Legislation on Re-Proofing???

[Hunter Gatherer]

Can any of you guys tell me if it is legal for me to get a gunsmith to screwcut my rifle, and not send it for re-proofing?

I belive that as long as you do not wish to sell or give the rifle to anyone else before re-proofing then it is perfectly legal, is this true?

 

 

Cheers

HG

[dunganick]

Can any of you guys tell me if it is legal for me to get a gunsmith to screwcut my rifle, and not send it for re-proofing?

I belive that as long as you do not wish to sell or give the rifle to anyone else before re-proofing then it is perfectly legal, is this true?

 

 

Cheers

HG

 

I believe you are correct, but couldnt say for certain.

[Hunter Gatherer]

Anyone know?

[Slipster]

Just had this conversation with a retired gunsmith from Grimsby, he told me that if i get my rifle cut for a moderator then it should be reproofed BUT he also added that how can anyone prove that it was not done B4 it was proof tested??

[Guest john5]

this is a "grey area" technicaly you should reproof your rifle and moderator,. however !, it has , and is , still arrgude that the pressure has decreased so much at the muzzle that re-proof is not required ,. your best and safest way is to telephone "the birmingham gun barrel proof house",. ............ and beleive me ! IT DEPENDS ON WHAT DAY IT IS as to what answer you get ,.

[Graham M]

There is absolutely no requirement for you to have your rifle re-proofed after it has been screw cut, although the Proof House will almost certainly tell you that you must have it done. (nice little money earner).

You are not committing any offence by using an un-proofed firearm as long as you keep it. The offence is only committed once you sell it without getting it proofed.

The person buying it would not be committing any offence though.

G.M

[peck]

You do not have to have it reproofed. But if you ever sell it, it will be classed as out of proof, so legally it can not be sold to someone else for shooting. But as someone said how do they know?

[mry716]

GM is correct but there could now be an exception for shotguns due to a recent court case.

If you use a weapon that is out of proof (not un-proofed) in the company of others and there is a mishap due the the weapon being in an unsatisfactory condition you are negligently liable.

This is certainly of no consequence re threading a rifle.

 

If you look at

http://www.reflexsuppressors.co.uk/ukproof.htm

It seems as if there is no need to even have it reproofed prior to sale as the threading has not structurally weakened the barrel.

 

Having a rifle proofed will be expensive as proof charges are around £30 and then there is 'special' carriage both ways at say another £40. If you sell a rifle the easiest thing to ensure the original proof is valid would be to remove the thread and recrown and that definitely does not require a reproof.

 

BUT

Whatever you do do have your rifle threaded with a suitable thread size. Most smiths seem to want to thread C/F rifles the same as Rim 1/2"AF 20tpi simply because that is the size of taps and dies they have. Jacksons specifically do not recommend this size but suggest a thread size in keeping with the muzzle diameter. If you are threading your barrel or having it threaded do consider the thread size.

 

As an aside to this reply a gunsmith friend that does a lot of threading and reproofing of barrels was telling me that the Birmingham Proof House seems more concerned with the proof the slencer than of the barrel. Although both of course normally need to be done together they seem to feel the proof of the silencer will provide a guarantee of structural strength in what could be considered the weakest link.

He is now proofing individual silencers before selling them to ensure he is not selling something that might just be a problem when in use. ie covering his back only as he has no reason whatsoever to feel that could be the case.