NI/UK Fps Limit

F.U.B.A.R

Any one know what the legal fps limit is and weather or not it is a national thing
(Like in Ireland) or if it depends on the site(Like the states)?

Thanks for looking

richieffff

Pretty sure NI is 328 fps too, the UK I really don't know.

F.U.B.A.R

richieffff wrote: »

Pretty sure NI is 328 fps too, the UK I really don't know.

Damn Really was hoping there would be a higher fps ah well and yeah all i can gather about airsoft fps in the uk is its verry strict !:pac:

richieffff

F.U.B.A.R wrote: »

Damn Really was hoping there would be a higher fps ah well and yeah all i can gather about airsoft fps in the uk is its verry strict !:pac:

I've never seen the actual limit written down anywhere, I'm sure its set at something but sites have there own limits on each type of gun.

F.U.B.A.R

yeah i remember seein an article in airsoft international where they built a custom sniper that whent over 400fps i think so it could verry well be the case

cobra 08

The north is the same as down here. The UK as far as I know the legal limits are 350fps for auto gun and 500fps for semi-auto/single shot sniper riffles (has to be scoped and only capable of semi/single shot) although I think some site's only allow 500fps for bolt/single shot and 400fps for semi-auto snipers.

F.U.B.A.R

Ah rite that sounds better cheers bud and why is it that NI has same limit as us??? sortov weird aint it

cobra 08

Honestly no idea mate could just be they believe they need strict firearms controls up there. Also in the UK I don't think you cn just walk in of the street onto a site with a 400-500fps riffle. I believe you have to be known to the site so they know that you obey the min engagement distance. Nobody wants to be shot at close range by a 500fps riffle.

F.U.B.A.R

ah sure a fleece top and you'l be grand saved my bacon quite a few times

Inari

F.U.B.A.R wrote: »

ah sure a fleece top and you'l be grand saved my bacon quite a few times

Although you are most likely joking, disobeying the MED (Minimum Engagement Distance) will get you a severe warning, and continued breaking of the rules will see you promptly removed from the site.

500 fps is not to be toiled with lightly...it can do some damage. Anyone operating a 500fps boltie worth their salt will aim for the least painful area visible (normally Tac vest etc), and will not take the shot if they know it's going to cause damage. Why? Simply put, it's a game, and not worth getting crucified over.

The UK's rules are tied into their Firearms legislation as far as I'm aware. It's along the lines of 350 fps for fully automatic guns, and 500fps for non-self loading guns (i.e. bolties). The semi-auto only guns are an anomaly, and are a big grey area as far as I am aware. Perhaps Firekitten and/or Lemming will jump in on this for clarification

F.U.B.A.R

What I meant is I have been shot at from 3 FEET AWAY:pac: and the norweigen fleece shirt that I wear saved me from receiving some nasty red marks:D

And yes was sortov hoping for someone from 'over there' would have jumped in by now lol

Firekitten

richieffff wrote: »

Pretty sure NI is 328 fps too, the UK I really don't know.

NI is 328fps, same as the Republic.

cobra 08 wrote: »

The north is the same as down here. The UK as far as I know the legal limits are 350fps for auto gun and 500fps for semi-auto/single shot sniper riffles (has to be scoped and only capable of semi/single shot) although I think some site's only allow 500fps for bolt/single shot and 400fps for semi-auto snipers.

Legal limit for single action airsoft devices, is 371fps, exactly.
for double action devices, the limit is that of air rifles... 12ft/lb roughly, 1000fps... airsoft sites use 500fps, for humanitarian reasons. Pistols are legally allowed to 500fps, as semi automatic self loading air handguns... (I'll come to this later, this is where the confusion starts)
Sites run a variance between 328 for all guns, 350 for all guns, 350 for single action, 500 for bolt action. Pistols typically lumped in with single action.

371 for single, 12ft/lb are legal limits, If you are caught over, you will go to prison, do not pass go, do not collect £200, deffinately remember a rope for your soap.

cobra 08 wrote: »

Honestly no idea mate could just be they believe they need strict firearms controls up there. Also in the UK I don't think you cn just walk in of the street onto a site with a 400-500fps riffle. I believe you have to be known to the site so they know that you obey the min engagement distance. Nobody wants to be shot at close range by a 500fps riffle.

You can, typically. Most sites allow new players with the rifles, and do watch them closely, if they muck around, the 'grace period' ends, and they aren't allowed to use them. I personally dont consider it a good thing, but as I dont have a fixed 'home site' I'd be toast each time lol.

