Rifle Calibre Rules Change

[webber]

This will be of interest to many rifle /FAC holders

 

webber

 

http://www.basc.org.uk/content/change_to_firearms_certif

[tulkyuk]

At last they have seen sense - shooting a fox/rabbit/hare etc with a 308 is no different than say a 223 - you still have to have a decent safe shot/ back stop and the methodology is very similar with all rifle/shots taken.

 

But it does say "however it must be remembered that it is still for individual chief constables to make their own decisions"

[stuey]

I was granted my FAC in Jan by Northumbria Police, and I had a condition for my 6.5 x 55 for deer stalking and a SEPARATE condition for vermin control.

 

regards

 

Stu

[sandersj89]

I am fighting Sussex Policde at the moment on this one at the moment, I have deer and fox on my 243 and have asked for ground vermin, BASC are invloved as well.

 

So far no responce to my last letter and email of 3 weeks ago, about to right again.

[Highlander]

Am I missing something here or what? Why would you want to shoot 'ground vermin' (presumably rabbits, rats, stoats and the like) with a .243. Apart from the cost and maybe in an emergency, surely way too much rifle for the job?

[sandersj89]

Am I missing something here or what? Why would you want to shoot 'ground vermin' (presumably rabbits, rats, stoats and the like) with a .243. Apart from the cost and maybe in an emergency, surely way too much rifle for the job?

 

It is the "emergency" or rather for the exception that I would like it. In some instances it would be very handy for vermin that is out of range of my HMR . For out and out pest control the 243 would do a very good job, after all I am not going to be eating rooks/crows.

 

If they dont allow it then I will have to put in for something like a 223 which would be even more cost to me.

[2shots]

Heres a thought will we still be allowed the various calibres

we now own in my case 22 223 308 etc,or will one rifle now be

suitable for the job, and are they coming up with another excuse

to limit the amount of firearms were allowed. Say

your first choice was a 243 what happens when you apply for a

lesser calibre will you be told no because your 243 is now suitable

for the job. just a thought.

[Baldrick]

Am I missing something here or what? Why would you want to shoot 'ground vermin' (presumably rabbits, rats, stoats and the like) with a .243. Apart from the cost and maybe in an emergency, surely way too much rifle for the job?

 

I used to use a .22-250 for shooting rabbits, hares and corvid at long range. I find it enjoyable, and a test of my ability. I got rid of my two .22 CFs last week, and the .243 that is replacing those rifles will be used for long-range vermin shooting, as well as the obvious deer and fox work. It's not cheap to shoot vermin with a centrefire, but then nothing connected with shooting nowadays is cheap.

[magman]

Thanks for thr heads up Webber

[njc110381]

That must be why I got a letter about a month ago saying I can shoot vermin with my 6.5x55 then. As I've said before I think my constabulary are very reasonable with these things, and have allowed me to do this without prompting. It seems that as soon as they knew, they must have sent a letter to everyone the new rules concern. Top marks for them

 

I feel that the slating I was giving them when they lost my application may have been unreasonable. Ever since then they've been very good apart from a few mistakes

 

It's a useful rule though, and I don't think it will be an issue for peope holding several guns. Just because I can shoot rabbits with my 6.5, I doubt they'll make it so I don't need my .223. They don't want any more large rifle rounds flying around than are needed, britain is still a small and heavily populated place so the smaller the calibre being used the better!