Air rifles are the easiest way into shooting, and the law around them is mostly sensible once someone lays it out. Here's what applies in England and Wales, where Scotland differs, and the handful of rules that catch people out.
In England and Wales, an adult needs no licence to own or use an air rifle producing 12 ft·lb of muzzle energy or less. You must be 18 to buy one, or to buy pellets. When you buy from a dealer, the law requires the handover to be face to face: that's why mail-order air rifles are collected from an RFD rather than posted to your door, and why we hand them over in person or transfer them through your local dealer.
Air pistols are tighter: the limit is 6 ft·lb, and an air pistol above that is a prohibited weapon that no ordinary certificate covers.
At over 12 ft·lb an air rifle becomes a section 1 firearm: owning one requires a Firearm Certificate, exactly like a rimfire. The offence is strict, and "I didn't know it crept over" is not a defence. Springers can gain power after a service and regulated PCPs can drift, so if you tune, service or re-spring an air rifle, check it over a chronograph with the pellets you actually use. Our muzzle velocity guide shows the maths: pellet weight in grains times velocity squared, divided by 450,240.
FAC-rated air rifles above 12 ft·lb are a legitimate and growing niche; they just need the certificate first. Our FAC guide covers the application.
Two traps for the supervising adult: it is an offence for anyone to fire a pellet beyond the boundary of the land they have permission on, and when the shooter is under 18, the supervising adult commits the offence too.
You can shoot an air rifle in your own garden; thousands of people plink safely over a pellet trap. The rules that matter:
No cabinet is required by law for a sub-12 air rifle in England and Wales, but you must take reasonable precautions to stop anyone under 18 getting unauthorised access: locked away, or secured out of action, not standing in the hall. A cabinet remains the simplest answer, and our storage guide covers the options. In public, keep an air rifle in a cover and unloaded; under 18s need a good reason to have one in a public place at all.
Scotland requires an Air Weapon Certificate (AWC) to own or use any air weapon, including sub-12 rifles, and visiting shooters need a visitor permit arranged in advance. The 12 ft·lb line still applies on top: above it, it's an FAC matter there too.
Northern Ireland runs its own system: effectively all air weapons need a firearm certificate. If you're taking an air rifle across, check with the PSNI first.
In England and Wales, not for a rifle at or under 12 ft·lb, though you must be 18 to buy. In Scotland you need an Air Weapon Certificate for any air weapon. Above 12 ft·lb, a Firearm Certificate is required everywhere in Great Britain.
Yes, with a proper backstop and not a single pellet crossing the boundary. Mind the 50 feet rule near roads, shoot only legal quarry if you shoot live quarry at all, and keep the neighbours onside.
Yes: under 14 under adult (21+) supervision on private land with permission; 14 to 17 may shoot unsupervised on private land with permission. Buying is 18.
The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 requires it when a dealer sells an air weapon, to verify age and identity. Buy online by all means; the handover happens in person, here or at your local RFD.
Chronograph it with your usual pellets, especially after a service, a re-spring or a pellet change. Weight matters as much as speed; the formula and a recommended chronograph are in our muzzle velocity guide.
Last reviewed 7 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.