F.U.B.A.R wrote: »

ah sure a fleece top and you'l be grand saved my bacon quite a few times

No, really not alright.
Minimum engagement distances, are FACT, not 'sure, will be grand'. Its a strictly enforced safety rule in place to protect players. 328 at close range, can sometimes break the skin... 500 does it far easier. I shot Lemming once at 50m, in the arm... it left an apple sized bruise... minimum engagement is 25m typically... thats what I'm talking about. Close can be dangerous.
If you do not follow the rules, any site will tell you where to go.

The semi auto sniper lark... noticed this cropping up... and rules are 'lax' with some sites.
Here's some home truths. Its not legal.
Does the law overlook it? yes.
Does a legal precident exist? no.

What does the law say?

Single action, and double action. Nowhere, is full automatic, or semi automatic, mentioned in UK firearms law.

What do these terms mean for those that don't know?

Single action: This system loads, and fires a projectile, each time the user pulls the trigger. In airsoft terms... airnozzle moves back... bb pops up... gearbox cycles... pop. No action is required beyond that.

Whats the limit for that?

371fps. End of story.

Double action: System requires two actions to fire... one to load the round, the second to fire. Ie, bolt action... cock, fire....

Limit?

Airsoftwise, its 500, (as high as it will go.)

Why do people allow higher fps semi auto sniper rifles you say?

Well the rules are a mishmash....
'only if it has a scope'....

What a load of hole... having a scope does not remotely change UK firearms designation.

'Can only fire semi auto'
Heh, the legal grey area... so grey, its a daftpunk video. What does the law say? A semi automatic 'design' that cannot be modified to fire in automatic, without an armourer, or replacement of parts. Fixing an aeg to semi? heh, no. Lets not forget, the AEG system, defaults to full auto, so failure results in a very illegal system.
Whats this area of the law refering to? Pistols actually. Air pistols.

Will sites let you use this 500/400fps 'dmr' class? some yes, some no. Sure, those that will means you can skirmish it. But is it legal? that hugely depends on whether you would like to become a legal precident, screw airsoft for another country, potentially your own, and win the bonus prize of an extended vacation at HM's pleasure.

Would I do it? Not on your life.

Can you? If you want. I make no yay or nay, just information. Do as you please.

F.U.B.A.R

Firekitten wrote: »

NI is 328fps, same as the Republic.



Legal limit for single action airsoft devices, is 371fps, exactly.
for double action devices, the limit is that of air rifles... 12ft/lb roughly, 1000fps... airsoft sites use 500fps, for humanitarian reasons. Pistols are legally allowed to 500fps, as semi automatic self loading air handguns... (I'll come to this later, this is where the confusion starts)
Sites run a variance between 328 for all guns, 350 for all guns, 350 for single action, 500 for bolt action. Pistols typically lumped in with single action.

371 for single, 12ft/lb are legal limits, If you are caught over, you will go to prison, do not pass go, do not collect £200, deffinately remember a rope for your soap.


You can, typically. Most sites allow new players with the rifles, and do watch them closely, if they muck around, the 'grace period' ends, and they aren't allowed to use them. I personally dont consider it a good thing, but as I dont have a fixed 'home site' I'd be toast each time lol.


No, really not alright.
Minimum engagement distances, are FACT, not 'sure, will be grand'. Its a strictly enforced safety rule in place to protect players. 328 at close range, can sometimes break the skin... 500 does it far easier. I shot Lemming once at 50m, in the arm... it left an apple sized bruise... minimum engagement is 25m typically... thats what I'm talking about. Close can be dangerous.
If you do not follow the rules, any site will tell you where to go.

The semi auto sniper lark... noticed this cropping up... and rules are 'lax' with some sites.
Here's some home truths. Its not legal.
Does the law overlook it? yes.
Does a legal precident exist? no.

What does the law say?

Single action, and double action. Nowhere, is full automatic, or semi automatic, mentioned in UK firearms law.

What do these terms mean for those that don't know?

Single action: This system loads, and fires a projectile, each time the user pulls the trigger. In airsoft terms... airnozzle moves back... bb pops up... gearbox cycles... pop. No action is required beyond that.

Whats the limit for that?

371fps. End of story.

Double action: System requires two actions to fire... one to load the round, the second to fire. Ie, bolt action... cock, fire....

Limit?

Airsoftwise, its 500, (as high as it will go.)

Why do people allow higher fps semi auto sniper rifles you say?

Well the rules are a mishmash....
'only if it has a scope'....

