Sharpie Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Does anyone have any pointers/tips to owning your own firearm's in the UK ? I used to do a lot of clay pigeion & rifle shooting while in the military and had easy access to firearms but, never looked into owning my own. It's been some years since I left the service so, don't know where to start really....other than looking on the internet or finding my local club I guess ?? Are there any gun owners/club members with advice ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I've always fancied joining a gun club as well actually, thought they were quite expensive now with lots of regs and stuff though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cable Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I've been thinking about this recently as I used be a member of a pistol club before they got banned. I would like have a go at full bore rifles but don't no of any ranges near me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil tt Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 are we talking shotguns, I own a couple. You would be best to find a local club:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil tt Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 There are lots of clubs around hampshire and wiltshire, there is a very good one in Tadley, which I used to use quite a lot:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpie Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 links http://www.nra.org.uk/ and http://www.cpsa.co.uk/ and lots of links http://www.nra.org.uk/common/asp/links/links.asp?site=NRA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicky Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Ive got a shotgun and a couple of air rifles, you have to have a proper gun case in the loft or something, Mr plod has to then come round and inspect its ok! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobDogg Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I joined a gun club in Warrington on Sunday as a provisional member. It was loads of fun and I was suprisingly good. I am thinking of buying myself an air rifle as I wouldn't need a firearms certificate, does anyone have any ideas what I should be looking for? CO2 or not etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I joined a gun club in Warrington on Sunday as a provisional member. It was loads of fun and I was suprisingly good. I am thinking of buying myself an air rifle as I wouldn't need a firearms certificate, does anyone have any ideas what I should be looking for? CO2 or not etc... Not true, anything over (from memory) 12 ft/lbs requires a firearms licence. There is a difference between a firearms licence and a shotgun certificate. Once successful, each lasts for five years. There are various differences between the two. You are required to complete the application which must be countersigned by a civil servant (doctor, bank manager, judge etc) it may not be signed by a serving police officer (but may be signed by a retired one - so long as it is not a family member). You must declare any/all convictions and any offences commited abroad (including driving convictions). If you buy, sell, swap move or otherwise change the ownership of a firearm this must be communicated. A new licence costs circa £50 If you have been sentenced to over 3 months in jail you cannot own a firearm within 5 years of release. Let me know if you want to know anything else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranz Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Contact your local police force firearms licensing officer. Just phone their non-emergency switchboard (normally an 0845 number) and ask to speak to your local one. They'll advise you accordingly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binkatt Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Contact your local police force firearms licensing officer. Just phone their non-emergency switchboard (normally an 0845 number) and ask to speak to your local one. They'll advise you accordingly Your local firearms officer will come round and ask you lots of questions etc. Will check where you are keeping said guns, so you will have to think of suitable place. I have quite a few guns around 16, mainly shotguns, but do have a few unusual ones, .270 .308 .22 x 2 .45 ACP fires same bullet as colt 45 lol 6 shot semi auto 16 bore, all ticketed, i do a lot of hunting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 A lot depends if you have legal access to "safe" shooting land. I could probably get a firearms certificate for a small calibre rifle as we have the land and a need for such a gun. Shotgun certificates are pretty easy to get, again, if you have due cause to own such a gun. Handguns are a no no, unless you live in Liverpool, where they are a yes yes. Big bore rifles a re a LOT harder to get certificates for, unless you own a few thousand acres of deer stalking land in Scotland, or can demonstrate you have legitimate access to such land and a genuine desire or need to hunt deer. The easiest route to firearms ownership is the ILLEGAL route, all the fairly recent gun law clampdowns have done nothing whatever to combat gun crime, just made it harder for people to enjoy what some consider innocuous sport, or collecting. This thread has re kindled me into making an effort to get a firearms certificate for a small bore rifle, as Mr. Fox has been seen hereabouts recently again, and I am getting too old to stand around for hours in the cold and wet hoping he comes in range of a 12 gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 i live in slough...it's full of scum...can i get some kind of hunting license? how much for a rifle and a 1000 rounds cost these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I was playing with a Beretta 686-E earlier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil