Airgun shooting in the U.K. is governed by extremely strict firearms laws. These laws exist to prevent the misuse of airguns and there are severe penalties for anyone who breaks them, even if they do so unintentionally. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure that you are fully aware of the laws relating to the shooting of your airgun and its ownership - and comply with them.
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 with any brand of airgun pellet. The power limit is set at 12 ft. lbs. for air rifles and 6 ft. lbs. for air pistols. Your local gun shop will be able to check your airgun's power to ensure it does not fall foul of the law. It is your responsibility to maintain a legal power output.
You may not possess an air rifle capable of exceeding the 12 ft. lbs. power limit unless you have a firearm certificate (FAC) which allows you to acquire it. · You are prohibited from owning any air pistol that is capable of exceeding the 6 ft. lbs. power limit.
You must be 18 years of age or older to buy an airgun or airgun ammunition.
Between the ages of 14 and 18, you can be given an airgun as a gift, preferably by your parents.
You cannot own an airgun if you are under 14 years of age.
Any airgun (regardless of its power or classification) is considered a 'firearm' if it is used to commit a criminal offence, and simply possessing one when committing a criminal offence may greatly increase any sentence a court may award.
Using an airgun to commit a crime carries prison sentences varying from three months to life, according to the seriousness of the offence.
You can only take your airgun onto land over which you have permission to shoot, regardless of whether or not you intend to shoot it. If you trespass with your airgun, you are committing the offence of 'armed trespass', the maximum penalty for which is three months' imprisonment and/or a fine of £2,500.
If you are aged over 14 years, you can shoot without supervision providing you have permission to shoot over the land you are on. · If you are aged under 14 years old, you can only shoot your airgun under the direct supervision of someone aged 21 years or older on private land. The supervisor is legally responsible for the actions of the person they are supervising and no pellet must go outside the boundaries of that private land. You can also use an airgun at Home Office-approved clubs or at a fairground shooting gallery for target shooting.
You cannot shoot your airgun within 15 metres of a public highway if, in so doing, you are causing a nuisance or endangering the public.
Your airgun is considered 'loaded' if there is any form of projectile in the breech, regardless of whether or not the gun is cocked.
If you are aged between 14 and 18 years old, you may only carry your unloaded air rifle (but not an air pistol) in a public place provided it is in a secure case which prevents it from being fired.
You must be aged 18 years or older to carry an air pistol in a public place, even if it is in a securely-fastened case.
It is a serious offence to kill or injure any bird or protected animal with an airgun unless you are a person 'authorised' under the Wildlife & Countryside Act, 1981.
Parents wishing to buy an airgun for use by a person under 14 years of age must keep control of it at all times. You are committing an offence if you allow your child to shoot unsupervised, even on land where permission to shoot has been granted.
You are committing an offence if you give an airgun or ammunition as a gift to a person aged under 14 years.
Although a person aged between 14 and 18 years of age is allowed to shoot without supervision (on land where they have permission to shoot), it is highly recommended that you keep control of the airgun before and after the shooting session.
It is preferable that no young person should have access to any airgun without prior permission being given by a parent or responsible adult. There are a number of ways in which you can ensure your child is taught safe gun handling -see the list of shooting organisations and coaching schemes.