Legality of pellet pistols exceeding 495fps

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Hi Lads, I own a number of Air Guns, most being 495fps or less, however I do have a couple of rifles that are rated @ 1000+ which are considered "firearms" by the powers that be. This is all fine and dandy because I'm an RPAL holder which allows me to own them, but what about Air Pistols that exceed the 495fps limit?....Are they considered "restricted firearms" because they're a handgun?....or do they fall into the same category with Air Rifles? Is registration required?.....or are high power Air Pistols considered "prohibited". I've always wondered this.....anyone know?
 
Yes.... the pistols that shoot over 495 fps, are considered Restricted's and must be handled as such. Crazy but its the law.
 
If you want an air pistol with punch youve gotta go up in caliber, hatsan makes a 10 shot .25 cal PCP pistol shooting 500 fps, probably the best youll find without making a custom 30 cal/9mm or whatever

http://www.airgunforum.ca/store/product_info.php?cPath=22_30&products_id=123
there is also a collapsible stock carbine and a full size rifle version
 
Yes, most air pistols become restricted Firearms when their velocity passes the 500 feet per second mark. But be careful, there are many more out there that become prohibited like modded Drozds.
 
And further to all this, remember that any airgun that shoots a projectile under 500fps is only a "non-firearm" for certain purposes of the act (licence, registration etc). They are for the most part still firearms under the Criminal Code definition found in section 2.
 
BJP said:
And further to all this, remember that any airgun that shoots a projectile under 500fps is only a "non-firearm" for certain purposes of the act (licence, registration etc). They are for the most part still firearms under the Criminal Code definition found in section 2.
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Technically, it is either muzzle energy or velocity (CCC s.84(3)(d) ):

Certain weapons deemed not to be firearms

(3) For the purposes of sections 91 to 95, 99 to 101, 103 to 107 and 117.03 of this Act and the provisions of the Firearms Act,
the following weapons are deemed not to be firearms:

(d) any other barrelled weapon, where it is proved that the weapon is not designed or adapted to discharge

(i) a shot, bullet or other projectile at a muzzle velocity exceeding 152.4 m per second or at a muzzle energy exceeding 5.7
Joules, ...

(Corrected - see RCMP fact sheets: Must meet BOTH fps & ME requirements.)

And quite right, these are ONLY excepted from the "firearm" definition for the stated purposes in the CCC/Firearms Act. For example, threatening someone is a crime as though it were any other firearm.
 
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NorthCoastBigBore said:
Technically, it is either muzzle energy or velocity (CCC s.84(3)(d) ):

Certain weapons deemed not to be firearms

(3) For the purposes of sections 91 to 95, 99 to 101, 103 to 107 and 117.03 of this Act and the provisions of the Firearms Act,
the following weapons are deemed not to be firearms:

(d) any other barrelled weapon, where it is proved that the weapon is not designed or adapted to discharge

(i) a shot, bullet or other projectile at a muzzle velocity exceeding 152.4 m per second or at a muzzle energy exceeding 5.7
Joules, ...

So an airgun could potentially be less than 500 fps and still considered a "firearm" - but it would have to be a pretty hefty pellet/bullet. Not something on Wal Mart's shelves.

And quite right, these are ONLY excepted from the "firearm" definition for the stated purposes in the CCC/Firearms Act. For example, threatening someone is a crime as though it were any other firearm.
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to be considered a firearm you need to be over both standards , muzzle velocity over 500fps or KE over 4.2 ft/lbs. " Air guns need to meet both standards to be classified as firearms for purposes of the Firearms Act."

so you can have a airgun that shoots a .22cal 16g pellet ( from whalmart ) @ 420fps with a muzzle KE of 6.26ft/lbs and still not considered as a firearm.

( this exemple is my Crosman 2240 air pistol )


And there is a replacement for displacement >>>>>> It's call a turbo !!!!!!!:p
 
pzkw108 said:
to be considered a firearm you need to be over both standards , muzzle velocity over 500fps or KE over 4.2 ft/lbs. " Air guns need to meet both standards to be classified as firearms for purposes of the Firearms Act."

so you can have a airgun that shoots a .22cal 16g pellet ( from whalmart ) @ 420fps with a muzzle KE of 6.26ft/lbs and still not considered as a firearm.

