Moderator status, on FAC airgun

[gonzo]

Question for those with an FAC airgun with moderator, or RFD.....

The HO guidelines sect 13.77 says that moderators for airguns are not subject to certificate control. It does not differentiate between an FAC and exempt airgun.
But how is this dealt with in practice?

I'm looking at some FAC airguns, with moderatos, at an auction. I have authority for the gun, but no separate authority for a moderator. And I can't see an auction house splitting a lot. So I'm wondering how this will play out?

 

[FISH BOY]

My FAC says under type "Rifle - air - moderated" with one serial number for the rifle.

No separate slot for the FAC air mod, however I did apply for one when submitting my FAC years ago.

 

[scoby270]

Speak to your firearms dept, mine had to be registered separately on my fac, they said can't use 1 if not on your fac, but that is Cheshire.

Atb scoby 270

 

[oowee]

The mod on my sub 12 and fac air are identical to the mod on my hmr.

 

[Neil/carprover]

I have a slot for mod to go with fac air rifle same as r/f and c/f rifle and moderator

 

[shakey jake]

just picked up an fac 22 air rifle today the dealer checked my ticket for mod which for some reason has mods and rifles in a different order. another mine field of english law

 

[Orion]

just picked up an fac 22 air rifle today the dealer checked my ticket for mod which for some reason has mods and rifles in a different order. another mine field of english law

Not really. It’s irrelevant in which order they appear as long as they are all there. If you read the list of firearms possessed on my FAC I have a .22cf moderator next to a 9.3x62 - I don’t believe they are linked in any way!

 

[shakey jake]

i didnt mean they were linked, it just made it slightly confussing when it didnt need to be

 

[Dalua]

Question for those with an FAC airgun with moderator, or RFD.....

The HO guidelines sect 13.77 says that moderators for airguns are not subject to certificate control. It does not differentiate between an FAC and exempt airgun.
But how is this dealt with in practice?

I'm looking at some FAC airguns, with moderatos, at an auction. I have authority for the gun, but no separate authority for a moderator. And I can't see an auction house splitting a lot. So I'm wondering how this will play out?

My feeling is that if the HO Guide is saying that, then it is assuming that the 'airgun' is a non-S1 airgun.

The actual law is to my mind clear (but I must emphasise that my interpretation is not by any means universally accepted as correct): if the the mod is 'an accessory to' a S1 firearm, then you need S1 authority to possess it.

So, I'd say that if you bought a S1 airgun/mod combination you could ask the auction house to take off the mod and sign the rifle alone onto your FAC.
What happens to the mod, though? In my little world, once off the rifle it ceases to be 'an accessory to' a S1 firearm. If the auction house thinks that too, they might just and it to you - and then all might be well as along as you don't again turn it into 'an accessory to' the S1 airgun by screwing it on the end of it - not. at least, before you have authority on your FAC to do so.

If they don't agree with my analysis (and a good many rational people don't, of course) then they might just hang on to it - but that might not matter to you if the main thing is the rifle.

 

[gonzo]

Dalua, this was my exact concern.

I have come up against this before with 22lr rifles with moderators. Dealers are not willing to sell on a mod that came to them as a section 1, as airgun mods.
Not sure what would happen if you put it on an FAC, then told the police that you were taking it off yourself?

Hopefully I will bump into a dealer or two I know at the auction and they may be willing to take the mod on. If I can't find a better solution.
If the mod turns out to be one I want, that that would be good. As I do have a spare slot for a rimfire mod.

 

[Dalua]

If the mod turns out to be one I want, that that would be good. As I do have a spare slot for a rimfire mod.

If you've a spare slot, the auction houe might be happy to put the mod in that - assuming it would actually work as a rimfire mod? Or you might be able to get a one-for-one change to Airgun mod, if time allows?

 

[karlbird]

My FAC has 22 FAC Air Rifle and a seperate slot for an air rifle moderator.

 

[gonzo]

If you've a spare slot, the auction houe might be happy to put the mod in that - assuming it would actually work as a rimfire mod? Or you might be able to get a one-for-one change to Airgun mod, if time allows?

Only if it turns out to be a mod I actually want for my rimfires.
But the air rifles(s) won't be going on my FAC. They will be for a club, so will be held on a different authority. So it could all just get messy.

 

[Cyres]

Well you could buy it and ask for the moderator to be removed. Then your fine. The only issue arises if you use the weapon with a moddy but you have not got one on your ticket. Its complete nonsense. My Daystate is FAC but has a bog standard air rifle moddy on it, no marks/anything so I could swap it for my Air Arms moddy off my sub 12 ft/lb S100 and nobody would be any wiser.

My sons .22lr Annie came with an air rifle moddy on it. Again no serial no or alike.

Good reason not to take my moddys off my assorted PCP's.

D

 

[gonzo]

Triangulating in with postings here and advice from elsewhere... (Including the BASC FA advisors).
It looks like section 13.77 of the HOG was badly worded. And that they were thinking of non FAC airguns.
And any mod that is on a section 1 gun, becomes section 1. Unless it is a part of the firearm, not a separate component.

I'd be surprised if an auction house will split a lot. Though I may be able to wangle it going back in as a lot for the next auction.
Or as I said earlier, look for a friendly RFD who wants a free mod.

Though I am looking for a decent mod for my own use. It would be super convenient if there were one on one of these airguns. But life isn't normally that good to us. And I'm not wasting a slot on a piece of junk.

 

[25 Sharps]

Separate slots for air rifle and air rifle moderator on my ticket