Pointy Hat

I know it's a stab in the dark but it's still worth keeping the pressure on them. Please sign it and share it around, it would be appreciated. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/236815

NABIS said such weapons had been linked with at least four homicides. It said gangs had increasingly used antique firearms over the past 10 years to get around the UK's strict laws restricting access to handguns. Nonsense. Gangs easily have access to automatic weapons and shotguns and four homicides is nothing compared to the knife killings and acid attacks on our city streets.

I believe it's .50 caliber rifles and MARS action rifles they are referring to as there is a Home Office impact assessment available online for the potential banning of these firearms. However I do believe they widened the scope a little by banning any firearm with a muzzle energy of 10,000 ft lbf or more, what ever firearms they may be. Regular full bore guns like .308, 303 etc are below that so hopefully they're safe...for now. The banning of any firearm is unacceptable though with no good reason to do so.

Hi, I want to get section 7.1 on my FAC to own a heritage pistol but don't know how to do it. I can only find application forms for section 5 which 7.3 comes under but cant find anything for 7.1. Advice please.

I was wondering if you could get away with putting a cheaper airgun scope on a center fire like a .308. I've heard you can and that some people have put a cheap Tasco or Nikko Stirling on their center fire with no problems at all. Sorry, but I just don't see the point of spending hundreds on a scope if it's not necessary. Thoughts on this and can anyone recommend some good center fire scopes on a budget?

People say write to your MP's explaining that these guns aren't used in crimes so a ban is uncalled for. They aren't stupid and they know damn well they're not being used in criminal activity, you're just telling them what they already know. I suspect they already have pre-written generic letters printed out in response to angry shooters and businesses. When they push through with this they will talk of an aggressive gun lobby and any attempts to defend ourselves will be labeled as attacks by the government and media like the Guardian. It's possible they could use the term rapid firing as an excuse to place a blanket ban on anything that isn't bolt action and once those are banned or restricted almost out of existence they will then start eying up our bolt actions and single shots- for our own safety of course. I suspect they may say that any firearms that fall under their category of rapid firing guns must be kept at an approved gun club or police station and that they're doing us a favor by allowing us to 'keep' them. No point speculating really until we know for sure. I'm starting to dislike living in the UK and not just because of gun issues.

Actually there isn't. Cant find them anywhere. Thanks for the reply though.

Hi all. Can ballistic tipped ammo legally be used on a regular shooting range? I know expanding ammo cant but I'm not sure about the other one. Reason I'm asking is because ammo isn't always so easy to come by here and the only .308 ammo available here is ballistic tipped, so I want to be sure before I buy it. Cheers.

I think if Labour gets into power it will be a disaster for pretty much all of us. Jeremy Corbyn is an outspoken anti-hunting individual who would keep the ban on fox hunting and also seek to ban other 'blood sports.' Since most hunting is carried out with firearms and shotguns you can bet that Labour would bring everything hunting and shooting under one big umbrella, and as we all know Labour is the party that likes to ban everything. Hunting would be attacked and then I bet any money you like gun ownership would be next. It would either be 'there's no need to have guns at home' or they would use terrorism as an excuse. Guns would either be banned or keeping them would be restricted to clubs and farms effectively banning private possession. This is my prediction anyhow and Labour have been very vocal in the past about more bans and restrictions and there's a very real chance they could win this next election. What do you think? http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/labour-anti-shooting-proposals-82115#v3MzQwrUeItloSUS.01

Hi, Has anyone here had any experience with a RFD called Highwood Classic Arms? Tried contacting him but he seems rather elusive. Only managed to get him on the phone once or twice in a month and he hasn't responded to my email I sent seven days ago. When I did speak with him he said I would have to sent him my FAC upon purchasing a rifle as he needs to sign it and not the receiving RFD. I've never heard that before. I own five firearms and I've never had to do that. Not saying I don't trust they guy, but I'm not crazy about sending off my FAC to someone I don't know and have never done business with and also can hardly get hold of. In all fairness he did say he was visiting family in Edinburgh, but that was weeks ago and haven't heard back since. Has anyone here bought from him and was it a positive experience?

I have just got a Mauser K98 in 7.92 and although I know how to remove the bolt I don't know how to de-cock it once it's out. I don't think it would be good to store it cocked. Can anyone please tell me how to de-cock the bolt for storage once it's out the rifle?

Good idea. I will do this. Thanks for the advice. Well if all has been good for you, I shouldn't have any problems either, so I can relax a little now.

