Legal Requirements for Safe Air Rifle Storage
When you’re considering whether you need to keep your air rifle locked away, it’s a question worth taking seriously. For anyone using air rifles (whether you’re a beginner exploring entry-level air rifles or you’re shooting one of the advanced models), storage matters.
Gun laws are there to strictly regulate how air guns must be kept to prevent misuse and unauthorised access, particularly by those under 18. Following best practice doesn’t just protect you and others; it also helps safeguard the sport's reputation and avoid potential legal consequences.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what the law says about air rifle storage, what counts as “reasonable precautions,” and the best ways to keep your rifle safe, secure, and ready for your next day on the range or in the field.
What is an air rifle?
Before getting into storage, it helps to define what we mean by 'air rifle'. You can read a more in-depth answer to this question in our What is an air rifle? Blog, but in short: an air rifle is a type of air gun. In simple terms, air guns include both rifles and air pistols that use compressed air or other means (spring-powered, gas-filled cylinder, hand pumps, etc) to propel a pellet.
An air gun is a gun that propels a projectile by means other than explosive chemical energy.
An air rifle refers specifically to a long-barrelled gun of this type (not a pistol).
Some are spring-powered (a coiled spring inside compresses, then decompresses to propel the pellet). Others are pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles or use a gas-filled cylinder or similar device.
So when we talk about whether you need to lock your air rifle in a cabinet, we’re talking about this wide selection of airguns, including spring-powered models, PCP air rifles (also called pcp air), and standard air rifles for target practice, recreational shooting, or pest control.
Why secure storage matters
There are several reasons you need to take secure storage seriously:
Safety
Even though many air rifles sit at the lower end of the power scale, they are still capable of causing serious injury. A misplaced pellet or an unsupervised shot can easily harm someone, especially if the rifle is handled by a child or anyone unfamiliar with safe shooting practice.
Legal compliance
In England and Wales, the law requires anyone who owns an air weapon to take reasonable precautions to stop anyone under 18 from getting hold of it. That duty exists regardless of whether your rifle needs a Firearms Certificate (FAC) or not. Secure storage is the simplest and safest way to meet this requirement.
Preventing theft and misuse
An unsecured rifle can be stolen, misused, or picked up out of curiosity by someone who doesn’t understand how dangerous it can be. A locked cabinet, cupboard, or safe dramatically reduces the risk of your rifle falling into the wrong hands.
Good practice for all shooters
Whether you use the perfect air rifle for small-game hunting, pest control, target practice, or general recreational and sporting activities, storing your kit properly reflects well on you and on the sport as a whole. Responsible storage maintains high standards, protects others, and helps reinforce airgunning's positive reputation.
Legal summary for air rifles in the UK
UK law takes a balanced but serious approach to airgun ownership. Here’s what you need to know:
Air rifles producing more than 12 foot-pounds of muzzle energy (around 16.27 joules) are legally classed as firearms and require a Firearms Certificate (FAC) in England and Wales. Air pistols over six foot-pounds are also highly restricted and require specific permissions.
Scotland operates a different system. Almost all air weapons above one joule fall under the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act and generally require an Air Weapon Certificate (AWC).
For most UK shooters, the key rule is about storage. The Firearms (Air Weapons) (England and Wales) Rules 2023 state that owners must take “reasonable precautions” to prevent unauthorised access to air weapons when they aren’t in use, being cleaned, tested, or transported.
This means that even if you don’t require a firearms certificate for your rifle, you still have a legal obligation to store it securely, sensibly, and out of reach of anyone who shouldn’t have access to it.
To learn more about Air Rifle laws, you can check out our blog.
What Does ‘Reasonable Precautions’ Mean?
The phrase “reasonable precautions” can sound vague, but in practice it’s quite straightforward. It means taking sensible, effective steps to stop anyone under 18 or anyone else who shouldn’t have access from getting hold of your air rifle.
