Air rifles have established themselves as popular leisure and sports equipment. Many people are captivated by the fascination of shooting sports. At the same time, there is growing interest in optimizing these weapons in terms of performance and precision. A well-known starting point when tuning air rifles are export springs. But what exactly are they and what benefits do they bring? And more importantly, what legal aspects need to be considered in Germany?

What are export springs?

Export springs are stronger compression springs that are used to increase the output power of an air rifle. They are often exported to countries where higher muzzle velocities are allowed for air rifles than in Germany. In Germany, air rifles with a bullet energy of more than 7.5 joules are subject to licensing (i.e. you need to have a certificate of competence and a weapons ownership card), which restricts or prohibits the use of stronger springs.

Why tuning with export springs?

The motivation to tune an air rifle is manifold. Some shooters simply want to achieve higher bullet energy, for example, to shoot more accurately at longer distances. Others want to improve the overall performance of their rifle or enjoy the technology and possibilities of tuning.

Legal situation in Germany

Gun laws in Germany are strict and unambiguous when it comes to air rifle tuning. An air rifle that has a bullet energy of more than 7.5 joules is subject to licensing and no longer falls under the "freely saleable" weapons. Thus, anyone who upgrades his or her air rifle with an export spring and exceeds 7.5 joules converts it into a firearm requiring a permit.

Unauthorized upgrading and possession of such a weapon without the necessary permit are punishable by fines or imprisonment. Even if the intent is purely sporting or hobbyist, the law will take effect if the limit is exceeded. We therefore strongly recommend to refrain from using export springs!

Possible technical challenges

In addition to the legal issues, there are also technical challenges to installing export springs. Not every air rifle is designed to be operated with a stronger spring. Increased pressure can lead to increased wear and even damage to the rifle. In addition, the increased power may result in reduced accuracy, as the stronger spring also changes the shooting behavior.

Alternatives to spring tuning

Instead of focusing on the spring alone, there are other legally safe ways to optimize an air rifle. These include, for example, improving the seals or adjusting the barrel. Using high-quality ammunition or optimizing the trigger unit can also lead to better shooting results without entering legal gray areas.

Are export springs a good option?

Tuning air rifles, especially with export springs, can lead to improved performance, but carries both technical and legal risks. In Germany, it is essential to find out about and comply with the legal requirements before making any modification to the weapon. Weapons law is clear in this area, and violations can have serious consequences. So anyone thinking of tuning their air rifle should seek comprehensive advice and always stay on the safe side of the law.