Crosman Piranha Hollow Point .177 (400)

It is estimated that there are over six million air rifles in England and Wales, the vast majority of which are used in a safe and responsible manner. This code offers guidance to those who shoot with them. It does not apply in Northern Ireland or Scotland where firearms laws are very different.

1. Introduction

It is estimated that there are over six million air rifles in England and Wales, the vast majority of which are used in a safe and responsible manner. This code offers guidance to those who shoot with them. It does not apply in Northern Ireland or Scotland where firearms laws are very different.

High standards underpin public and political support for shooting, now and in the future.

The code provides advice at two levels:

Advice that must be followed in order to deliver sustainable shooting – unless otherwise stated the term ‘must’ only applies to meeting the standards set by this Code of Practice and does not refer to a legal obligation.

Advice that should be followed in order to achieve Best Practice, any deviation from which would need justification.

THE FOLLOWING GOLDEN RULES APPLY:-Always know where the muzzle of your air rifle is pointing and NEVER point it in an unsafe direction.The safe conduct of air rifle shooting must meet the standards described in this code, show respect for the countryside, due regard to health and safety and consideration for others.Before you shoot, make sure that a safe backstop is present to capture the pellet.Consider live quarry; do not shoot beyond the bounds of your ability. Do not take chance shots.REMEMBER – ignorance of the law is no excuse. If in doubt, always ask.2. Behaviour in the Field

BASC promotes and insists on safe and sensible behaviour by all shooters in all disciplines. By acting on these points you will reassure shooters and non-shooters alike that you can be trusted with an air rifle.

Always check with the landowner, in good time, if you want to go shooting.Always confirm with the landowner what quarry you may shoot.Always respect the owner’s property, crops, livestock and fences and follow the Countryside Code.Always treat an air rifle as though it is loaded and keep its muzzle pointing in a safe direction.On picking up or being handed an air rifle, check immediately to ensure it is not loaded e.g. that it is un-cocked and that there is no pellet in the breech. Be particularly careful when checking pre-charged pneumatic air rifles.Before you fire your rifle, consider where the pellet could go. Be sure that no damage can result if you miss your intended target.Always bear in mind the possibility of a ricochet.Never put down a loaded air rifle or leave it unattended.Use of a sound moderator can minimise disturbance to wildlife, livestock and other countryside users.Remember that all shooters will be judged by your actions and ensure that your conduct is always above reproach. Encourage the same attitude in your shooting companions.

Above all, be safe and be sensible.

3. What You Can Shoot

Target shooting

There are numerous clubs catering for this growing sport throughout England and Wales, and they can offer great help and shooting opportunities to both the novice and the experienced shooter alike. You will find contact details on the BASC website in the airgun section.

If you want to practise on your own premises you must have an effective backstop. This may be an adequate soft soil bank, without stones, or a brick wall on which an old piece of carpet can be hung to prevent ricochets. Do not use chipboard, plywood or any thick composite material with a polished surface, as there is a risk of ricochet.

Remember that you can be prosecuted if any pellet goes beyond your land, whether it is directly fired or an accidental ricochet.

Live quarry shooting

Many people shoot live quarry, either on their own land or where they have permission. The species which you can shoot are limited by the law and by the effective power of an air rifle.

All wild birds are protected, and although there are seasons when you can legally shoot game, and certain wildfowl, they are not suitable quarry for air rifles. However, as long as you are complying with firearms law, you can shoot certain pest bird species. These are covered by general licences which, in simple terms, mean you can shoot the birds listed, provided you have the landowner’s permission and provided you are doing it for one of the reasons allowed by the licence.

These reasons include:

to prevent serious damage (e.g. to crops and livestock) or to prevent diseaseto protect and conserve flora and faunato preserve public health or safety

The general licences vary by Country and are annually reviewed, so BASC recommends that anyone wishing to take these species should regularly read BASC’s advice on general licences, which is available online at basc.org.uk/shooting/general-licences/

You can shoot mammal pests at any time provided you have the landowner’s permission. Air rifles are suitable for: brown rats, grey squirrels, stoats, mink and rabbits.