Practical expectations include:
- Storing the rifle out of sight when not in use
- Keeping pellets or ammunition separate from the rifle
- Using a lockable cupboard, gun cabinet, hard lockable case, or a locking device that physically secures the rifle to the building
- Ensuring that the rifle cannot be easily picked up, handled, or discharged by someone without your permission
Government guidelines are clear that a rifle leaning in a hallway, under a bed, or sitting openly in a garage does not count as secure storage.
A certified steel cabinet isn’t always mandatory unless you hold a firearm licence, but for ordinary airgun owners, a solid lockable cupboard or cabinet is strongly recommended and often the simplest way to demonstrate responsible storage. In Scotland, advice also notes that a trigger lock or locked cupboard may be acceptable under the AWC system.
In simple terms: Treat your air rifle like a real gun. Store it securely, keep it out of sight, and make sure no one under 18 can get anywhere near it without you being present.
Lockable Cabinet vs Other Options: What Counts as 'Reasonable Precautions'?
When it comes to storing an air rifle safely, not all options offer the same level of protection. Some methods are considered best practice, while others are acceptable only in certain situations. Here’s how each option measures up.
Lockable Gun Cabinet or Safe
A dedicated gun cabinet is widely regarded as the gold standard for airgun storage. Even though most air rifles don’t require a firearms certificate, a proper cabinet offers the highest level of security and demonstrates clear responsibility.
A well-built cabinet:
- Is made from strong steel or another durable material
- Can be securely anchored to a wall or floor
- Uses a robust lock with keys or a combination code kept safely away
- Prevents access from anyone under 18 or unauthorised
If you ever decide to upgrade to higher-powered PCP rifles, FAC-rated equipment, or high-end models from Air Arms, you’ll already have the right storage in place. It’s a long-term investment in both safety and peace of mind.
Lockable Cupboard or Locked Room
For most standard, unlicensed air rifles, a lockable cupboard or secure locked room can also meet the legal requirement, provided it genuinely restricts access.
To count as 'reasonable precautions,' this setup should:
- Be fully lockable, not just 'out of the way'
- Be genuinely inaccessible to children or unsupervised visitors
- Keep the rifle out of sight when the cupboard is closed
- Store ammunition or pellets separately
- Keep keys in a different location, not left in the lock
A cupboard in a quiet, restricted part of the house, for example, a lockable wardrobe or utility cupboard, can be perfectly acceptable, so long as it is secure and you manage access properly.
Locking Device or Security Cable
Some guidance recognises that a locking device or security cable fixed to a solid part of the building can be used if a cabinet or cupboard isn’t available. This might involve securing the rifle to a wall anchor, eye bolt, or similar immovable fixture.
This option:
- Is better than leaving a rifle unsecured
- Prevents quick removal or casual handling
- Helps demonstrate intent to store the rifle responsibly
However, it offers less protection than a fully enclosed cabinet and should be treated as a minimum-level solution. If you choose this method, pair it with sensible precautions, such as storing pellets separately and keeping the rifle out of sight, to ensure it still meets the “reasonable precautions” test. Transit case or hard carrying case
- When the gun is being transported (for example, to a club, or to land you have permission to shoot on), a lockable case can be used. The key point: the gun must be unloaded, safety applied, and in a case that prevents immediate access.The enclosure should be robust enough to withstand tampering and not draw undue attention.
- This helps meet the requirement in transit; it is not a substitute for at-home secure storage.
So, do you have to lock the air rifle in a cabinet?
The simple answer is that your air rifle must be stored securely, but that doesn’t always mean you must buy a steel-certified gun safe. The law focuses on preventing unauthorised access, particularly by anyone under 18, and there are several ways to meet that requirement. The detail, however, depends on the rifle you own and your household setup.
If you own a standard, unlicensed air rifle (under 12 ft-lb), you’re required under the Firearms (Air Weapons) (England and Wales) Rules 2023 to take reasonable precautions when the rifle isn’t in use. That doesn’t necessarily mean a formal firearm cabinet, but it does mean the rifle must be locked away or physically secured so that no one under 18 can get to it.
