Most arguments about .177 versus .22 are really arguments about power, and in the UK that argument is already over before you start.
Any air rifle you can buy without a firearms certificate is capped at 12 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. That limit applies to both calibres equally. So whichever you pick, the rifle leaves the muzzle with the same amount of energy.
That single fact changes the whole question. You are not choosing the more powerful calibre. You are choosing how that fixed amount of energy gets delivered to the target.
The .177 (4.5mm) packs it into a light pellet moving fast.
2025 has easily been one of the busiest years for changes in UK firearms laws and licensing. New rules dropped, big ideas were debated, and several major updates hit the shooting world all at once.
If you felt like you were constantly hearing about another licensing update - you weren’t imagining it. This article breaks it all down in simple terms.
New Licensing Rules
A lot of the talk this year focused on the updated licensing rules. Here’s the simple version of what changed:
Police checks got deeper and more consistent across the country
Medical information and GP involvement became more important
Social media checks were
The British Shooting Show 2025 showcased an impressive array of firearms, with GMK Ltd presenting some of the most anticipated models. Gunstar’s George O’Leary had the opportunity to discuss these innovations with Reece and Taneli from GMK. Among the highlights were the Beretta 688 Performance, Tikka T3x Ace Series, Sako 90 Quest Ultra, and the Beretta Ultraleggero Kick-Off.
Beretta 688 Performance
The Beretta 688 Performance is designed to make competitive shooting more accessible without compromising on quality This over-and-under shotgun features a heavier receiver, enhancing stability and reducing recoil, which is particularly beneficial for newcomers to clay shooting. The laminated wood stock,
A year after its launch, the Browning B825 Pro Sport has firmly established itself as one of the most popular competition shotguns on UK clay grounds.
Replacing the hugely successful B725 was never going to be easy. Yet over the past 12 months, the B825 has evolved from Browning's latest release into a proven choice for Sporting shooters at every level.
We recently spent time with the B825 Pro Sport at the CPSA English Open Sporting at Barbury Shooting School, where Browning's Daniel Ridgley guided us through the gun and explained the key developments behind its success.
Watch our full video review above