Larger caliber air rifles suitable for hunting large animals are offered by the main manufacturers. These are usually PCP weapons. The main calibers available are as follows: The increasing affordability of more powerful preloaded pneumatic rifles (PCPs) has allowed large projectiles and other target distances for competitive purposes. For example, the Extreme Benchrest competition, held annually in Green Valley, Arizona, allows calibers up to 0.30 inches (7.6 mm) to 75 yd (68.58 m), while the Big Bore Benchrest arm of the same target competition targets at 35 to 300 yards (32 to 274 m) in other locations. Paintball markers are classified as “soft air forces” and treated differently from other air rifles; For a breakdown by state, see the “Paintball” section on legality. Paintball markers will be classified as “recreational sports equipment” in New South Wales from 1 July 2019. Australia`s firearms law is quite restrictive and varies from state to state; As a general rule, however, all air rifles – regardless of the type of action, caliber and muzzle energy – are considered firearms for legal purposes; For example, air rifles are considered Class A firearms and, as such, are subject to approval and registration. In Poland, it is possible to freely buy air rifles with an initial energy not exceeding 17 joules (13 ft⋅lbf). Air guns with a muzzle energy greater than 17 years are considered FAC and must be registered at the local police station no later than 5 days after purchase (a firearms licence is not required).
FAC air rifles can only be used on officially licensed shooting ranges. Hunting and shooting animals with air rifles is illegal and can lead to prosecution. [26] Other PCP rifles and pistols are regulated, that is: the ginning valve operates in a secondary chamber separated from the main air tank by the regulating body. The regulator maintains the pressure in this secondary chamber at a defined pressure (lower than that of the main tank) until the pressure of the main tank drops to the point where it can no longer do so. As a result, the consistency from one shot to another is maintained longer than in an unregulated rifle, and the weapon can also fire more shots due to the reduced waste of tank pressure. [11] Most countries have laws on air guns, but these vary widely. Often, each administration has its own unique definition of an air rifle; And regulations can vary for weapons with different bores, energy or muzzle velocity, or ammunition, with weapons designed to fire metal pellets often being more tightly controlled than airsoft weapons. There may be a minimum age for possession, and the sale of air rifles and ammunition may be restricted. Some parts of the world require permits and background checks similar to those required for the firearms themselves. “Particularly dangerous air rifles” require a firearms licence for possession and use. [22] [23] These weapons are specified in New Zealand`s firearms laws[24] and currently include only a few pre-loaded air rifles. [24] The change was made following two fatal shots fired by .22 caliber semi-automatic air rifles.
[25] An air force is defined in paragraph 1(3)(b) and section 57(4) as “an air rifle, air rifle or air pistol not referred to in paragraph 5(1)(a) [firearms designed or adapted in such a way that two or more missiles can be fired successively without repeated pulling the trigger] and that is not of any kind: declared by rules issued by the Secretary of State under section 53 of the Firearms Act. to be particularly dangerous.” These include, for example, paintball weapons. Air rifles are used for small game hunting, pest control, recreational shooting (commonly known as flashing) and competitive sports such as the 10m Olympic air rifle and the 10m air pistol. Field Target (FT) is a competitive form of metallic silhouette shooting in which targets are animal-shaped steel targets with a “killing zone” cutout. Hunter Field Target (HFT) is a variant that uses the same equipment but has different rules. FT and HFT competitions are recorded at a distance of between 7.3 and 41.1 meters (24 and 135 feet) for HFT and 7.3 and 50.29 meters (24.0 and 165.0 feet) for FT, using different sizes of “gearboxes” to increase or decrease the size of the killing area. In the UK, performance limits for competition are set at the legal maximum for an unlicensed air rifle, i.e. 12 ft ⋅ lbf (16 J). The air rifle bench is an international shooting sport in which the objective is to hit a (small) target at 25 m (27.34 yd) shooting distance.
There are two divisions, ARLV 12 ft⋅lbf (16.27 J) and ARHV 20 ft⋅lbf (27.12 J). [6] [7] Air guns can be purchased freely and owned by anyone over the age of 18. Only pistols with an initial energy greater than 7.5 joules (5.5 ft⋅lbf) are not allowed. There is no maximum initial energy limit for rifles. The open wearing of air rifles is not allowed. The use of air rifles is restricted in non-public places because they are shooting ranges, in a house or backyard that is not easily accessible from the street. The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804) carried a compressed air cannon. It contained 22 round bullets of .46 caliber in a tubular magazine mounted on the side of the barrel. The piston served as an air tank and had a working pressure of 800 psi (55 bar).
The rifle is said to be capable of 22 targeted shots per minute and has a drawn bore of 0.452 inches (11.5 mm) and a groove diameter of 0.462 inches (11.7 mm). In Japan, gun laws are quite strict. A Japanese civilian can apply for a license to own an air rifle, a low-powered weapon powered by carbon dioxide rather than gunpowder. The licensing process is not easy, and the possession of air guns is becoming increasingly rare, in part because of the difficulty of going through the licensing process. [12] The process takes a long time, and if you want to own an air gun, you must take courses organized by the Prefecture`s Public Safety Commission. [13] An applicant must be at least 18 years of age. [14] One of the first commercially successful and mass-produced air rifles was manufactured by William F. Markham`s Markham Air Rifle Company in Plymouth, Michigan, USA.
Their first model of air rifle was the wooden Challenger, which was launched in 1886. In response, Clarence Hamilton of the nearby Plymouth Air Rifle Company (later renamed Daisy Manufacturing Company in 1895) marketed his all-metal Daisy BB gun in early 1888, prompting Markham to respond with his Chicago model in 1888, followed by the King model in 1890. The Chicago model was sold by Sears, Roebuck for 73 cents in its catalog. In 1928, the name of the Markham Company was changed to king air rifle company after the company was purchased by Daisy in 1916 after decades of intense competition,[5] and produced the “King” air rifle model until 1935, before ceasing operations altogether in the 1940s. In New Zealand, any citizen over the age of 18 can own and fire most air rifles without a firearm`s license,[20] provided they use the air rifle in a safe environment with a responsible attitude. [21] In the Netherlands, air rifles can be freely owned and purchased by people over the age of 18. Until 1997, there were restrictions on muzzle velocity and kinetic energy, similar to German law, but these restrictions were lifted for practical reasons. It is forbidden to carry air guns in public and to possess air rifles (and toy pistols) that resemble firearms.
The term “look” is interpreted very broadly nowadays, so almost any air rifle can be considered similar to a firearm. Whether an air rifle looks too much like a firearm is decided by the police or, if so, by the court. It is impossible to predict the outcome of such legal proceedings. Air guns can be stored in private homes, but must be inaccessible to people under the age of 18. Commercial sale of air rifles can only take place in authorized weapons stores. It is illegal to possess an air gun that has been “manufactured or modified so that it can be transported more easily hidden.” In general, this is considered the case if the barrel has been shortened or the weapon has a folding or telescopic shaft. [19] Section 1(1) of the Firearms Act, 1968 establishes an absolute offence of possession, purchase or acquisition of a firearm or ammunition without or otherwise approved by such a certificate.