If you own more powerful air rifles, such as PCP air rifles or high-powered models that exceed legal limits and therefore require a Firearms Certificate (FAC), you fall under the full firearm storage rules. In that case, a certified gun safe is mandatory. If there are children, teenagers, or visiting young people in the home, the expectation is even clearer: the rifle must be stored out of sight, locked, and with pellets kept separately. Leaving it accessible is not an option.
So, for most practical situations, including typical owners of PCP air rifles from Air Arms, the safest and most sensible approach is straightforward: lock it up in a cupboard or cabinet. While a certified gun safe isn’t compulsory for unlicensed air rifles, many shooters choose to invest in one anyway. It offers excellent security, demonstrates responsible ownership, and ensures you’re fully prepared if you ever upgrade to a more powerful rifle.
What about the storage of PCP air rifles and high-performance models?
Many modern shooters use PCP rifles (pre-charged pneumatic) or high-end models from Air Arms. These have particular considerations:
A PCP air rifle uses a gas-filled cylinder or a highly pressurised air system to store energy. It is typically more powerful than simple spring-powered rifles and can deliver high-performance and virtually recoilless shots.
Because of the additional components – pressure regulators, fill tanks, air cylinders, sometimes hand pumps or even a scuba tank, the storage location must also safely hold these accessories.
If your PCP rifle exceeds 12 ft-lbs muzzle energy, you must also comply with firearm storage legislation, including a British Standard cabinet. Always ensure that any gas- or air-filled cylinders are stored safely, ideally filled externally, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Storage of pellets and shooting accessories
While the rifle itself is the core item, your shooting accessories and ammunition deserve their own storage considerations:
- Pellets must be stored separately from the rifle. The guidance explicitly says that air rifles (and air weapons generally) should be stored separately from their ammunition.
- Hand pumps, pressure gauges, and other accessories should also be stored in a safe place – ideally in the same room or cabinet, but in separate compartments or containers.
- Even if the ammunition is not legally required to be locked away under certain conditions, separating it is good practice and avoids children or unauthorised users grabbing both the rifle and ammo.
- If you have multiple rifles, accessories or a wide selection of equipment, consider dedicated storage drawers or containers inside the cabinet, labelled and organised. This helps keep things tidy and safe.
Transporting your air rifle safely
Storage at home is vital, but you also need to consider how you will move the air rifle (for example, to the shooting club or onto land you have permission to shoot on). Here are key things to bear in mind:
- Before transporting, ensure the air rifle is unloaded and the safety catch is applied.
- Use a lockable hard case or gun slip that prevents immediate access. This is part of best practice and helps show you have taken care.
- Even though you’re just moving the gun, you should ensure you have a “reasonable excuse” for carrying it in public (e.g., to a club or to a landowner’s property) rather than simply casually carrying it.
- Keep the ammunition separate in transit if practical.
- Make sure your insurance coverage includes transport of the gun and that you have permission from any landowner if you are going to shoot on their land.
What happens if you don’t store an air rifle properly?
Failing to store your air rifle properly can lead to several negative outcomes:
- Legal consequences: If someone under 18 gains access to your air rifle and you haven’t taken reasonable precautions, you may commit an offence under the 1968 Act (section 24ZA) and the Rules 2023.
- Criminal liability: If the air rifle is used by someone, or is stolen and used for an illegal purpose, you may face investigation for negligent storage.
- Insurance issues: If your rifle is stolen from insecure storage, you may not be covered for theft or damage if you have not followed recommended security practices.
- Safety risk: Ultimately, the most significant risk is to life or limb (either to yourself or others) if the gun is accessible to unauthorised persons and misused.
In short: Secure storage is not just a guideline, it’s a practical necessity.
Ready to Elevate Your Shooting?
When you’re handling a rifle, and you’ve invested time and money into your shooting hobby, you want your equipment to last and be used safely. Storage is not just about locking up your rifle; it’s about demonstrating that you take responsible ownership of your equipment and your role in shooting sports or pest control.
Treat your air rifle as you would any gun: store it securely, practice safe transport, keep accessories organised, and always follow the law. By doing so, you protect yourself, protect others (especially children or unauthorised persons), and help maintain the reputation of the shooting community.
