Buying a 22lr moderator

[MG6065]

Hi guys, I've got a moderator on my 22lr but looking at getting a new one, can I just go into the shop and buy one or like buying a new rifle have to get a variation? Sorry if it sounds stupid just a bit unsure, cheers

[Rogc]

You can purchase a 22 moderator if it is for a non FAC air rifle, and it has no serial number.As long as your FAC does not stipulate a serial no / make for your existing moderator I suppose you could just destroy the one you have now, or sell it as a airgun moderator. Just dont get caught with two in your posession at the same time as having your rifle, otherwise you may have some explaining to do.

[MG6065]

I bought my gun 7 months ago or so and it's a cz style. The mod on their is 8 inches long, I think this is very excessive? I've just tried taking it and I can't seem to unscrew it, it won't unscrew at all? Is this common?

[Rogc]

I bought my gun 7 months ago or so and it's a cz style. The mod on their is 8 inches long, I think this is very excessive? I've just tried taking it and I can't seem to unscrew it, it won't unscrew at all? Is this common?

Yes if you havnt removed it and cleaned the end of the barrel after use. You have probably got rust between the threads. Spray with some penetrating oil and leave for 24 hours fingers crossed. If not you could try gently heating up the mod to expand it, you will probably damage the paint though, otherwise if afraid its a hacksaw, and possible re cutting the thread and crown on the barrel.

Always remove and wipe the threads after use, a single drop of oil prevents expensive problems.

[MG6065]

The thing is I'm in a quest to shorten the overall length of the gun as much as possible for the use in a vehicle. Currently the overall barrel length is 28 inches (20inch barrel + 8 inch mod). I'm planning on having the barrel cut to 12 or 13 inches then having a SAK 4 inch moderator on it. So if the moderator doesn't come off its not the end of the world because ill be getting a new one anyway, but I don't want to fiddle around with it too much yet because I still use it most days. I bought the gun second hand so I can only assume the mod has been on their a while. I've been quoted a a minimum of £125 +vat to get it cut and screw cut etc so another £40 on top for a moderator is becoming quite a hefty bill , so will have to think about it. I'm still not sure how I can go about changing my mod within the law, what can I do with my old one?

[Rogc]

The thing is I'm in a quest to shorten the overall length of the gun as much as possible for the use in a vehicle. Currently the overall barrel length is 28 inches (20inch barrel + 8 inch mod). I'm planning on having the barrel cut to 12 or 13 inches then having a SAK 4 inch moderator on it. So if the moderator doesn't come off its not the end of the world because ill be getting a new one anyway, but I don't want to fiddle around with it too much yet because I still use it most days. I bought the gun second hand so I can only assume the mod has been on their a while. I've been quoted a a minimum of £125 +vat to get it cut and screw cut etc so another £40 on top for a moderator is becoming quite a hefty bill , so will have to think about it. I'm still not sure how I can go about changing my mod within the law, what can I do with my old one?

I would give it a go with penetrating oil, if tha doesnt work, use a blow torch on the mod where it screws on. If you wrap some heat resistant cloth around the base try using stilsons, it should come off. Just check its not aluminium first.

[Bleeh]

I bought my gun 7 months ago or so and it's a cz style. The mod on their is 8 inches long, I think this is very excessive? I've just tried taking it and I can't seem to unscrew it, it won't unscrew at all? Is this common?

Before trying anything else, buy some full-fat Coca-cola and just sink the mod the end of the rifle in it for a few hours (at least 4-5). It does wonders at eating crud of metal work without any damage to the metal, if that doesn't work try the more intrusive options such as Rogc suggested.

[dadioles]

Don't fret about having more than one .22 moderator in your possession. Check your license and see if it shows the make of moderator or worse still, a make and serial number (unlikely). If it does not, then life is nice and easy. You can purchase and own as many .22 moderators as you like, you do not need a fac to purchase or own them as they may be used with sub 12ftlb air rifles, and you don't need to own an air rifle either.

