Legal question about 500+ fps airguns...

Wrong. It has to exceed 500fps AND 4.2fpe to be classified as a firearm. A .38cal pellet shooting at a muzzle velocity of 499.99 is NOT a firearm and does not need to be registered.

If you would be so kind as to provide an example or two, where a Manufacturer who stated that the velocity on the tag was only meant to be used with styrofoam beads, we'd all appreciate it.

Realistically, what was stated is correct. And so is your example of the 38 cal pellet at 499. The 4.2 joules thing only came along when a whole bunch of businesses were looking like they might be on the hook for selling illegal firearms, as a result of the sale of the very light weight pellets that were being advertised as being able to increase the velocity of low powered pellet guns. Can't be having the contributors to the Party warchest on the hook for the Party's Laws, eh?
But the differentiation between one that needs a PAL to buy, is determined, as best I know, by the manufacturers stated velocity expectations, rather than by any testing done.

Calculate the energy in a 5 pound bowling ball, at 450 fps.
It's an eye-opener!

It's also a really good way to look at the low vel airguns, if deciding whether to buy a .177 or a .22 cal. If the velocity is more or less fixed, if you need more whump downrange, the only source of more energy in the equation is to throw a bigger projectile.

Great first post GunNut442! Like I care. :)

Cheers
Trev
 
Why don't you save the attitude pal, I'm asking a question for which the answers aren't commonly known. And NO I had no idea that any airguns were listed on the LGR. Why the F is THAT not mentioned widely to people as a criticism for having the LGR in the first place???



You need to show a PAL to buy ammo, right? But the ammo isn't registered with big paperwork.

You need to show your driver's licence to buy a car and drive one, and it's registered. But you also need to show your driver's licence to buy alcohol, but they don't register how much or what booze you buy.

I was under the impression that maybe you needed to show that you the owner are cleared and safe to use them, but for these to actually be registered on a national registry...seems downright insane to me.

Is it a big deal? No, but it does seem ludicrous.

You actually dont need a drivers license to drive, you are not driving, you are using your God given right to travel.
 
You actually dont need a drivers license to drive, you are not driving, you are using your God given right to travel.

To expand on that a bit. Freeman of the land stuff aside.

You do not actually need to show or posses a D/L to buy or own a car. The D/L is (supposedly) proof that you have proven competency to a minimum level, and is a requirement to legally drive it on public property. Nobody actually gives a damn if you do or don't register a motor vehicle, if you are not running it in public, or using public roads.

One more small point. As far as registering how much booze you buy. Yup. If you try to buy a shopping cart full of booze, without a function permit, in at least some of the provinces, you ain't gettin' out with what you thought you would. So yeah, they do register the amount of booze you buy, if you buy a bunch. Ask at your local Liquor store. If you are old enough to get in, anyway.

Cheers
Trev
 
So if you had a air rifle that was 495fps and you modifided it to shoot more, you need it registered, but how could someone check that, yes you could use a cronograph machine, sure thats not the right terminology. But really, if you were out hunting squirls and a fish cop stopped you, how would they know if its only 495fps versus 695 fps? not trying to be smart ass, just asking a question
 
So if you had a air rifle that was 495fps and you modifided it to shoot more, you need it registered, but how could someone check that, yes you could use a cronograph machine, sure thats not the right terminology. But really, if you were out hunting squirls and a fish cop stopped you, how would they know if its only 495fps versus 695 fps? not trying to be smart ass, just asking a question

In Quebec, as I learned yesterday at a hunting course, wardens have the means to determine the velocity on site.
 
The airgun does not have to be over 500 fps and over the energy limit. The limitation is 5.7 Joules, and that just happens to work out to about 500 fps for a .177, but would end up being around, say, 350 fps with a .22 airgun. I had to laugh when I saw a member of the Conservative government getting his airgun registration referred to province for review when I worked at Wholesale Sports! You can bet he was on the phone right quick getting results!
 
The airgun does not have to be over 500 fps and over the energy limit. The limitation is 5.7 Joules, and that just happens to work out to about 500 fps for a .177, but would end up being around, say, 350 fps with a .22 airgun. I had to laugh when I saw a member of the Conservative government getting his airgun registration referred to province for review when I worked at Wholesale Sports! You can bet he was on the phone right quick getting results!

Whups! I've been stating 4.2 joules, when I should be saying 4.2 foot-pounds of energy (5.7 joules)

But it has to exceed BOTH in order to be a firearm as far as registration requirements goes. A bowling ball shooting air gun, at 499 fps maximum does not require registration.

It is not a matter of 'either or'.

So in the case of a .22 caliber air pistol, you are still good at 499fps. It can shoot quite faster than that, but only until you reach the 5.7 Joule/4.2 ft-Lb limit. Not as great a deal as it looks as the pellets that are able to move out at high velocity and low energy, are crap. Think styrofoam bead again.

leeaspell, there are chronographs available that can be carried in a pants pocket. Very simple to use, they are held on the muzzle of the airgun by magnets. Even if they did not have that particular small chronograph, it's as easy as walking back to their truck to get one and test the airgun, if they have any reason to wish to.

RCMP Fact sheet here http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/air_gun-arme_air-eng.htm

Cheers
Trev
 
it's also not 500fps in the Criminal Code, it's 152.4mps and if you do the math that's 499.999999.......fps.
 
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