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Fil

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About Fil

  • Birthday January 14

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  • Gender
    Male
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    Both sides of the pond
  • Interests
    Everything outdoors... and cooking....outdoors.

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  1. As an "RFD" I know that Parcelforce has an agreement with the GTA (Gun Trade Association) and trade members of BASC to carry (at a discounted price) section 1 and 2 firearms from RFD to RFD. As a GTA member I had a circular email from them reminding us all that the Parcelforce agreement is RFD to RFD ONLY. So I would say that it is against the "rules". It is worth noting that Parcelforce will ONLY carry firearms if you are a trade member of BASC or the GTA. Although I see someone found some info that they will carry if proof is given that both are rfd. Royal Mail will not (knowingly) carry firearms. I personally would not deal with that RFD. That just wrong. As Gunman said, they maybe a part timer home rfd and not all follow the rules just to save a few quid. Which in turn puts us all in a bad light. Not saying home rfd's are bad, I was one when I first started out on my own 25 years ago. I would dearly love to know who they are.
  2. This is quite correct and great advice. Unfortunately police forces (like TVP) are enforcing the Home Office security manual onto private owners too. I know because I'm a gunmaker in Wiltshire that borders Berkshire (TV) and used to be in the TVP region. Most of my customers are Berkshire and they are telling me that this is happening to them. Short answer is no. There is no restriction on the amount of shotguns you can own. You may be asked to up your security other than the size of your gun cabinet. I've always been a proponent of not being afraid to ask your FEO "where does it say that in the Home Office guidance?" When he/she says you have too many guns. Or any more than 6 guns you must have an alarm or You have a 3 gun cabinet you can only have 3 despite fitting four in there. Don't be afraid of them. If we let them get away with what they make up then that will be it for others in the future. They (Home Office) have now grouped levels of security required for the keeping of firearms that doesn't just take into account how many firearms you own. It also takes into consideration, where you live, the construction of your house, etc. In a sense I don't think it's a bad thing as at least we have something in writing to go by than the FEO's or force areas making it up as they want it to be. Which used to happen all the time. Remember, in theory you still don't need a gun cabinet......
  3. There is a business I do a lot of repairs for and they just recently called in their FEO to complain about the fact that they were many, many thousands of pounds down in takings from last year and their accountant can categorically prove it was down to lost sales due to the abysmal turnaround of variations and renewals. This shop expanded a few years ago and they have a lot of big money customers. The only adverse effect on my business from abysmal performance is the many guns I'm storing due to expired certificates during the renewal process which obviously has a knock on effect to servicing, repairs, cartridge sales, etc. because the gun owner isn't shooting.
  4. LOL I was shooting today and a gun had his wife loading for him. He said she comes with me so I don't get moaned at when I get home. For fear of getting banned (and so be it) There are only two sexes. Male and Female. The rest are mental illnesses and I wouldn't want them having access to firearms. There. Said it.
  5. But it doesn't mean that I want to give up my Eley Impax 28g 6's or think that I am going to bow down to the EU and their lead bans when I voted for brexit hoping that our firearms laws were going away from the EU for UK firearms laws dammit!!! LOL
  6. Conor, I admire your full and comprehensive reply. A lot of what you said is what I have heard already from other organisations (such as the GTA) But I didn't want to accept or believe it. And I have to say that I am with you on that. Great post.
  7. We have done the same on waterfowl in the UK since the 90's. Loads got the same perfection. Steel was even cheaper than lead when we were allowed to shoot plas wads. What we are talking about here is non lead on grouse, pheasant etc. We don't/can't use cheap plas wad steel loads. We are now told to use these new steel loads with biodegradable wads which can be as much as 50% more per box than our favourite lead load. We don't shoot game with pumps or autos. So we are looking for an affective, reasonably priced, safe and humane load for our old vintage guns. Bismuth here for me is anything from £400 - £450.00 for 250 cartridges and therefore not an option. Yes I understand your point but we are talking something different.
  8. I've always said and will continue to say that "volunteering" away a bit by bit of our past time is not the way to go. We will NEVER appease those that are against shooting. Anyone who thinks it will is deluded. It will never get my support. And I vehemently disagree with your comment that "Those knocking BASC and other organisations for encouraging a voluntary transition do the future of shooting no favours". Most if not all I speak to on a daily basis in my establishment and in the shooting agree and only give you money because of the compulsory shooting insurance that they require for their shooting syndicate. I have however enlightened them that other groups exist that offer equal shooting insurance that do not allow the chip chip chip away of our past time.
  9. As a cartridge seller albeit not in a big way a lot of estates I supply and individuals have reverted to lead this season. Last two years everyone followed the "transition" but this they have given it two fingers and gone back to lead until forced by law.
  10. It's eye dominance. I never thought I had it until I did my coaching course and then I found out why I was seeing what you do. Seek a good gun coach who really understands eye dominance. Like Anne Litchfield who does the Lantra coaching courses. Too many weekend ticket experts out there. See someone who has been doing it over a number of years.
  11. I get that. And the arrogance of Conor is annoying to say the least. Just like a true BASC rep. I've had my say earlier in the post and that is that but I admire Konor's stand on this.
  12. Which was pretty much the exact arrogant reply I got from BASC. Old **** here. One who has over 20 years invested in some wonderful Edwardian guns to hand over to my sons when I hang up my tweed for good. No Purdeys or H&H's.... yet. I'm not of that money before you start saying well stop whining, you can afford Tungsten or Bismuth then. Which is also what BASC said to me in their reply when I stopped my membership. (Yes they did!) I too game shoot on a small budget. I managed to get into a friendly little self run syndicate this season as to buy a day now for me is out of the question due to cost. (£600.00 for a 70 bird day as opposed to £250- 300 a few years back) I clay shoot a bit more nowadays to enjoy my guns. And I don't go game shooting just to kill birds. I know a lot of people that do. They turn up with their chosen implement, shoot what flies over them and go home. I'm not saying that's wrong either. Each to their own. But I have an interest in the history of our shooting and gun making. Many times I have been caught staring at the engraving or the Damascus patterns as they glint in the sun whilst not even seeing that bird whistle by and mates shouting "Wake up"!! I sometimes wonder where my Westley Richards 'Ovundo' has been used whilst I admire it waiting for the drive to start. And when I drop that 'corker' to add to the 25 bird bag with something made in 1910 that makes the day even more worth while for me. Not how many. Now if that's an old **** looking through rose tinted glasses then guilty as charged. I certainly don't want a tool just to do the job when it comes to driven or walked up game shooting. I want to be able to carry on enjoying our gun making history against the same quarry they fired in anger at over 100 years ago. I'm not against modern guns either. I have great fun using a pump on the pigeons. And a custom GD5 Browning 325 on sim days when I have the money for a sim day. I also think the most wonderful gun out there is the older 28" Beretta silver pigeon 20 bore with fixed chokes. It is an absolute joy to shoot. And shoot steel it will. But you may agree (or not) the history and wonder of a gun made in 2003 bears nothing on the history and craftsmanship of a hand made gun assembled over 100 years ago. And I'll happily shoot with an affordable and humane alternative that is suitable for my light weight vintage guns. And I'm not convinced that steel is it. So I am with the Old Farriers, the Konors and the Scully's on this. This is my passion, and my way of life too. And I didn't think my membership money was going towards fighting our corner enough. The give a little to appease "them" and help public image is not my way of thinking. We will never appease an anti. Ever. So fight harder and stop rolling over. It's okay to evolve too. But that takes time.
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