soggydiverdan Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Hi I'm an fac holder, and I've got two 'empty' spaces on my ticket. A friend of mine took me clay pigeon shooting the other day, and... Well... I fell in love with the sport! So now I'm looking into joining the local club, and getting myself a shotgun. There's a couple of ways to do this that I can see, either get my fac modified, getting rid of one of my unused slots and replacing it with a semi auto or pump action shotgun, or getting a shotgun certificate. Now, I'm not sure of the price difference in these two methods, but I am really wondering which you would recommend? Is there an advantage of getting something like a cheap double barrelled over a (cheap again) pump action/semi for a newbie to the sport? I know I'm being very vague, but I guess it boils down to what would you reccommend I do? Oh, and it's staffs constabulary Ta Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 (edited) Unless you're getting a FAC rated shotgun you need to get a SGC. Fifty quid and it's yours Your best bet would be a m/c over/under for a first clay gun. Edited May 2, 2011 by poontang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 HI Dan I would suggest putting in for an SGC or if your close to FAC renewal (remembering prices are likely to increase in the near future) put in to renew FAC early and add coterminous SGC the best shotgun for clays is generally an over and under some grounds dont like FAC semi's being used and pumps are far from ideal! you should have no issue getting SGC as an FAC holder. Shotguns are easier to buy and sell but i suggest for a first gun get something decent Miroku/Browning/Beretta as they hold there value well and will last years and years! Gun fit is important so dont rush to buy the first "cheap one" you see! have a couple of lessons get your mount sorted and then look to buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I'm lost, unless you want a FAC rated shotgun get a SGC, and more specifically get a CO-TERMINUS certificate...and you don't need to be a member of anything to get a SGC....put very simply, you have a right to a shotgun, but you have to totally justify a FAC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soggydiverdan Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Ah, ok then Quite frankly, I thught it would have been cheaper to get a shot gun put on my fac... But thanks for your replies, I now know it to be a blimmin stupid idea! Thanks a million My fac is up in about 12 months, so will see what I can do! Ty Also, if I join this club and am seen to be safe, they'll let me use club guns before I get my own... S I can afford to wait and also save up for a good one Thanks for the prompt helpful replies:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I would go with the others and get a SGC and apply for a co-terminus certificate, that way both certifficates expoire at the same time and renewing them together works out cheaper. Another very good reason to get a SGC is it opens up a bigger range of shotguns and not jut the ones classed as FAC. As already stated Browning / Beretta's are good guns Miruko if you want a semi then the Benelli's come into play, if you want a budget shotgun then the Lanber sporting delus comes into play as well. The main thing is get one that fits you well as different mankes have different cast LOP etc making one make or model suitable for one person but not fdor another. For me the cast on Browning's and Miruko's is to streight yet most of the Beretta's and Benellie's suit me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolhead Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Ah, ok then Quite frankly, I thught it would have been cheaper to get a shot gun put on my fac... But thanks for your replies, I now know it to be a blimmin stupid idea! Not a stupid question at all. Everyone has to start somewhere. Now another problem is that many licensing offices don't accept clay shooting alone as good enough reason to grant a permission for a high-capacity shotgun. My county doesn't. Go for an SGC co-term, it's by far the best and most practical way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 (edited) Also, if I join this club and am seen to be safe, they'll let me use club guns before I get my own... S I can afford to wait and also save up for a good one Thanks for the prompt helpful replies:-) Depends on the Club, the one i go to yes you can... theoretically costs you £5 a time to hire one (but yet to be charged personally), some grounds will only let you have one if you pay for an instructor. So depend son the club Worth having a lesson or two first at the club and asking them if they will let you borrow the gun for practise while waiting for the SGC. Renewing early you loose £10 worth of FAC, but save £40 on solo SGC application (£60 co term) and possibly a lot more cash if the cost gets put up in the next 12 months. Edited May 2, 2011 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyhunter Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 As stated mate if you dont intend to have a section 1 shotgun ( capable of holding more than two rounds in a magazine, or wih a barrel below 24 inches) then i would suggest an SGC. You ae not limited to the amount of shotuns you wish to own ( at least where i am you dont) and in general the sgc has far less restrictions in terms of ammunition storage ( not being a legal requirement to have it under lock and key, although its sensible). My advice would be to get an O/U or a semi auto, these are guns that are designed to withstand large amounts of ammunition going through them over a period of time. A sbs is, in my opinion, far more challenging to shoot in general, and unless your on the hightower , not overly brilliant for clays. These guns were designed as driven game guns and with a few exeptions of make, can be a bit more delicate than an o /u. A pump action, although quite satisfying to shoot, can be a bit cumbersome and older models can be ammo sensitive when cycling. also some grounds suffer from gun snobbery hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coneyhunter Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I'm lost, unless you want a FAC rated shotgun get a SGC, and more specifically get a CO-TERMINUS certificate...and you don't need to be a member of anything to get a SGC....put very simply, you have a right to a shotgun, but you have to totally justify a FAC. "The common law rights of Englishmen published in 1830 made made it a right for every englishman to own a fowling piece ( shotgun in todays terms) These common law rights were guarded with full parliamentary vigor throughout the Victorian era, various attempts to introduce either permanent, or temporary measures to control firearms being blocked, apart from the gun licence act of 1870, This was the paper Gun licence, (broadly similar to the now defunct English game licence in its paper format needed for the shooting of game birds), which was available from any post office regardless of the individualscharacter or status for 10 shillings, a not inconsiderable sum at the time. This was only a financial regulation, perhaps designed to control the poaching of game birds. It was needed only for the use of a gun outside of a persons dwelling, or property, otherwise a gun icencse was not needed." just a bit of info i found interesting, sourced from the net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I have always said I can see no reason why an open shotgun slot can't be added to an existing FAC if you only want the one. It would still tick all the legal boxes and cut down on paperwork and admin costs. But they won't do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 I have always said I can see no reason why an open shotgun slot can't be added to an existing FAC if you only want the one. It would still tick all the legal boxes and cut down on paperwork and admin costs. But they won't do it Agreed, and in the wider picture WHY 2 bits of paper at all, why can't as FAC have a SGC section or vise versa..even if it isn't used. It has always seemed a total malarkey having 2, especially now with all the photos required when all they do is scan one and put it on everything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted May 4, 2011 Report Share Posted May 4, 2011 Agreed, and in the wider picture WHY 2 bits of paper at all, why can't as FAC have a SGC section or vise versa..even if it isn't used. It has always seemed a total malarkey having 2, especially now with all the photos required when all they do is scan one and put it on everything! Perhaps that is something beneficial which could come out of the current review? But FAC style slots for Shotguns would cause issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.