samowen318 Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 I am currently 16 years old and recieved my shotgun certificate a few weeks ago and i would like to go out shooting but at what legal age can i go out shooting on my own? I also have a friend who is 18 and he is a shotgun certificate holder, can i go out shooting with him? or do i have to be with someone over 21 years of age? any help or advice appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJUK Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 I hope you can't go out shooting on your own at 16. With all due respect, regardless of the law. A 16 year old on his own with a shotgun is not going to be a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkfooty Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Anyone over the age of 15 who holds a shotgun certificate can go shooting unsupervised provided she/he has permission to shoot on the land in question. BASC provides masses of advice and guidance for Young Shots. See Here. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJUK Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Well you obviously *can* go shooting. But perhaps you should think about taking an adult with you and your friend. If I was 'joe public' and saw a couple of teenagers walking about with shotguns, It would catch my eye more than perhaps a few young people with an older person. You have an SGC - thats more than me at the moment! So you're obviously to be trusted with a shotgun. I'm just trying to think of your safety rather than put you down because of your age. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samowen318 Posted November 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 (edited) Thanks Pinkfooty and GJUK for the information. GJUK - no disrespect here but i am not an idiot around guns and because i am 16 it doesnt mean i am like all other stereotypical people my age who i find it funny to go round and stab people just for fun, i wish that sum people could try and look past these kind of people and see that not all youth are like this. I have been to many BASC young shots days a few years ago where i learnt about gun safety and the guy who came to talk to my about my application form said that my shotgun safety skills were very good. I know that you are trying to think of my safety here and i dont plan to go out on my own i am planning to go with my dad and my friend who is 18 i just wanted to know incase i wanted to go out with my dads .410 after a few rabbits or some rats or if i cud go out shooting with my friend. I have looked at the website and i am now sure of the laws involved, thanks Edited November 16, 2008 by samowen318 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 i was out on my own at 15, nothing wronge with that good luck be care full.mind the laws were better in them days not so much fuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 At 16 you can circumnavigate the globe in a small boat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 Been shooting on my own with a shotgun since I was 15 and an air rifle since I was 14. I have even been trusted with a fishing rod since I was 5 and more people are killed by fishing rods than legally held shotties in Britain every year. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 I started shooting at about 8 with an air rifle, moved on to a 410 at 10, from the age of 12 i was shooting on my own. This was a long time so may be things have changed, but i have always found that younger people with guns are not stupid with them as long as the safety basics were installed early on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJUK Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 GJUK - no disrespect here but i am not an idiot around guns and because i am 16 it doesnt mean i am like all other stereotypical people my age who i find it funny to go round and stab people just for fun, i wish that sum people could try and look past these kind of people and see that not all youth are like this. Did you read my reply? You have an SGC - thats more than me at the moment! So you're obviously to be trusted with a shotgun. . I never said anything against your character. I'm 'only' 7 years older than you; I understand your comment on comparing you to the youth of today. Think of it this way: At 16 you could leave school. You can do it but that’s not to say it is the best idea. At 16 you can legally have sex and bring a small person in to this world. You can do it but then that’s not to say it’s the best idea in the world. You are still a child, no two ways about it. IMHO and it is MHO, you should go with an adult . I'm sure you'd be safer and enjoy your time more. Jon :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJUK Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 Been shooting on my own with a shotgun since I was 15 and an air rifle since I was 14. I have even been trusted with a fishing rod since I was 5 and more people are killed by fishing rods than legally held shotties in Britain every year. FM Lol, That's got to be like saying "more people are killed by cars than spaceships each year"? There must be many many more people with fishing rods than shotguns about? I don't know? Maybe? Regards, J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfox Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 I hope you can't go out shooting on your own at 16. With all due respect, regardless of the law. A 16 year old on his own with a shotgun is not going to be a good idea. well sorry but thats quite a stereotypical view, im 16, and i just got my first shotgun a month ago and ive been out on my own ever since and have not caused any danger to anyone or upset anyone at all, guys our age need to learn how to be responsible, and its clear that he is resposible otherwise he would not have a cert in the first place DF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJUK Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 well sorry but thats quite a stereotypical view, im 16, and i just got my first shotgun a month ago and ive been out on my own ever since and have not caused any danger to anyone or upset anyone at all, guys our age need to learn how to be responsible, and its clear that he is resposible otherwise he would not have a cert in the first place DF Your preaching with a months experiance going shooting on your own? Okay. Why is car insurance more expensive for 17 year old than say someone in their mid 30's? Look. You and I learn from people with more life experiance than us. I've never said don't do it. Just it would be better done with an adult. You don't need to be defensive as I'm not knocking the younger people on here. Just trying to offer you advise, as an older person , in the same respect I should listen to someone older than me with more life experiance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piebob Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 Which is fair enough. But you must also appreciate that your views are those held by ill-informed urbanites and antis. They also fly in the face of the general consensus within the shooting community that owning and using shotguns at a young age helps concentrate the mind and ingrains responsibility and maturity. I don't think you'll find many people with your viewpoint on this site. You don't own a shotgun, so you probably shouldn't be too surprised that your opinions on the ownership and use of them are dismissed by those that do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 (edited) Look. You and I learn from people with more life experiance than us. I've never said don't do it. Just it would be better done with an adult. You don't need to be defensive as