Alarm gun
Blank guns , also known as gas or signal arms referred, are pistols and revolvers , as opposed to sharp firearms no projectiles use up, but different for firing types of space and tear gas cartridges are designed. The barrels of these weapons are fitted with locks or equivalent devices to prevent projectiles from being fired.
Alarm weapons can also fire pyrotechnic ammunition . This includes e.g. B. luminous signal stars, whistle cartridges and, in Germany, a bird-fright pyro-bang cartridges that require a purchase certificate .
Working principle
Blank ammunition produces a very loud bang. When irritant gas ammunition is fired, gas shoots out of the barrel with a bang, which is supposed to stop the attacker like a pepper spray . A distinction is made between CN ( chloroacetophenone ), CS ( chlorobenzylidene malodinitrile ) and pepper irritant gas cartridges ( nonivamide ), a synthetic counterpart to the natural active ingredient capsaicin used in pepper spray . The range and effectiveness depends on the caliber and the cartridge filling.
Except for a few gas pistols such. B. the Röhm RG 300 in caliber 6mm Flobert all alarm guns have a so-called barrel blockage, which is supposed to generate the necessary backwater for the movement of the bolt in self-loading . This lock is also intended to prevent projectiles from being “preloaded” on the one hand, and live cartridges from being fired from these weapons on the other. Alarm weapons are usually made largely of die-cast zinc and often have predetermined breaking points that make it almost impossible to illegally convert these weapons to live ammunition. The predetermined breaking points are i. d. Usually implemented as weaknesses on the cartridge chamber and barrel. Furthermore, the 9 mm PA Knall caliber, for example, has different dimensions than its sharp counterpart in the 9 × 19 caliber , which makes it impossible to load 9 mm cartridges into alarm weapons of this caliber.
Firing cartridges at close range at humans can cause serious injury. The pressure effect of a 9 mm PA bang when it is fired is around 400 bar and is therefore so high that a shot on the head can have fatal consequences.
When firing pyrotechnic ammunition, the launch cup is screwed onto the muzzle of the alarm weapon; The launch cup and muzzle are threaded for this purpose. Signal effects can be introduced and fired in the launch cup. The launch cup is provided with relief holes. This limits the projectile energy (kinetic energy of pyrotechnic ammunition) to the maximum 7.5 joules permitted by German law for weapons that do not have a license to purchase.
Launching cups with a capacity of 4 or 5 pyro-cartridges are also available.
Well-known manufacturers of alarm weapons are Umarex , Röhm , Weihrauch and Zoraki.
caliber
The following calibers are or were common for alarm pistols and revolvers:
- .22 long bang (no more weapons are produced in this caliber, except for the Röhm RG 600.)
- .315 Bang
- .320 short bang
- .35 bang (weapons of this caliber are no longer produced.)
- .45 short bang (no more weapons are produced in this caliber.)
- 2 mm berloque
- 6 mm Flobert Knall (unsuitable for self-defense, although also available as an irritant cartridge)
- 8 mm bang (weapons with this caliber are no longer approved in Germany.)
- 9 mm PAKnall (color coding: green = bang, yellow = CS gas , red / brown = pepper, blue = CN gas )
- 9 mm R Bang (.380 R)
Legal situation
Germany
In Germany, legal alarm weapons can be recognized by the test seal of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the caliber stamped on the breech and the bullet mark . Alarm weapons without a PTB seal are considered to be live firearms and therefore require a permit; their unauthorized possession constitutes a criminal offense under the Arms Act . The Run for alarm weapons requires outside the home, business premises or pacified possessions one since April 1, 2003. Small arms license . The pure possession, acquisition and transport of these weapons is permitted from the age of 18. Shooting with a blank firing pistol is only permitted on the pacified property, despite the existence of a small gun license, provided that no noise is generated. PTB pistols and revolvers fall under the German Weapons Act. In general, shooting always requires a permit. Exceptions are, however, according to Section 12 (4) WaffG:
a) Self-defense, state of emergency
b) with signal weapons during emergency and rescue exercises
c) with firearms from which only cartridge ammunition can be fired
- (1) by participants in theatrical performances and performances that are to be observed equally,
- (2) to drive away birds on farms
d) in pacified property - with the permission of the owner of the house rights - with firearms from which only cartridge ammunition can be fired,
e) with alarm weapons or signal weapons to give start or end signals on behalf of the organizers at sporting events, if optical or acoustic signals are required.
Widespread New Year's Eve shooting is no different from other situations. It is only allowed on one's own pacified property, or on another property, with the approval of the owner of the domiciliary rights (see above). The pyrotechnic ammunition, which is often used, is not allowed to leave the property. However, transport to the shooting location does not require a permit, provided that the weapon is locked and locked when it is not accessible.
Agricultural businesses within the meaning of Section 12 Paragraph 4 lit. c No. 2 WaffG, according to the prevailing opinion, also include the fields and fields belonging to the farms, since there will usually be a need to drive away birds here in particular. According to a decision by the Karlsruhe Public Prosecutor in 2012, shooting is also permitted in these cases if, in addition to birds, other animals are to be driven away at the same time, for example when a farmer shoots a blanket gun in his field to drive away hares and pheasants. On the other hand, shooting would not be allowed if in individual cases only hares (and not pheasants as well) are to be driven away.
Switzerland
The handling of alarm and irritant weapons is regulated by the Federal Act on Weapons, Weapon Accessories and Ammunition ( Weapons Act , WG, as of December 1, 2010).
They are considered weapons
- If they are in accordance with Art. b WG are intended to permanently damage people's health by spraying and atomizing substances. According to Art. 8 WG, you are required to obtain a weapon acquisition license
- If they are in accordance with Art. g WG can be mistaken for real firearms because of their appearance. According to Art. 10 WG, they can be acquired without a firearms acquisition license.
If they have a firing device for pyrotechnic objects, alarm weapons are always considered weapons within the meaning of the Weapons Act.
- The law does not regulate the possession of alarm weapons. Carrying alarm pistols falls under Art. 28a WG and is prohibited.
Web links
- How a blank gun works in slow motion on YouTube
- How a blank firing revolver works in slow motion on YouTube
Individual evidence
- ↑ Federal Gazette: Section 12 Paragraph 4 No. 1a WaffG. In: Weapons Act of the Federal Republic of Germany of September 19, 1972, last amended by Article 1 of the Act of June 30, 2017, Federal Law Gazette I p. 2133. Bundesanzeiger, accessed on May 17, 2018 .
- ↑ Andreas Fröndgen: types of ammunition (Schreck firearms). Retrieved April 14, 2019 .
- ↑ Gun Shop 24: Buy Wadie CN irritant cartridges. Retrieved April 14, 2019 .
- ↑ Leaflet of the Federal Justice and Police Departments , accessed on May 16, 2018 (PDF; 39 kB).
- ↑ Art. 28a Arms Act
- ↑ Leaflet of the Federal Justice and Police Departments , accessed on May 16, 2018 (PDF; 178 kB).