I live in a ground floor council flat and keep my firearms there. The council sometimes do property inspections and I'm worried that one day they're going to inquire about the gun cabinet secured to the wall and take a dim view of rifles and ammo kept on site. Although I'm not breaking any laws, it's state owned property and they could demand I don't keep weapons in their property. I did ask if I could attach a cabinet and they agreed as long as I give them proof that it's been inspected by police and is safe. Rules and opinions can always change though. In a way I don't see how it's any of their business what I keep in my safe and have been a good tenant for nearly 10 years. I'm just concerned that one day some council authority member who disproves of private gun ownership could make my life difficult. I was wondering if anyone else here is in a similar situation and has had issues keeping guns in rented property.

We can only hope the Green Party never get in power. Their gun control policies would effectively ban private ownership of all guns, including airguns and airsoft. Look at their manifesto and see for yourselves. Their 2020 manifest states they want to ban all grouse shooting and other 'sport' shooting. You can guarantee that means target shooting would go as well. I emailed them asking how they could justify these policies, but like all liberal anti-gun parties, I never got a response despite promising to respond in seven days.

When applying for my variation to add extra firearms I checked the DVLA website and there were no points or anything listed so I didn't declare anything. However I remembered the other day I got a speeding penalty notice through the post last summer. I was given a choice between paying a fine and getting points on my license or attending a drivers awareness course and keeping a clean license. I did the course so my license is still clean, however I think I better contact the firearms dept when they open after the Easter holidays and explain the situation. I don't want them thinking I'm being dishonest and withholding info.

FEO came to see me today regarding my variation to add three full bore firearms to my ticket- 7.92, .308 and 7.62 Mosin. He asked what I wanted them for and I explained they were specifically for target, that I have an interest in historic military firearms and that I have use of the Bisley ranges and have just become a member of two other MOD range clubs. He didn't seem very keen on the fact that I was still a probationary member of the other two clubs. I told him I was advised by the club sec to apply for the variation straight off as it would be okay. He told me it was bad advice and that he hears it all too often. He quizzed me on my security and asked to see my cabinet which he seemed content with. Then he asked me what home security I had, what locks I had on the front door, and if my windows were double glazed with locks and I explained they were. I said I was getting a burglar alarm and he's response was 'do it'. He said' 'I don't mean to sound rude, but you're living in a ground floor flat in a built up area in the middle of town.' He went on to say that any added security is a very good idea. He also suggested I would need an extra ammo safe for the bigger calibers. Then he asked if I had to remove a caliber from my list what would it be? I said the Mosin rifle, but preferably I want to keep all three if I can. He then clarified that 'so your reasons for wanting these firearms is your interest in them and target shooting?', to which I replied yes. Then he said that he would take it back to the office for them to make a decision as it wasn't up to him. I'm kind of disappointed as I was hoping to be given some answers and the whole thing left me feeling a little uncertain now. There was no clear yes or no. Opinions on this please. I'll update when I hear back.

Shame UKIP have gone downhill. They are the only party worth voting for, but I cant ever see them getting into power now. From a shooters perspective they probably would have protected our sport better then Conservatives and heaven forbid Lib Dems or Labour get into power. They're pretty much a shambles now anyhow. Don't get me started on the Green Party...

The gun I've always wanted as far back as I can remember is the Mauser K98. Never had the privilege of firing one, but hopefully that day won't be too far off.

As far as I'm aware there's no Home Office requirement for a certain amount of time to pass on holding a FAC before full bore will be considered. They ask that you have undergone mentoring, I believe, and gain a shooters certificate. I have completed a assessment course with the NRA using full bore rifles and got my shooters certificate from them, so there hopefully shouldn't be an issue.

I never suggested I'm any different. Although I do have mild aspergers which perhaps I could have mentioned in my original post. It didn't affect my granting of a FAC so hopefully this shouldn't be too different. As the title suggests, I'm curious to know why they ask for employers details. Why ask for them unless they consider contacting them and why would they? I've had my certificate since last August.

I've just sent off my certificate to add three extra firearms. I currently own two rimfires and a .357 Rossi lever action. Hopefully I can upgrade from small bore to full bore and have asked for: 7.92 Mauser, .308 and 7.62 Mosin. I have joined three Home Office approved clubs, inc NRA and jumped through all the hoops etc. Fingers crossed for me. A couple of things though... I've noticed they ask for your employers contact details including number, email etc. Do they contact employers? Why do they need that info? Also, I've noticed that Home Office guidance states that 'good reason' can be target, vermin, etc but your local Chief Officers are able to exercise discretion over what constitutes a good reason, judging each case on its own merits. So does this mean that your CO can basically decide for themselves what is or isn't good reason? So they could basically decide that casual target shooting is not 'good reason' to own a full bore firearm and decline you the extra slot? Maybe I'm over analyzing things but I'm sure I remember hearing about recent new legislation that gave local Chief Officers authority to be pretty much a law unto themselves on these matters. Thoughts?