Firearms licensing: frequently asked questions
Do I need a certificate for an air weapon?
Conventional air guns, air rifles and air pistols do not require to be held on a firearm certificate, unless they are of a type declared specially dangerous by the Firearms, (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969.
It is possible to measure the velocity of pellets discharged, to a satisfactory degree of accuracy, by use of an electronic chronograph. These measurements allow the calculation of the kinetic energy of the pellet, at the muzzle.
The Rules provide that any air weapon is specially dangerous, which is capable of discharging a missile with a kinetic energy in excess of:
- In the case of an air pistol: 6 ft/lbs or
- In the case of an air weapon other than an air pistol: 12 ft/lbs
Such air weapons, exceeding these prescribed limits, can only be lawfully held
on a firearm certificate and are subject to all the rules and regulations pertaining to all Section 1 firearms.