Shotgun security while cleaning

[ChrisPCarter]

I'm sure the rules on shotgun security state your gun should be locked in your cabinet as soon as you arrive home apart from while cleaning them.

At the moment I'm oiling my stock and have just started doing this each night for a week or so. After that the instructions say to do it once a month, then once a year.

It says to leave it somewhere warm to dry between coats but my cabinet is a bit cold and tight on space so would it be acceptable to leave the forend and stock (with action attached) out and lock away the barrels while I'm doing this?

I guess it can be classed as cleaning the gun but I'm sure it generally means giving it a quick strip down after shooting.

If you were leaving a gun in the car you are allowed to take precautions such as removing the forend so how does it work at home under circumstances like these?

It would probably have been better to remove the action from stock I guess but it's going to be in use a couple of days this week.

I'm going to squeeze it in the cabinet somehow but it isn't ideal.

 

Chris.

[Luckyshot]

No problem at all so long a you are in the house at the time can't see a problem with it.

[ElvisThePelvis]

I don't think your FAO would have a issue with this. The only thing is, depending on what oil you are using, I would shoot the gun half way through oiling it everyday for a week, I have been lead to beleive it's best to leave it for a week after the final coat before using. If you smudge a soft finish its a pain in the neck.

[welshwarrior]

Take the action off stops you getting stock oil all over it then the barrels and action can stay locked away. All that's out is 2 nice pieces of fire wood to a crook

[Westward]

As an aside, the "rules" don't require the gun to be locked away as soon as you walk in the door. Security is solely your responsibility and your judgement which means either you or another qualified individual have to be in charge of the gun when it is not stored. Therefore as long as you're at home it's perfectly legal to stand it in the corner to dry if you wish. But, as WW says above, separating the metal parts from the wood makes oiling a much easier task and you can leave the woodwork out all week while you're at work.

[panoma1]

The law does not stipulate how you make your guns secure, it is up to individuals to satisfy the chief officer of police that they are stored securely! Whilst it is generally accepted that this is to have them locked in a BS standard approved gun safe....this is not mandatory! To have the barrels separate and secure would not allow unauthorised persons to use the gun as a gun so I would argue the gun is secure!..........and you have complied with your legal responsibilities!

As usual there is no specific guidance on this as far as I'm aware?

 

Beat me to it Westward! Lol

Edited May 24, 2016 by panoma1

[Graham M]

Take the action off stops you getting stock oil all over it then the barrels and action can stay locked away. All that's out is 2 nice pieces of fire wood to a crook

This is exactly the way to do it. Take the wood off the gun and lock the gun away. You can then oil away to your heart's content and leave the stock and fore-end in a nice warm place without compromising your security.

And as WW says, it keeps the oil off the metalwork, which will look an absolute eyesore. And if you leave it there it dries and is a hell of a job to remove................unless you take the wood off.

 

Oiling with a linseed/Walnut type oil can also get inside the action and gum up the works.

 

G

[ChrisPCarter]

I just get a bit worried when a lot of the rules are left open to interpretation!

I think FEO's like to tell you all sorts of **** to encourage best safety but a lot of it isn't necessarily "law".

For example I was told I couldn't put my safe in the loft bolted to the outside wall as I would probably not bother to put my gun away - that clearly isn't actually a rule now I know more about it.

 

I actually work from home most of the week with just the odd hour onsite with clients here and there so I'm probably in 90% of the time anyway.

I was just a bit worried about a random check finding my gun stood in the corner instead of in the cabinet.

I think it's perfectly safe without the barrels accessible though.

I've just been really careful putting the oil on in very small amounts and any that's strayed onto the metal work I've just wiped off immediately.

It's looking a lot better already after just 2 coats.

I'm only going to shoot one day now so I'll leave a couple of days to dry off before then.

I'm shooting at least once a week in a pub league so there's never a good time to do it and I didn't want to go taking the stock off and on a few times in case I damaged something.

I've got other guns but this is the only one I can hit clays with!

 

On another related point, what is the advice if you were to be confronted in your home and threatened to give access to your gun safe?

Edited May 24, 2016 by ChrisPCarter

[panoma1]

Consider the implications to your family and yourself of denying them access and if in doubt......give it to it to em!

[Westward]

There is or was a Home Office leaflet giving guidance on security. You are correct that Chief Officers make up lots of stuff, sometimes collectively through the Police Chiefs Council or within a single Authority. I got a bo--ocking once for not informing them that I'd moved the cabinet to a more secure location. There was no point in aggravating the officer by pointing out that there was no legal requirement to do that. The fact is if they say jump, we have to say how high? They know that and they use the power it gives them to constantly feed in niggling little changes which achieve nothing except to add delays and cost to an already overly bureaucratic process. Nevertheless, it is wise to avoid getting on the wrong side of the FEOs but also to familiarise yourself with what the statutory laws actually are.

 

As for your question: If you and your family are threatened surely your only priority is to keep everyone safe. If that means handing over the keys then so be it. I can't see the police revoking your certificate in those circumstances.

Edited May 24, 2016 by Westward

[ChrisPCarter]

Thanks for all this, it's put my mind at rest on quite a few things I was told when I applied for my license.

I am still surprised every day by things I read that you would think there was a clear cut rule on but there isn't.

 

As far as the question I raised, it really is a tricky one as are you protecting your family by handing them a gun or guns?

It's impossible to know what their intentions are - theft or something worse.

I guess the decision is easier if they were armed already.

Hopefully it will never arise...

[Westward]

The FEO won't be happy if you store guns and ammo in the same location and I've been asked about it a couple of times. The idea is that even if criminals gain access to your guns they aren't much further on if they don't know where your ammo is.

 

I seem to remember a home invasion a couple of years back at a remote farmhouse by 4 thugs who thought they could intimidate the couple whilst they stole whatever they fancied. The guy happened to have shotguns and wounded 2 of the gang causing the others to scarper. The police arrested the couple and locked them up overnight but they were released without charge. The point is that you can defend yourself and your family with lethal force if you really think lives are threatened. The law is clear on this but convincing the police might be tricky, which is why criminals get away with violence. They know that the victim is just as likely to end up in court as the attacker.