Tom-HK

UPDATE: I had a lovely chat with my local FEO during the renewal interview and he agreed to the S1 shotgun for clays and target, along with solid slugs for the target work. Said he wouldn't allow for vermin or game or open conditions until I had an invitation to shoot on ground that was approved for that purpose. That's fine. Just limits me to formal ranges, for the time being. A friend who works an estate in Ayrshire has invited me up, so this is a condition I could go for in the near future, possibly. The problem is, however, that my FAC has come back without a couple of key details that were in my application and agreed to in the interview: 1) The S1 shotgun is for target shooting only (no clays); 2) There is no allowance for S1 solid slugs for target shooting! This leaves me with a slot for a shotgun that cannot be used for clays (or vermin or game), but for which I also cannot acquire the proper ammunition for target shooting! I have left a voicemail for my FEO, sent him an e-mail and contacted my local Firearms Unit via their web feature (no chance of getting a reply from that, I know), and I just hope I can get this solved soon. The renewal has already been over 20 weeks and I can easily see this problem dragging on for months. Anyone ever had a similar experience? This is with Surrey police.

Thanks, everyone, for the helpful responses. I can see that I should be all right with just the FAC, but I will be prepared for the possibility of running into difficulties with a dealer every now and then. If it becomes a regular headache, or if I swing more seriously back towards S2 shotguns, then I will definitely get an SGC.

Hi, I am putting in for my FAC renewal and will be adding an S1 shotgun slot. I will also be adding an appropriate quantity of S1 solid slug ammunition. As an existing S1 FAC holder, this is all familiar to me. I would also like to get my ticket conditioned so that I could use the S1 shotgun not just for target shotgun, but also for clays and game. My question is, would I need to add anything special (in terms of ammo conditions, perhaps?) to my FAC in order to be able to buy non-slug 'normal' shotgun cartridges? I have read, somewhere, that if you have a shotgun on an FAC then you can just rock up to a dealer and buy normal shotgun cartridges in the same way as the holder of a shotgun certificate might. Others have suggested that I would need a separate Shotgun Certificate for ammunition other than the S1 solid slug on my FAC. I am also aware that not all pests and critters can be lawfully taken with an S1 shotgun, and that not every clay site likes box magazines. Nevertheless, whilst target shotgun is my main focus, I would still like sufficiently broad conditioning of my FAC to open up other possibilities. I used to be quite handy with an S2 shotgun, in my youth, and wouldn't mind getting back into that aspect of shooting, but mostly only if I don't have to get a separate certificate or another gun.

Hi everyone. I have been shooting for nearly thirty years, including smallbore and fullbore rifle (and pistol, when it was allowed), and occasionally shotgun. I scaled things back for a while when my children came along, but as they are getting older I am once again looking to expand into more shooting disciplines and will probably look to add an S1 shotgun at my next FAC renewal.