FAC Ammo

[Liamey]

Hi all,

 

I just viewed a thread in which the poster was asking if they could receive a change in their ammunition entitlement to hold more rounds etc. I did not want to hijack the thread so thought I would ask here. My question is "do the police in the UK set an arbitrary limit on the number of cartridges someone can purchase on a FAC, or is there a formula, or does it just come down to showing just cause?"

 

In Canada we do not have anything limiting the amount of ammunition that can be purchased as such. However! I do believe there is some other law that may impact the amount of powder that can be kept in a dwelling that equates into many thousands of rounds. I know sometimes there are deals to be had buying in bulk etc, or not necessarily wanting to travel to the gun store all the time. Just wondering how you guys go about this?

[Dougy]

Bullet amount is dependant on what they call "good reason" if you have a good enough reason to hold 1000 + rounds due to possibly a busy pest control chap or target shooter then thats a good enough reason.

If you reload then again your limit may be increased as the minimum amount of bullets you can buy is usually in box's of 100, and if your reloading for accuracy then you whant to buy the same batch number so there near identical as possible, i'm about to up my quote as i have 2 rifles the same cal but different twist's so they both shot different bullets. Rim fire are the same sold in bricks of 500 so you find buying in bulk allows you to hold all the same batch number, allot depends on your usage though and proving you require the amount your asking for, most of its a word game with FEO. Availabilty is another reason.

Powder allowance i am not too sure about, there is a limit but i think you would need to be a lottery winner to exede that specially at the price its going to.

 

Just to add, if your found to be over your limit bullet wise them your in the mud big time, you are likely to end up loosing your ticket..

[bi9johnny]

With uk liscences it is possible to have a ammunition category added to your certificate which gives you a buffer zone in case of exceeding your limits . It also helps in situations where you swap a calibre for another and haven't sold the surplus ammo yet

[Imperfection]

In the UK,the Home Office (they who must be obeyed) have a recognised amount of 600 rounds per calibre for target shooters,but if you are a sporting shooter then this amount is entirely upto your particular Police force's discretion and its often much less for centrefire.The reason is because target shooters tend to rattle their way through much more ammo than a deer stalker for example.Dougys post is spot on because provided you can satisfy them that you have a genuine reason to hold x amount of ammunition then its fine.

 

Powder wise,all gun owners here are limited to 15kgs,but that also includes the propellant in ready made ammunition and whats in the primers too.If you use black powder for example-this too is included in your overall powder weight count.

[Fisheruk]

As Dougy says the main thing is “good reason“. After that it is very much down to discretion of the FEO. (Firearms Enquiry Officer) in the UK when you apply for a firearms certificate you have an interview with an FEO from the local police force and it is very much dependent on that interview how the limits are set. At that interview the FEO also assesses your character and although it may not be written down that factor seems to have a weighting influence on the outcome of your application. Your FAC is valid for 5 years and at the renewal a new application is made and another interview takes place. There do not seem to be any fixed limits.

As far as shotguns are concerned you make a similar application. Unlike firearms where every firearm is specified to be held on your FAC, you can purchase and hold any number of shotguns but each one you hold must be notified to your police firearms department. There is no limit to the amount of shotgun shells you can buy or hold and they are not logged on your shotgun certificate, you just have to show your shotgun certificate when you purchase the shotgun ammunition. All rifle ammunition purchased must be entered onto your Firearms Certificate at the time of the purchase. Your FAC limits the amount you can hold and it is up to you to ensure you abide by the limits set out on your certificate. Most certificates limit the quantity you can purchase at any one time, but not the frequency you can purchase.

Hope this helps.

[kent]

Can I just say that ammo allowances has totally nil impact on public safety. The only argument is supplying the criminals which is illegal and if you were not bothered about that then a 100 round allowance could still be used illegally and efffectively to that end. 100 rounds fired would furthermore reflect badly on those supposed to protect us and way exceeds what has been fired when some nut looses the plot ( about once in every twenty years).

why can those people in the media and government never get this thing in perspective, contrast with those killed by drunk drivers - heck why not stop car parks on pubs? cant legislate for those that are willingly breaking the law that why!

 

If we wanted less shootings we should concentrate on illegally held and smuggled firearms instead of arguing with the most proven law abiding section of the community (and tested to be so) how many bullets they need in stock

[Whitebridges]

Can I just say that ammo allowances has totally nil impact on public safety. The only argument is supplying the criminals which is illegal and if you were not bothered about that then a 100 round allowance could still be used illegally and efffectively to that end. 100 rounds fired would furthermore reflect badly on those supposed to protect us and way exceeds what has been fired when some nut looses the plot ( about once in every twenty years).

why can those people in the media and government never get this thing in perspective, contrast with those killed by drunk drivers - heck why not stop car parks on pubs? cant legislate for those that are willingly breaking the law that why!

