Airsoft guns are air weapons?

[ArseBurgers420]

Sorry to have to revive this topic, but this whole power limit thing is confusing the arse off of me, specifically;

Section 57a subsection 4 states

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.

This to me would suggest different style pistols have different power limits? for example a glock with a switch can only fire at 1.3j due to having a full auto function whereas a revolver or straight semi auto pistol can fire at 2.5j? I cant actually find anywhere in the legislation that suggests otherwise other than the limit of 6ftlbs on air pistols but even then, with all the calculations out the way a 1j pistol firing 6mm .25's is .87 ftlbs so definitely not up to airgun standards...

Hopefully one or more of you lovely lot can help clarify this for me as its almost making my ears bleed trying to work out what the f these silly wigged people in power have written into law.

asking due to my pistol performing worse than paper straws in maccys milkshakes whilst restriced to 1j muzzle velocity (I would like to run it at the 1.4j it was originally shipped with).

MASSIVE thanks in advance. (Links for further reading / swearing at would be very much appreciated)

 

[Neptune]

That's correct, the limit for autos & shotguns is 1.3 joules, the limit for semi-autos or single shot is 2.5 joules. So an airsoft pistol could legally run up to 2.5 joules assuming it's semi-auto (1 shot per trigger pull).

 

[Rogerborg]

That's correct, the limit for autos & shotguns is 1.3 joules, the limit for semi-autos or single shot is 2.5 joules. So an airsoft pistol could legally run up to 2.5 joules assuming it's semi-auto (1 shot per trigger pull).

All correct, and multi-shot shotguns is a good point, although they're a sod to chrono anyway.

However to answer @ArseBurgers420's question, if you're using it at an airsoft site rather than for plinking, you'll need to stick to site limits, as well as legal limits.  If you're shooting at 1.4J (and I'm seeing up to 1.5J claimed for that CO2 pistol) then you'll be sodded off from almost all CQB sites, and if woodland sites let you use it at all, it will be with to DMR limits, e.g. a 20-30m MED and one-in-the-air or 2-second delay shooting.  Or they may just sod it off as well because it's essentially impossible for marshals to spot if you're breaking those rules when you're using a pistol.

Keep it restricted to 1J (however you're doing that) and you can play with it anywhere in the UK, including Northern Ireland.  1J is fine, and if it's properly hopped, it'll be sending BBs as far as any other 1J gun.  If you're getting less then 45-50m out of it, that's an issue with BB weight (go heavier) or hop (adjust it, clean it),

 

[ArseBurgers420]

Aye, to clarify, when I say I want to run it, I dont mean field it at 1.4j, thats a great way to never be able to play in my area again! I've got this in it atm to regulate it down https://www.bullseyecountrysport.co.uk/swiss-arms-kwc-airsoft-piston--nozzle-1-joule-kit-for-1911-co2-pistol-63045-p.asp and its doing the job (quite) nicely but performance does suffer a tad.

I'm getting about 35 /40m atm with .25's and max hop, beebs arent too floaty and head nice and straight but start to drop off after that, groupings of about 4" at 20m and up to 7" at 40m ish so its probably not a bad bucking, I'd imagine it'd be a LOT worse than that if it were... I'll see about trying different weights and see if that helps but it's probably just my internal range finder is off by a few yards (although its probably just dirtier than a whores drawers!) Either way its gonna be a backyard plinker for lobbing steels / ally's whilst I get something a little less cumbersome / lumpy to field in the new year. probably a nice little GBB Glock or something, preferably still co2 though due to living in a cold area.

thanks for the replies tho peeps, muchly appreciated