Respect for the quarry

Always shoot well within your capabilities. Practise on targets, never on live quarry, to establish the maximum range at which you and your rifle can consistently hit the point of aim that will ensure a clean kill; this is usually the head, and normally has a maximum diameter of about three centimetres (1¼ Inches). Practise regularly to improve your shooting and stalking skills.

Make sure you know where the kill zone is for each species that you are going to hunt. For mammals, the side -on head shot should be the preferred shot placement. For birds, head shots are effective but difficult because the target area is very small and rarely remains still. Shots to the breast or body cavity give a bigger target area but remember that dense feathers or a crop full of grain will limit the pellet’s effectiveness. The area under the wing is a good place to aim for.

You should zero your rifle and sights (check their correct alignment) before starting any hunt; usually a rifle scope will come with instructions; otherwise there are many books which explain the principles.

It is your responsibility to be able to recognise your quarry and know when and where you may shoot it. Never shoot unless you have positively identified your quarry.

Wounded quarry should be despatched quickly to minimise suffering, either with a second shot or a sharp blow to the base of the skull. Be particularly careful when dispatching wounded rodents as they can bite and scratch with a risk of serious infection.

DO NOT TOUCH RATS. They may carry fatal diseases, so you should lift them with a fork or shovel.

At the end of the day

Always leave your shoot in the condition in which you would like to find it. Make sure that you collect all your equipment. It is courteous to thank the landowner and to offer him something from the bag if you have shot any edible quarry. Take care of your edible quarry – remember it is food, store it in a cool place and never waste it.

Non-edible quarry should be disposed of discreetly, carefully and should not create a health hazard. This is a legal requirement. Under most circumstances deep burial beyond the reach of a carnivorous animal would be appropriate.
The displaying of carcasses on fences or on a gamekeeper’s “gibbet” serves no useful purpose and may offend other countryside users.

4. The Air Rifle

Always ensure that your air rifle is powerful enough to achieve a clean kill of your chosen quarry and do not attempt a shot of more than 30 metres. Generally the ideal power level is just over 11 ft lb (15J). For an air rifle that is more powerful than 12 ft lb, (16.25J) you must have a firearm certificate.

Never shoot at partially obscured quarry or shoot at quarry which could escape into cover before it can be retrieved. For example, do not shoot rabbits which are less than two metres from their burrow.

Certain types of air rifle are more suitable for hunting than others. Avoid those air rifles which take excessive time to charge, load and fire. Repeating air rifles give an immediate second shot which is always an advantage. All air rifles must be well maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. If in doubt, consult your local dealer.

Choose pellets which are designed for hunting. These will produce a cleaner kill than those which are intended for target shooting. Check every pellet before loading to ensure that it is not damaged or deformed.

5. Care and Maintenance

Take care of your gun; it is built to precise standards and damage or mistreatment can seriously affect its performance and safety.

Do not attempt to strip an air rifle without having the proper tools, facilities and knowledge to do so safely. Many air rifles contain powerful springs which can cause serious injury if released in an uncontrolled manner. After shooting, ensure your air rifle is dry and free from dirt before storing it.

Metalwork may benefit from a wipe down with a lightly oiled rag or a silicone cloth. The barrel should be cleaned using a proper barrel cleaning kit, and again lightly oiled. Only use the correct lubricants in accordance with the rifle manufacturer’s instructions. Always carefully wipe the oil from the bore before shooting.

6. 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 code will help you to keep on the right side of the law, but, if you have any doubt, seek advice from BASC (www.basc.org.uk) or your local police firearms licensing department.

WHO CAN SHOOT

18 years or older

If you are 18 years or older there are no restrictions on buying an air rifle and ammunition, and you can use it wherever you have permission to shoot.