What a load of hole... having a scope does not remotely change UK firearms designation.

'Can only fire semi auto'
Heh, the legal grey area... so grey, its a daftpunk video. What does the law say? A semi automatic 'design' that cannot be modified to fire in automatic, without an armourer, or replacement of parts. Fixing an aeg to semi? heh, no.
Whats this area of the law refering to? Pistols actually. Air pistols.

Will sites let you use this 500/400fps 'dmr' class? some yes, some no. Sure, those that will means you can skirmish it. But is it legal? that hugely depends on whether you would like to become a legal precident, screw airsoft for another country, potentially your own, and win the bonus prize of an extended vacation at HM's pleasure.

Would I do it? Not on your life.

Can you? If you want. I make no yay or nay, just information. Do as you please.

Ah the answers :D:D:D:D:D

And as for the minimum ingagement distance in Ireland its an uwritten rule that you dont shoot within 10 feet but theres always one arseh0le with a Co2 GBB Scar
Who ignores this and there is always people who think bang bang rule is retarded

Firekitten

In the uk, 328/350 doesnt get a minimum engagement distance... just common sense... bang is optional, otherwise, single shot is prefered. tbh, 1j isnt painful enough to require a min engagement range anywhere in the world as far as I'm aware... not on semi automatic anyway. Some idiot using full auto is neglegent, and will be dealt with.

Anyway, surely the c02 scar is the same fps as any aeg?

F.U.B.A.R

well concidering that the majority of the guns at that game were around the .85J mark but this had N-PAS kit and was bang on 328fps and from 3 feet in the nuckle its pretty painfull and draws blood

goblin59

Iv been full auto'd at similar distances with Custom high speed AEG's that fire bang on the joule. It just happens.

I know when it happened to me a few times its mainly due to running out of a room with neither of us expecting the other to be so close and ended up getting full auto'd as the shock made the person squeeze the trigger.

F.U.B.A.R

well that too but I got auto'd at the end of a ten minute gun batle

Firekitten

Its airsoft... getting shot happens. As long as its not overkill, its all grand.

F.U.B.A.R

true

NakedDex

Any device from 3ft will hurt on the knuckle. A plastic ruler would hurt a knuckle from 3ft. Frankly, you wouldn't have been able to notice the difference between .85J and .99J, regardless of it being gas, electric or air powered.

The "bang rule" isn't a rule at all, written or otherwise, and is optional on Irish sites. Unless some sites make it mandatory for CQB areas, then I've never heard of it being anything more than a courtesy, and one which can be refused just as readily as taken.

Firekitten

Even in the UK its a courtesy rather than a rule... a branch of the honour system of airsoft.

I'll offer it to any play... but belive me, I'll have a barrel pointed at the back of them should they even flinch, i won't hesetate to pull the trigger. Too many have tried to screw with me... they don't expect me to actually do it.
(More than one had a sore head after)

F.U.B.A.R

well to be honest if a barrel is that close to my head or th nape of me neck I would through me hands up strait away as I only wear a boony so there would be mutch to soften the blow XD And getting ever so slightly back on topic: getting an aeg up to 328 must be a fairly fidly job considering that you have to account for for the spring piston and cylinder kit aswell as the hop up gears motor tbb and the variouse types of switches wiring conectors and batteries???

OzCam

F.U.B.A.R wrote: »

Ah rite that sounds better cheers bud and why is it that NI has same limit as us??? sortov weird aint it

The NI regulations were written (in Stormont) before the VCRA etc came into effect on the offshore island.

ASI_Casper has linked to the NI regulations on this forum before, and Lemming has explained several times how the limits are applied to bolt-action devices. The oft-quoted figure of 500fps applies to a few sites only.

A little use of the Search utility will find the posts for you.

F.U.B.A.R

I understand what your saying OzCam but the search facility on m.boards.ie (mobile phone site) displays the search results on a full webpage which my fragile litle samsug cant handle

Firekitten

OzCam wrote: »

The oft-quoted figure of 500fps applies to a few sites only.

Are you refering to the '500' quote for semi auto rifles, or bolt action systems?

F.U.B.A.R

I think he means there is verry few sites that allow that level of fps on either bolties or semi-aegs

Firekitten

Erm, if he is, as one of the few English players here... I'd have to say that's wrong. A vast majority allow 500fps bolt action rifles. However if he means semi auto, a number that is scarily growing allow them within the legal grey are.

F.U.B.A.R

yeah Ide have to say a 500fps M4 sounds great but would be a real painfull B@st3rd to encounter

Firekitten

I think you missunderstand.

