levelplaying Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Hi Can someone help. I am a keen clay pigeon shooter, and would like to get involved in shooting pigeon,foxes and the like as well as deer stalking. I have a certificate for shotguns but not for other firearms. I understand that before you can apply for a firearms certificate you need to belong to a Club and that after a probationary period of time, submit an application. What I am unsure about is what calibre guns should I be thinking of buying for deer stalking, and shooting foxes and other similar prey. I am told that I have to specify where it is that I want to shoot, and other than the gun club that I will have to join in time, how can I take those opportunities that arise from pigeonwatch to go out on shoots that are being advertised if I am limited to certain gun club/s. Any help would be appreciated. I would like some advice from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbiter Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 im in the process of applying for my fac again,had one years ago,as i read it,you dont need to be a member of a club,but you do need good reason for having a fac,if you have the land to shoot on,and it meets the criteria,then aslong as you have written permission to use firearms on that land,it shouldnt be a problem,ive never been a member of a shooting club,hope this helps... DAZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) I understand that before you can apply for a firearms certificate you need to belong to a Club and that after a probationary period of time, submit an application. What I am unsure about is what calibre guns should I be thinking of buying for deer stalking, and shooting foxes and other similar prey. You do not need to join a club, if you wish to shoot vermin or go stalking. Upon granting a ticket, you are allowed to shoot on ranges, but if you have put down a range and nothing else, you'll not be allowed to shoot anywhere but ranges and your licence will not allow the taking of any animals. You need land to shoot on. People always ask how much, but it's hard to say. I've seen 4 acres cleared to shoot a .223, it's all down to the lay of the land. I would highly recommend that you get some hands on experience going out lamping, stalking or both. If you apply with little or no experience of shooting rifles, it's highly unlikely you'll get a million conditions slapped on your ticket, that will take several years to shift. I would go one step at a time though. Stepping straight up to a centrefire rifle is a big leap. Whilst I know that many people have had them granted, I firmly believe that any person who takes up rifle shooting should first buy a .22LR, get used to that and then start moving up the ranks. If you don't buy a .22LR first, you're making a huge mistake Edited March 11, 2011 by Billy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbuster Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) You do not need to join a club, if you wish to shoot vermin or go stalking. Upon granting a ticket, you are allowed to shoot on ranges, but if you have put down a range and nothing else, you'll not be allowed to shoot anywhere but ranges and your licence will not allow the taking of any animals. You need land to shoot on. People always ask how much, but it's hard to say. I've seen 4 acres cleared to shoot a .223, it's all down to the lay of the land. I would highly recommend that you get some hands on experience going out lamping, stalking or both. If you apply with little or no experience of shooting rifles, it's highly unlikely you'll get a million conditions slapped on your ticket, that will take several years to shift. I would go one step at a time though. Stepping straight up to a centrefire rifle is a big leap. Whilst I know that many people have had them granted, I firmly believe that any person who takes up rifle shooting should first buy a .22LR, get used to that and then start moving up the ranks. If you don't buy a .22LR first, you're making a huge mistake Disagree mate, why would it be a mistake?? Edited March 11, 2011 by foxbuster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Disagree mate, why would it be a mistake?? How best to explain this... If, as a child, you didn't own a pair of Fisher Price plastic rollerskates that fitted around your shoes, you've never rollerskated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 I would highly recommend that you get some hands on experience going out lamping, stalking or both. If you apply with little or no experience of shooting rifles, it's highly unlikely you'll get a million conditions slapped on your ticket, that will take several years to shift. Did you mean its highly likely that he'd get conditions imposed on his ticket.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbuster Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 What's wrong with going for hmr?? They are a lot easier to shoot than the .22. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Did you mean its highly likely that he'd get conditions imposed on his ticket.............. Haha, oops, typo. I should really re-read what I write. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 What's wrong with going for hmr?? They are a lot easier to shoot than the .22. The .22WMR is easier to shoot than the LR, it doesn't mean it's a good starting rifle. What I'm saying is; start from the bottom rung. Take a look at the thread about people's first guns - 90% of people started out with a GAT gun. I don't think there was anyone in that thread who started out with a full PCP setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbuster Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 The .22WMR is easier to shoot than the LR, it doesn't mean it's a good starting rifle. What I'm saying is; start from the bottom rung. Take a look at the thread about people's first guns - 90% of people started out with a GAT gun. I don't think there was anyone in that thread who started out with a full PCP setup. Know where your coming from pal, but i dont see why it would be a HUGE mistake not getting a .22 first, just my opinion mate thats all. I started with hmr and .222, admittedly now own a .22 also but thats as i needed something with a little less 'bark' to shoot in some noise sensitive areas. Dont think my shootings suffered at all by not buying .22 first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
