Fx Crown fac barrel swap legality

[pj1]

Looking for some advice if I may. Currently use an fx crown air rifle in fac with a 500 mm barrel. I would like to fit a 600 mm barrel instead. Same calibre just longer.
Would I have to put in for a variation even though the rifles aren’t proofed.
Secondly would spending the 250 -300 quid really give me enough of a difference in performance to warrant doing it.
Cheers Pete

 

[Dickie]

is there a serial number on the barrel? see if there is someone out there wants to do a swap.

 

[Gunner223]

There's no number on the barrels, ive done the same, go for a 6 or 700mm slug barrel and liner kit, and in my Maverick well worth it.

 

[pj1]

Thank you. A 700 mm would make the crown really long. Had looked at either the maverick or an impact to upgrade to but slightly worried I would t be able to turn the power down enough for shooting feral pigeons and rats in and around buildings.
Can I ask what ft lbs of energy can you turn your maverick down to if you’ve done that

 

[Gunner223]

To be fair I haven't dropped it to its min as I use it for long range targets, but im sure it would be to powerful for
pigeons in the roofs, for that I have a BSA R10 in 177 with a 008 on the top and its perfect for the job

 

[pj1]

To be fair I haven't dropped it to its min as I use it for long range targets, but im sure it would be to powerful for
pigeons in the roofs, for that I have a BSA R10 in 177 with a 008 on the top and its perfect for the job

Fair enough. The joy of the crown is it has the transfer port with low setting .177 .22 and .25 .30 settings. Slugs I use 25.30. jsb hades pellets 177.22 for about 17 ft lbs and if I go to low setting on the transfer port and low on the hammer spring then it’s not enough for pigeons in roofs so I think I’ve got enough wiggle room to add some barrel length. Can only get maximum 30 ft lbs with 23 gn slugs and all the technical stuff from fx says I should get 50 ish ft lbs I believe.

 

[LarryLightFoot]

I have my Mk2 .22 standard barrel ( 500mm ) with reg sat at 110 ish, the port set at low and hammer wheel at minimum using Hades gives me 12ft/lb - 12.5 ft/lb my high power setting using Hades is port set to High and hammer wheel set at B this gives me 890 fps ( 27.9 ft/lb ) and the grouping at 50 yd’s is spot on .
Using JSB Jumbo Heavy 18.13gr with High port wheel and max hammer wheel gives me 930 fps 34.83 ft/lb
Using Hybrid Slugs 23gr again port wheel on High and hammer wheel on Max gives me 44.18 ft/lb I’m sure if I swapped out the 500mm barrel for a 700mm barrel it would be up at 50ft/lb .
Im happy with it as it is for my purposes as it can be wound down for barn work and rats or sat at squirrel feeders and pumped up for longer work on the rabbits .
Best check with your FEO, my thinking is no variation needed but I’m just a bloke on a forum.

 

[gonzo]

Legal grey area?
Though the barrel is on an FAC gun, you could transfer it to a sub 12ft-lb gun, so it is nolonger part of a firearm. Neither would the new barrel.
Also air gun barrels do not technically contain a chamber. So are not licenceable parts.

In reality, who would ever know/care/be able to prove..... ?

 

[Squirrelbasher]

Regarding transfer ports flow adjustment, the fac impact has a valve opening adjuster on the front of the block. I’m running my .22 with 700mm barrel at 110 reg pressure which gives me 19-44 ish ft lbs with just a turn of the hammer spring wheel. I can adjust it lower than that by reducing the valve opening. It takes just seconds to do.

 

[pj1]

I have my Mk2 .22 standard barrel ( 500mm ) with reg sat at 110 ish, the port set at low and hammer wheel at minimum using Hades gives me 12ft/lb - 12.5 ft/lb my high power setting using Hades is port set to High and hammer wheel set at B this gives me 890 fps ( 27.9 ft/lb ) and the grouping at 50 yd’s is spot on .
Using JSB Jumbo Heavy 18.13gr with High port wheel and max hammer wheel gives me 930 fps 34.83 ft/lb
Using Hybrid Slugs 23gr again port wheel on High and hammer wheel on Max gives me 44.18 ft/lb I’m sure if I swapped out the 500mm barrel for a 700mm barrel it would be up at 50ft/lb .
Im happy with it as it is for my purposes as it can be wound down for barn work and rats or sat at squirrel feeders and pumped up for longer work on the rabbits .
Best check with your FEO, my thinking is no variation needed but I’m just a bloke on a forum.

Thank you. I have the mk1 version. Interestingly the reg is set at 145. Maybe too much but that was how it came from the factory.

 

[LarryLightFoot]

Thank you. I have the mk1 version. Interestingly the reg is set at 145. Maybe too much but that was how it came from the factory.

A fair few knowledgeable chaps with FAC Crowns or have had them on the AirGun Forum what I’ve picked up is the higher the reg pressure the harder it is to get it down towards the 12ft/lb mark . Maybe try taking it down to 120 Bar see how you get on ?

 

[dave 67]

If you order another barrel for your FX from sportsman gun shop they don’t ask for your FAC, don’t think barrel length is an issue as long as your not changing calibre.

