BSSC guidance explains the new sound moderator rules

Updated 9 July 2026: this is a follow-up to our 30 June report on the commencement of the reform. What is new is the BSSC’s detailed legal guidance on how the law now works in practice.

The British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC) has published legal guidance on the removal of sound moderators from firearms licensing control, which took effect across England, Wales and Scotland on 29 June. The guidance confirms that existing certificate holders need take no action, and sets out who may now buy and possess a moderator without a certificate.

What has changed for sound moderator owners?

Section 44 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removed sound moderators from the definition of a firearm. A moderator no longer needs to be listed on a firearm certificate, no variation is needed to acquire one, and moderators are no longer entered on the National Firearms Licensing Management System.

Existing certificate entries need no attention either: they will simply fall away when the certificate next comes up for renewal. The guidance, prepared with the council’s legal adviser Nick Doherty, puts it plainly: “For existing certificate holders, there is nothing that needs to be done.”

The BSSC (bssc.org.uk) said the reform “removes an unnecessary administrative burden on both certificate holders and police firearms licensing departments”. The council thanked its president, Lord Brady of Altrincham, for tabling the House of Lords amendment that helped secure the change, which the Countryside Alliance also counts as the result of its long-running campaign.

Who can buy a moderator without a certificate?

One offence remains, and the guidance is precise about it: “Where a sound moderator is intended to be used with a Section 1 firearm it is an offence to be in possession of such an item unless the owner holds a current firearm or shotgun certificate.” Unlawful possession is a summary offence carrying a fine of up to level 3.

The other side of the same coin is set out just as clearly: “A person who may lawfully possess a Section 1 firearm may also acquire and possess a sound moderator intended to be fitted to that firearm, without any separate authority or certification.”

The test is what the moderator is intended for, judged objectively; technical compatibility with other firearms does not matter. Moderators intended solely for shotguns, or for air rifles that need no certificate, may be bought by anyone, and moderators fitted to airsoft, paintball or deactivated guns are unrestricted. References to moderators throughout the guidance include flash hiders.

Sellers are not obliged to check a buyer’s authority before completing a sale: “The onus to have authority to hold a sound moderator lies with possessor,” the guidance notes.

Does the change apply to airgun moderators in Scotland?

Not entirely. The guidance points out that sound moderators for air guns remain subject to separate licensing requirements in Scotland, where air weapons are licensed under their own regime, so Scottish airgun shooters should check their position before buying.

What happens next?

Certificate holders can carry on exactly as before, with moderator entries disappearing at renewal and nothing to send back to their force. The guidance in full is available through the BSSC at bssc.org.uk, and the Countryside Alliance has published a summary at countryside-alliance.org.