levelplaying Posted March 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 My issue is, if as you say I don't need to join a club to be able to get a licence to shoot vermin and deer stalk, how can I specify what land when I have no land to shoot on as I will be relying on forums such as pigeonwatch to get the opportunity to shoot on land that I have not specified as I cannot specify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) My issue is, if as you say I don't need to join a club to be able to get a licence to shoot vermin and deer stalk, how can I specify what land when I have no land to shoot on as I will be relying on forums such as pigeonwatch to get the opportunity to shoot on land that I have not specified as I cannot specify. You're sadly in a catch 22. If you join a club, it will be highly unlikely you'll get to shoot vermin or deer, because of the conditions on your ticket. You can't apply for a FAC to shoot vermin without written permission from a landowner. You may, on rare occasions get one for deer, if you shoot on a paid stalk. However, you'll more than likely have to do your DSC1 course before you'd be allowed out alone. Edited March 11, 2011 by Billy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbuster Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 My issue is, if as you say I don't need to join a club to be able to get a licence to shoot vermin and deer stalk, how can I specify what land when I have no land to shoot on as I will be relying on forums such as pigeonwatch to get the opportunity to shoot on land that I have not specified as I cannot specify. Hi mate, do you know anyone that shoots fac?? If so the best way would be to tag along with them on they're permissions and after a while see if the the landowner will sign a permission form for you. You then submit this permission with your fac application. If you havnt got any land to shoot over at the time being, the ranges are the only option for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) Know where your coming from pal, but i dont see why it would be a HUGE mistake not getting a .22 first, just my opinion mate thats all. I started with hmr and .222, admittedly now own a .22 also but thats as i needed something with a little less 'bark' to shoot in some noise sensitive areas. Dont think my shootings suffered at all by not buying .22 first. I just think back to when I was a kid, huddled in the back of a freezing car and only ever seeing LRs being shot. Waiting and praying that I'd be allowed a shot. *becoming nostalgic* It was just a rifle I really wanted to shoot, as it just seemed to kill everything it was pointed at. When I did shoot it, I missed nothing (bit different nowadays) and then I remember shooting them on the school range. It's just the best starting rifle, by far ....And a rifle to continue with for that matter Edited March 11, 2011 by Billy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
levelplaying Posted March 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Thanks for your advice, Billy & Foxbuster. It sounds that I am going to have to join a club, look for some opportunities to tag along with someome, if I can that somebody. What I would like to know is which calibre rifles shoould I be looking at, and should I be seeking permission to own a number of different rifles on the basis that ultimately I will be shooting deer and other wermin. Is it easier to apply for all my needs at the oustet or is it easy to vary the licence as time goes by. From what everyone has said,I deduce that centre fire is what's need for stalking, what do I go for and is there a limit as to how guns I specify? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 From what everyone has said,I deduce that centre fire is what's need for stalking, Whilst what you're saying is correct, it kind of points to what your current firearms (rifle) knowledge is like. I'm not trying to patronise you, please don't read it that way! You're going to need to see if there's any opportunities around you. I do take people out lamping with me, but I don't go out as often as I want, so it's a bit of a last minute arrangement if it is ever organised. Opportunities do come up. Your best bet would be to offer your services as a lamper and not shoot. You might think it's boring, but believe me, it's not. You'll learn plenty, just by watching. It's great fun I promise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
levelplaying Posted March 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Thanks. Apppreciate your views. We've all got to start somewhere. Maybe I could lamp for you sometime? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 Thanks. Apppreciate your views. We've all got to start somewhere. Maybe I could lamp for you sometime? Give me a bell when you're next in Herts. It's the friendliest county by far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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