United Kingdom
BB Gun and Imitation Firearm Law in the UK
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited September 28, 2026). · 14 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Owning an ordinary, low-powered BB gun as an adult is lawful in the UK, but manufacturing or selling a highly realistic replica, selling or buying any imitation firearm with someone under 18, and carrying one in public without good reason are all separate criminal offences.
Owning a BB Gun Is Not, By Itself, Illegal
A common misconception is that BB guns are illegal to own in the UK. They are not, for an adult, provided the gun is not a "realistic imitation firearm" and is not an air weapon that crosses the certificate threshold covered on our air rifle law page. What the law actually targets is manufacturing or selling highly realistic replicas, selling to or buying by under-18s, and carrying one in public without good reason.
Realistic Imitation Firearms: Banned From Sale
Section 36 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 bans manufacturing, modifying to become, selling or importing into Great Britain a "realistic imitation firearm." Section 38 defines this as one that is indistinguishable from a real firearm for all practical purposes, except to an expert, on close examination, or by attempting to load or fire it. This targets photorealistic replicas rather than imitations whose size, shape or principal colour is unrealistic, for example one made mainly in a bright colour such as red, orange, yellow, green, pink, purple or blue, or in transparent material. The ban is subject to defences, including making the replica available only for museums, theatre, film or television, insured historical re-enactments and insured airsoft skirmishing ("the acting out of military or law enforcement scenarios for the purposes of recreation"), under section 37 and the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Realistic Imitation Firearms) Regulations 2007.
Selling to, or Buying by, Someone Under 18
A separate and much broader rule applies to under-18s. Section 40 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, inserting a new section 24A into the Firearms Act 1968, makes it an offence for a person under 18 to purchase an imitation firearm, and an offence to sell an imitation firearm to a person under 18. Unlike the "realistic" ban above, this applies to any imitation firearm, ordinary BB guns and airsoft replicas included, since it uses the Firearms Act's broader definition of "anything which has the appearance of being a firearm." A seller has a defence if they reasonably believed the buyer was 18 or over on reasonable grounds. This rule has applied since 1 October 2007.
The current maximum sentence for this offence in England and Wales is 6 months imprisonment. The amended penalty schedule for the Firearms Act refers to "51 weeks," but section 40(3) of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 states that until section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is brought into force, that reference is read as 6 months. Section 281(5) has not been brought into force, so 6 months remains the current maximum. In Scotland the maximum is 6 months, a level 5 fine, or both.
Carrying a BB Gun in Public
Section 19 of the Firearms Act 1968 makes it an offence to have with you, in a public place, without lawful authority or a reasonable excuse, "an imitation firearm," among other listed weapons. Imitation firearms are named as their own paragraph in section 19, separate from the definition of a real firearm, so carrying a BB gun or airsoft replica in public without lawful authority or a reasonable excuse is caught directly by this provision.
Scotland: Air Weapon Certificates Can Still Apply
Scotland's Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 generally requires a certificate to possess an air weapon, but section 1(4) excludes some BB guns and airsoft replicas from that scheme in two separate ways. Genuine airsoft weapons, as defined by the Firearms Act 1968's own airsoft exception, are excluded because they are not legally a "firearm" at all. Separately, any air weapon, including a metal BB gun, that cannot discharge a missile with kinetic energy of more than one joule at the muzzle is also excluded. A metal or steel BB gun that exceeds one joule qualifies for neither exclusion, and remains within Scotland's certificate scheme. This is not a blanket exemption for BB guns as a category; it depends on the gun's material and power.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's realistic imitation firearm ban sits inside the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 itself, in Schedule 2, rather than in a separate Northern Ireland instrument. Schedule 2, paragraphs 4 to 6, ban manufacturing, modifying, selling or bringing a realistic imitation firearm into Northern Ireland, in force since 1 October 2007, with a maximum penalty on summary conviction of 6 months imprisonment or a level 5 fine, or both. The under-18 sale and purchase ban is set out separately, in Article 66A of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, which was inserted specifically for this purpose. Carrying an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse is an offence under Article 61 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004.
Anyone facing a charge under this area of law should get advice early; see our guide to legal aid eligibility and the UK criminal law hub for our wider coverage of offences and sentencing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to own a BB gun in the UK?
Not by itself. An adult can lawfully own an ordinary BB gun, provided it is not a realistic imitation firearm and does not cross the relevant air weapon power threshold. Selling one to someone under 18, or an under-18 buying one, is a separate offence.
Can I sell a BB gun to a 16 year old?
