Sound moderator deregulation: your questions answered

Sound moderators have finally been freed from firearms licensing controls across Great Britain, and the change has left a lot of shooters with questions. Here are the answers to the ones being asked most.

After a long campaign by BASC, the unnecessary controls that sat on sound moderators have been lifted in England, Wales and Scotland. For most certificate holders the biggest practical change is the end of the variation requirement: there is no longer any need to apply, pay and then wait for a variation before you can get hold of a moderator, which saves both time and money.

Moderators had been caught by firearms licensing rules for 58 years, so it is little wonder the change has thrown up so many queries. It has not helped that the Home Office gave shooting organisations and the police no advance warning before the law changed on Monday 29 June 2026. BASC’s head of policy and campaigns, Dr Conor O’Gorman, has worked through the questions coming in from members, and the answers are gathered below.

What happens to the moderator slot on my certificate, and can I reuse it?

Slots were tied to the moderator rather than to a rifle, so they are now expected to fall away. It is worth asking your local firearms licensing team whether the slot can be put towards another item, though you would need to show “good reason” for it.

Do I need to send my certificate in to have moderators removed, and will it cost anything?

No. Do not post your certificate to the licensing department. Moderator entries will be taken off automatically the next time the certificate is touched, whether that is at renewal, a variation, a change of address or a similar transaction. In the meantime you can simply draw a line through any moderator entry and write next to it: “No longer subject to licensing since 29 June 2026.”

Is there a limit on how many moderators I can own?

No.

Do I have to go to an RFD to buy one?

No. Moderators can now be bought from online sellers and high-street retailers without any dealer requirement.

Are online and other distance sales allowed?

Yes. There is no need for a face-to-face sale, and registered firearms dealers no longer have to account for moderators in their registers.

Do moderators still have to be stored securely?

No. They are no longer subject to secure storage rules or any other accountability measures.

Who has to check that the buyer is allowed to have one?

The responsibility sits with the buyer, who must make sure they have the authority to make the purchase.

Do moderators need to be proofed?

No. There is no proof testing required before sale, whether for a complete moderator or for component parts.

How does this affect moderators for shotguns and sub-12ft/lb air rifles?

Holding a moderator for a Section 1 firearm without a certificate is still an offence. However, if a moderator is used with other firearms such as shotguns or air rifles, no certificate is needed for it.

What about Northern Ireland?

Moderators are still subject to firearms licensing controls in Northern Ireland. Anyone travelling there from Great Britain with a moderator may need PSNI approval, depending on the circumstances, so BASC members should contact the BASC NI office before they go.

Have flash hiders been deregulated too?

Yes.

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