Air Guns | Air Rifles

In the UK, individuals must be 18 or older to purchase, own, or hire an air rifle or air pistol. However, minors aged 14 to 17 may use an air weapon under the direct supervision of a responsible adult—typically someone over 21. Solware takes UK air gun laws seriously and offers air rifle gun shop advice to ensure customers understand age restrictions and safe practices. We guide purchasing families and junior shooters on legal ownership and how to comply with regulations. By combining expert product knowledge with air rifle safety guidelines, we help new users, parents, and hobbyists engage responsibly in shooting sports.

In the UK, the maximum legal power for air rifles is 12 ft-lb (16.27 Joules) and for air pistols, it's 6 ft-lb (8.1 Joules). Anything above these thresholds requires a Firearm Certificate (FAC). At Solware, we stock a wide range of quality air rifles under 12 ft-lb, perfect for pest control, plinking, or target shooting, while always ensuring air gun UK legal compliance. Our team can recommend models that align with your needs and energy limits. If you're interested in premium power airguns or FAC-regulated models, we explain the licensing process and help guide you through the safe, legal purchase of higher-powered options.

In the UK, it's generally legal to shoot an air gun on private land with permission, provided it's safe and does not cross public spaces. Discharging air rifles across public highways, roads, or into daylight is strictly prohibited. Solware offers expert guidance in airgun UK shooting rules, helping customers identify suitable settings—like secure backyard ranges or rural property—and how to comply with local bylaws. We also provide recommendations on safe backstops, target materials, and pellet types to minimize risks. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned shooter, our team ensures you understand where and how to shoot safely and legally.

For beginners or pest control tasks, we recommend starting with reliable, low-recoil models that offer accuracy and ease of use. Options from brands like Webley, BSA, and Air Arms are highly regarded for user-friendliness and performance within UK air rifle beginner range. Solware helps you balance air rifle UK pest control needs—such as stopping power and pellet velocity—while staying within legal limits. We offer packages that include scopes, mounts, pellets, and tuning advice, so you get a ready-to-use setup. Our expert team evaluates your shooting goals and offers tailored advice to help you choose the right starter rifle for long-term satisfaction and effectiveness.

Selecting the right scope involves matching magnification, lens quality, and durability to your shooting needs. For pest control or target use within 25–40 yards, a 3–9×40 scope offers sharp clarity and ease of use. Solware experts recommend air rifle optics UK, covering multiple brands like Hawke, Zerotech, and MTC for budget-friendly to premium glass. We help you weigh factors like parallax adjustment, illuminated reticles, and waterproofing depending on your environment. Plus, we offer mounting and zero calibration services in-store to ensure your new scope delivers pinpoint accuracy from day one.

The right air rifle accessories depend on how and where you plan to shoot, but a few essentials can make a big difference. A suitable gun case or slip helps protect your rifle during storage and transport, while targets, pellet catchers, cleaning equipment and appropriate eye protection are useful additions for regular shooting. Many shooters also choose a rifle scope, mounts, bipod, shooting rest or moderator depending on their rifle and intended use. At Solware, we stock a wide range of airgun accessories from leading manufacturers and can help you choose products that are compatible with your particular rifle or pistol. Whether you are setting up your first air rifle, upgrading an existing setup or looking for replacement accessories, our team can advise on the most practical options for target shooting, pest control and general recreational use.

Choosing the correct airgun pellets can have a noticeable effect on accuracy and consistency. The first consideration is calibre, with .177 and .22 being among the most commonly used air rifle pellet sizes in the UK. Different rifles can also perform better with particular pellet weights, shapes and brands, so it can be worth testing several suitable options to find the best match for your airgun. Solware stocks a broad selection of airgun ammunition and pellets for target shooting, recreational shooting and pest control applications. Our team can help you understand the differences between pellet types and select ammunition suited to your rifle and intended use. Airgun ammunition is subject to UK age restrictions, including a prohibition on selling air weapon ammunition to anyone under 18.

When choosing an air rifle scope, consider the type of shooting you will be doing, the distances involved and the level of magnification you genuinely need. For general target shooting or pest control, a good-quality variable magnification scope can provide flexibility at different ranges. Other features to consider include objective lens size, reticle design, parallax adjustment, lens clarity and the correct scope mounts for your rifle. It is also important to make sure the scope is suitable for the recoil characteristics and mounting system of your particular airgun. Solware stocks a wide selection of rifle scopes, sights and scope accessories from established shooting brands. If you are unsure which scope will work best with your air rifle, our experienced team can help you choose a compatible setup based on your rifle, budget and intended shooting style.

Regular care helps keep an air rifle reliable, accurate and in good condition. After use, it is sensible to wipe down exposed metalwork, check that screws and scope mounts remain secure and store the rifle somewhere dry and protected. Cleaning requirements vary between different types of airguns, so always follow the manufacturer's recommendations rather than over-cleaning the barrel or using unsuitable products. Solware supplies a range of airgun cleaning and maintenance accessories, including gun oils, cleaning products, cases and other equipment designed to help protect your shooting equipment. Safe storage is equally important, particularly in homes where anyone under 18 is present. Current rules in England and Wales require reasonable precautions to prevent under-18s accessing an air weapon, including secure, out-of-sight storage and storing compatible ammunition separately when the weapon is not in use.