 

If we wanted less shootings we should concentrate on illegally held and smuggled firearms instead of arguing with the most proven law abiding section of the community (and tested to be so) how many bullets they need in stock

 

So a gunman on the loose can get off a 100 rounds only because is limited to 100 rounds max on his ticket. If he could buy 1000 rounds he is potentially more dangerous and could do more harm than if he was limited to 100 rounds. I can't agree with your logic, sorry.

Personally I think some sort of limit regarding how much ammunition can be held as perfectly sensible and reasonable.

[Jim_gsxr1000]

The guy with an allowance of 100 rounds can buy these as often as he wants it's down to him not to exceed his hold quantity so he can illegally obtain as mainly as he wants so I have to agree 100 rounds on a cert isn't any safer than 1000

 

 

So a gunman on the loose can get off a 100 rounds only because is limited to 100 rounds max on his ticket. If he could buy 1000 rounds he is potentially more dangerous and could do more harm than if he was limited to 100 rounds. I can't agree with your logic, sorry.

Personally I think some sort of limit regarding how much ammunition can be held as perfectly sensible and reasonable.

 

[kent]

 

So a gunman on the loose can get off a 100 rounds only because is limited to 100 rounds max on his ticket. If he could buy 1000 rounds he is potentially more dangerous and could do more harm than if he was limited to 100 rounds. I can't agree with your logic, sorry.

Personally I think some sort of limit regarding how much ammunition can be held as perfectly sensible and reasonable.

 

Now if you were willing to break the law and start actually shooting people what is to stop you stockpiling illegally= the fact its against you FAC terms? You cannot legislate to stop those who break the law breaking it, handguns are a perfect example! They don't officially exist! Neither do machine pistols! Makarovs and Glocks are both post handgun ban as far as the UK is concerned - its a joke. Has anyone got off 100 rounds let alone 1000? The most dangerous close range gun is a shotgun, heck they could choose one- no limits on ammo! It doesn't work to protect, indeed it does the reverse by diverting attention towards the law abiding. I don't know what the maximum rounds fired is in one of these terrible and thankfully rare incidents but its going to be a heck of a site smaller than those allowed on the average FAC. We in the UK have seen just two mass shootings in the last 100 years

Only the lawful obey laws

[Liamey]

Hi all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to explain this to me. It's interesting to see how other countries and it's citizens are impacted by firearms laws. For example, although you have to show good reason for amounts of ammunition and in effect police yourselves from stockpiling, we don't have that in place until it reached something ridiculous. However you guys are allowed moderators which we aren't :(

 

I'm allowed to go buy any number of shotguns and non restricted rifles on my licence (barrel being a certain length, not fully automatic etc) the one licence does this, but am prevented from buying a certain air rifle (honestly can't remember which one now) for fear that a moderator could easily be put on it. It's a funny world sometimes, but interesting nonetheless.

 

Thank you all for sharing and enlightening me on the FAC ammunition question. Oh and as to powder - it's outrageous here as well in price, mostly due to the shipping fees.

[team tractor]

Never understood the amounts . As said if I was a nutter I'd stock pile thousands of round as a nutter is not worried about the law .

It would take nothing to supply a non fac holder with ammo .

I've heard of people stock piling in lofts to get their usage up to get an open ticket . It's crazy

 

I've got around 250 hmr and 100 lr left and don't know where people find the money

[Whitebridges]

 

Now if you were willing to break the law and start actually shooting people what is to stop you stockpiling illegally= the fact its against you FAC terms? You cannot legislate to stop those who break the law breaking it, handguns are a perfect example! They don't officially exist! Neither do machine pistols! Makarovs and Glocks are both post handgun ban as far as the UK is concerned - its a joke. Has anyone got off 100 rounds let alone 1000? The most dangerous close range gun is a shotgun, heck they could choose one- no limits on ammo! It doesn't work to protect, indeed it does the reverse by diverting attention towards the law abiding. I don't know what the maximum rounds fired is in one of these terrible and thankfully rare incidents but its going to be a heck of a site smaller than those allowed on the average FAC. We in the UK have seen just two mass shootings in the last 100 years

Only the lawful obey laws

 

You have a point of view and I have a very different one. In the US of A you will be aware the yanks can stock pile ammunition ( some have 30k .22 for example) , this is just silly IMO. You will also be aware there is a big queue for bullets in a lot of calibers. The present law is sensible here in the UK and woe betide anyone that exceeds the terms of their FAC so far as ammunition is concerned.