The wounding potential and legal situations of air guns – experimental study

Abstract

Despite their wounding potential, air guns are accepted as low-profile weapons or toys, and are not considered as lethal weapons. The aims of this study are to determine the wounding potential of air guns and to increase the consciousness about the dangers of the air guns. The kinetic energy limits are mentioned in 11 different countries’ legislations are evaluated with respect to test results. Twelve Kraton RTM G1 (15%) Transparent Ballistic Candle Blocks were prepared as the artificial soft-tissue test media in three different test models. A 4.5 mm air pistol and a 5.5 mm air rifle were used in the tests, which were performed in 1 and 10 m ranges. The mean penetration depth of the air pistol shots was 25.60 mm and the air rifle penetration was 79.14 mm from the 1 m range for three test models. In the 10 m range, the mean penetration depth of air pistol shots was 25.30 mm, while 79.19 mm was recorded for the air rifle. Considering these penetration depths, shots at especially the neck, eyes and thorax regions, can cause fatal injuries. For that reason, the kinetic energy limits should be the main point of air gun restrictions.