Firearms Act 1968

[F1 57A Exception for airsoft guns E+W+S

(1) An “airsoft gun” is not to be regarded as a firearm for the purposes of this Act.

(2) An “airsoft gun” is a barrelled weapon of any description which—

(a) is designed to discharge only a small plastic missile (whether or not it is also capable of discharging any other kind of missile), and

(b) is not capable of discharging a missile (of any kind) with kinetic energy at the muzzle of the weapon that exceeds the permitted level.

(3) “Small plastic missile” means a missile that—

(a) is made wholly or partly from plastics,

(b) is spherical, and

(c) does not exceed 8 millimetres in diameter.

(4) The permitted kinetic energy level is—

(a) in the case of a weapon which is capable of discharging two or more missiles successively without repeated pressure on the trigger, 1.3 joules;

(b) in any other case, 2.5 joules.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 57A inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 2.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 125(5), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 4(b)