UK Airgun Law

Like many on here I have been a responsible airgunner for years, without any harm or threat to the public, I feel that it's only going to get more difficult to legally enjoy shooting, especially if your like me and live in Scotland

 

nice to hear from an old school copper and not some university grad on a fast track promotion jobby

 

What is wrong with it being in a safe place with a trigger lock fitted?

Same with a shotgun, If you remove a component that inhibits the weapon you can, if you wish, keep it in a kitchen cupboard.

Not that I'd recommend that of course, but it goes to show how open to intepretation the law is. Both ways.

 

No you can't on both counts. You must prevent access to the gun not prevent the gun being fired.
If a child is walking around the streets with the airgun (prevented from being fired by a trigger lock) they will still scare the hell out of people and possibly get shot by armed response if they don't act in the correct way when shouted at.

If you remove the firing pin from your shotgun to prevent it being fired and keep it in your kitchen cupboard instead of your approved storage you will lose your SGC get a criminal record and do a load of community service or get a big fine. If the police find out.

 

Andy is correct.

You would end up in a far worse situation than I recently did and I got a Criminal record, 12 month probation order, 140 hours community service order and a fine. Keeping it in a kitchen cupboard, component part missing or not would more than likely mean you would get the same as me plus a custodial sentence on top. Not a good a idea.

 

Can anyone advise me if I need a permit or license to set up an air rifle shooting range? If so how do I go about getting one? Thanks in advance.

 

No gun related permit or licence is required. Obviously planning permission, insurance ect would be required.
Cheers Andy

 

Great, thanks for clarifying Andy.

 

Having just ordered an air rifle (first time in 20 odd years) ive been looking at where I can shoot and my comment / questions are not so much about "the law" but attitudes of joe public and the response of the police towards airgun use.

When I was 14/15/16/17 we used to pop down the local fields / woods, set up a few targets and pop away all day (no adults involved but we were responsible, polite, considerate, safe). No one ever batted an eyelid, no mention of the police, passers by taking an interest and even having a go.

Looks like these days are long gone?
If I take my rifle to semi rural woodland, fields etc (responsible use)... will I end up in hot water or is there some lenience / reason / tolerance if the police were to be called? What is the likely response / outcome?
Do any of you shoot anyhere other than private land?

 

if you get caught on land without permision, that is armed trespass, and you will be arrested by armed police...there are many clubs that you can shoot at

 

I intend to stay within the law but armed police for me & my lad shootng responsibly in the middle of nowhere? The world has gone mad!....

Back garden it is then!

 

This. Rightly so there will be no leniency if you're caught shooting on public land / that which you do not have permission to be on. You'll risk losing your rifle and getting a criminal record, plus the very real possiblity of the public humiliation of finding yourself face down in the dirt with an MP5 stuffed into the back of your neck.

I'm afraid it's a club, garden or bust - please don't even consider attempting to shoot anywhere you don't have express permission to be!

 

No, the world hasn't gone mad; farmers / local authorities / estate managers etc just don't like any old Thomas, Richard or Henry milling about on their property without permission to be there. Add what is a firearm (legally, whether we like the definition or not) into the bargain and there's no difference between you with your air rifle in a farmers field without permission and someone with a shotgun in the local park.

I'm being slightly facetious, of course, but the law is as it stands and depending on where you are will be dealt with with varying degrees of alacrity.

 

This is a great post with a lot to read through.

I haven't dared shoot in my garden much. I live in a city centre. My garden is more than 15 metres from a highway, and it is surrounded by a six foot fence that my pellets do not pass through, although there are houses behind. I have a home-made target box that has never let a pellet out after many hundreds have been put into it. I haven't shot much in the garden because although I believe it would be legal to do so, I am scared that a neighbour will call the police, who will be obliged to come pay me a visit. Perhaps I will have a word with the neighbours to let them know it is an air rifle, and I have taken all the required safety precautions (and please don't call the police!).

 

That's a good attitude to have and you might be surprised by the neighbours responses.

There are situations were you can legally shoot closer to the centre of a highway than the stipulated 50ft range, but you have to make sure that you don't breech any of the caveats.

1/ Make sure you don't injure anyone.
2/ Make sure you don't interrupt anyone.
3/ Make sure you don't endanger anyone.

It's good practise to keep 50 ft from the centre of the highway though to ensure you don't fall foul of the above.

Happy shooting!

 

Thanks Steve0_r10. I will keep those things in mind. I don't want to give people a bad impression of us, and I certainly don't want to cause any problems.

 

Well, I spoke to my neighbour about it. I explained that I might be in the garden with a rifle, and not to worry. I explained that it is an air rifle and for target shooting only. She said she has no problem with it and that her son might like to watch and have a go as well. So, good end result. I have just spent half an hour discovering that paralax becomes a problem with shorter distances, but still enjoying myself!

 

If you are shooting responsibly then you will have permission of the land owner (or their representative) to be there and there will be no problem. Even in the middle of nowhere the land is owned and managed by someone.

 

Hi, I’ve just signed up because I have few questions, I used to own a few air guns about 15 yrs ago, something my dad got me into but grew out of it but I’m looking to get back into it for a hoobie because it’s been a while i was wondering if you need some sort of license to own one ? Can you just walk into a Airgun shop and purchase one ? I know it may depend on the gun so the one I’ve been looking just to start off with is a gun called Victory CP2 CO2 .22 and another question is it legal just to shot some targets in your back yard ? Thanks