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Paintball - Legality and common sense.

Bob

www.inlinewalking.com
Oct 12, 2005
2,852
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Aberdeen
www.fatbobspaintball.co.uk
Every now and again some one asks about about the legality of paintball or about specific do's and don'ts. Most of it is common sense but everyone should have atleast read the laws that apply to paintball.

Legal speed limit.

Paintball markers are legal to own without a certificate or licence (Jersey is an exceptions to this rule). This is because they fire a non explosive projectile at less than 12ft/lbs (330fps). With most fields enforcing a strict policy of 300fps max or less, some tournaments are lowering the limit to 280fps (many markers are more consistant and efficient when setup to this speed).

Chronograph

To measure the speed that you marker fires at you need a chronographer (chrono). This accuratly measures the speed of the paintball and allows you to adjust your marker so it is shooting within the sites legal limit (and always below 300fps). If you think a marker is firing hot, ask to have it re chrono's it is in everyones interests.

Remember when using a 'live' marker always wear a mask and use a barrel condom when the marker is not being fired.

Weather, paintball bore match & paintball quality varies from day to day and batch to batch so it is very important to always chrono your marker at the begining of each day of play.

More info can be found here:

http://www.met.police.uk/firearms-enquiries/airguns1.htm

The common sense aspect of paintball is very important, we use markers not guns but to the untrained eye they can be mistaken for a firearm (especialy if you play milsim!). When your traveling with your marker keep it in a bag or carrying case and don't bring it out in public.

Car

There are some specific laws that cover paintballing when travelling, if you have a marker in your car it should not be gassed up or within reach of the driver even if it does not have hopper or gas system attached so keep it in your kit bag in the boot.

Public transport.

When traveling on pubic transport is it Illegal to have a compressed air source so you can be denied entry because you are carrying a dive tank or co2/air bottle on a bus.

Airplanes

You can take paintball equipment in the hold of airplanes. Your marker must be degassed and must not be attached to an air source or hopper. You can carry an air tank on most plane (check with the airline company you want to fly with for any specific rules) but you air tank should have the reg removed so the inside can be inspected and to ensure the tank is not pressurised. Even paintballs cannot be carried in your hand luggage and also must go in the hold.

Paint cannot be transported with the marker etc as it counts as carring a munition with a firearm.

You can inform your airline that you are carrying a "sports firearm" in your hold luggage. This can help to ensure that you have no problems with carrying paintball equipment in an airport.

If traveling to the states, this is very useful (Info thanks to Milky.):
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1745.shtm

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/compressed_gas.shtm

Legality of firing modes:

John C said:
As for legality of firemodes:
There is no UK law that covers this, lets hope there never is.
All of the firemodes we use are 'assisted', so 'semi', ramping, fully auto etc etc are all equal in the eyes of the law.
 

true_death

Free Agent..
Jul 16, 2006
590
0
41
M.I.A
Hmm didn't know about that bus rule, cheers bob although I have been allowed on buses with a gas tank in my hand before
 
Bob


You cant take paintballs on a plane with a paintgun, even in your luggage. It counts as taking a gun and ammunition on the plane.



As for legality of firemodes:
There is no UK law that covers this, lets hope there never is.
All of the firemodes we use are 'assisted', so 'semi', ramping, fully auto etc etc are all equal in the eyes of the law.
 

Bob

www.inlinewalking.com
Oct 12, 2005
2,852
3
63
37
Aberdeen
www.fatbobspaintball.co.uk
Bob


You cant take paintballs on a plane with a paintgun, even in your luggage. It counts as taking a gun and ammunition on the plane.



As for legality of firemodes:
There is no UK law that covers this, lets hope there never is.
All of the firemodes we use are 'assisted', so 'semi', ramping, fully auto etc etc are all equal in the eyes of the law.

Cheers, didn't know about the paint and marker thing. when i ask BA they said it was a munition so i couldn't carry it on board and had to stick it in the hold. Doesn't realy matter as people rarly take paint on planes due to poor handling conditions.

edited original post, cheers john.
 

Fish

CF6
May 15, 2006
2,596
24
73
34
Central London
wow, stickied already. nice work bob :)

you can sometimes get onto buses/trains with dive gear or paintball gear, depends how visable it is to the general public; thats what they're most fussed about. ever since the london bombings... etc, even more so though :( understandable though
 

Bob

www.inlinewalking.com
Oct 12, 2005
2,852
3
63
37
Aberdeen
www.fatbobspaintball.co.uk
wow, stickied already. nice work bob :)

you can sometimes get onto buses/trains with dive gear or paintball gear, depends how visable it is to the general public; thats what they're most fussed about. ever since the london bombings... etc, even more so though :( understandable though
I think is due to the slim chance that a air tank exploded if ther was an accident i.e. reg got knocked off on bus full of people :(