AIR RIFLES & PISTOLS
There are many styles, makes, models and calibres of Air-Rifles readily available today.
The two main types are;
‘Compressed Air’ weapons are also known as ‘Pre-charge’ Air Rifle.
Pre charge/compressed Air-Rifles have to be charged with compressed air at between 160 bar and 300 bar of pressure. (Roughly 100 times more than a normal car tyre, which would be around 2 bar. In psi (pounds per square inch, air rifles are charged to between 2000 and 3000 psi, and a car tyre would typically be around 30.)
These weapons have very few working parts and are generally the more expensive series of Air Rifles on the market. They are charged either using a specialised Two-stage Stirrup Pump or a specialised Divers bottle capable of holding around 386bar of Pressure.
Spring Air Rifles are the most common style of weapon found on the market. These have the same features of the previous weapons mentioned above, except for the method of producing the compressed air.
The ‘cocking action’ which is made, either by ‘breaking’ the barrel or by operating a separate cocking lever, compresses a spring which, when released, discharges a projectile (pellet or BB) along the barrel towards your target. Both of these types of Air Rifles should have been set by the manufacturers to fire at no more than the legal pressure limit. The legal limit for Air Rifles is set at 12ftlbs.
You can buy Air Rifles which are ‘Bog standard’ and ‘Superior standard’. These are Air Rifles which have fancy parts available for them, e.g. a Walnut stock instead of Beech or Silver metal work instead of normal black gunmetal.
Also available are specialised Field and Target Air Rifles. These are usually set at just under the legal power limit of 12ftlbs. They are also usually of very high quality and have a slightly different design.
Air Rifles are all basically all the same; they must be treated with utmost respect at all times and must be treated carefully at all times. Never, ever, point a gun at anything you do not intend to kill, even if you think the gun is unloaded!
Air-Rifles under 12ftlbs do not require to be licensed in Scotland, England and Wales. In Northern Ireland, however, a Firearms Certificate is required for almost all air weapons.
AIR PISTOLS
The laws that apply to Air Pistols can be found in the Legal Section of the Airgun Section. The laws for Air Pistols are the same as for Air Rifles, except that the legal power limit is reduced from 12ftlbs for Air Rifles to 6ftlbs for Air Pistols.
There are again two main types of Air Pistols.
‘Spring’ means an Air Pistol which operates by means of a ‘spring’. The spring is compressed by a cocking action and as the spring is released the trapped air is directed towards the projectile (Pellet, BB or Dart) which in turn allows it to be fired from the barrel.
Compressed Air Pistols have two variations:
A Co2 bulb / Powerlet / cartridge is already charged to a specific pressure which allows a certain amount of air per Shot.
A pre-charged Air Pistol is an Air Pistol which you can charge up using a specialised Two-stage stirrup Pump or a specialised diver’s bottle. This allows you to insert a certain amount of pressure into the weapon.
As with Air-rifles, Air Pistols must be treated with the utmost respect at all times. .
Never, ever, point a gun at anything you do not intend to kill, even if you think the gun is unloaded!
Written By Stefan Polatajko