Sound moderators: what you need to know

- Features

July 1, 2026

Deregulation of sound moderators came into force across England, Wales and Scotland on 29 June 2026.

Following a longstanding campaign by BASC and others, you no longer need to apply for a variation if you wish to acquire or change a sound moderator.

This is a long overdue common-sense approach that will significantly reduce police workload on firearm certificates. Over the last decade, around a third of the circa 600,000 firearms covered by a firearm certificate in England and Wales were sound moderators.

Your questions answered

What happens to the sound moderator slot on my ticket? Can I repurpose it for another firearm or will I just lose it?

We expect that those slots will be obsolete, as they were for moderators not rifles. However, if you contact your local firearms licensing team, they may allow it to be used for something else – providing you can show “good reason” for the new item.

Do I need to post my ticket in for sound moderators to be taken off? Is there any cost involved?

You should not send your certificate to the police licensing department have a moderator removed. This would result in needless work for the police and unnecessary expense for you (postage costs). It will be removed automatically on renewal, variation, change of address or similar transaction.

For neatness’ sake, it may be a good idea to draw a line through a moderator on your certificate and annotate it with suitable words e.g. “No longer subject to licensing since 29/6/2026”.

Is there a limit of how many sound moderators can be owned?

There is no limit to the number of sound moderators that you may possess.

Do I need to go to an RFD to purchase a sound moderator?

You do not need to go to a Registered Firearms Dealer to buy a sound moderator – they will be available from a variety of online sources as well as bricks-and-mortar retail outlets.

Is distant selling, including online sales, of sound moderators allowed?

Yes, distant selling, including selling sound moderators online, is permitted. This is because there is no longer any requirement for the sale and delivery of a sound moderator to be conducted on a face-to-face basis. Registered Firearms Dealers no longer have to account for sound moderators in their registers.

Who is responsible for ensuring the purchaser has authority to acquire, the seller or the buyer?

It is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure they have the authority to purchase.

Do sound moderators still need to be securely stored in line with Home Office guidance?

Sound moderators no longer need to be stored securely and are no longer subject to any audit trail or similar accountability.

How does this affect people who have sound moderators for shotguns and sub 12ft-lb air rifles?

The change in the law makes it an offence to possess a sound moderator for a Section 1 firearm without a certificate. If a moderator can be used with another firearm, eg. a shotgun or air rifle then you do not need a certificate to possess it.

I am told that sound moderators need to be proofed, is that the case?

Sound moderators do not have to be proof tested before sale. These provisions apply to both complete sound moderators and their component parts, e.g. baffles or bodies.

What about Northern Ireland?

Moderators remain subject to firearms licensing controls in Northern Ireland. If you are a Great Britain resident considering a temporary visit to Northern Ireland and intend taking moderators of any type, these may need a certificate of approval from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) – depending on your individual circumstances. BASC members should contact our BASC Northern Ireland office for advice on this.

Have flash hiders been deregulated too?

The change in the law also applies to flash hiders as well.

Find expert guidance on firearms law and licensing on our advice hub here.