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1st rifle any caliber or not ( FAC )


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Hello All. Whilst i'v been shooting for a few years now with a conventional o/u shotgun, im now thinking of getting my FAC licence. Though i have been told that i can put in for any caliber for my 1st gun. Will the law only grant me a licence for a low caliber gun like a .22 rimfire or .17 center fire as i am only reckonized as a beginer rifle shooter to the local authoritys. Though i have had experience in shooting these rifles up to a .223 for foxes on permmitted private land with a licenced FAC holder. And him being with me at all times i may add. Will i have to give some sort of evidence of me using the higher caliber gun like a .223 with my friend out in the field, or is this against the law because only he has the licence and not me. Or shall i resign my self to just putting in for the lower caliber gun and be done with it, till i get the neccessary experience needed in their eyes to grant me a higher caliber gun.

 

 

Ps

 

Any advice an tips will be gratefully received and put to good use.

thanks a lot and good sport to you all.

 

Gareth :yes::lol::lol::yes::hmm:

Edited by deputy dog
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You should be able to have any calibre you want that is specific for the purposes intended. ie. Rabbit-.22lr, Fox-.223, Deer-.240 upwards. What they did not like in my case was giving me anything larger than a 6.5x55 for deer and fox. My argument that a safe shot with a 6.5 was a safe shot with a 7x57 or .308 did not matter to West Mercia Constabulary, it did not fit the "Home Office Guidelines". So when my mate Dave and I go out to shoot, him with his .308 and me with my 6.5, obviously, only I can shoot foxes safely :balloon:

 

It obvious isn't it-- no I didn't think so either :birthday:

 

If you need advice, and are a member of BASC (and if not why not, if only for the £10 million insurance) then ring the firearms department. They are really helpful and will talk you through your application.

 

ft

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you can apply for what ever you like ever on a first application. From Reading your post though it appears that you would like to have a riffle for foxes as well as a small game one, this shouldn't be a problem as long as you can show good reason. You may find that your force may want you to be acompained though but again by this sounds of this you may have someone that can do this already.

My first FAC was for the 6.5x55 and the 22, had done the dsc1 though so the I could show some understanding for the larger caliber.

 

Good luck with it.

 

Cheers Jon

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I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for a rimfire and a .223. If you want to shoot Foxes then no rimmy is any good really.

 

If you're interested in reloading the .22 Hornet is a nice round. It will do Fox and Rabbits out to 200 yards and you can even load it subsonic for when you need to be quiet. With a good home load it shoots as flat as a HMR but with a lot more energy. It isn't as powerful as a .223 though so if they wont allow you say a .22lr and a .223 maybe you could try for a hornet?

 

Get your mate to mentor you if you get stuck. It's unlikely they will refuse you anything if you are supervised at first :blush:

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