Can I Carry An Air Gun In Public? (Air Rifle FAQ)
One of the most common questions new air rifle owners ask is “am I allowed to carry my air rifle in public?”, and rightly so. We are all responsible for being safe and abiding by the relevant laws. Which is why we always encourage people to do their research and know what’s acceptable by UK law.
The simple answer is yes, you are allowed to carry an air gun in public, as long as you abide by the following 4 rules:
1. YOU MUST HAVE A GENUINE REASON FOR CARRYING AN AIR GUN IN PUBLIC.
If you’re carrying an air gun in public, you must have a legitimate reason for doing so. And this does not include trying to look like your favourite action hero. Genuine reasons for carrying an air gun in public include travelling to or from a gun club, shooting competition or air gun shop.
2. THE AIR GUN MUST BE INSIDE A SECURELY FASTENED CASE OR SLIP.
Your air gun must be placed inside a securely fastened case or slip when transporting. You can take a look at the hard case and slip we sell at The Airgun Centre by visiting our air rifle cases page.
Air Rifle Hard Case (AGC Pro-Comb Hard Case)
The NEW AGC deluxe hard rifle case. One of the best available on the market right now
Air Rifle Slip (AGC Deluxe 42 Inch Soft Case)
42 inch high quality fleece lined waterproof Airgun Centre Branded rifle case, as included in our awesome rifle combo deals.
Air Rifle Slip (AGC Deluxe 46 Inch Soft Case)
46 inch high quality fleece lined waterproof Airgun Centre Branded rifle case, as included in our awesome rifle combo deals.
Air Rifle Slip (AGC Deluxe 50 Inch Soft Case)
50 inch high quality fleece lined waterproof Airgun Centre Branded rifle case, as included in our awesome rifle combo deals.
3. THE AIR GUN MUST BE UNCOCKED AND UNLOADED
It is critically important that your air gun is not loaded or cocked when transporting in public. Even a cleaning pellet left in the gun can be classified as “a loaded weapon”, so don’t take this one (or any of these) lightly! Plus, guns that take a multishot magazine will be considered as loaded – even if there’s no pellet in the actual barrel, so make sure you remove the magazine and all pellets from the mag whilst transporting in public.
4. YOU MUST BE OVER THE AGE OF 18
This one might seem obvious, as you’re not legally allowed to own an air gun under the age of 18, but it’s worth making crystal clear that those under the age of 18 shouldn’t be carrying them in public either.
If you’d like to learn more about UK air gun law, click here to visit the official UK government website.