Imported BB guns whose firing force does not meet the relevant safety standards may cause a significant increase in their destructive power

  The demand for adult BB guns which are used as hobbyist products for airsoft games and club activities is high, but the products which do not comply with the relevant safety standards may cause injuries to users and others, requiring consumers’special attention.

  As the result of an investigation of eight (8) imported brand products (BB guns for adults) conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency (President Lee Hee-sook), some cases were found where users could incapacitate ‘the muzzle velocity limit device*’ of BB guns as the firing force of the gun did not meet the relevant safety standards or business operators sold BB guns after they incapacitated the device in question.

□ Some cases were found where the firing force of the gun did not meet the relevant safety standards or the gun whose muzzle velocity limit device was incapacitated was sold in the domestic market.

  It was additionally found that the bullet kinetic energy (destructive power) of five (5) different brand products out of the eight (8) products investigated was 0.14J or less, which did not meet ‘the Safety Certification Standard for Adult BB Guns*’ established by the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS). In particular, it was also found that in some cases, bullets were not even fired from the guns because their muzzle velocity limit devices completely blocked the eruption of pressure from the inner nozzle. As such, it was identified that this might be the cause of incapacitating the muzzle velocity limit device by users.

* The average bullet kinetic energy must be in the range of more than 0.14J to 0.2J or less.

  Furthermore, it was found that one (1) product whose destructive power (1.32J) exceeded six times the level permitted by the safety standards was sold after its seller incapacitated the muzzle velocity limit device of the product, and thus the fact that the seller in question violated the law* was reported to the Korean National Police Agency.

* Article 11 of the Act on the Safety Management of Guns, Swords, Explosives, etc. (Prohibition of Manufacture, Sale, and Possession of Imitation Guns)

□ A simple alteration can largely increase the destructive power of bullets up to seven times the level permitted by the safety standards.

  There are two ways to limit the speed of fired bullets. One is to insert a piece of silicone rubber or a metal screw (also known as ‘power brake’) into the ejecting pressure nozzle for limiting the ejecting pressure inside the gun; and the other is to remove a part (‘hop-up*’) of the gun that plays a role of extending the range of the bullet.

* A small, adjustable rubber part of a gun, which increases the range of bullets by creating a backspin on the bullet

  However, the power brake can be removed by using a needle or a small screwdriver after taking apart the gun, and in the case of a gun whose part (hop-up) is removed, consumers can easily increase the limited kinetic energy by installing the part in the gun as it is available in the market.

  In fact, it was found that among the eight (8) different brand products investigated, the destructive power of the bullets of the six (6) products was largely increased after their muzzle velocity limit devices were incapacitated, reaching 2~7 times the level (0.2J) permitted in the safety standards.

[ Testing results of the bullet kinetic energy before and after the incapacitation of the muzzle velocity limit device ]

□ Consumers should ask sellers whether guns have muzzle velocity limit devices before purchase, and not incapacitate the device in question even though the guns do not function properly.

  The KCA has advised the consumers who purchase imported BB guns ▲to ask the sellers whether the guns have muzzle velocity limit devices before purchase; ▲not to incapacitate* the muzzle velocity limit device but to ask the sellers for necessary action, i.e., exchange or refund in case the guns do not function properly due to malfunctions including weak firing force; and ▲to stop using the guns and report the cases to the competent authorities, including the Korean National Police Agency, in case where the bullet speed of the purchased products is too fast or the firing force, too strong.

* Those who incapacitate the muzzle velocity limit device may be punished according to the Act on the Safety Management of Guns, Swords, Explosives, etc.