If your license does list your existing moderator by make or serial number you will need a 1 for 1 variation but this time ask them not to show either make or serial on your licence to make it easier to swap in future.

 

As far as barrel length is concerned. Something like 14" to 16" is ideal. Consider an overbarrel moderator such as a DM80 instead of SAK. Be aware that if you cut the barrel too short the end will come very close to the stock so you will not be able to use an overbarrel moderator. There is also the issue of reduced velocity and unburned powder although not a problem until you start getting really short (sub 12"). A short barrel with a SAK will be a similar overall length to a longer barrel with a DM80.

One of my CZ .22LR has a factory 16" barrel and my Anschutz .17hmr has a 14" factory barrel. There are no accuracy issues with shorter barrels.

I am not sure (someone will correct me if I am wrong) but I have a feeling that the legal minimum barrel length is 12" with an overall rifle length (excluding moderator) of 24".

Your suggestion of short barrel and SAK mod is probably the cheapest route. My long barrel .22lr does shoot a bit quieter (maybe partly imagination) than my short barrel .22lr which is why I use dedicated night vision with the longer barrel.

[Dekers]

Don't fret about having more than one .22 moderator in your possession. Check your license and see if it shows the make of moderator or worse still, a make and serial number (unlikely). If it does not, then life is nice and easy. You can purchase and own as many .22 moderators as you like, you do not need a fac to purchase or own them as they may be used with sub 12ftlb air rifles, and you don't need to own an air rifle either. You have left out a few of the ifs and buts, you cannot buy a proofed mod or a used one (even without proof) if it was on a FAC rifle without a slot on your FAC, neither can you simply take off your mod from your FAC rifle and fit another, you will need a variation or 2 slots. Just because you remove a moderator that was already fitted to your FAC rifle doesn't make it an air rifle mod, it is still FAC.

If your license does list your existing moderator by make or serial number you will need a 1 for 1 variation but this time ask them not to show either make or serial on your licence to make it easier to swap in future.

 

As far as barrel length is concerned. Something like 14" to 16" is ideal. Consider an overbarrel moderator such as a DM80 instead of SAK. Be aware that if you cut the barrel too short the end will come very close to the stock so you will not be able to use an overbarrel moderator. There is also the issue of reduced velocity and unburned powder although not a problem until you start getting really short (sub 12"). A short barrel with a SAK will be a similar overall length to a longer barrel with a DM80.

One of my CZ .22LR has a factory 16" barrel and my Anschutz .17hmr has a 14" factory barrel. There are no accuracy issues with shorter barrels.

I am not sure (someone will correct me if I am wrong) but I have a feeling that the legal minimum barrel length is 12" with an overall rifle length (excluding moderator) of 24".

Your suggestion of short barrel and SAK mod is probably the cheapest route. My long barrel .22lr does shoot a bit quieter (maybe partly imagination) than my short barrel .22lr which is why I use dedicated night vision with the longer barrel.

[dadioles]

 

Don't fret about having more than one .22 moderator in your possession. Check your license and see if it shows the make of moderator or worse still, a make and serial number (unlikely). If it does not, then life is nice and easy. You can purchase and own as many .22 moderators as you like, you do not need a fac to purchase or own them as they may be used with sub 12ftlb air rifles, and you don't need to own an air rifle either. You have left out a few of the ifs and buts, you cannot buy a proofed mod or a used one (even without proof) if it was on a FAC rifle without a slot on your FAC, neither can you simply take off your mod from your FAC rifle and fit another, you will need a variation or 2 slots. Just because you remove a moderator that was already fitted to your FAC rifle doesn't make it an air rifle mod, it is still FAC.

If your license does list your existing moderator by make or serial number you will need a 1 for 1 variation but this time ask them not to show either make or serial on your licence to make it easier to swap in future.

