22-Aug-2025
Airguns are often seen as simple tools for pest control, plinking in the garden, or getting started in shooting sports. But what many air gunners don’t realise is that these “toys” are actually tightly regulated under UK law. In fact, failing to keep your airgun within the legal power limits could see you treated the same as someone caught with an illegal firearm — with penalties of up to five years in prison.
And here’s the scary part: you might not even know you’re breaking the law.
That’s why every serious air gunner needs one essential piece of kit — a chronograph.
In the UK, airguns are defined by their muzzle energy:
Air rifles must not exceed 12 foot-pounds.
Air pistols must not exceed 6 foot-pounds.
Anything above those limits is no longer just an “airgun” — it becomes a Section 1 firearm. That means it requires a full firearm certificate (FAC), police checks, good reason for ownership, and strict storage conditions. Without that certificate, you’re committing a firearms offence just by owning it.
And the courts take it seriously. Even if your rifle is just slightly overpowered — say 12.5 ft/lb — the law doesn’t see it as “almost okay.” It’s illegal, full stop.
Yes. The Firearms Act makes it clear that possession of a firearm without the proper certificate carries a mandatory minimum five-year custodial sentence.
That means if your otherwise legal air rifle creeps over the limit, even unintentionally, you could face the same punishment as someone caught with a sawn-off shotgun. Ignorance isn’t a defence. The law expects you to know the power of your rifle.
Airgun manufacturers aim to produce rifles under the legal limit, but there are variables they can’t control:
Pellet choice – Heavier pellets can generate higher muzzle energy.
Temperature – Some PCP rifles perform differently in hot or cold weather.
Wear and tuning – Springs and seals change over time, pushing power levels up or down.
Two rifles of the same make and model can give very different results. That’s why relying on “it came from the shop like this” won’t save you if the police test your gun and it’s over.
A chronograph measures the velocity of your pellet in feet per second (fps). From this, you can calculate muzzle energy in foot-pounds. With regular checks, you’ll always know whether your rifle is safe and legal.
Many shooters buy chronographs to fine-tune accuracy, but their real value is legal security. By checking your rifle every so often, especially when changing pellets or after a service, you’re protecting yourself from a potential firearms offence.
Think of it this way: £140 for a reliable chronograph is nothing compared to losing your licence, your guns, or your freedom. It’s as much a part of your kit as your scope or your pellets.
Airguns might look simple, but UK law treats them with the same seriousness as live firearms once they cross the power limit. Don’t gamble your future on guesswork.
Check your rifle regularly.
Know your pellets.
Use a chronograph.
Because at the end of the day, the difference between being a law-abiding air gunner and a convicted firearms offender could be as little as half a foot-pound of power.
So ask yourself: would you risk five years in prison to save £150?
The Shooting Party currently sell the AirForceOne Chronographs — you can check it out here:
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