14 – 17 years

YOU CAN

borrow an air rifle and ammunitionuse an air rifle, without supervision, on private premises where you have permission

YOU CANNOT

buy or hire an air rifle, or ammunition, or receive one as a gift. Your air rifle and ammunition must be bought and looked after by someone over 18 – normally your parent, guardian or some other responsible adult.have an air rifle in a public place unless you are supervised by somebody aged 21 or over, and you have a reasonable excuse to do so (for example, while on the way to a shooting ground).

Under 14 years

YOU CAN

use an air rifle under supervision on private premises with permission from the occupier – normally the owner or tenant. The person who supervises you must be at least 21 years old.

YOU CANNOT

buy, hire or receive an air rifle or its ammunition as a gift, or shoot, without adult supervision. 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.

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.

The legal advice contained within this publication remains unchanged e.g. 14 -17 year olds may still use air guns unsupervised on private premises where they have permission etc.

For further advice about reasonable precautions for storing air guns not in use please contact BASC or see www.basc.org.uk for a copy of our fact sheet ‘Young People and Airguns’.

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. Where someone under 14 is shooting, 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.

7. How do I know I am Shooting Safely?

BASC has a simple assessment carried out by accredited assessors called the Airgun Safe Shot Award. It is not a test of competence. The assessment takes just 20 minutes and can be done at a game fair or organised by you anywhere in England and Wales. To find out more about the Airgun Safe Shot Award please contact BASC Training and Education department on 01244 573018.

If you require an airgun coaching lesson or want to learn more about shooting sports contact your local BASC Accredited Airgun Coach. Details of your nearest coach can be found on the BASC website.

8. Insurance

It is advisable to have adequate legal liability (third party) insurance when shooting. Membership of BASC currently provides such insurance.

9. Further Information

sportsmanship and courtesy, with full respect for their quarry and a practical interest in wildlife conservation and the countryside.

Never guess at what the law allows. If in doubt, contact BASC or your local police firearms licensing department. Training courses are available from BASC on the safe and proficient use of airguns, for further information contact BASC Sporting Services on 01244573018.

BASC is a representative body for sporting shooting.

UK Gun Law

The Law in England & Wales relating to Firearms, Shotguns and Airguns

Disclaimer:

The following information is presented by Emmett and Stone in good faith. It is our understanding of certain aspects of current legislation covering the licensing of firearms within England and Wales but should not be taken as a complete or definitive statement of the law. Any case of doubt should be referred to a solicitor specialising in firearms law, or the Firearms Licensing Unit of your local police force. Note that Northern Ireland, Scotland and locations such as the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are not covered by the following information and we advise that specialist help should be sought for any legal queries within these territories.

General Information

To possess any kind of firearm in the UK, any person, including foreign nationals resident within the UK, must normally hold either a Shotgun Certificate (SGC) or a Firearm Certificate (FAC). Air rifles which produce less than 12 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle, and air pistols which produce less than 6 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle, are not classed as “firearms” for certification purposes, but they are still subject to various laws restricting their ownership and use. Air rifles which produce more than 12 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle fall under section 1 classification and therefore an FAC is required to own one of these.

It is an offence under Section 21 Firearms Act 1968 as amended, for anyone convicted of a criminal offence, to handle, possess, or shoot a firearm and ammunition (this includes Air Guns). If the sentence was for more than three years the prohibition is for life; if less than three years the prohibition is for five years (note: it is the sentence, not the time served, which is the determining factor).

Firearm Certificates (FAC)

A firearm is, broadly speaking for certification purposes, any lethal, barrelled weapon which isn’t a shotgun or an airgun or a “prohibited weapon”. The term “prohibited weapon” covers a multitude of devices including, but not limited to, machine guns, rocket launchers, pepper sprays, semi-automatic and pump-action centrefire rifles, disguised firearms, grenades, torpedoes and “any firearm which either has a barrel less than 30cm in length or is less than 60cm in length overall” (the most common member of this last group is a cartridge loading pistol).

