Where is the 12ft.lb law stated?

P

PeeMBee

New member
Joined
Oct 24, 2024
Messages
14
Reaction score
10
Location
Cornwall UK
As a matter of idle curiosity I set about trying to find out where the 12ft.lb legal energy limit for air rifles is laid down. I've looked in The Firearms Act 1968 and The Policing And Crime Act 2017 and can't find a mention of the energy limit in either of them. In these two Acts there are plenty of definitions of air weapons and the laws regarding ownership and use but not a mention that I can find anyway of their legal energy limits. Anyone got any idea where these are actually set out in the law?
 
As quoted by the CPS:

IMG_6952.webp
 
PeeMBee said:
As a matter of idle curiosity I set about trying to find out where the 12ft.lb legal energy limit for air rifles is laid down. I've looked in The Firearms Act 1968 and The Policing And Crime Act 2017 and can't find a mention of the energy limit in either of them. In these two Acts there are plenty of definitions of air weapons and the laws regarding ownership and use but not a mention that I can find anyway of their legal energy limits. Anyone got any idea where these are actually set out in the law?
Click to expand...


Firearms Act has a lot of mentions of the limits in it .

one here


The Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969

Under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, a firearm certificate is required for any air weapon declared by rules to be specially dangerous.
www.legislation.gov.uk www.legislation.gov.uk


The Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969​

Made

13th January 1969
Coming into Operation

1st May 1969
In pursuance of sections 1(3) and 53 of the Firearms Act 1968, I hereby make the following Rules:—
1.—(1) These Rules may be cited as the Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969.

(2) These Rules shall not extend to Scotland.

(3) The Interpretation Act 1889 applies for the interpretation of these Rules as it applies for the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

(4) These Rules shall come into operation on 1st May 1969.

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, Rule 3 of these Rules applies to an air weapon (that is to say, an air rifle, air gun or air pistol) capable of discharging a missile so that the missile has, on being discharged from the muzzle of the weapon, kinetic energy in excess, in the case of an air pistol, of 6 ft. lb. or, in the case of an air weapon other than an air pistol, of 12 ft. lb.

(2) Rule 3 of these Rules does not apply to a weapon designed for use only when submerged in water.

3. An air weapon to which this Rule applies is hereby declared to be specially dangerous.

James Callaghan

One of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State

Home Office

Whitehall

13th January 1969

EXPLANATORY NOTE​

Under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, a firearm certificate is required for any air weapon declared by rules to be specially dangerous.

These Rules make such a declaration in relation to England and Wales in respect of the more powerful air weapons specified in Rule 2. The declaration does not extend to weapons designed for use only under water (Rule 2(2)).
 
When the FA act 1968 came into being, how many pistols or rifles available met the limits of 6 & 12ftLbs? Since then, more models of weapons, both rifles& pistols with improved consistency / power have been designed and put into regular production. From what I remember of my shooting days back in the 80's the 12ft lb limit was reached by only a few models AS STANDARD.. although makes like Hw etc have always had rogue examples get through the net.... and go FAC . most of the more powerful models were rattling ( some literally) around the 10-11.5 mark . Back then they were deemed more than adequate for all disciplines.. What's changed? & is there now a legitimate argument to be had in favour of increasing the limit to say 14Ftlbs?
 
Ratbagger said:
When the FA act 1968 came into being, how many pistols or rifles available met the limits of 6 & 12ftLbs? Since then, more models of weapons, both rifles& pistols with improved consistency / power have been designed and put into regular production. From what I remember of my shooting days back in the 80's the 12ft lb limit was reached by only a few models AS STANDARD.. although makes like Hw etc have always had rogue examples get through the net.... and go FAC . most of the more powerful models were rattling ( some literally) around the 10-11.5 mark . Back then they were deemed more than adequate for all disciplines.. What's changed? & is there now a legitimate argument to be had in favour of increasing the limit to say 14Ftlbs?
Click to expand...
If anything that would be a legitimate argument to reduce the limit to 10ftLbs.
 
