Applying for a firearms license

[shotgun-jamie]

Hi, i've been shooting with my dad for a number of years with shotguns but now he has decided he wants to get into rifle shooting. I've looked into it a little bit and know that you have to put down every single thing (e.g scope, silencer, mag clip) for each type of rifle you want and what you intend to use it for.

 

My question is what is the best selection of calibres to cover pest control, with an option of going into stalking?

 

Any info will be appreciated

 

Jamie

[dazza]

Depends what you want to shoot? What do you need the rifles for? Do you have a genuine need for them?

[al4x]

Hi, i've been shooting with my dad for a number of years with shotguns but now he has decided he wants to get into rifle shooting. I've looked into it a little bit and know that you have to put down every single thing (e.g scope, silencer, mag clip) for each type of rifle you want and what you intend to use it for.

 

My question is what is the best selection of calibres to cover pest control, with an option of going into stalking?

 

Any info will be appreciated

 

Jamie

 

oh no you don't!

 

you just need to put down the calibre and then a sound moderator for it. Best option is a rimfire and a centrefire. Rimfire for rabbits and small pests so either a .22lr or .17hmr then a centrefire for foxes and most deer a .243 is ideal

[SilentKill]

oh no you don't!

 

you just need to put down the calibre and then a sound moderator for it. Best option is a rimfire and a centrefire. Rimfire for rabbits and small pests so either a .22lr or .17hmr then a centrefire for foxes and most deer a .243 is ideal

 

as Alex said, no need to mention about scopes etc just the Calibre and type of rifle (Rimfire or Centrefire) and of course a moderator for each calibre as well!

[shotgun-jamie]

ohh, that makes it alot easier then thankyou Alex. And yes there is a genuine need for them as several of the farms where we shoot are ideal for lamping and rifle shooting rabbits/foxes, a shotgun is good but once you start firing the majority of the rabbits go to ground so a rifles will give us more chance of managing them.

 

Thanks for the advice lads !

[artschool]

dont forget to ask for a .50 BMG for long distance rabbiting

[apache]

If it's just bunnies you're after I'd put in for a .22RF and a .17HMR. Might apply for FAC air. You can always change the FAC air for a centrefire if you fancy fox and deer later.

 

Apply for anything you might want in the next few years or it will cost you when you put in for a variation!

[njc110381]

A newbie to shooting can't really go wrong with a .22lr or .17HMR for Rabbits and a small centrefire like a .223 for Foxes. If you think there's a chance you may want to shoot Deer too in the future then put down .243 instead of .223.

 

I don't really understand the Irish system and know it's not the same as ours but I think generally changing guns is to be avoided unless you like waiting and spending lots of money! (erm, like I do you could say?!)

[vampire]

Had my FAC since march this year,i applied for .22 rimfire/.17hmr/.223 and my feo asked why i wanted all these rifles was it because i thought i might want to purchase them at a later stage,which i said i was not sure which to have .22lr/.17hmr as i liked the range of hmr and worried about richochets from .22lr,after taking his advise i ended up with .22lr and .223 on my ticket thinking these would suit my requirements dropping the .17hmr.

I have now talked to him and applied and got added,22 air rifle/.17hmr,so i now have;

22 fac air rifle,for paddocks/rabbits

.22 rimfire,for all other rabbits and the most used so far

.17hmr,for the longer range rabbits that we just cant get close enough to.

.223 centre fire,for the fox and muntjac deer

These are the rifles i will end up with as i can afford to purchase them,with the .17 hmr being next on the list.

Dont think i will ever want to go bigger than .223 as i mainly do vermin shooting and not sure if i could shoot bambi or know what to do with it if i did,but if you think you will be shooting deer then put a .243 on the form.

As well as stuff mentioned by the others you will also have to state how much ammo you will hold and purchase.

[al4x]

the only issue with putting lots down and not buying them is if you don't buy them before your first renewal then they are hard to justify a need for them and you usually loose the slot. I started with an HMR then got a .223 variation a few years later then on first renewal a .243 as well. Worked well, there isn't much I can't shoot with this selection and didn't have any mentor issues etc as it showed progression and experience along the way

[SilentKill]

the only issue with putting lots down and not buying them is if you don't buy them before your first renewal then they are hard to justify a need for them and you usually loose the slot. I started with an HMR then got a .223 variation a few years later then on first renewal a .243 as well. Worked well, there isn't much I can't shoot with this selection and didn't have any mentor issues etc as it showed progression and experience along the way

 

Yep fill those slots up! :blink:

 

i had my .357/.38 taken from me last variation as i didnt have the cash flow at the time to fill it! but ive now run out of space in my 7 gun cabinet! just make sure you buy some ammo every now and again to make sure you have a reason to keep them!