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Airgun law · United States

Are Airguns Legal in Illinois?

Mostly no, or only under severe restrictions.

Treated at or near firearm level, with an effective ban or major criminal-law exposure for ordinary ownership. Watch the firearm-grade process rule in particular.

Tier 1: Severely Restricted

Cannot ship to civilian addresses, or must treat as a firearm sale.

IL

The picture at a glance

Each measure below scores how restrictive Illinois is on that part of owning or transferring an airgun, from permissive (green) to firearm-level (red).

ClassificationVariable
Age rule21+ required
PossessionPermit required
Transfer / saleFirearm-grade process
TransportCased advised
PreemptionPartial preemption
Before you buy or sell
  • OBTAIN A FORMAL LEGAL OPINION from Illinois-licensed firearms counsel before conducting sales in Illinois.
  • FOID card may be required even for pneumatic / CO₂ airguns.
  • Chicago has a citywide airgun ban.

The rules in detail

Classification
Variable
FOID Act (430 ILCS 65/1.1) defines 'firearm' to include devices using 'expansion of gas or escape of gas', but excludes pneumatic, spring, paintball and BB guns that fire a single globular projectile no larger than .18 inch OR have a maximum muzzle velocity under 700 fps. Airguns outside both limits (e.g., .22+ pellet rifles at 700+ fps) count as firearms for FOID purposes.
Age rule
21+ required
If FOID required: 21+, with parental consent under 21.
Possession
Permit required
May require a valid FOID card, including background check, mental health records review, and waiting periods.
Transfer / sale
Firearm-grade process
Transfers may need FOID verification on both sides.
Transport
Cased advised
Cased and unloaded recommended.
Preemption
Partial preemption
Standard firearms preemption.

Hunting with an airgun

Air rifles for rabbits and squirrels only among small game; not allowed for deer, turkey, or any game birds or waterfowl

Deer
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed
Turkey
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed
Small game
Allowed with conditions
Allowed for rabbits and squirrels only (air rifle)
Predators
Unresolved / not addressed
Unresolved
Other big game
Unresolved / not addressed
Unresolved
Notes
IDNR says an air rifle may be used to take only rabbits and squirrels among upland/small game; the digest does not list airguns for furbearer or coyote hunting. State law bars rifles, handguns and air rifles for all game birds (incl. turkey) and waterfowl, and bars firing an air rifle on, over or into water or ice (520 ILCS 5/2.33(p)-(q)). Airguns are not a legal deer weapon. An airgun no larger than .22 caliber may be used to dispatch trapped beaver, river otter, mink, muskrat or weasel.

Local rules that still apply

Chicago
Citywide ban on airgun discharge; near-total functional restriction on use.

Keep exploring

Open the interactive mapSee how this compares across the map and switch between legal and hunting views.→Find a place to shootAirgun-friendly ranges, flagged where confirmed.→Ballistics toolkitCheck energy, velocity, and range for any airgun and load.→Ammo databaseBrowse 600+ pellets and slugs by caliber and weight.→

This is a plain-language summary compiled from primary statutes and official guidance. It isn't legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.