The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

saddler wrote:Muzzle brakes are NOT regulated
Flash hiders ARE regulated

^ this is correct

Despite my Dragunov having a flash hider I cannot buy a spare one for it, bit bizarre really when you think about it.

That's the first time I have heard this such a stupid law! oh well back to my moderator I go

Hunter87 wrote:First off thank you for putting effort into keeping me legal it's much appreciated and I really do mean that. I have read your quote and as I have said its not a sound moderator it's making the sound louder. Same as a muzzle break does and to my knowledge muzzle breaks and flash hiders aren't regulated either I can walk into any gun shop and buy a flash hider or muzzle break no questions asked I don't need a variation as their aren't on ticket. How would I be in violation of the proof act?
I want to make it louder because I'm interested in knowing if it would actually work hay it might even be fun!

As saddler said, muzzle breaks are not, flash hiders are however classed the same as moderators - since this device is marketted as a flash hider it would be restricted.
I suppose this would apply if you were then to try and sell the item, my knowledge on this is a little less informed, I just know that when adding things to the barrel of a rifle it requires to be proofed, such as moderators used for Sec 1. This may just be when being sold however.

I have a Noveske KX3 on my ST-22 and it doesn't make anything louder it just directs the sound down range. It is classed as a brake and mine isn't a regulated item. I would say though, you'd have to be mad to put an airsoft brake on a real rifle, you're asking for trouble IMO. Just buy a real one for the sake of an extra £100.

HALODIN wrote:I have a Noveske KX3 on my ST-22 and it doesn't make anything louder it just directs the sound down range. It is classed as a brake and mine isn't a regulated item. I would say though, you'd have to be mad to put an airsoft brake on a real rifle, you're asking for trouble IMO. Just buy a real one for the sake of an extra £100.

I wonder where the lines are drawn and by whom on this then, when searching Noveske kx3 it is marketed as a flash suppressor.

Not sure. I've spoken with 3 firearms dealers about the KX3 and they all regarded it as a brake and not a suppressor.

HALODIN wrote:Not sure. I've spoken with 3 firearms dealers about the KX3 and they all regarded it as a brake and not a suppressor.

Can't see any for sale that are not airsoft in the UK. Did you get yours in this country or ship it in?

I guess it comes down to what the HO say about individual items such as this - as I say, Noveske sell it as a flash suppressor - if I were a lawyer fighting from the other side of the fence it wouldn't be difficult to claim that it is a device as mentioned in legislation (Section 57.1.c of Firearms Act 1968 ~ any accessory to any such weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon) based on the marketing bumpf from the company that makes it.


Edit: There's also a difference in legislation between a flash hider and brake and if you were trying to get an RFD's opinion on suppressor vs brake and not knowing that flash hiders are restricted also - this may sway your outcome, especially if the RFD's are not aware of this either (they should be but it wouldn't be the first time an RFD has not known every line of legislation...) as this item is more a break than a suppressor but more flash hider than muzzle break in this posters humble opinion.

My understanding is that a muzzle brake is ventilated - top and/or sides - to reduce felt recoil. As such these are not regulated. A flash hider is merely a tube to do exactly what its name implies - hide the muzzle flash. As mentioned above, these are regulated under the firearms laws.

Redcat

It was sourced from a reputable dealer in the UK. The Noveske website states "The Noveske KX3 is classified as a flash suppressor by the BATF FTB." That's their interpretation of it's utility, but whilst it may aid in that area, it's primary purpose is to direct muzzle blast and noise down range. It doesn't suppress it, it redirects it which is a similar function to a standard brake IMO. It also mitigates recoil as well.

HALODIN wrote:It was sourced from a reputable dealer in the UK. The Noveske website states "The Noveske KX3 is classified as a flash suppressor by the BATF FTB." That's their interpretation of it's utility, but whilst it may aid in that area, it's primary purpose is to direct muzzle blast and noise down range. It doesn't suppress it, it redirects it which is a similar function to a standard brake IMO. It also mitigates recoil as well.

Well, I'm unconvinced. If it's marketed as a flash suppressor and sold as a flash suppressor, then by all accounts it is a flash suppressor and as quoted above the legislation explicitly mentions devices designed to diminish flash.

Its certainly a grey area, and I wouldn't much like to have to explain to someone inspecting my cabinet what the funny looking thing on the end of the barrel is that's not on my FAC -
"looks like a suppressor"
"no it's a muzzle break"
"Let's look it up on the internet, oh the manufacturer says its a flash suppressor, Section 57,1,C of the firearms act says that these things are regulated... Can you explain to me why you have an unregulated part.... Bye Bye guns."

Maybe it's just me that thinks the way things are going we will have people doing checks that avoid any common sense and look at the law in black and white as opposed to these shades of grey.

You make a convincing argument about it functioning similar to a brake, at least to me as a shooter and understanding what you're talking about, but could you convince PC Plod doing an inspection - it's still sold as a flash suppressor, which in this country is a regulated item.