BB guns

It is an offence to possess, purchase or acquire a firearm without holding a relevant firearm certificate at the time. A firearm for the purpose of requiring a certificate means:

• a lethal barrelled weapon, a barrelled weapon from which a shot, bullet or other missile, with kinetic energy of more than one joule at the muzzle of the weapon, can be discharged;
• a prohibited weapon;
• relevant component part in relation to a lethal barrelled weapon or a prohibited weapon;
• an accessory to a lethal barrelled weapon or a prohibited weapon where the accessory is designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon.

Airsoft guns

There is an exception to the requirement to hold a firearms certificate in relation to airsoft guns. An airsoft gun means a barrelled weapon which:

• is designed to discharge only a small plastic missile, whether or not it is also capable of discharging any other kind of missile, and
• is not capable of discharging a missile, of any kind, with kinetic energy at the muzzle of the weapon that exceeds the permitted level.

A small plastic missile for the purposes of this exemption means a missile that is made wholly or partly from plastics, is spherical, and does not exceed 8mm in diameter.

The permitted level referred to above is:

• in the case of a weapon which is capable of discharging two or more missiles successively without repeated pressure on the trigger, 1.3 joules ;
• in any other case, 2.5 joules .

Air weapons (air rifle, air gun, air pistol)

An air weapon will be classed as a firearm if it is 'a lethal barrelled weapon' as outlined above. If it is not a lethal barrelled weapon, an air weapon is exempt from the requirement to hold a firearms certificate provided it is not designed or adapted for use with a self-contained gas cartridge system, or declared by the Secretary of State as specially dangerous.

An air weapon is deemed specially dangerous if:

• It has a muzzle kinetic energy in excess of:
  • in the case of an air pistol: 6 ft lb;
  • in the case of an air weapon other than an air pistol: 12 ft lb; or
• Is disguised as another object.

As long as the air weapon fits within the exemptions above, you will not require a certificate for it. If in doubt contact your local force's firearms licensing department.

Please note that all calls to police involving firearms are treated as if it is a genuine firearm so be aware that if you do wave an imitation firearm around you could find yourself surrounded by firearms officers pointing real weapons at you.

BB guns, which fire plastic or aluminium balls, by different methods such as compressed air or an electrical system) may or may not be firearms and so may or may not be prohibited.

The soft air type of BB gun which is 'toy like', though it may be a little too powerful to be officially classed as a toy, does not fit within the definition of a section 1 firearm because it is usually too low powered and is probably designed to fire plastic/aluminium pellets. It will normally have a very low power rating, compared to an average air weapon.

An air weapon is powerful enough to injure and kill in the right circumstances, and, does therefore fit within the definition of a firearm (but is not normally powerful enough to be a section 1 firearm See Q326 regarding the exemption from holding a section 1 firearms certificate for airsoft guns. The average air weapon is probably about 150 times more powerful than a 'toy like' soft BB gun.

If you are unsure whether your BB gun is legal or not, you should check with your police force's firearms department who will be able to advise you.

Given the nature of BB guns and their capabilities, it is not advisable to allow young children to be in possession of them.

Also be aware that many BB guns are extremely realistic and the police treat all reports involving weapons as if they are real live firearms.

Please note that all calls to police involving firearms are treated as if it is a genuine firearm so be aware that if you do wave an imitation firearm around you could find yourself surrounded by firearms officers pointing real weapons at you.

BB guns which fire plastic or aluminium balls by different methods such as compressed air or an electrical system may or may not be firearms and so may or may not be prohibited.

The soft air type of gun which is 'toy like' though it may be a little too powerful to be officially classed as a toy does not fit within the definition of a of a section 1 firearm because it is usually too low powered and is probably designed to fire plastic/aluminium balls

However, there are more powerful BB guns which could be considered firearms, for which, possession, purchase or acquisition, without holding a valid firearms certificate is an offence.

Possession of a BB guns that looks like a real firearm in a public place will amount to an offence of possession of an imitation firearm, regardless of the power of the gun itself. See Q329 for more information about imitation firearms.

(See Q326 regarding the exemption from holding a section 1 firearms certificate for airsoft guns).

If you are unsure whether your BB gun is legal or not, you should check with your local police force's firearms department who will be able to advise you.

Please note that all calls to police involving firearms are treated as if it is a genuine firearm so be aware that if you do wave an imitation firearm around you could find yourself surrounded by firearms officers pointing real weapons at you.