stuartyboy

Likely they would have to smash the door in. They would have to, if they had a report of a disturbance. The police don't know it's a malicious or fake call. Or in your world do the bad guys just pretend they're not in. The police chap the door and get no response then leave? Then the bad guy carries on raping their wife or beating their children?

How can you judge the police in this instance? There is no way to know what happened before or the reason for forcing entry. It could have been a multitude of different things happening in that house, even to vulnerable people like spouses or children. The police would have asked to be allowed in. If that had been refused and they had good reason to, they are entitled to force entry. Or would you rather they just walked away and potentially left someone in danger? Point is you and I and everyone else here don't know the full story. But what I did see in the video was the police being polite and professional while trying to be reasonable under the circumstances. Try and speak to a copper like that in any other country and you would be leathered. Think of it another way, what if it was your wife or daughter being spoken to like that when they were acting in an honest held belief that they where acting within the law and for the best interests of the parties involved?

If it's genuine and justified beyond a shadow of a doubt, crack on and good luck to you. But I think a lot of folk posting on here are muppets who want to go shooting for their enjoyment. While the folk who genuinely do need to control pests carry on quietly and get the job done with the blessings of landowners and the police.

I always thought that the real heroes in this are the frontline NHS staff. But reading this, I realise it's actually all the pigeon shooters out there protecting the fields from hungry hordes. Some folk say they are doing it for selfish reasons such as personal enjoyment or being scared to lose their permission, but no. They are superstars answering the call of the farmers. I'm sure out there somewhere, there is a nurse who has just completed his or hers tenth consecutive 12 hour night shift and while trying to catch a few hours rest midday, they hear the 'pop, pop' in the distance. They rest their weary eyes, content in the knowledge that a true hero is making sure that in a few months they can get a loaf of bread.

Thanks for that

Yes, spot on. Not being that knowledgeable about airguns, I presumed that any power curve that exists would be caused by high pressure in the air cylinder causing higher FPS then as the pressure drops, so would the FPS. But my unscientific experiment has shown the power has a curve like a rainbow as opposed to starting high then dropping off regularly. Possibly due to the higher cylinder pressure holding back the hammer somewhat. But then again I could be talking rubbish

Thought I would put a few pellets through my S410 to see what the power curve was like and I was surprised at the results. I thought the higher the pressure the rifle was filled to, the higher the velocity. As you can see, that wasn't the case. Anyway, thought I would write down my results in case anyone finds it useful. Filling the tank to maximum pressure of 200 bar, the first ten shots where as follows: 200 bar Average of 539 fps. 10.2 ft ib Next ten shots Average of 543. 10.4 ft ib Then average of ten shots as follows 545 10.5 546 10.5 549 10.6 Manometer on air rifle saying approximately 160 bar now 550 10.7 553 10.8 Manometer saying 150 bar 555 10.9 555 10.9 555 10.9 556 10.9 554 10.8 551 10.7 Manometer saying 120 bar 546 10.5 540 10.3 Manometer saying 100 bar 533 10.0 520 9.5 Manometer saying 75 bar 500 8.8 Pellets were Air Arms .22 Field. 180 pellets fired and the average of each 10 shots given. For this rifle I would now be looking at filling to just over 150 bar for a good 40 or so shots. There was very little variation between the individual 10 shot groups

I contacted Air Arms to ask if they could increase the power of my S410 to FAC rating when it was due a service. They said no, they wouldn't. I don't know if they couldn't or just don't want to do this job but I was surprised as I thought it would be simple enough

Might as well add my monthly (pre lockdown) total of 24 for March. 525

Yup, just under 😳

Genuine question. Have you seen the footage? It's on YouTube. What would you do in the circumstances? If what is said to have happened to the elderly couple is true?

