Whenever I've had stuff stopped before they want a velocity delceration. Just send them and email with this
Dear Sir,
The paintball marker held by "carrier / HM customs" and ordered by myself from "insert shop" has a barrel velocity not exceeding 300 feet per second with a 4g projectile.
I trust that this is in order, and if you require any further information, please contact me again.
Yours faithfully,
your name
Should be everything they need to know.
Slight problem with that, is that a 4 gram projectile, from what i remember weighs in at around 60 grains...which would make its muzzle energy at 300fps, 12.5 ftlb's.
Limit for an Air Rifle is 12 ftlb's, limit for a pistol is 6 ftlb's.
Home office guidelines state that "Weapons of the type used in war games, firing a projectile containing paint and powered by
Carbon Dioxide, should not be considered as Firearms"
Probably because previously, CO2 powered weapons were going to be made FAC only, but it was reverted.
Or words to that effect.
Say the frangible projectile has a weight of 3.2 grams (average) which will give you a legal muzzle energy of under 10 ftlb's.
MONEY SAVING BIT: In teh letter, advise them that the company you bought it from should have put the following "Specific Item Code" on the package; 930 400 0000
Which means that the duty is charged at 3.2% not the 7-15% flat rate.