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Do airguns need a license?

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:56 pm
by desperadoxx
Hello Everyone.. This is my first post after registering in this forum. :). I have a question... Do we need a valid arms license to own a .22 Cal Air Rifle? I had read somewhere that .177 is okay, but to have a .22, one need to have a valid permit. Would anyone please clarify my doubt.

Ps: I had gone through many threads to search for similar topics, but could not get it clarified, so opening a new thread.

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:49 pm
by Mack The Knife
You do not need a firearms licence to own a .22" calibre air-rifle/pistol in India.

The "deal wood test"

Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:07 pm
by mundaire
OK, finally got hold of a copy of the famous Central Government notification No. G.S.R 991 dated 13-7-1962 where it had excluded arms and ammunition of the descriptions specified in Column (1) of Schedule II from certain provision of the Act and subject to conditions mentioned therein. Posting the relevant parts here FYI:

Schedule II

Arms & Ammunition
1.
(1)
(2)
(3) Air guns, air rifles and air pistols which satisfy the following test, namely that - the projectiles discharged from such guns or pistols do not perforate a target 12 inches square formed by deal-wood boards of even grain, free from knots, planed on both sides and of thickness of 1/2" and 1" for air pistols and air guns/ rifles respectively:
Provided that in making and estimating the test the following conditions shall be observed, namely:-

(a) the weapon shall be held horizontally with the muzzle at a distance of five feet from the target,

(b) the test shall be repeated twenty times for each class of projectiles which can be discharged from the weapon; and

(c) perforation shall be deemed to be effected-
(i) in a case where the projectile is a dart, if the point of the dart pierces the back of the target, and
(ii) in any other case if the projectile passes completely through the back of the target.

Provisions of the Act (which the above are exempted from)

All; provided that the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, retain all or any of the provisions of the Act in respect of air pistols or of any class thereof in the case of any class of persons or of any specified area.


HTH

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Re: Do airguns need a license?

Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:34 am
by msandhu
that's a very scientific way (govt. way)of checking the power and lethality of the gun..
Cheers
Mandeep

Air pistol license

Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:41 pm
by goga
Hi,
Is license required for air pistol in India ?
If yes, which type of Air pistol are license free.

Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:47 pm
by Mack The Knife
Unless it's an exceptionally powerful air-pistol you do not need an Arms Licence for it.

There isn't a single air-pistol in India, that I have come across, that would need an arms licence.

Re: Do airguns need a license?

Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:28 pm
by Rottmeister
Then what about the co2 powered S&W or the Beretta copies? Do they need a license? If not, then can a person import them through courier?

Re: Do airguns need a license?

Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:18 pm
by indian
as Mack The Knife had earlier mentioned,they dont need a license unless they are exceptionally powerful and i think that the S&W and beretta copies are not that powerful :)

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:23 pm
by Rottmeister
Indian, that answers the first part of my question. Pls guide me on the second part. Regards.

Re: Do airguns need a license?

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:39 pm
by pkjeetesh
did read something about the HC quashing this section of the GSR related to airguns after Maneka Gandhi's case....her call for arresting those selling airguns...im not too clear/sure...reason i dread fully reading such things...for fear of my hobby being robbed...yet if someone can throw some light on this...i'll manage to read

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:36 pm
by Rottmeister
Please suggest a place where I can find a little more detailed info on this topic.

Re: Do airguns need a license?

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:45 pm
by tirths
Hi All,
This might find you interesting :p

http://www.indlii.org/JudgementDetail.a ... entID=2978

Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:44 pm
by Rottmeister
Tirth, one fool and irresponsible airhead is not the representative of an entire community. Owning a gun doesn't necessarily imply that one has to be trigga'-happy.

Re: Do airguns need a license?

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:33 pm
by jimgun
just joined new..
does speed limit of air rifles really matter??
what about imported air rifles& its speed limit..

Re: Do airguns need a license?

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:27 am
by Sakobav
jimgun

Check earlier posts the custom guys can conduct a power test not sure about the pellet speed. Also guns purchased in UK or Europe are calibrated at lower power other experienced members can also guide you.

best