Section 57A Exception for airsoft gunsF1

England, Wales and Scotland

(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.

Annotations

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)