Questions on FAC

[smartshot]

Just booked my appointment with my firearms officer for him to come and see me regarding my firearms application. Ive already got my shotgun so have a pretty good idea what to expect on the day. Im only applying for a .22lr, ive used one now for the last 4 years when with the keeper but wondering if anyone has any handy pointers for on the day? My f/arms officer is very thorough, when I applied for my shotgun, he asked me all sorts of questions, ranges etc and also made senarios up (your out shooting and you see a rabbit in front of a hedge, whats the first thing you think etc) so I want to be fully prepared.

 

I know he quizzed a friend of mine on safe backstops, If he asks I was going to list any dense material that will absorb without causing a ricochet, is there anything I should be wary of?

 

Last out of a matter of interest, does anyone have any reviews on the cz452? My local gunshop has one and if I manage to get my .22 would be quite interested in it.

 

 

 

I know some of it may be common sense but wanted to be fully prepared.

 

 

Many thanks,

 

Rob

[Dekers]

FEO's come in all shapes and sizes with all sorts of attitudes and ideas.

 

You already have a head start with him and your experience of shotguns and the .22lr.

 

Just be yourself and don't get clever!

 

As for the CZ 452, yep, its a good bit of kit for the money!!

[Billy.]

Have the kettle on standby and expect to be asked about your firearms experience. The more experience and knowledge you can bestow on your FEO, the less restrictions you will get.

 

Just talk about every time you've gone shooting, how you acted towards safety and backstops and do stress that you understand the dangers with rifles. Especially with a .22LR

[smartshot]

Thanks for the info, if he asks me to list suitable backstops, I was going to mention thick woodland (as long as you have permission to shoot woodland), natural banks etc, is there anything else I can add?

 

The trouble is where I shoot with the keeper is 4000+ acres with no roads running through it, limited houses on the boundary and few footpaths. This sounds good but Ive never really had to focus too much (within reason) on suitable backstops. Obvious points such as not shooting onto brows of hills, fields with flint in etc.

 

Thanks again for the info

 

Rob

[Dekers]

Thanks for the info, if he asks me to list suitable backstops, I was going to mention thick woodland (as long as you have permission to shoot woodland), natural banks etc, is there anything else I can add?

 

The trouble is where I shoot with the keeper is 4000+ acres with no roads running through it, limited houses on the boundary and few footpaths. This sounds good but Ive never really had to focus too much (within reason) on suitable backstops. Obvious points such as not shooting onto brows of hills, fields with flint in etc.

 

Thanks again for the info

 

Rob

 

 

Look, when you get your FAC you can do what you want, but what makes you think a thick woodland is a good backstop....think SAFETY in your response!!!

[abiteachuck]

ya who`s to say the wood is clear its any thing but safe

[Billy.]

Yeah, avoid saying thick woodland, or you can wave goodbye to ever getting a licence. In fact, don't just list things. Say proactive situations:

 

"A rabbit is in a safe place, but I know there's a road a 1/4 mile behind it. A ricocheting bullet could easily reach the road, so I'd know not to take that shot. It's not what I can see, it's what I can't."

Edited April 1, 2010 by harfordwmj

[markbivvy]

Im only applying for a .22lr, ive used one now for the last 4 years

Only a 22lr. it can still kill people, dont tell the feo its only a 22 lr.

 

if he asks me to list suitable backstops, I was going to mention thick woodland.

you may want to re think this bit as well.

good luck, you may need it.

[magnum]

Look, when you get your FAC you can do what you want, but what makes you think a thick woodland is a good backstop....think SAFETY in your response!!!

thick woodand a new on me ? just stick 2 banks ? 22 subs skip all over the place wet grass?twigs unless u got agood backstop don.t shoot i have got cz452 22lr will not part with it ?

[mosa]

My f/arms interview if you could call it that was easier than my shotgun application. I suggest that you consider applying for other calibres at the same time (if you want to) ie .17hmr etc as you will quickly learn that the initial cost of £50 for your licence can spiral out of control once you add other calibres etc. Hope this helps

[abiteachuck]

Yeah, avoid saying thick woodland, or you can wave goodbye to ever getting a licence. In fact, don't just list things. Say proactive situations:

 

"A rabbit is in a safe place, but I know there's a road a 1/4 mile behind it. A ricocheting bullet could easily reach the road, so I'd know not to take that shot. It's not what I can see, it's what I can't."

well put, its called common sense

[Dekers]

That seems to have dealt with thick woodland then.....

 

next question>>

[trxnav]

get a signed letter from the keeper mate it will help and like said consider other calibres the worst he can say is no!!

[smartshot]

Right I think I need to re word a few bits there,

When I say thick wood I meant for instance a rabbit is in front of a tree or stump that I know will not let a .22 round penetrate it and I can see there is no hazards around, not letting rounds off annoymously into woods.

