stuartyboy

A point to note is that in Scotland the requirements to be granted an Air Weapon Certificate exceed the requirements to be granted a SGC. That is to say, it is technically a lot easier to be granted a SGC than to be granted a AWC. At some point the press will pick up on this. Then they will create a big story emphasising how it’s easier to get a license for a ‘toy air gun ‘ than it is to get a license for a ‘military style automatic 12 bore’. Then the public will be followed by the politicians with their outrage. Then, legislation will be passed again. Not to reduce the requirements for a AWC, but to increase the requirements and reason for a SGC to be granted. Its a slippery slope. At some point all firearms will held be held on the one certification. And it will require very good reason to possess. Recreational shooting as a past time won’t be good enough. It will only be if your direct livelihood requires it.

You would have thought so and it makes sense but I was advised that as it’s a pressure bearing part it is classed as a firearm on its own right. Possibly I was ill informed though but it came from what should be a reliable source

It was a while back but think down to 14” Think you can go down to 12” on a section 1 FAC but most, including myself, would recommend 12.5” minimum to keep yourself right. With a .22 most of the powder is burnt very quickly so long barrels aren’t necessary

I had one chopped years ago, cost £50 I think including rethreading for moderator. It shouldn’t affect accuracy if done correctly and won’t affect velocity. Was no need to reproof but interestingly, you can’t keep the off cut from the barrel. Just get it done professionally and keep the minimum legal barrel length

As above, yes. It wouldn’t require your certificate to have the condition for ‘occasional use’ either. You either need the firearm and satisfy all requirements, or you don’t. If you need advice, drop me a PM. I share firearms and know others who do.

Plastic is a big issue and shows how the public can jump on the bandwagon regarding environmental issues. Few years it was never mentioned then suddenly it became fashionable to be disgusted by it. This is the sort of issue that shooting needs to avoid to by being as environmentally green as possible. Ultimately, we will need to use a non plastic environmentally friendly wad or be able to recover fired plastic wads (clay ground possibly)

I agree but the point here is about presenting shooting in the best possible light for its very survival to continue. All the above chemicals and pollution are bad and their use needs to be looked at to eliminate their impact on the environment. However, none of them can be blamed on shooting. We all need to do our bit, and more importantly to be seen to be do our bit. In my opinion, BASC has got this right. They can say “Yes, lead has proven to be harmful in certain circumstances and that’s why we are taking action to reduce the environmental risk lead causes” rather than “Yes, lead has proven to be harmful in certain circumstances but we’ve not done anything about it”, which portrays an image of not caring. As said before, I’m not sticking up for BASC but the world is changing and folk are a lot less tolerant of shooting. If we can’t prove that we are willing to evolve and make small changes to help nature, environment and ultimately, our sport we will have even more public opinion garnered against us followed by further legislation and restrictions. 100% agree. The worlds population has over doubled in the last 50 years but unfortunately it’s too contentious issue to deal with. Easier to target minority sports

As said, best to keep it simple. Short spinning rod and a lure. Potentially catch anything from perch to pike to trout. I would flatten off the barbs to make unhoooking easier. Keep your gear to a minimum and watch the kids don’t get excited and rush to one side of the canoe to see what you’ve caught

You’re right in what you say to an extent but it’s the folk that aren’t pro or anti shooting that will ultimately have a say on shooting. And they’re the ones that we need to reach or positively influence. Less than 1 % of the UKs population hold tickets. So if we guesstimate that 5 % of the population are pro field sports, we could guess that maybe also 5 % are very anti shooting. Using these very rough figures, that leaves 90% of the population who have no knowledge or view or interest/care either way. The anti shooting minority won’t realistically change their views so little point in reaching out to them. And there’s not much point spending too much time and effort with educating the pro shooting folk as they’re on side anyway. That leaves the neutral 90% who have the potential to influence political decision making. They are the ones that we need to educate and try to get onside. BASC may or not be up to this job, that’s up to BASC and the members to decide. I don’t think they are and that’s why I’m no longer a member. However, I respect the BASC reps coming on here with their views and think the forum is better for it. With the issue of lead, BASC has got it right. It’s regarded by the public as a poison and as conservationists we can’t argue we’re benefiting the countryside if we’re seen to be contaminating the land that we are supposed to love and protect. The average person only knows of lead through banning the use of it in petrol, paint etc. All negative images. Yes, you can argue that you’ve eaten lead shot all your life and it’s done no harm or ‘where are the countless dead wildfowl suffering from lead poisoning ‘ but it’s proven that lead is poisonous and more importantly, the vast majority of people know this. So we have to be seen to take action. Shooting is fighting for its life in its present state and I don’t think it’s got a good future, but for any chance of survival we need to fight for hearts and minds. And it’s the neutral 90% of the population that we need to reach and hopefully influence.

