Applying for FAC once probation at club ends - limited options

[Anonymouslemming]

All,

 

I'm currently shooting at a club near east London as a probationary member. Once my probation completes (and I've no reason to think I won't be successful), I want to apply for my FAC. I used to shoot .22 hornet and a few other calibers in south africa before moving here (organised target, recreational target and hunting) but I know that this doesn't count towards anything in the UK.

 

The club have indoor 25yd ranges but I would like to progress to shooting longer distances.The only calibre shot at the club though is .22lr. Does this mean that I can only apply for .22lr when I apply for my FAC?

 

I know that as a member of BASC I can use them to book range time at Bisley. But I obviously can't do this without my own rifle, so I can't show any experience until after I get my FAC - bit of a catch .22 (sorry, couldn't resist - that pun's been waiting days)

 

Should I be looking to move to another club that shoots longer ranges and allows other calibers now? Or should I complete my probation here and look to join a second club later? Will I still have to go through probation at a second club ?

 

I really enjoy the club I'm shooting with at the moment - the people are friendly, it's well organised, they shoot on a weeknight which gets me out of the house outside of just on weekends, and the costs are reasonable. But I want options to be able to shoot on longer ranges once I have my FAC.

 

And yes, I know that this is my second topic in 2 days - sorry for the abuse of your good nature and helpful selves

[Imperfection]

Usually,firearms licensing will only grant calibres which are suitable for your particular club so if its only signed off for rimfire then thats all they'll allow.However,once you become a full member you can book time at Bisley,but you will require an NRA shooters card which your club may or may not issue you so do ask them.You also may need to join the NRA too-then you can apply for larger calibres because you've justified a reason to own such.

 

I think you should complete your probationary period at your present club and get some range experience because once you're a full member with one-it does kinda open doors with others.Although most clubs have a minimum probationary period of 3 months this is often at the discretion of the committee who run the club and if you joined another invariebly you would be put through as a full member if you're already full with another and have your FAC.

[fortune]

I agree with the above. Stay with the club that you are now with. Try to contact a club secretary that shoots longer range with bigger calibres and see what they can offer. A friend of mine used to shoot at Bisley with the British sporting rifle club and there was a crowd on the next range that shot vast amounts of 22rf at sporting targets. You can have what you want as far as calibres are concerned as long as you can justify having it.

Edited March 7, 2013 by fortune

[Anonymouslemming]

Usually,firearms licensing will only grant calibres which are suitable for your particular club so if its only signed off for rimfire then thats all they'll allow.However,once you become a full member you can book time at Bisley,but you will require an NRA shooters card which your club may or may not issue you so do ask them.You also may need to join the NRA too-then you can apply for larger calibres because you've justified a reason to own such.

 

From what I understand, being a BASC member I can book ranges at Bisley without an NRA membership:

"Providing you are a member of BASC, we as an affiliated member of the NRA can book ranges on your behalf without the need for you to be a member of the NRA."

(http://www.basc.org.uk/en/in-your-area/south-east/target-rifle-and-stalking.cfm)

 

So would I need to get my FAC, then starting shooting rimfire at Bisley, *then* apply for other calibers to use there ?

 

I think you should complete your probationary period at your present club and get some range experience because once you're a full member with one-it does kinda open doors with others.Although most clubs have a minimum probationary period of 3 months this is often at the discretion of the committee who run the club and if you joined another invariebly you would be put through as a full member if you're already full with another and have your FAC.

 

That's useful to know, thanks. I have years of range experience as I've been shooting on and off for as long as I can remember, but I understand that I need current experience to prove competence for my FAC. I'm just confused as to how to go about it really - it sounds like I'll need to do it in bits with variations as I go. That'll be painful given that SGCs in my area take so long, I can only expect FACs and variations to take an age. But patience is a virtue. Allegedly

 

I'm fortunate in that I can focus on learning etiquette and UK regs as I already have good range safety awareness and on most nights, relatively good rifle skills. Of course, nights like tonight with a load of 6, 7 and 8s on the target make that a lie, but hey, these things happen I guess

[Anonymouslemming]

I agree with the above. Stay with the club that you are now with. Try to contact a club secretary that shoots longer range with bigger calibres and see what they can offer. A friend of mine used to shoot at Bisley with the British sporting rifle club and there was a crowd on the next range that shot vast amounts of 22rf at sporting targets. You can have what you want as far as calibres are concerned as long as you can justify having it.

 

Thanks - I definitely want to stay with the club we're at now. They've been incredibly accommodating to my wife and me and they're a real friendly group.

 

I know that under law I'm entitled to most of what I want to shoot, I'm just confused as to how I justify it. With the club, it's easy - I've been shooting .22lr there for a few months now and will be shooting that for a few more before I apply for my FAC. But with the longer range stuff, I get confused about the chicken and the egg situation. I know that I can go to Bisley and shoot there if I have a rifle, but I don't know how to justify the rifle to shoot with there.

 

I'm thinking of taking a trip out there this weekend to look at some equipment, so I'm hoping I'll be able to find someone there to chat to about this too.

 

Thanks

Edited March 7, 2013 by Anonymouslemming

[fortune]

( your quotes from above) I understand that I need current experience to prove competence for my FAC.

good rifle skills. Of course, nights like tonight with a load of 6, 7 and 8s on the target make that a lie.

 

None of the above has any relevance to anything. Apart from, you may not be able to hit a barn door. You don’t have to be a good shot and membership of basc has no bearing on anything either. If you want to shoot other toys then join a suitable club that does the kind of shooting that you want to do.

IE. If you want to go swimming you join a swimming club. If you want to do judo then you join a judo club.

The criteria are >

1> have you got reason to be in possession of whatever weapon

2>have you got a place to use it.

3> are you going to be safe to use it without endangering the general public

4> Will weapons and ammunition be kept secure that unauthorised persons can’t get access to them.

5> will someone stand up to state that you aren’t a total loony or hothead madman or freaky weirdo that is likely to snap and go out on the rampage.

6> that you’ve not been a naughty boy and are excluded from having these sorts of toys.

 

If you fulfil these points and the feo recons your ok then get your money out to pay for the cert.

PS the members of the club if it’s anything like mine are a pretty canny bunch and will have their opinions about your suitability set. The feo will be heavily influenced by these opinions, as he will only see you for say half an hour on visit. The guys will have seen you over many club meetings and will have had conversations about all manner of things with you.

We had a guy arrive at the club saying he wanted to join the club and get a ticket. He then in conversation said that he was some sort of debt collector and that if anyone wanted someone roughed up a bit then he was your man. He also said that he knocked his missus about a bit to keep her in check. Not exactly a good candidate to put forward for a ticket needless to say he never turned up for club nights and eventually disappeared off of the scene much to members approval. Members from another club told us that he had turned up there so the word went back to them and subsequently the local feo about our concerns about this guy.

Edited March 8, 2013 by fortune