SpudFiles

I did say it could probably haha.

I think this video is quite telling as to the power:


That fires 2.34mm rimfire cartridges, and has a muzzle energy of 0.71 ft-lbs (2 grains at 400 ft/sec) - about the same as a typical airsoft gun, so it would struggle to break skin. But it does weigh only 20 grams.

Unfortunately, it's not legal in the US, but as it costs around $5700 to buy one, (the rounds cost about $9 each!) I don't think it matters to most of us.
However, I looked at their website, and although they're not sure about it themselves, I'm 99% sure that this would be UK legal - the UK exempts anything of less than 1 ft-lb from being a firearm.

Just a question, but couldn't you throw most heavier things with an energy of more than 1 foot-pound?

I could see them arresting a high school baseball pitcher because his fastballs exceed the legal limit.

^ The law refers only to "barrelled weapons". Of course, airguns get an exemption up to 6 ft-lbs for a pistol, and 12 ft-lbs for rifles.

And this is the UK - it would be a Cricket bowler, not a baseball pitcher... jeez, whadda they teach in schools these days!!!

Ragnarok wrote:I'm 99% sure that this would be UK legal - the UK exempts anything of less than 1 ft-lb from being a firearm.

As far as I know the fact that you're using explosives to fire projectiles means that the foot poundage is irrelevant, it's still a firearm.

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:As far as I know the fact that you're using explosives to fire projectiles means that the foot poundage is irrelevant, it's still a firearm.

IIRC, the UK law makes little to no distinction between powder burners and air. The only case I know of being the exemption for air rifles below 12 ft-lbs as "not especially dangerous".

Hmm, perhaps it's time to visit AirgunBBS with the question.

Ragnarok wrote:Hmm, perhaps it's time to visit AirgunBBS with the question.

This is ironically where I got my impression from as a result of a discussion of sub 12 ft/lbs rifles powered by blanks or primer caps.

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:This is ironically where I got my impression from as a result of a discussion of sub 12 ft/lbs rifles powered by blanks or primer caps.

There's your problem. The sub-12 rule only applies to things working on air or CO₂, you couldn't use solid propellant for those.

Ragnarok wrote:The sub-12 rule only applies to things working on air or CO₂, you couldn't use solid propellant for those.

That's the point I was trying to make. A firearm is a firearm. Take this airsoft M16 for example, it uses explosive toy caps to fire airsoft projectiles below 1 ft/lb - can it legally be owned in the UK?

Not quite the same thing.

Sub-12 air rifles are still considered firearms under UK law, they are just exempt from certification.
Sub-1 is not considered a firearm at all, to the best of my knowledge - the law defines a firearm as "a barrelled weapon capable of inflicting a lethal wound" - and the law considered things with less than 1 ft-lb of power to not be capable of inflicting said lethal wound.

Have a browse through this, it seems fairly ambiguous. You'd probably be ok just owning one though from what I skimmed through.

I actually already have that .pdf downloaded!
I was referring back to it when I was doing my last post!

It would be pretty cool to own one, but given I could buy two top notch air rifles and scopes for the same money, with ammo that costs pence, not pounds - it would be pretty silly in my opinion to go for the novelty revolver.

Not that I have that money - I have to make do with my TX, which to a tinkerer like me is actually more appealing, because I can do work on it myself.