Airgun Laws in England and Wales
Important legal information for airgun owners and users
Note: The following information applies to those who shoot airguns in England and Wales. It does not apply in Northern Ireland or Scotland where firearms laws are very different.
Understanding the Law
The law makes no distinction between air rifles and more powerful guns for which you need a licence – they are all classed as firearms. This means that any offence you commit can carry a very heavy penalty, and there are at least 38 different offences.
Following this information will help you to keep on the right side of the law, but, if you have any doubt, seek advice from your local police firearms licensing department.
Who Can Shoot
You do not need a licence to own an air rifle or air pistol providing it is not capable of exceeding a certain power limit. The power limit is set at:
- 12 ft/lbs for air rifles
- 6 ft/lbs for air pistols
It is your responsibility to maintain a legal power output. If you have any doubts, contact your local police firearms licensing department for advice.
Age 18 or older
- No restrictions on buying an air rifle and ammunition (unless prohibited under Section 21 of the Firearms Act)
- Can use it wherever you have permission to shoot
You may not possess an air rifle capable of exceeding the 12 ft/lbs power limit unless you have a firearm certificate (FAC). You are prohibited from owning any air pistol that is capable of exceeding the 6 ft/lbs power limit.
Aged 14–17 years old
- Borrow an air rifle and ammunition
- Use an air rifle, without supervision, on private premises where you have permission
- Buy or hire an air rifle, or ammunition, or receive one as a gift
- Have an air rifle in a public place unless supervised by somebody aged 21 or over, and you have a reasonable excuse (e.g., while on the way to a shooting ground)
Your air rifle and ammunition must be bought and looked after by someone over 18 – normally your parent, guardian or some other responsible adult.
Aged 14 years and under
- Use an air rifle under supervision on private premises with permission from the occupier
- Buy, hire or receive an air rifle or its ammunition as a gift
- Shoot without adult supervision
The person who supervises you must be at least 21 years old. Parents or guardians who buy an air rifle for use by someone under 14 must exercise control over it at all times, even in the home or garden.
Important: It is illegal to sell an air rifle or ammunition to a person under 18 years of age.
Where You Can Shoot
Where you intend to shoot, always ensure that you are authorised by the landowner or person with the sporting rights and that you know precisely where the boundaries are. Get permission in writing, if possible, to remove any doubt.
Whenever you are in a public place you should carry the rifle in a gun cover and always ensure that it is unloaded and not cocked.
Security
From February 2011, the Crime and Security Act 2010 makes it an offence for a person in possession of an air gun to fail to take “reasonable precautions” to prevent someone under the age of 18 from gaining unauthorised access to it.
Trespassing
Intentionally going on to private land, or water, where you do not have permission is trespassing, and if you are carrying an air rifle it becomes armed trespass. Whether the gun is loaded or not, or whether you are carrying pellets, is irrelevant – armed trespass is a serious criminal offence carrying heavy penalties.
Only shoot where you have the permission of the landowner or tenant.
Firing Pellets Beyond Your Boundary
It is an offence to fire an air rifle pellet beyond the land where you have permission to shoot unless the person holding the shooting rights of the neighbouring land has given you permission. When someone under 14 is shot, both the young person and the supervising adult can be prosecuted.
It is also against the law to discharge any firearm (including air rifles) within 50 feet of the centre of a highway (which consists of or comprises a carriageway) IF in consequence a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered.
These offences could be committed, for example, when someone is shooting in their garden close to a public highway and the pellets ricochet onto the highway injuring someone.
Insurance
It is advisable (but not a legal requirement) to have adequate legal liability (third party) insurance when shooting.
Crackshot is a registered trade member of the British Association Of Shooting & Conservation (BASC) and the GTA (Gun Trade Association). For further information on all aspects of shooting please visit their websites or download their best practice guides.
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