I'm not knocking the younger people on here. Just trying to offer you advise, as an older person , in the same respect I should listen to someone older than me with more life experiance. :yp: Learn from someone with more life experience. Don't start sentences with "Look". It guarantees that people won't look at or listen to anything else that's written or said after that The same applies to using "Listen" as an opening word. Quickest way to ensure that people aren't listening Edited November 16, 2008 by Chard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 (edited) I hope you can't go out shooting on your own at 16. With all due respect, regardless of the law. A 16 year old on his own with a shotgun is not going to be a good idea. Your preaching with a months experiance going shooting on your own? Okay. Why is car insurance more expensive for 17 year old than say someone in their mid 30's? Look. You and I learn from people with more life experiance than us. I've never said don't do it. Just it would be better done with an adult. You don't need to be defensive as I'm not knocking the younger people on here. Just trying to offer you advise, as an older person , in the same respect I should listen to someone older than me with more life experiance. As arrogant as you my feel you are, the lad was only asking a simple question. I've had a SGC since I was 13 and I don't pretend I know everything. For a person with such wise words, "look" comes across as a bit patronising. Try knocking someone who is older than you and not someone who is young and fresh to the sport. His FEO deemed him a safe person to be entrusted with a shotgun, so I am sure he will be sensible. You never know, he might even break your record for 'pigeons killed 08' Edited November 16, 2008 by harfordwmj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfox Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 (edited) Your preaching with a months experiance going shooting on your own? Okay. Why is car insurance more expensive for 17 year old than say someone in their mid 30's? Look. You and I learn from people with more life experiance than us. I've never said don't do it. Just it would be better done with an adult. You don't need to be defensive as I'm not knocking the younger people on here. Just trying to offer you advise, as an older person , in the same respect I should listen to someone older than me with more life experiance. sorry for the late reply, ive been shooting with my uncle for the last 5 going 6 years, and with close family freinds, so its not the first time ive ever fired a gun. granted i dont know all aboutn shooting, no one does, theres always something new to be learnt, just keep safe and watch what your doing is the best thing to do when you get your sgc through watch how your attitude changes towards the matter, youll be surprised, im completely changed since i got mine! im making sure that im going to be owning a sgc and fac until the day i die Edited November 16, 2008 by dogfox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJUK Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 As arrogant as you my feel you are That doesn’t make sense. I've never put him down in fact, if you took the time to read each reply, you will see that I have praised him. I'm 'sticking to my guns' (pun not intended) when I say it is better than he doesn’t go shooting out on his own, or with his young friend. Try knocking someone who is older than you and not someone who is young and fresh to the sport. His FEO deemed him a safe person to be entrusted with a shotgun, so I am sure he will be sensible. I've never knocked him. He's posted a question on a public forum. All be it slightly off topic I've replied as a member of these forums (all be it a new one also). I've never said a bad thing about him. He's young, fact. He's got a lot to learn, fact. If I turn the argument around - Please argue the point that he would be better off going without an adult. You never know, he might even break your record for 'pigeons killed 08' You see when you're older you tend not to be as cocky. You've just unknowingly made a point as to why it could be better to go with an older person. I wish the OP all the best with his shooting . I've made my point now, repeatedly. I'll leave it as that now :yp:. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEFTY478 Posted November 16, 2008 Report Share Posted November 16, 2008 I've never knocked him. He's posted a question on a public forum. All be it slightly off topic I've replied as a member of these forums (all be it a new one also). I've never said a bad thing about him. He's young, fact. He's got a lot to learn, fact. If I turn the argument around - Please argue the point that he would be better off going without an adult. You see when you're older you tend not to be as cocky. You've just unknowingly made a point as to why it could be better to go with an older person. I wish the OP all the best with his shooting . I've made my point now, repeatedly. I'll leave it as that now . Jon Reference the first bold quote: Yes, he (samowen318) did post a question and as you appear to have misunderstood it, I'll repeat it for you. It was... at what legal age can i go out shooting on my own? An appropriate answer would be to suggest he looks for advice from an organisation like BASC; like, for example >>here<< and particularly for young people and shotguns >>here<<. Or, of cause, you could have paraphrased the salient points for him: like this... UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE It is an offence to make a gift of a shotgun or ammunition to a person under 15 years of age. A person under 15 may not have an assembled shotgun with him/her except: i) when under the direct supervision of someone of or over 21. or ii) when the shotgun is in a securely fastened gun cover so that it cannot be fired. 15 TO 16 YEARS OF AGE A person between 15 and 17 years of age may be given or lent a shotgun and cartridges but may not buy them. After reaching the age of 15 a person may use a shotgun without supervision, providing he/she holds a valid shotgun certificate. 17 YEARS OF AGE On reaching the age of 17 a person may purchase a shotgun providing he holds a valid shotgun certificate and may buy cartridges. NOTE: A SHOTGUN CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED AT ANY AGE UNLESS: a) Shooting with the occupier of private land, in the occupier's presence, on that land. or Ь) shooting at a police approved clay shoot. Moreover, it is clear that Sam; i) has a SGC - which you not not and ii) has a Father and friends who shoot and with whom, he shoots regularly - do you? With reference to the second bold: I assume that 'irony', is lost on you? Sam, now that I've dealt with the dullard, I suggest you ask someone that knows you well, whether or not you're ready to shoot alone? Legally, you're entittled to do so, so why not ask your Dad if he thinks you're ready? After all, it's very likely that you'll be relying on him to provide your carts, as you can't buy them yet. If he thinks you're ready: then game on. If not, then work hard to prove that you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfox Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 well said lefty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretman Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 I hope you can't go out shooting on your own at 16. With all due respect, regardless of the law. A 16 year old on his own with a shotgun is not going to be a good idea. i think sum1 needs to learn wot he is talking about before he trys to give people advice!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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