Air rifle moderators

[ovenpaa]

Air rifle moderators. They do not need proofing nor are the registered so is a .22 air rifle moderator so different than one for a .22LR?

[M99]

Nope - they are identical - daft as it sounds - but very few are actually threaded - as not many air rifles have a threaded barrel (More do now as the PCP ones seem to come threaded)

I had a .22 air rifle Moderator made by PH - it was being sold side by side in the same shop - X price for Air Rilfes and Y price for Rimfire - EXACT same Moderator.

Mike

[Doz]

I had a .22 air rifle Moderator made by PH - it was being sold side by side in the same shop - X price for Air Rilfes and Y price for Rimfire - EXACT same Moderator.

And even more ridiculously, one would have to go on ticket and the other wouldn't!

[Sandgroper]

Not all are suitable for rimfires. I read one review were an FAC air rifle destroyed the moderator. :shock:
This one has an FAC rated version http://www.gunmart.net/accessories_revi ... _silencer/

As Mike said, some rimfire moderators are sold as air rifle only moderators.

BTW, neither my air rifle or my centre fire moderator have any proof markings.

For interest from http://www.reflexsuppressors.co.uk/

A. Summary and recommendations:

1 In the absence of any court decision to the contrary, we are advised that a suppressor or sound moderator, which is a freely removable accessory, designed to be interchangeable between weapons of different types and calibres, ought not to be considered to be a "part of a Small Arm". Such an accessory is not liable to fall within the definition of a "Barrel" in the Gun Barrel Proof Act 1868. We note, however, that the English proof houses have expressed a different opinion which is consistent with their own interests as private companies.
2 Whether or not a suppressor is really a "Barrel" for the purposes of the Proof Acts, there can be no legal requirement to submit any "Barrel" for proof unless and until it is fitted to a Small Arm which is to be sold, exchanged or exported, etc. There is no offence in the Acts of selling an unproved "Barrel" on its own.
3 Similarly, there can be no UK legal requirement to submit muzzle-threaded rifles for re-proof unless/until the entire rifle is to be sold, exchanged or exported.
4 In view of the wide range of firearm types and calibres (even air guns) to which reflex suppressors can be fitted, submitting bare suppressors for proof before sale would not be practical.
5 Reflex suppressors are produced in a CIP country by Europe's largest manufacturer of high-power rifle suppressors.
6 Noting that non-CIP countries like Switzerland and the USA manage very well without compulsory proof, we conclude that CIP proof is no substitute for modern workshop quality assurance procedures.
7 Although a number of suppressors have been proof-marked by the London Proof House for calibres larger than the baffle hole diameter, we warrant that firing an appropriate CIP proof cartridge through a correctly-fitted reflex suppressor will not harm it in any way.
8 In principle, we neither recommend nor advise against the proof testing of rifles after they have been fitted with reflex suppressors.
9 In the past, some perfectly good rifles have destroyed due to incorrect proof loads or other errors. Other rifles have suffered the sort of minor or latent damage which is to be expected when a vital component (the cartridge case) is subjected to an unknown pressure at or above its yield stress. Subject to our warranty given in point 7. above, any proof or re-proof is carried out at the owner's risk, particularly with regard to any possible loss or damage to the rifle.

[ovenpaa]

I am on the look out for a .223 moderator which took me to .22LR silencers and then onto air rifle silencers, now there are some obvious differences in projectile velocities and pressures but also in prices, an air riffle silencer is sub GBP100 for a reasonable example yet for a .223 I could pay anything up to GBP350 and probably more.

I do wonder what would happen if I screwed a reasonable air rifle moderator to the front of a .223, my view is it would not last long.

[billgatese30]

Some air rifle moderators use polymer baffles or can contain some kind of wadding (felt etc) to help slow down the air. These will very quickly be destroyed by a centrefire or rimfire rife and the hot gasses they produce, however things such as the SAK moderator favoured by many .22lr shooters are suitable for air rifles as well as rimfires, and can be bought unproofed for airgun use.

Moderator construction is the only thing you need to consider, rather than for who it is marketed towards, although I fear that something designed to catch a small amount of compressed air which pushed a 13 grain pellet to 800 fps versus the hot gasses from a .223 may not produce the sound attenuation that the larger dedicated .223 suppressors are capable of. Also depending on the material, it may not be the most corrosion resistant as it isn't intending having hot powder residues building up inside of it.

Be interesting to hear if it works though, just don't blame me if it sets alight :shock: :lol:

[ovenpaa]

I have a quick release system coming for an AR15 that fits over A1 and A2 flash hiders so it has to be worth looking at the design of such a thing with a view to building it myself. Hmm... probably best to run the idea past my FEO as well to see at what stage I need to add a variation.

[M99]

There is a guy on Pigeon Watch who makes some very good sound mods (For centrefire rifles) so I have no doubt you would be able to produce them in the "shed" but would this then delve you in to the realms of needing an RFD ticket? (I have no idea - just throwing thoughts out there)

I am sure some of the "trade" members on here can advise you accordingly

Mike

[Dellboy]

so if you used a air rifle mod on a fac rifle would you still need a slot on your ticket and if its bought as an air rifle one how do you get it on your ticket ..?

[Doz]

so if you used a air rifle mod on a fac rifle would you still need a slot on your ticket and if its bought as an air rifle one how do you get it on your ticket ..?

As far as I know, the moment you put it on a section one rifle it becomes subject to normal section one rules so yes, you would need a slot on the ticket for it.