Moderators off ticket tomorrow then ..

[Elshad]

Update from SACS


29/06/2026

As you will likely know, legislation was recently passed that removed the requirement to record sound moderators on a certificate. Section 44 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which amends the 1968 Firearms Act, commences today, 29 June 2026, and this means that sound moderators will not be required to be covered by a certificate. That said, you will need a certificate to possess one; it just doesn’t have to be recorded on your certificate. This will do away with the need for variations, etc., when you change sound moderators.

Police Scotland has provided the following update:

‘Police Scotland note the commencement of Section 44 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 which defines sound moderators and flash suppressors as relevant accessories. As of today certificate holders will no longer be required to apply for a variation to their certificate to possess a sound moderator or flash suppressor. This will reduce the administrative impact on certificate holders, dealers and licensing teams across Scotland whilst ensuring public safety is maintained through the requirement to hold a firearm certificate in order to purchase or possess such pieces of equipment. Any pending variation applications seeking only a sound moderator will be refunded and returned and moderators gradually removed from certificates as they are renewed or varied over the coming years.’

We are still awaiting the NPCC guidance for England and Wales, and we will share it when we receive it.

Ideally the Search Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 would have been amended by the same piece of legislation as well to remove mods from the definition of “air weapon” because as of today you now have a bizarre situation where (for example) a 308 moderator is subject to less control than an airgun mod

Although the matter is devolved (stupidly so in my opinion), the UK Gov retains the right to legislate here and should have done as a matter of common sense

 

[Smellydog]

common sense

UK Gov

Is that even possible?

 

[Remmy6.5]

On a good note can we now get wildcat spare parts again ????

that would be nice.!!

 

[RCS Deer Management]

Who's going to be the first on here to test the new rules?
I expect queues outside gunshops before 9am tomorrow morning as SD members vie with oneanother to be the first to be able to post a write up of their successful transaction

I rang my 4 nearest gunshops this afternoon as Iv got a mod that wore out a few weeks back that needs replacing. None of them were willing to sell me a moderator without a variation and one of them even rang west Mercia police to check, who told them that the rules hadn’t changed and that there were to tell me that I needed a variation. I will try again next week, I’m guessing that will be enough time for west Mercia and my local gunshops to catch up.

 

[Remmy6.5]

I rang my 4 nearest gunshops this afternoon as Iv got a mod that wore out a few weeks back that needs replacing. None of them were willing to sell me a moderator without a variation and one of them even rang west Mercia police to check, who told them that the rules hadn’t changed and that there were to tell me that I needed a variation. I will try again next week, I’m guessing that will be enough time for west Mercia and my local gunshops to catch up.

I spoke to my local FET and 2 local RFD'S in essex and got the same answer so yes it looks like there all being treated like mushroom's as per and I suppose it will take time to filter down to us Meer mortals. Not too long I hope

 

[20-250]

Who's going to be the first on here to test the new rules?
I expect queues outside gunshops before 9am tomorrow morning as SD members vie with oneanother to be the first to be able to post a write up of their successful transaction

Bugger tomorrow. I ordered one this morning.

 

[jb1]

Excellent news, so I can have a lightweight for stalking and keep my jetZ for range use.

 

[Kalahari]

Interesting that the Wilson55 auction site has already stated that there is no need for a slot to buy a moderator in their latest sale. Pretty quick!

David.

 

[artschool]

everyone seems to be getting very excited about not much at all.
getting a mod was never difficult. most of us have them recorded as NVN on the cert.

i don’t get the fuss

 

[Kalahari]

everyone seems to be getting very excited about not much at all.
getting a mod was never difficult. most of us have them recorded as NVN on the cert.

i don’t get the fuss

Because if you added a rifle and wanted a mod to suit the new calibre you don't have to pay for both.

David

 

[artschool]

Because if you added a rifle and wanted a mod to suit the new calibre you don't have to pay for both.

David

ok fair point

 

[Elshad]

everyone seems to be getting very excited about not much at all.
getting a mod was never difficult. most of us have them recorded as NVN on the cert.

i don’t get the fuss

In some areas getting a variation for a mod could take a year...

 

[artschool]

In some areas getting a variation for a mod could take a year...

that’s bonkers

 

[enfieldspares]

You can fit as many as you like to your rifle, it'll be so quiet.

Seriously though, you can have as many as you like.

I did do this with air rifle silencers for my BSA Scorpion and found that the Hogun Decimeator was quietest overall length for length. I think trying isn't a bad idea.

 

[25 Sharps]

Because if you added a rifle and wanted a mod to suit the new calibre you don't have to pay for both.

David

Not really, if you’re adding the rifle you pay for the variation anyway, you pay the same fee if you add 5 slots or 1.

 

[Bo Diddley]

I often wonder if a moderator was dropped into the gutter of any high street in the country, what percentage of those who bothered to even pick it up would ever work out what it actually was
Most would think it had dropped off the exhaust system of some 50cc Chinese moped.