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

If you want to fit a moderator (removable)onto a shotgun is the moderator a licenced part ?

if yes does it go onto the shotgun certificate ?

My guess - and it is only a guess so wait for someone who knows - is that, due to the ever genius licencing laws, if you put it on S2 shotgun its not licenced and if you put it on a S1 shotgun then it is and goes on your FAC...

Ho Guidance 13.77 "It should be noted that sound moderators on air weapons or section 2 shotguns are not considered to be component parts." There's also a reminder in there that integral sound moderators do not require separate authorisation.

There is a drop down for shotguns with integral sound moderators or words to that effect on the national system, so they do know about them :)

Re 13.77 it always intrigues me that FAC air rifles with sound moderators require the moderator to be listed on the FAC when licensed. Yet they are not Proofed.

Ovenpaa wrote:Re 13.77 it always intrigues me that FAC air rifles with sound moderators require the moderator to be listed on the FAC when licensed. Yet they are not Proofed.

There's still a lot of doubt about the need to proof moderators for full bore as well. I have had one for many years that is not proofed.

Matt, the real issue is not if it is Proofed, but if you eventually want to sell it :)

Ovenpaa wrote:Matt, the real issue is not if it is Proofed, but if you eventually want to sell it :)

But the new moderator I got with Christel's WMR has no proof marks on it!

This has been discussed at great length here: http://jacksonrifles.com/zz-silencers/ukproof.htm

Ovenpaa wrote:This has been discussed at great length here: http://jacksonrifles.com/zz-silencers/ukproof.htm

You do realise that is nearly 20 years old and was only counsel opinion and not a judgement?

S57 defines what a "firearm" is and includes accessories that diminish noise and flash, hence the moderator intended for a FIREARM, is licensable as a firearm. Likewise, as the Gun Barrel Proof Act requires "Small Arms" to be proved prior to sale, transfer, export etc, or when offered for such, ergo, a moderator for a firearm requires the same proof as it is in itself due to the intended use, a firearm...

Bit the question really is, if a mod is a firearm per se, is it then a "small arm"? Or is it the "barrel" of a small arm? Or a component? For then it would require proof if such, by whatever definition...

(Now that's going to start a $hitstorm!!!)

Hasn’t it just. Christel will speak to the manufacturer first thing in the morning.