👍

Best bet would be an air rifle or something like a 9mm garden gun shotgun if it's within 10 or so yards. But you can buy reduced velocity ammo for a .22 which will give reduced energies of 30ib ft or so (less than a third of a normal subsonic .22). Also some CCI do segment ammo which splits into 3 but likely still not suitable. It depends on what you can buy from your RFD and the reduced velocity rounds aren't known for accuracy. But as I said, air rifle would be ideal for this if you can acquire one. Most countryside organisations offer insurance for shooting activities as part of their membership. However, always check small print first to see if you are covered, especially if there is any payment involved

I think folk have to realise that if they're asked to stay at home, it's for a good reason. Everybody is making sacrifices. It's not too much to ask that people don't go shooting. Am sure there are countless of folk missing their golf, football, etc etc but they get on with it because it's required to help the country through this. If the public hear or hear of shooting taking place during this lockdown, shooting as a sport will lose any credibility and support it has left. Simple as that. You can argue about essential crop protection or fox control but the vast majority of folk on here do it as a hobby for their pleasure. If it's essential protection required, leave it to the farmer living on the land to carry out. And if they can't do it, so be it. Yes there will be losses but nothing compared to the loss of life through this outbreak and the loss of support for shooting sports.

Would it need to be sent to the proof house after the work has been done to get certified?

I agree. It's not the state imposing draconian laws to stop people having fun but to try and save lives. For the vast majority, shooting cannot be classed as essential or justified

Fair enough but did you ask for that to be confirmed in writing because it's at odds to what I was told by my licensing manager. Problem is that as there's no definitive guidance (understandably as there's more pressing issues going on) it's open to interpretation and can change depending on whom you speak to and when.

Just curious about what social changes we will see after this pandemic? After WW1 there where widespread reforms to education, health, women rights etc. Same as after WW2, changes came about including welfare issues. Now I'm not comparing what we are going through just now to either of the wars, but my point is that after a global emergency of such magnitude, people change long held views, governments change policies etc. I'm thinking we will see a much reduced desire for immigration with increasing restrictions on the free movement of people. On a more local level, more people holidaying in their own country. Less desire for big, expensive outlays that can be affected such as foreign holidays and big weddings. An increase in spending on fairly small amounts such as eating out, entertainment, clothes etc but a reduced desire for long term expensive but unneeded requirements such as top of the range cars etc?

Am not sure what you mean? That licensing and the police don't always follow government guidelines regarding licensing or in general? Which is true but there's a big difference between that and this current situation where rules are being brought out to save lives

My take on it is that if you carry on shooting there is little risk of infection being spread under normal shooting circumstances. And it's obviously good for mental and physical health. However if we accept that there is a lockdown and only essential travel to work, for medical or food supplies etc is permitted, then there is a risk to the public perception of shooting and an unlikely but still possible risk of your license being revoked. If members of the public see or more likely, hear shooting carrying on as normal they will understandably be angry that folk are carrying on as normal while they are on lockdown. This will reflect badly on shooting as a sport. Regarding your licenses. The Government has issued orders that curtail free movement for all, except in certain essential circumstances. This is to help save lives. The police issue their SGC and or FAC on the understanding that the recipients are law abiding citizens who will respect the rules and conditions of their licenses and of society in general, and abide by them. In my opinion, if the police respond to people carrying out shooting and the shooter cannot prove beyond doubt that the shooting is essential, they will likely open themselves up for revocation of certificates. This is simply because by out shooting, they have demonstrated that they cannot follow government advice and orders. And if they can't do that when it is designed to save lives, they are unlikely to abide by any other conditions or rules. Therefore they are untrustworthy. Just my take on it. I will miss going out but in the grand scheme of things, it's not that much of a hardship.

To be fair, I think the government is looking at ways to support the self employed. Hopefully everyone will get the support they need soon as.

What makes you so special that you can ignore the order to stay at home. The order that is designed to try and minimise this and potentially save lives. There are a lot of self employed folk who put others before themselves and stay in, even though it might cause temporary financial hardship. I'm sure your customers won't be happy if you spread this virus and it means they or a loved one dies after infection. I'm in the emergency services and see how bad this is and how catastrophic it will be, especially if folk are not willing to help and do their bit.

Forget it. Or get it. Notify your local licensing and give them grounds to revoke your license for unnecessarily breaking the lockdown

I had a shotgun for sale at an RFD before. The RFD was adamant that I didn't need to notify the police it was no longer in my position so I trusted him and didn't advice licensing. I think it came to renewal time shortly later and licensing where not happy I hadn't notified them that the shotgun was out of my possession for more than 72 hours, even if it was at the RFDs. If I hadn't argued my case, I don't think I would have had my certificate renewed because of this. Legally, there may not be a requirement but common sense would say that for the few minutes that it takes to email or write a letter, it keeps you right and saves any hassle. enfieldspares is spot on

No requirement for a license to buy airgun pellets in Scotland. Only restriction is age