifle

Originally Posted by josh__21

And be carefull shooting in your garden as the land has to be a certain size to be shooting on and where general public cnt be within 100 metres of where u are shooting from according to armed police that nicked me a few year back for it

were you charged with anything? because the law states you can only shoot within 50ft (not 100 meteres)of a public highway if you don't cause injury/alarm/nuisance to memebers of the public.

Originally Posted by Lukeg

You do not need a lisence for an air rifle

you do if it's over 12 ft/lbs.(pr 6 ft/lbs for a pistol)

As you have a .177 (I checked the specs on line), the average weight for a pellet is 8g, this gives a foot pound value of just under 7 using the 625 fps value, way under the 12 foot pound limit. So you dont need to worry about a license or legality for this one.

I had to dispose of a Weirach air rifle some years ago - I bought it without realising it was 18 foot pounds! :( So bought its little brother that is 11.9!

cheers

Diggy.

Originally Posted by bigpit

were you charged with anything? because the law states you can only shoot within 50ft (not 100 meteres)of a public highway if you don't cause injury/alarm/nuisance to memebers of the public.

No want charged just got done for public disorder but a copper said to me i didnt break a law armed police just wanted to make a arrest after helicopter and lot was out and about 20 armed cops

http://www.airgunforum.co.uk/forums/...irgun-law.html

Have a look at that, didn't read it through but should give you the basics.


You should take it to get a chronograph test to find out the power. Very important if you are unsure about its power otherwise you could get done for owning a firearm which will get you in big sh1t. Don't forget that using a different type of pellet could take it over...

just buy a chronograph. i wouldnt take it to a gun shop though because if it does test over the limit im pretty sure they can take it off you as well

I just found an excellent calculator on the web...yes using 1.117 with an 8 gr pellet gets a bout 8lb ft...the most I can get out of the gun is apparently 10.80 lb ft depending on the size of the pellet...it is pnumeatic... Now I just have to find viable targets