 

[villaman]

If you are keeping the same cal , which you are and just want a longer barrel then go a head you don’t need a variation.
I run my mk1 crown on 155 bar with heavy hammer weight achieving 44 ftlbs with 23 gr slugs and can take it under 12 ftlbs with 16 gr pellets with 500 mm barrel

 

[Heym SR20]

I would err on the side of caution here.

An FAC Air Rifle is a firearm as far as the law is concerned, and the barrel is a component part of the firearm.

Having an additional barrel, albeit in the same calibre means that you are acquiring another barrel for a firearm.

Same applies to a Blaser or an FAC air rifle.

Therefore I would be asking the Police Firearms department about a variation. They may say you don’t need one. But I would get that in writing.

The law may be a grey area on this. But it only needs one Police sergeant looking to up his prosecution rates to twist the grey area in his favour.

 

[villaman]

I h

I would err on the side of caution here.

An FAC Air Rifle is a firearm as far as the law is concerned, and the barrel is a component part of the firearm.

Having an additional barrel, albeit in the same calibre means that you are acquiring another barrel for a firearm.

Same applies to a Blaser or an FAC air rifle.

Therefore I would be asking the Police Firearms department about a variation. They may say you don’t need one. But I would get that in writing.

The law may be a grey area on this. But it only needs one Police sergeant looking to up his prosecution rates to twist the grey area in his favour.

How would they tell when you could have 100 different barrels same cal for airguns fx use the same barrel for sub 12& FAC

 

[Skinny Pete]

If you only have an FAC air gun then the spare barrel is obviously for that one.

 

[villaman]

If you only have an FAC air gun then the spare barrel is obviously for that one.

Doesn’t matter it’s not against the law to have a airgun barrel

 

[Heym SR20]

Doesn’t matter it’s not against the law to have a airgun barrel

You need to have a very close look at Section 57 of the Firearms Act and at the definition of Firearm.

Spartan Law sums this nicely and I quote

What is a ‘Firearm’?​

Possession of a firearm is defined in section 57 (1) of The Firearms Act 1968 as ‘a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or another missile can be discharged. It includes any prohibited weapon, any component part of such a weapon and any accessory to such weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon.

Possession of a Firearm​

It is an offence under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 to possess a firearm, certain air weapons and certain ammunition without a certificate. It is an absolute offence and this means that the prosecution only has to show that the defendant knew he has something in his possession. It is irrelevant what he knew or thought it was.


So as OP states he wants to acquire another barrel for a Firearm. Whilst it might be powered by air, it is not legally an “airweapon”. An “airweapon” is defined as having a muzzle energy of less than 12 ft / lbs.

Another barrel is a component part of a rifle and is thus treated effectively as another firearm.

The only way that the OP can change the barrel length without a variation is take the Firearm to an RFD and the RFD swaps over the barrels, and he surrenders the original barrel. Exact same procedure as having any firearm rebarreled in the same calibre.

 

[villaman]

You need to have a very close look at Section 57 of the Firearms Act and at the definition of Firearm.

Spartan Law sums this nicely and I quote

What is a ‘Firearm’?​

Possession of a firearm is defined in section 57 (1) of The Firearms Act 1968 as ‘a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or another missile can be discharged. It includes any prohibited weapon, any component part of such a weapon and any accessory to such weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon.

Possession of a Firearm​

It is an offence under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 to possess a firearm, certain air weapons and certain ammunition without a certificate. It is an absolute offence and this means that the prosecution only has to show that the defendant knew he has something in his possession. It is irrelevant what he knew or thought it was.


So as OP states he wants to acquire another barrel for a Firearm. Whilst it might be powered by air, it is not legally an “airweapon”. An “airweapon” is defined as having a muzzle energy of less than 12 ft / lbs.

Another barrel is a component part of a rifle and is thus treated effectively as another firearm.

The only way that the OP can change the barrel length without a variation is take the Firearm to an RFD and the RFD swaps over the barrels, and he surrenders the original barrel. Exact same procedure as having any firearm rebarreled in the same calibre.

Yes I now firearms law But your license for FAC air it states make , cal and serial number , doesn’t state length of barrel same with FAC air ammunition pellets are not stated like live ammunition
Don’t forget serial number on fx guns are on the block not on the barrel & like I said anyone can buy a airgun barrel or liner , even if guns aren’t your thing

 

[Heym SR20]

Yes I now firearms law But your license for FAC air it states make , cal and serial number , doesn’t state length of barrel same with FAC air ammunition pellets are not stated like live ammunition
Don’t forget serial number on fx guns are on the block not on the barrel & like I said anyone can buy a airgun barrel or liner , even if guns aren’t your thing

Not in Scotland you cannot by an air rifle with out an air weapons certificate. Serial number or not on barrel is irrelevant. If you have a component part for a firearm without appropriate authority you are in breech of the Firearms Act.

In Englandshire you can buy an air rifle barrel for an air rifle as its not a component part of a Firearm. You can also buy a moderator for an air rifle. But as soon as you buy either with the intent of putting them onto a firearm they are classified as a component part of a firearm and this need authority. That is, as you will undoubtedly understand, is how the law is written.