( this exemple is my Crosman 2240 air pistol )


And there is a replacement for displacement >>>>>> It's call a turbo !!!!!!!:p
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Actually that is what I thought as well - the citation I posted was from the CCC which says "or" not both.

I stand corrected here as I see the RCMP fact sheet says both - which is what I thought originally.

Glad to be wrong here.

Turbos eh... new fangled stuff! ;)
 
To make things even stranger. One can legally hunt small game in Ontario with a bb or pellet pistol under 500 fps or a kinetic energy of under 4.2 ft/ lbs of energy. However, if it is over 500 fps or 4.2 ft/lbs it is not allowed and is a restricted firearm (though it would have more foot pounds of energy for an ethical kill). Makes alot of sense eh.
 
you need an H1 to hunt with an airgun.
you need to prove that youve passed the firearm safety course to get an H1
you do not need a PAL for an H1

so if you can not get your pal for whatever reason, you can still take the course and then go hunting with airguns.
 
I'm confident you can "repair" the regulator to "bring it back down to 495fps" if you understand what I'm saying.

You know, that 5.7 Joules rule is horribly smashed by those DIY potato cannons... Can we hunt with a potato gun?
 
maple leaf said:
To make things even stranger. One can legally hunt small game in Ontario with a bb or pellet pistol under 500 fps or a kinetic energy of under 4.2 ft/ lbs of energy. However, if it is over 500 fps or 4.2 ft/lbs it is not allowed and is a restricted firearm (though it would have more foot pounds of energy for an ethical kill). Makes alot of sense eh.
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yea make perfect sense, if my 2240 shot 550 fps instead of 495, THNIK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!
 
Tack Driver Armoury said:
I'm confident you can "repair" the regulator to "bring it back down to 495fps" if you understand what I'm saying.

You know, that 5.7 Joules rule is horribly smashed by those DIY potato cannons... Can we hunt with a potato gun?
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the 5.7 joules rule is smashed by my .380 crosman shotgun too, 80 grains of shot or slug at 400+ fps, no license required, effective on deer up to 25 yards with 80 grain roundballs or 120 grain bullets
 
Thenooblord said:
double tap
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aka Confirmation.

Thenooblord said:
yea make perfect sense, if my 2240 shot 550 fps instead of 495, THNIK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!
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That's exactly right. It automatically turns into a baby-killer at 501fps. And god-forbid if it has a shoulder thing that goes up.

They should totally change the law so that anything restricted or prohibited is automatically non-restricted if it is pink. Fixes the black-gun "problem."
 
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Thenooblord said:
the 5.7 joules rule is smashed by my .380 crosman shotgun too, 80 grains of shot or slug at 400+ fps, no license required, effective on deer up to 25 yards with 80 grain roundballs or 120 grain bullets
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Where can I get one of those Crosman shotguns? How much money do they run? Sounds very interesting for my airgun collection.
 
well youd have to find one, they were only made from 68 to 71
It's called a Crosman 1100 and they can cost 200-250ish depending, mine was 325ish but it came with a red dot and a bunch of gear for casting slugs

with a PAL though there are much more powerful air shotguns you can get than the crosman, the crosman is more of a novelty, not only since it was marketed as an "urban skeet" sort of thing as opposed to hunting, but the added convenience of sliding under our FPS laws, it is quite nicely made for a crosman though, and its got a very long barrel, 28" i believe, with #8 shot it shot about 440 fps and 12-14" spread at 80 feet
 
Thenooblord said:
well youd have to find one, they were only made from 68 to 71
It's called a Crosman 1100 and they can cost 200-250ish depending, mine was 325ish but it came with a red dot and a bunch of gear for casting slugs

with a PAL though there are much more powerful air shotguns you can get than the crosman, the crosman is more of a novelty, not only since it was marketed as an "urban skeet" sort of thing as opposed to hunting, but the added convenience of sliding under our FPS laws, it is quite nicely made for a crosman though, and its got a very long barrel, 28" i believe, with #8 shot it shot about 440 fps and 12-14" spread at 80 feet
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Thanks for the info. Would this airgun be any good for airgun hunting of Turkey or upland birds, or is the shotgun portion more of a novelty?
 
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