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The most important rule of gun
handling…….
NEVER POINT ANY RIFLE,
LOADED OR UNLOADED, IN AN UNSAFE DIRECTION.
It is estimated that there are four
million air rifles in the UK, the vast majority of which
are used in a safe and responsible manner. This leaflet
offers guidance to those who shoot with them. It does
not apply in Northern Ireland where firearms laws are
very different.
Above all, safety is the most
important consideration. Always know where the muzzle of
your air rifle is pointing and NEVER point it in an
unsafe direction.
Whenever you shoot, make sure you know
where the pellet is going to end up before you pull the
trigger.
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 or your local police firearms licensing
department.
If you are 18 years or older there are
no restrictions on buying an air rifle and ammunition,
and you can use it where you have permission to shoot.
You can
- borrow an air rifle and
ammunition
- use an air rifle, without
supervision, on private premises where you have
permission
You cannot
- buy or hire an air rifle, or
ammunition, or receive them 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).
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.
* These age limits apply from the
introduction of the Violent Crime Reduction Act which is
expected to come into force in October 2007.
Always ensure that you are authorised
by the landowner or person with the sporting rights to
shoot where you intend to, 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.
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.
It is an offence to fire an air rifle
pellet beyond the land where you have permission to
shoot, unless the occupier of the neighbouring land has
also 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, in England
and Wales, to fire an air rifle within 50 feet of the
centre of a highway if this results in someone being
injured, interrupted or endangered. These offences could
be committed, for example, when someone is shooting in
their garden close to a road and the pellets ricochet
onto the highway.
It is an offence in Scotland to
discharge any gun in a culpable or reckless manner. This
means shooting without caring about the safety of
others.
There are numerous clubs catering for
this growing sport, throughout the UK, and they can
offer great help and shooting opportunities to both the
novice and the experienced shooter alike. You will find
contact details on
www.goshooting.com
If you want to practice on your own
premises make sure that you have an effective backstop.
Soft earth or chipboard is ideal, but don’t use any
hard, polished surface because it is likely to cause a
dangerous ricochet or could cause the pellet to rebound
and hit the shooter.
Remember that you can be prosecuted if
any pellet goes beyond your land, whether it is directly
fired or an accidental ricochet.
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.
- BIRDS: crows, rooks, jackdaws,
magpies, jays, woodpigeon, collared doves, feral
pigeons.
- MAMMALS: brown rats, grey
squirrels, stoats, mink and rabbits
All birds are protected, and although
there are seasons when you can legally shoot game, and
some wildfowl, these are generally not suitable quarry
for air rifles. However, as long as you are complying
with firearms law, you can shoot certain pest species.
These are covered by open general licenses which, in
simple terms, mean you can shoot the birds provided you
have the landowner’s permission and provided you are
doing it for one of the reasons allowed by the license.
These reasons are:
- to protect crops
- to protect game and wildlife
- to protect public health or
safety
Those species covered by the licenses,
for which air rifles are suitable, include: crows,
rooks, jackdaws, magpies, jays, woodpigeon, collared
doves, and feral pigeons.
Sparrows and starlings are no longer
on the general licenses for England. Therefore you
cannot shot them in England, although they can still be
shot in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. For full
details on general licenses
please click here.
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.
Always shoot well within your
capabilities. Practice 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 (an inch and a quarter). Practice 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 is the preferred target.
For birds, head shots are effective but difficult
because the target area is very small and rarely holds
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 must zero your rifle and sights
(check their correct alignment) before starting any
hunt; usually a riflescope will come with instructions
on how to do this, 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.
Always despatch wounded quarry 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 – 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.
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.
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.
- 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 (http://www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk/).
- 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 uncocked 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 silencer 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.
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.
Take care of your gun; it is a
precision weapon 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.
That all who shoot in Britain conduct
themselves according to the law and to the highest
standards of safety, 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.
Revised July
2007 in association with ACPO |
