Home » Firearms » Young people » Possession of firearms, shotguns, airguns and ammunition by under-18s

Possession of firearms, shotguns, airguns and ammunition by under-18s

	Under 18	Under 15	Under 14
Purchase or hire any firearm (including shotguns and air weapons) or ammunition	No	No	No
Possess a Section 1 firearm and ammunition	Yes (if in possession of a certificate or 17 and in accordance with 11a)	Yes (if in possession of a certificate)	No (see exceptions 1, 2 and 3 below)
Receive a Section 1 firearm and ammunition as a gift	Yes (if a certificate holder)	Yes (if a certificate holder)	No
Possess assembled shotgun and ammunition	Yes	No (see exceptions 1, 4 and 5 below)	No (see exceptions 1, 4 and 5 below)
Receive a shotgun as a gift	Yes	No	No
Possess an air weapon	No (see exceptions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 below)	No (see exceptions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 below)	No (see exceptions 1, 2, 3 and 4 below)
Receive an air weapon as a gift	No	No	No
Possess an air weapon in a public place	No (see exceptions 1, 2, 3 and 4 below)	No (see exceptions 1, 2, 3 and 4 below)	No (see exceptions 1, 2, 3 and below)
Possess an air weapon on private premises with consent	Yes	Yes	No

Exceptions:

If carrying on behalf of the certificate holder (who is aged 18 years or over) and for the certificate holders sporting purposes only.
When part of an approved club or cadet
On a miniature rifle
Under the supervision of someone over 21 years
When the shotgun is in a securely fastened gun cover so that it cannot be
Unless on private property with permission of the It is an offence for someone under this exception to fire any missile beyond the boundary of the premises, unless with permission of the adjacent landowner.

Got a question? Email us on firearms@basc.org.uk or call 01244 573 010.

Quarry species and shooting seasons