Any old rifle, is not allowed to run at 500. Legally... the only black and white systems for that fps, are bolt action sniper rifles. Period.

Semi automatic rifles, used within a sniper role in airsoft, seems a grey area...

This is not saying, that sites allow any old aeg at 500, if the user uses minimum engagement ranges, and semi only. No way.

500fps m4? go to the United States of America for that crap.

F.U.B.A.R

ah write you mean in some verry rare cases a site may allow the likes of an SR25 or say an SVD or M82 aegs at 500 fps as long as they only use semi? And f3ck the states plastic orange flash-hiders no thanks Also I think they have rules where you can use foam axes and knives weird lol

Lemming

F.U.B.A.R wrote: »

ah write you mean in some verry rare cases a site may allow the likes of an SR25 or say an SVD or M82 aegs at 500 fps as long as they only use semi?

I've yet to encounter a site that allowed non-bolt action above 425fps, and one or two that restricted anything above 350fps to bolt-action only.

I believe what FK is alluding to is the number of sites permitting semi-only AEGs at 425fps is increasing. No doubt due to the popular rise in the DMR.

Firekitten

F.U.B.A.R wrote: »

ah write you mean in some verry rare cases a site may allow the likes of an SR25 or say an SVD or M82 aegs at 500 fps as long as they only use semi? And f3ck the states plastic orange flash-hiders no thanks Also I think they have rules where you can use foam axes and knives weird lol

No, must be FIXED to semi. As in automatic simply cannot function. These rifles, and any over normal limits, including bolt action rifles require a minimum engagement distance. Typically 25m MINIMUM (Some use 35-40)
This isnt a case of 'be good and use semi only'.

Anyway, while a few sites use them, nowhere near a majority do.

Lemmin has it in the bag there...

F.U.B.A.R

what sortof semi only aegs are there? EDIT: Ah so if you had one of thosse rifles and disabled the full auto funtion you would be allowed a slightly higher fps (depending on whatever site your at) provide you abide by the Minmum distance rule? God 328fps is starting to make a whole lot of sense

Puding

you can restrict most aeg to semi only, you just need to remove a little bit of material from the selector plate

Firekitten

F.U.B.A.R wrote: »

what sortof semi only aegs are there? EDIT: Ah so if you had one of thosse rifles and disabled the full auto funtion you would be allowed a slightly higher fps (depending on whatever site your at) provide you abide by the Minmum distance rule? God 328fps is starting to make a whole lot of sense

None, which is the legal grey area...

Converting normal ones to semi - going to default to auto when that breaks... as aegs are by default, an automatic system. Grey as a grey thing.


Complicated? No.

328/350 depending on site... most 350... aeg. standard...
500fps for a bolt action rifle.

My personal view? Don't bother with the high fps dmr rifles, becuase its borderline legal, the only reason its still grey, is because nobody has been arrested yet, it tested, and them royally spanked. Don't be the first, in my book. Its not much advantage, its purely so the 'can't be arsed being a sniper' types can use a m110 or barret, and look flashy like da sealz in a rack'

F.U.B.A.R

my sentiments exactly FK Realy dont see the point in impersonating military personell it sorof stupid realy I just have a french CE loadout because its similer to Irish DPM (Iam a weekend warrior ) and works well with the typical Irish lanscape but I dont have any flags or bagdes sewn on it. Would ware the Irish Dpm if not only for the fact that an Irish doesnt actually own the uniform as it is on loan from the government and must be handed in at the end of service I just wish that other airsofters woul
http://m.boards.ie/

Firekitten

I think you missed the point there... the seals comment was a joke... not a serious point.

cobra 08

Lemming wrote: »

I've yet to encounter a site that allowed non-bolt action above 425fps, and one or two that restricted anything above 350fps to bolt-action only..

I think your wrong there Lemming as you where at a event not too long ago that allowed 500fps on semi auto sniper riffles aswell as bolt action.

Firekitten

Typically TA events have used 400.

Though it doesn't make it any more legal.

Lemming

cobra 08 wrote: »

I think your wrong there Lemming as you where at a event not too long ago that allowed 500fps on semi auto sniper riffles aswell as bolt action.

Event. Not site.

I can give you the name of another event - for example - that allows 370fps AEGs (or did last time I checked), but I wont. I can think of almost no sites (certainly none that I've been to) that allow that.

F.U.B.A.R

Firekitten wrote: »

I think you missed the point there... the seals comment was a joke... not a serious point.

Oh well I stand by what I said non the less:D