To own a firearm on a FAC you need a good reason. The police argue that if you are not using it, you no longer need it therefore don’t have good reason for it. Round usage is open to interpretation. Use 3 or 4 rounds a year for a stalking rifle might be acceptable but 3 or 4 rounds for a target rifle would be harder to argue for

Regardless of your personal beliefs on the toxicity of lead and the harm it causes, if there’s a public perception that it causes harm backed by science then as conservationists first, shooters second, we need to be seen to address this and take action to reduce the lead we leave in the environment.

Another consideration is that houses with gardens and easy access to parks or countryside are going to be very attractive. After the lockdown, no one wants to risk living in a flat with no garden or access to the outdoors in case a lockdown is ever enforced again and they are trapped in a flat, especially with young kids. I think the housing market will slump to an extent, especially flats, for the reason I said above, but demand outstrips supply overall and it’s luxury items (expensive cars, boats, boys toys etc) that always go first before bricks and mortar. Obviously there will be unfortunate folk who lose houses due to losing jobs but since 2008, banks have been much stricter with lending so hopefully not too many people have taken on mortgages and houses without having a financial plan B in case of job loss. Realistically, no one can accurately tell what the market will do but most are confident that properties will pick up after any slump and continue to increase in value.

I read that as being patronising to people who have the audacity to question BASC. Possibly you don’t intend it to come across as such. I disagree with elements of what BASC has done, so have left after many years of support and I wish them all the success for the future but there seems an inability to listen to genuine concerns and respond to them

It’s simple really. If you believe BASC are worth the membership money, support them by being a member. If you don’t, go elsewhere. I never renewed this year, after over 20 years of being a member as I don’t think it’s value for money and they don’t seem to be fighting as much as they should for shooting sports. In my opinion anyway. I remember a while back they had fund raising for a new state of the art media centre that was going to be used for combatting attacks on shooting. I’ve never once seen or read about BASC representing shooting sports on mainstream TV/media outlets. Now I’m sure that they have but I’ve never personally come across it except for in media aimed for the field sports market. My point is, if you asked a cross section of society if they have heard of Wild Justice, PETA, LACS, etc etc or if they have heard of BASC a lot more folk will have heard of the anti field sports community. Likely no one could tell who BASC was or represented. Which considering the membership, money, resources and Media centre BASC has, they should be far more high profile

Great bit of kit and very useful. Gave exact same readings as expensive fancy chrono in shop. customer service meant to be excellent too

I initially used as a retired police man as my referee when there was only one referee required. When I renewed my tickets, I needed 2 separate referees so asked 2 shooting friends to vouch for me. The licensing where adamant that they would contact my original referee to ensure that I hadn’t done anything that made him reluctant to act as a referee. Fair point really. A point to make is that anyone of good standing can act as a referee. It used to be thought or even encouraged that the person had to be of good standing in the community such as GP, MP etc. Now other ticket holders are widely accepted and even encouraged due to their knowledge of safe handling practices and whether the applicant has the right reasons to want to possess guns.

Even if you change referees, the FEO will contact your previous referees to make sure there was no issue as to why you (the applicant) no longer wishes to use the previous referees.

Presumably both barrels firing 21gram cartridges simultaneously

The more I hear, I’m glad I never renewed membership after 20 + years

Sounds like you will have some good shooting. My personal experience is that for every one squirrel you see, there’s another 10 you don’t see. Ideally, you would leave it for a couple of weeks to let them get used to it and build up scent trails through the wood to it, but by the sound of your spot you could start shooting straight away. I generally find that the first 2 visits will give you a big bag then it fails off a bit but still will get a few. Just not as hectic with them. Only way to know is to get out there and shoot, and if possible, pick the best conditions and time for your first visits. One thing I can guarantee is that it will not be one squirrel. And if you do your part, double figures are on the cards.

I’ve found them to be really good in my S410 in .22 They've grouped better than AA Diablo and shoot 25 fps faster too. There’s definitely more of a smack from them on cardboard targets but yet to try them out on the squirrels

Problem is that lead has a bad image with the public, rightly or wrongly. As conservationalists first, shooters second, we have to be seen as acting in the best interests of the countryside and to an extent, our quarry. While lead has been widely accepted to be toxic, it’s going to be hard to argue to the non shooting public that it’s use by shooters is acceptable, especially when there are other alternatives. The only way to fight the restricted use of lead is to prove it’s safe beyond doubt and get that message across nationwide. Which isn’t going to happen.

It would concern me that parts would require to be changed every couple of years. I’m no gunsmith but I would imagine that any items should only be changed as and when required, not part of a biannual service. Most guns still function fine after decades of use without servicing. Saying that, I did have an gun built in the 20s that I serviced every year. Until someone rightly pointed out it had been going strong for the best part of a 100 years at the time, and likely only been serviced a couple of times if that.

If it’s wound on to tight to the spool or sometimes over filled, it binds itself and won’t feed out, snapping at the outlet eye instead. But most likely spooled on the wrong direction though I’ve used strimmers before that didn’t have an auto feed, instead you had to stop the machine, open it up and manually pull line out 😮 Buy a Stihl

Not required as they’re not licensed but some retailers may only sell via a RFD