Air Pistols

What we call an airgun in everyday language is known in law as a low powered air weapon. That basically means an air rifle of less than 12ft lbs, or an air pistol of less than 6ft lbs. An airgun may be powered by a spring and piston, a reservoir of compressed air or compressed CO2.

You can buy, own and use an airgun without needing a certificate. That situation may soon change in Scotland, however, so as with any firearms law, make sure you are up-to-date.

If you have ever been sentenced to more than three months imprisonment, you are automatically banned from owning an airgun for five years; a sentence over three years means a lifetime ban.

There are age restrictions on who can buy and use an airgun. Between 14 and 17 years old, you can borrow an airgun and use one on private land where you have permission but you cannot buy or hire one, or receive it as a gift. Your airgun and pellets must be bought and looked after for you by someone over 18.

Below the age of 14, you can only use an airgun under the supervision of someone over 21.

The law requires you to take reasonable precautions to keep your airgun out of the hands of anyone under 18. If there are under-18s living in the house, or if children come to visit, you will need to make sure your airgun is locked away.

You can only shoot an airgun (or any other gun) on private land, and when you have permission (from the landowner, farmer etc) to do so. If you have an airgun in a public place you must have a reasonable excuse, such as travelling to or from a shoot, and it should be in a gun cover, unloaded and un-cocked.