For the purposes of legal possession of a firearm, effectively the above leaves black powder weapons (both rifles and pistols), manually loaded centre-fire cartridge rifles (and all types of .22 rimfire rifles), and manually loaded cartridge pistols with dimensions larger than those defined above. All these weapons are what are termed “Section 1″ firearms and are held on a Section 1 Firearms Certificate (there are other Sections for different categories of firearms, for example machine guns are in Section 5 and historic breech-loading firearms are in Section 7). It is difficult for private citizens to obtain an FAC for other than one covering Section 1 firearms.

An application for an FAC can be obtained from any police station, or downloaded from your local police authorities web site. For an application to be successful applicants must demonstrate to the police that they have satisfactory security in place. They must also demonstrate that they have “good reason to possess” firearms and must produce such “good reason” for each individual firearm applied for. Unlike the SGC an FAC only gives authority for specific individual rifles or pistols, and the applicant must justify possession of each one separately. Applicants must nominate two referees to support their application and must declare all criminal convictions, no matter how old or trivial. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply in respect of firearms legislation. Once granted an FAC is valid for five years. A person over the age of 18 may be granted an FAC and they may then buy firearms and ammunition as authorised by the certificate. An FAC may also be granted to a person between 14 and 18, but this will only authorise the possession of the firearms specified thereon – it will not authorise the purchase of firearms or ammunition. FACs are not granted to anyone under the age of 14.

Firearms storage and safe keeping in the home

The precise requirements for storage of firearms are not actually specified in law. The legislation merely says that they “must be stored securely at all times so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, access to the guns by unauthorized persons”. In practice, a steel cabinet constructed and certified to comply with BS 7558 and Rawlbolted to a solid wall is the norm. The vast majority of commercially available gun and rifle cabinets meet the necessary standards. If your premises have shared access, for example if you live in a block of flats, the requirements may be more stringent. In all cases the requirement to prevent access to the firearms by “unauthorised persons”, means anyone who doesn’t personally hold a FAC. This means that even members of your family must not have keys to the cabinet or even know where you keep them.

Shotgun Certificates (SGC)

A shotgun is, broadly speaking for certification purposes, a smooth-barrelled gun which discharges a number of pellets, rather than a single projectile, when it is fired. Shotguns held on a SGC must not be capable of holding more than three cartridges in total. They may be single barrel, double barrel, pump action or semi-automatic, but the three cartridge limit still applies and the barrel(s) must be longer than 24 inches. Pumps and semi-autos must be longer than 40 inches overall.

An application for a SGC can be obtained from any police station. For an application to be successful applicants must demonstrate to the police that they have satisfactory security in place and that the possession of a shotgun would not constitute a danger to public safety or to the peace. Applicants must nominate a counter-signatory to approve their application and must declare all criminal convictions, no matter how old or trivial. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply in respect of firearms legislation. Once granted, a SGC is valid for five years and authorises the possession of any number of shotguns and most types of shotgun ammunition. There is no minimum age for the grant of a SGC.

Shotguns which have barrels shorter than 24 inches, or which are capable of firing more than three shots without reloading, may NOT be held on a SGC. They are dealt with under the FAC provisions. Similarly some types of shotgun ammunition, such as solid slug cartridges, may only be held on an FAC.

Shotgun storage and safe keeping in the home

The precise requirements for storage of shotguns are not actually specified in law. The legislation merely says that they “must be stored securely at all times so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, access to the guns by unauthorized persons”. In practice, a steel cabinet constructed and certified to comply with BS 7558 and Rawlbolted to a solid wall is the norm. The vast majority of commercially available gun and rifle cabinets meet the necessary standards. If your premises have shared access, for example if you live in a block of flats, the requirements may be more stringent. In all cases the requirement to prevent access to the shotgun by “unauthorised persons”, means anyone who doesn’t personally hold a SGC.This means that even members of your family must not have keys to the cabinet or even know where you keep them.