 

As far as barrel length is concerned. Something like 14" to 16" is ideal. Consider an overbarrel moderator such as a DM80 instead of SAK. Be aware that if you cut the barrel too short the end will come very close to the stock so you will not be able to use an overbarrel moderator. There is also the issue of reduced velocity and unburned powder although not a problem until you start getting really short (sub 12"). A short barrel with a SAK will be a similar overall length to a longer barrel with a DM80.

One of my CZ .22LR has a factory 16" barrel and my Anschutz .17hmr has a 14" factory barrel. There are no accuracy issues with shorter barrels.

I am not sure (someone will correct me if I am wrong) but I have a feeling that the legal minimum barrel length is 12" with an overall rifle length (excluding moderator) of 24".

Your suggestion of short barrel and SAK mod is probably the cheapest route. My long barrel .22lr does shoot a bit quieter (maybe partly imagination) than my short barrel .22lr which is why I use dedicated night vision with the longer barrel.

Thanks Dekers, you are quite right in the case of purchasing a proofed mod or used mod that was on an fac. Also yes, of course, to use a moderator with a firearm you must have a slot for it associated with that firearm. Where I do not agree (we are playing with words) is that you say you can't simply take off a mod fitted to your fac rifle and replace it with another one without either a variation or two mod slots, I contend that you can provided that the mod being taken off is not uniquely identified by make or serial number.

For example you have a SAK fitted to your .17hmr. A SAK does not bear a serial number. It may be shown on your license as "Maker - SAK" "Serial - unknown" or better still as "Maker - Unknown" "Serial - unknown.

After a fair bit of use a SAK on an hmr, particularly if it has a short barrel, will suffer badly from corroded baffles. Just go to your local dealer, buy a new SAK, or if not shown as SAK on your licence any other moderator of your choice "for an air rifle" and swap it with the damaged one on your fac rifle. Either keep the damaged one or throw it away. Nice and simple, no paperwork.

[Dekers]

Thanks Dekers, you are quite right in the case of purchasing a proofed mod or used mod that was on an fac. Also yes, of course, to use a moderator with a firearm you must have a slot for it associated with that firearm. Where I do not agree (we are playing with words) is that you say you can't simply take off a mod fitted to your fac rifle and replace it with another one without either a variation or two mod slots, I contend that you can provided that the mod being taken off is not uniquely identified by make or serial number.

For example you have a SAK fitted to your .17hmr. A SAK does not bear a serial number. It may be shown on your license as "Maker - SAK" "Serial - unknown" or better still as "Maker - Unknown" "Serial - unknown.

After a fair bit of use a SAK on an hmr, particularly if it has a short barrel, will suffer badly from corroded baffles. Just go to your local dealer, buy a new SAK, or if not shown as SAK on your licence any other moderator of your choice "for an air rifle" and swap it with the damaged one on your fac rifle. Either keep the damaged one or throw it away. Nice and simple, no paperwork.

 

You are providing information as to how to break the law. It doesn't matter about any make or id number on any mod (or lack of it), once you fit it to your FAC rifle it is FAC, end of, taking it off doesn't stop it being FAC. If you want to chuck it away , or Mr Plod was bothered to came round there is no way you could clean every bit of cartridge residue from the inside of it, so it was on a FAC rifle and IS FAC. If you want to keep it you need another slot! If you want to work round the law, you have just told everyone how to do it!

[dadioles]

You are providing information as to how to break the law. It doesn't matter about any make or id number on any mod (or lack of it), once you fit it to your FAC rifle it is FAC, end of, taking it off doesn't stop it being FAC. If you want to chuck it away , or Mr Plod was bothered to came round there is no way you could clean every bit of cartridge residue from the inside of it, so it was on a FAC rifle and IS FAC. If you want to keep it you need another slot! If you want to work round the law, you have just told everyone how to do it!

I should take up merchant banking or perhaps accountancy. There has to be a tax haven somewhere that could use my skills.