 

I apologise for any confusion.

 

When I said only applying for a .22 I meant im not applying for any other calibres, not its only a .22. The reason Im not applying for other calibres is that I havent had enough experience using them so wanted to get more experience with a .22 first.

 

Another question was in regard to barrel length, the bloke in the gunroom basically said that a .22 only uses the first 7 inches of the barrel and to go for the shortest barrels possible, whats your thoughts on this? im sure its more a matter of prefference but thought I would throw it out there.

 

Thanks for the help,

 

Rob

[smartshot]

I got the keeper to write a letter and put it with his reference when he sent it. Like I say I did consider other calibres but thought I would stick with a .22 at first. Its mainly rabbits that are the problem, theres a few foxes but they will be caught up with when they harvest (fingers crossed).

 

Rob

[trxnav]

consider a .17hmr mate they sometimes prefer to grant as generally thought of as a safer calibre im sure you wont have a problem though good luck

[smartshot]

Really? I was speaking to another shooter today who sold his .17 because of the amount of ricochet he found? His point was with the higher velocity than a .22 with a smaller projectile compared to other centerfires. Like I said I havent had much experience with cf's so wouldnt know the in's and out's. Whats the effective killing range of a .17, for foxes or rabbits?

[Billy.]

Right I think I need to re word a few bits there,

When I say thick wood I meant for instance a rabbit is in front of a tree or stump that I know will not let a .22 round penetrate it and I can see there is no hazards around, not letting rounds off annoymously into woods.

 

I apologise for any confusion.

 

When I said only applying for a .22 I meant im not applying for any other calibres, not its only a .22. The reason Im not applying for other calibres is that I havent had enough experience using them so wanted to get more experience with a .22 first.

 

Another question was in regard to barrel length, the bloke in the gunroom basically said that a .22 only uses the first 7 inches of the barrel and to go for the shortest barrels possible, whats your thoughts on this? im sure its more a matter of prefference but thought I would throw it out there.

 

Thanks for the help,

 

Rob

 

Don't say you'll use the base of a tree for a backstop. Have you ever seen a backstop at an outdoor rifle range?!

 

Don't shorten the barrel too much on your first rifle. You want a nice looking rifle, not a stumpy one.

 

The cz rifles in .22 are amazing and mine has a full length barrel and sound mod and it'll hit a gnat's nuts from a fair old distance.

[smartshot]

Okay, he had a couple of second hand cz's that had the shortened barrels but I think for the money ill try to buy new. No I havent been able to find a range near me, nearest I could find was essex, dont know if theres anyone from kent on here who knows of one?

 

Thanks for the advice

 

Rob

[mosa]

Really? I was speaking to another shooter today who sold his .17 because of the amount of ricochet he found? His point was with the higher velocity than a .22 with a smaller projectile compared to other centerfires. Like I said I havent had much experience with cf's so wouldnt know the in's and out's. Whats the effective killing range of a .17, for foxes or rabbits?

 

I think it may be the other way around? other cf's the .17 is a rimfire

Edited April 1, 2010 by mosa

[Vipa]

I think it may be the other way around? other cf's the .17 is a rimfire

 

.17HMRs with ballistic tips just tend to atomize on contact with so much as a blade of grass so I'm led to believe, please feel free to correct me guys.... that makes them much safer than 22lr which, because of thier low speed and limited energy for such a relatively large lump of heavy lead, tend to bounce off just about anything!

[Dekers]

We seem to be going all over the place with this one.

 

A .22lr can and does ricochet at times, but personally I get pretty fed up hearing all this talk about it, and people suggesting buying other calibres because they are safer. That is b******t!!.

 

You buy a calibre/gun because you have a use/need for it, the .22lr is the biggest selling civil calibre in the world, it must be doing something right!

 

The .17HMR ricochets as does every calibre I have ever owned, including all my centrefires.

 

So lets just contemplate that possibility and move on!!

[Billy.]

.17HMRs with ballistic tips just tend to atomize on contact with so much as a blade of grass so I'm led to believe, please feel free to correct me guys.... that makes them much safer than 22lr which, because of thier low speed and limited energy for such a relatively large lump of heavy lead, tend to bounce off just about anything!

 

Utter nonsense. No calibre is safer than the other and none is immune to riccochets. I have had plenty of HMR bullets whizzing off from all terrains and I would never say something like "here, use this gun because it's safer" every gun is dangerous and has the potential to kill, which means they are all equally as likely to kill someone if used incorrectly.

[smartshot]

I agree with the above, it doesnt matter whether its a rifle, shotgun or air rifle, its whoevers hands it is in that makes it more/less dangerous.

 

Safe shooting

 

Rob

[Shuck.]

is that a good answer then ..a tree stump is a safe backstop? (I thought they might ricochet)