Air Gun Information

Air pistols generating more than 6 ft·lbf (8.1 J) and air rifles generating more than 12 ft·lbf (16.2 J) of energy are considered firearms and as such require possession of a Firearms Certificate (FAC). As hand guns are illegal in the UK an air pistol generating more than 6 ft·lbf of energy is a prohibited weapon and cannot be legally owned even on a FAC. The onus is on the owner of the gun to ensure that it does not exceed those power levels. If the gun does exceed those levels, even if the owner is completely unaware of the fact, then the owner is guilty of illegal possession of a firearm. Pistols and rifles below these energy levels do not require licensing, and may be purchased by anyone over the age of 18.

The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 prohibits online or mail-order sale of new air guns; transactions must be finalised face-to-face, either at the shop where purchased, or through a Registered Firearms Dealer (to which an item may be posted and the transfer completed).

From 10 February 2011, The Crime & Security Act 2010 (S.46) made it an offence “…for a person in possession of an air weapon to fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent any person under the age of eighteen from having the weapon with him…”. This legislation essentially relates to the storage of air guns and the requirement of owners to prevent unauthorised access by children. Failure to do so renders owners liable for a fine of up to £1,000.

People over the age of 18 may purchase and own low-powered air rifles and air pistols, and the ammunition for them, and use them, but only where they have specific permission to shoot.

People between 14 and 17 may borrow (but not own or purchase) low-powered air rifles and air pistols, and the ammunition for them, and may use them without supervision, on private premises where they have specific permission to shoot. People in this age group may NOT buy or hire an air rifle, air pistol or ammunition, or receive them as a gift. People in this age group may NOT have an air rifle or air pistol in a public place unless supervised by somebody aged 21 or over, AND have a reasonable excuse to do so.

People under 14 years of age may only use low-powered air rifles and air pistols on private property where they have specific permission to shoot, AND whilst they are under the direct supervision of someone 21 years of age or older. People in this age group may NOT buy, hire or receive an air rifle, air pistol or ammunition as a gift, or shoot, anywhere at any time, unless supervised by somebody aged 21 or over.

Any person on private property without permission is trespassing, and if that person has an air rifle or an air pistol, even a low-powered one in their possession, then they are committing the offence of armed trespass. It is irrelevant whether the gun is loaded or not, or even whether the person has any pellets in their possession. The mere possession of the airgun is sufficient for conviction. Armed trespass is a serious criminal offence carrying heavy penalties.

Air guns which make use of self-contained air or gas cartridges, where the gas or air propellant and the pellet or bullet is contained within a single self-contained cartridge are now prohibited. (The most common example was the Brocock revolver). People who owned such airguns prior to the ban in 2004 were permitted to retain them, but only if they were entered on an FAC. Even the ones held on an FAC may not now be sold, or even given away. The only permitted method of disposal is to hand them to the police for destruction. Possession of such airguns without an FAC carries exactly the same penalties as those for possession of other unauthorised firearms.

Airgun storage and safe keeping in the home

Since air rifles producing less than 12 foot pounds muzzle energy and air pistols producing less than 6 foot pounds of energy are not included in the firearms licensing procedures, the Firearms Acts are silent on storage requirements for such guns. However, since 10th February 2011, there is a requirement under the Crime and Security Act 2010 that airgun owners must “…take reasonable precautions to stop unauthorised access to their airguns by people under the age of 18″. The law does not specify what constitutes “reasonable precautions” and guidance to the police says that each individual case will be dealt with on its merits and that, “it is not possible to be prescriptive” about exact security provisions.

Our advice of course, is that all shooters should ensure that their airguns are stored securely, so that they cannot be misused by anyone, but there is no legal requirement to store airguns to the same security levels as firearms or shotguns.