tt Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Nice gun, much lighter than the older guns I have used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 6 shot semi auto 16 bore, all ticketed, i do a lot of hunting. You sure about that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binkatt Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 You sure about that? Yep, all above board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 To add to what Lewis said: You need to join a gun club first and sign up as a probationary member. During that time you are allowed to fire any club owned weapons and any other members guns if they allow you to, as long as you are under supervision at all times. You must attend at least once a month during this time. Once you become a full member you can apply for a firearms ticket. You can apply for a shotgun ticket at the same time and get what is known as a coterminus one which covers both firearms and shotguns (it's cheaper than having two separate ones). You will need a gun cabinet at your place of residence, and it will have to meet the current home office specifications, of which I don't know but your local firearms officer will help you there. It needs to be fitted to a brick wall that makes up part of the exterior of the house, and it needs to use 4* 10mm wall bolts at a minimum. You need a separate ammunition storage cabinet as well these days. You don't need an alarm system or anything until you go beyond a certain number of guns which is more than 5 as that's all I've got The FAC now needs two countersignatories - one has to be the club secretary, the other has to have no involvement in the shotting scene at all and has to be of "good character" such as Lewis said - although doctors charge money to sign them now so avoid them. Buying and selling guns is a bit of a paperwork nightmare as well but cross that bridge when you get to it. Oh and you can't post them or anything, you have to pick them up yourself and never let them out of your sight. Which is a laugh when you stop for food on the way home. You can only transport them for purposes of legitimate club shooting, inspection, repair, sale, or purchase. And check that your car is insured when you transport them as it may surprise you what the new T&Cs say about cover when firearms are involved. Any more questions? -Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I've seen the guys come round and inspect a gun cabinet. Not exactly thorough. We have one at work in our server room. Not sure why our MD felt he wanted to leave it there. I think it was security of the place or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 So are you saying you can bring a Colt .45 home with you? So long as you don't fire it? Or am I being thick here... ? Sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Oh and you can't post them or anything, you have to pick them up yourself and never let them out of your sight. Which is a laugh when you stop for food on the way home. You can only transport them for purposes of legitimate club shooting, inspection, repair, sale, or purchase. So once I've done all the stuff and headed up north somewhere to buy some guns for my newly installed cabinet, I then have to carry the 3 rifles into Little Chef and sit them on the table next to my burger and chips!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pot Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 When I was a wee lad at school in the Cadets, we had an indoor shotting range in the building (just for .22's), but the armoury had lots of Cadet GP's (The non-automatic version of the SA80), lots of Lee Enfields (*sp), and 3 LSW's converted to be single fire, like the Cadet GP... Firing in the indoor range was great, but I had the most fun when I was out on exercise in the cadets either on top of Cleeve Hill (With empty rifles) (But still playing the part), or firing the 7.62, or the GPMG, and on one occasion, firing a Scimitar when I went out on exercise with the light infantry It's been 14 years since I've fired a live round, and it's a shame as it's something I was really good at.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpie Posted November 21, 2007 Author Share Posted November 21, 2007 Thanks again Ian. When I was a wee lad at school in the Cadets, we had an indoor shotting range in the building (just for .22's), but the armoury had lots of Cadet GP's (The non-automatic version of the SA80), lots of Lee Enfields (*sp), and 3 LSW's converted to be single fire, like the Cadet GP... Firing in the indoor range was great, but I had the most fun when I was out on exercise in the cadets either on top of Cleeve Hill (With empty rifles) (But still playing the part), or firing the 7.62, or the GPMG, and on one occasion, firing a Scimitar when I went out on exercise with the light infantry It's been 14 years since I've fired a live round, and it's a shame as it's something I was really good at.... When we moved over to the Enfield L85A1 (SA80) from the FN FAL L1A1 (SLR) 7.62mm it was a sad day for me, I loved that SLR. Many will argue that the replacement was lighter, the ammo was lighter so, you could carry more and that the re-coil was lighter too.....but, for me, the SLR was a proper rifle with a nice balance. I guess I'm getting old I read that we had to go to the german's (Heckler & Koch) to produce the upgraded L85A2, was this better than the original ? I had left the service before the A2 came into operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobDogg Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Not true, anything over (from memory) 12 ft/lbs requires a firearms licence. Sorry this is what I meant, I forgot to put it in. I don't want owt over 12 ft/lbs. Anyone know what I should go for under the £300ish mark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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