Sound moderators came off the certificate on 29 June 2026. There's no slot, no variation and no dealer visit any more, but you do still need to hold a certificate. Here's exactly what changed, and what it means when you buy.
Section 44 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removed sound moderators and flash suppressors from the legal definition of a firearm in section 57 of the Firearms Act 1968. From 29 June 2026 a moderator is an accessory, not a firearm. In practice that means:
Moderators already printed on your certificate stay there until your next renewal, but those entries no longer have any legal effect.
Moderators were not deregulated completely. The same Act inserted a new section 2A into the Firearms Act 1968: it is an offence to possess a sound moderator or flash suppressor for a Section 1 firearm unless you hold a valid firearm or shotgun certificate, or an exemption applies (a visitor's permit, for example). The maximum penalty is a fine of up to £1,000.
The certificate doesn't need to mention the moderator, and the moderator doesn't need to match a calibre you hold. One valid certificate covers any number of moderators.
Because the moderators we sell are for rifles, our checkout asks you to confirm you hold a valid Firearm Certificate before a moderator can be added to an order.
We post moderators to your door anywhere in Great Britain, free on orders over £75. No paperwork, no RFD transfer, no waiting for a variation. You'll be asked to confirm your certificate at checkout, and that's it.
For firearm moderators the position is the same across England, Wales and Scotland. Air weapons are the exception: in Scotland, a moderator for an air weapon counts as an air weapon in its own right under the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, so you need an Air Weapon Certificate to possess one. In England and Wales, possessing a moderator for an airgun is not an offence.
The law got simpler; the fitting didn't. A moderator must match or exceed your bore diameter, and the thread must match your barrel; common patterns include 1/2"x20 UNF, M14x1 and M18x1. Beyond that it's a trade between sound reduction, weight and length: over-barrel designs keep the rifle shorter, muzzle-forward designs tend to be lighter.
We stock Aimsport, HQS, Wildcat, Svemko and Ase Utra. If you're not sure what thread your barrel is cut to, message us on WhatsApp with the make and model and we'll tell you what fits.
No. Since 29 June 2026 moderators don't need to be authorised on a certificate at all.
Yes, anywhere in Great Britain. Ammunition is different: it still can't be posted and is collected from us by appointment.
No. Possessing a moderator for a Section 1 firearm without a valid firearm or shotgun certificate is an offence under section 2A of the Firearms Act 1968.
No. There's no notification requirement any more.
No. Entries stay printed until renewal but no longer have legal effect.
Last reviewed 7 November 2026.