No. Selling any imitation firearm to someone under 18 is a criminal offence across England, Wales and Scotland, and under separate provisions in Northern Ireland.
Can I carry my BB gun to a field or shop?
Only with lawful authority or a reasonable excuse. Section 19 of the Firearms Act 1968 makes it an offence to carry an imitation firearm in a public place without one. In Northern Ireland, Article 61 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 does the same.
Does Scotland treat BB guns differently?
It can. Scotland's air weapon certificate scheme excludes genuine plastic airsoft guns and any air weapon that cannot exceed one joule of muzzle energy, but a metal BB gun above that power level remains within the certificate scheme.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015
s. 1Meaning of “air weapon”In force
(1) This section defines the expression “ air weapon ” for the purposes of this Part. (2) The expression generally has the same meaning as that given in section 1(3)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 (“ the 1968 Act ”). (3) In addition, the expression includes— (a) the component parts of an air weapon (within the meaning of section 1(3)(b) of the 1968 Act), and (b) any accessory to such a weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise caused by discharging the weapon. (4) But the expression does not include— (a) an air weapon which is not a firearm (within the meaning of section 57(1) of the 1968 Act), (b) an air weapon (within the meaning of section 1(3)(b) of the 1968 Act)— (i) which is not capable of discharging a missile with kinetic energy of more than one joule as measured at the muzzle of the weapon, or (ii) that is designed to be used only when submerged in water, or (c) the component parts of an air weapon described in paragraph (a) or (b)(i) or (ii). (5) Other words and expressions used in this Part are defined in section 40.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
Firearms Act 1968
s. 19Carrying firearm in a public place.In force
A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the proof whereof lies on him) he has with him in a public place (a) a loaded shot gun, (b) an air weapon (whether loaded or not), (c) any other firearm (whether loaded or not) together with ammunition suitable for use in that firearm, or (d) an imitation firearm.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 57Interpretation.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
(1) In this Act, the expression “ firearm ” means— (a) a lethal barrelled weapon (see subsection (1B)); (b) a prohibited weapon; (c) a relevant component part in relation to a lethal barrelled weapon or a prohibited weapon (see subsection (1D)); (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and so much of section 1 of this Act as excludes any description of firearm from the category of firearms to which that section applies shall be construed as also excluding component parts of ... firearms of that description. (1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1B) In subsection (1)(a), “ lethal barrelled weapon ” means a barrelled weapon of any description from which a shot, bullet or other missile, with kinetic energy of more than one joule at the muzzle of the weapon, can be discharged. (1C) Subsection (1) is subject to section 57A (exception for airsoft guns).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
Also relied on in: Is Pepper Spray or a Stun Gun Legal in the UK?
s. 57aException for airsoft gunsIn force
(1) An “airsoft gun” is not to be regarded as a firearm for the purposes of this Act. (2) An “airsoft gun” is a barrelled weapon of any description which— (a) is designed to discharge only a small plastic missile (whether or not it is also capable of discharging any other kind of missile), and (b) is not capable of discharging a missile (of any kind) with kinetic energy at the muzzle of the weapon that exceeds the permitted level. (3) “ Small plastic missile ” means a missile that— (a) is made wholly or partly from plastics, (b) is spherical, and (c) does not exceed 8 millimetres in diameter. (4) 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.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
Criminal Justice Act 2003
s. 281Alteration of penalties for other summary offencesIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
(1) Subsection (2) applies to any summary offence which— (a) is an offence under a relevant enactment, (b) is punishable with a maximum term of imprisonment of five months or less, and (c) is not listed in Schedule 25 or Schedule 26. (2) The Secretary of State may by order amend any relevant enactment so as to— (a) provide that any summary offence to which this subsection applies is no longer punishable with imprisonment, or (b) increase to 51 weeks the maximum term of imprisonment to which a person is liable on conviction of the offence. (3) An order under subsection (2) may make such supplementary, incidental or consequential provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient, including provision amending any relevant enactment. (4) Subsection (5) applies to any summary offence which— (a) is an offence under a relevant enactment, and (b) is punishable with a maximum term of imprisonment of six months. (5) The maximum term of imprisonment to which a person is liable on conviction of an offence to which this subsection applies is, by virtue of this subsection, 51 weeks (and the relevant enactment in question is to be read as if it had been amended accordingly).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
Also relied on in: Common Assault, ABH and GBH: UK Sentences Explained, Malicious Communications UK: Is an Abusive Message a Crime?
Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006
s. 36Manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearmsIn force
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if— (a) he manufactures a realistic imitation firearm; (b) he modifies an imitation firearm so that it becomes a realistic imitation firearm; (c) he sells a realistic imitation firearm; or (d) he brings a realistic imitation firearm into Great Britain or causes one to be brought into Great Britain. (2) Subsection (1) has effect subject to the defences in section 37. (3) The Secretary of State may by regulations— (a) provide for exceptions and exemptions from the offence under subsection (1); and (b) provide for it to be a defence in proceedings for such an offence to show the matters specified or described in the regulations. (4) Regulations under subsection (3) may— (a) frame any exception, exemption or defence by reference to an approval or consent given in accordance with the regulations; (b) provide for approvals and consents to be given in relation to particular cases or in relation to such descriptions of case as may be specified or described in the regulations; and (c) confer the function of giving approvals or consents on such persons specified or described in the regulations as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 37Specific defences applying to the offence under s. 36In force
(1) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 36 in respect of any conduct to show that the conduct was for the purpose only of making the imitation firearm in question available for one or more of the purposes specified in subsection (2). (2) Those purposes are— (a) the purposes of a museum or gallery; (b) the purposes of theatrical performances and of rehearsals for such performances; (c) the production of films (within the meaning of Part 1 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48)_see section 5B of that Act); (d) the production of television programmes (within the meaning of the Communications Act 2003 (c. 21)_see section 405(1) of that Act); (e) the organisation and holding of historical re-enactments organised and held by persons specified or described for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State; (f) the purposes of functions that a person has in his capacity as a person in the service of Her Majesty.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 38Meaning of “realistic imitation firearm”In force
(1) In sections 36 and 37 “ realistic imitation firearm ” means an imitation firearm which— (a) has an appearance that is so realistic as to make it indistinguishable, for all practical purposes, from a real firearm; and (b) is neither a de-activated firearm nor itself an antique. (2) For the purposes of this section, an imitation firearm is not (except by virtue of subsection (3)(b)) to be regarded as distinguishable from a real firearm for any practical purpose if it could be so distinguished only— (a) by an expert; (b) on a close examination; or (c) as a result of an attempt to load or to fire it. (3) In determining for the purposes of this section whether an imitation firearm is distinguishable from a real firearm— (a) the matters that must be taken into account include any differences between the size, shape and principal colour of the imitation firearm and the size, shape and colour in which the real firearm is manufactured; and (b) the imitation is to be regarded as distinguishable if its size, shape or principal colour is unrealistic for a real firearm.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
s. 40Supplying imitation firearms to minorsIn force
(1) After section 24 of the 1968 Act insert— Supplying imitation firearms to minors (24A) (1) It is an offence for a person under the age of eighteen to purchase an imitation firearm. (2) It is an offence to sell an imitation firearm to a person under the age of eighteen. (3) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (2) it is a defence to show that the person charged with the offence— (a) believed the other person to be aged eighteen or over; and (b) had reasonable ground for that belief. (4) For the purposes of this section a person shall be taken to have shown the matters specified in subsection (3) if— (a) sufficient evidence of those matters is adduced to raise an issue with respect to them; and (b) the contrary is not proved beyond a reasonable doubt. (2) In the table in Part 1 of Schedule 6 (punishment), after the entry for section 24(4) insert— Section 24A(1) or (2) Acquisition by a minor of an imitation firearm and supplying him. Summary In England and Wales, 51 weeks or a fine of level 5 on the standard scale, or both. In Scotland, 6 months, or a fine of level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-14 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislation.gov.uk
Search our record of UK legislation — retrieved from legislation.gov.uk →
Sources and References
- Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, section 36 (Manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearms)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, section 40 (Prohibition of sale etc of imitation firearms to persons under eighteen)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Firearms Act 1968, section 19 (Carrying firearm in a public place)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Firearms Act 1968, section 57 (Interpretation)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Firearms Act 1968, section 57A (Exception for airsoft guns)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, section 1 (Meaning of air weapon)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, Schedule 2(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, Article 66A(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, section 37 (defences to the realistic imitation firearm offence)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, section 38 (meaning of realistic imitation firearm; size, shape or principal colour)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Realistic Imitation Firearms) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2606 (airsoft and re-enactment defences; unrealistic colours)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Firearms Act 1968, Schedule 6 (s.24A penalty: Scotland 6 months, level 5 fine, or both)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, Article 61 (carrying a firearm or imitation firearm in a public place)(legislation.gov.uk).gov
- Criminal Justice Act 2003, section 281 (s.281(5) not in force)(legislation.gov.uk).gov