AgentOrange76 said:
If anything that would be a legitimate argument to reduce the limit to 10ftLbs.
Click to expand...
They allowed a safety zone due to dieseling and other possible reasons.

Hence why you get some airguns at 10ftlbs from some suppliers but some owners think that is too low.


From evidence from Bill Harriman at BASC. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmhaff/95/95ap80.htm Note the date of the evidence .

(1) The 12 ft/lb limit for air rifles is about the lowest energy level which is humane for controlling agricultural pests such as rabbits, crows etc. Air rifles whose energy value is near to this limit are very useful for shooting such pests, particularly in places where it would be dangerous or otherwise inappropriate to use a cartridge firearm. Such air rifles are capable of killing pests and small game humanely at ranges up to about 35m.

The aim of airgun manufacturers is to produce air weapons which are consistent in performance. This means that they will regulate their product to give optimal performance at a level below the legal maximum. This will incorporate a "safety zone" which is broad enough to keep energy levels away from the upper limit in the event that something causes the original energy level to rise. An example of this might be over-oiling the air gun which introduces oil into the air cylinder. This can cause "dieseling" and increased velocities and concomitant energy level rises. Another cause of increased energy levels can be the use of a lighter pellet. In my experience most manufacturers regulate energy limits for rifles at 10-10½ ft/lb. This gives an energy level which is humane for pest control, but which is not so close to the upper limit that it will exceed it if the level should rise for any reason.
 
Last edited:
Bighit said:
They allowed a safety zone due to dieseling and other possible reasons.

Hence why you get some airguns at 10ftlbs form some suppliers but some owners think that is too low.


From evidence from Bill Harriman at BASC. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmhaff/95/95ap80.htm Note the date of the evidence .

(1) The 12 ft/lb limit for air rifles is about the lowest energy level which is humane for controlling agricultural pests such as rabbits, crows etc. Air rifles whose energy value is near to this limit are very useful for shooting such pests, particularly in places where it would be dangerous or otherwise inappropriate to use a cartridge firearm. Such air rifles are capable of killing pests and small game humanely at ranges up to about 35m.

The aim of airgun manufacturers is to produce air weapons which are consistent in performance. This means that they will regulate their product to give optimal performance at a level below the legal maximum. This will incorporate a "safety zone" which is broad enough to keep energy levels away from the upper limit in the event that something causes the original energy level to rise. An example of this might be over-oiling the air gun which introduces oil into the air cylinder. This can cause "dieseling" and increased velocities and concomitant energy level rises. Another cause of increased energy levels can be the use of a lighter pellet. In my experience most manufacturers regulate energy limits for rifles at 10-10½ ft/lb. This gives an energy level which is humane for pest control, but which is not so close to the upper limit that it will exceed it if the level should rise for any reason.
Click to expand...
Yep, was just pointing out that the reasoning was a better argument towards a reduction in the limit than an increase.
 
Just coming into this thread late - apologies
What if question ….
You have a pre 1968 air rifle with more than 12ft/lb - do you need to destroy it or get it modified to sub 12?
Are you breaking the law owning it?
 
Yes you would need a Firearms certificate to continue own it.
Unless it was of an obsolete calibre for which ammunition is no longer available.
 
nitram55 said:
Was 12 ftlbs picked at random or was their method in the madness.
Click to expand...
See post number 9 above.

Even the above is often claimed not to be true . UK airguns at the time only did around 10ftlbs so some claim that is the reason it was picked , to protect the UK manufacturers.

You will get a lot of other people's opinions on it.
 
nitram55 said:
Was 12 ftlbs picked at random or was their method in the madness.
Click to expand...
There was a lot of rumblings years ago about the idea it came about from the power of the average .22 pellet at a speed of 600fps. Now I know that it equates to pellet about 15 grains in weight, but I have no idea of what pellets were available when the laws were being considered, so don't know how true that is.
 
Neil54 said:
Yes you would need a Firearms certificate to continue own it.
Unless it was of an obsolete calibre for which ammunition is no longer available.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure every obsolete caliber has to be listed, just being unavailable doesn’t meet the requirement
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top