Pecker Neck Posted July 11, 2005 Report Share Posted July 11, 2005 (edited) Hi all! Obviously i'm new on here, and have got a question for you! I'm thinking of buying a AA TX200 HC Air Rifle, the trouble is i havn't got a gun at the mo but i used to go shooting with my mates years ago when i was about 15, that was back in 95 when the law on air rifle was pretty relaxed! we used to go down the fields by my house in N Wales where we have plenty of fields, rivers and forests! Obviously when your a kid you just grab the gun a go off on a trek and shoot things as you come across them, rabbits squirells, pigeons etc! I havn't been shooting for years but now i'm older i've got money to buy an averagely good air rifle and could go down to the exact same fields to shoot (because that land isn't farming land as sutch and i had never seen a farmer when i was a kid), but feel that the law has changed so much that, because I havent got any permission to got on anybodys land that if i get caught will get locked up and treated like some gun physco out to shoot members of the public! What do you guys think? Should i bother? Any thoughts would be helpful!!! Edited July 11, 2005 by Pecker Neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdowns hunter Posted July 11, 2005 Report Share Posted July 11, 2005 Pecker, You would be well advised to get permission before even buying a gun, Permission is very hard to come by, but its better than a heavy fine and your name in the papers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted July 11, 2005 Report Share Posted July 11, 2005 (edited) Hi, getting permisssion is worth it and will ensure many happy years hunting! Edited July 11, 2005 by Ferret Master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roblade Posted July 11, 2005 Report Share Posted July 11, 2005 Hi mate welcome to the forum Well you have done the right thing first by asking for advice here. But i should point out as im sure your aware gone are the days of grabbing the rifle form the cupboards and popping down the local fields offering the beat boibby a couple of rabbits if he stoped to say hello. some people may laugh at reading this and think what an old *** i am but this really did happen until the mid 90s!!!! (10 years ago!!!! my how things change ) If you were to do that now it could be classed as armed tresspass, poaching and having a vistit by the local bobby asking you politly to lie in the mud with hands behind your back and then having a nnice little holiday at her majestys leisure. Yes it is hard to get permision from the farmers these days especially as our little air guns are considered one step above a toy!!!!! what i would advise before you buy a gun would be to find your local airgun club and pay them a visit even if its a day out in the car the advise you would find there would be worth the time and the trouble, and you never know you may see something for sale there. The TX is probably one of the best spring rifles you can buy and go shooting with, though anything from the HW stable is decent enough for the job as well, but theres just somehting about the TX that makes it just that little better out the box I should know have had a few (tx200 mk1,mk2,mk3, HC prosport, lightnening, stingray, longbow, hw97, hw57, hw77, HW80 HW95 and probably a couple of others cant think of at the moment apart from the B2) and i still have a TX200 MK3 and MK1. Im suree if you have done your homework on here you have heard the horror stories about how hard it is to get permision but there are also some happy endings (or beginings) out there as well. You should be able to find a copy of a request to do vermnin shooting out there somewhere as well as a copy of writen permison letter. it involves a lot of hard work to get the permision but at the end of the day it is well worth it. I have a couple of bits of land that came my way as well as being part of a syndicate shoot down here in kent. but a quick list of what you need is as follows: Rifle Scope Mounts Bag INSURANCE!!!! club membership I would recomend a second hand TX at the moment as if it dosnt pan out and you cant use it anywhere, it would be doubtfull that you would loose much money on it (£20 postage maybe). hope this helps you out a little ROB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 If you were to do that now it could be classed as armed tresspass, poaching and having a vistit by the local bobby asking you politly to lie in the mud with hands behind your back and then having a nnice little holiday at her majestys leisure. That's if they don't shoot you first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 I think Rob covered most of it, as for whether you should bother...well thats up to you. I would reccomend visiting the BASC website and having a good read up of the Airgun Code of Practice and the Law. As far as permission goes, myself and a few shotting buddies have been very fortunate in our area. It would appear that land owners are gagging to get people to rid them of Rabbits etc. But i would certainly look for possible land permission. Secondly, I would consider just how long you think you might want to be involved in such activities i.e. is this just a wim based on childhood memories or is it something that you consider worthwhile. Going out to shoot live quarry just for the sake of it is not the done thing. Anyway, if you are keen then the previous advice to visit a club is probably the best thing to do. You'll be able to get a better insight to whats happening in your local area and try out different guns. Good luck. Regards, Axe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apbuild Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Read what they say Pecker! They are all right!!!!!! See you around! Rob. P.S Fill in your profile matey!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evilv Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 A lot of sound advice there. The land you describe may even qualify as having public access, which could make it armed trespass in a public place - or some such form of words. Getting permission is not impossible if you invest some time and effort. Approaches by a respectable looking chap, mentioning that you'd noticed rabbits / pigions / crows, on land and enquiring if the farmer would like you to dispose of them for him, will often work out with a positive response. You just have to hit on the right land, the right farmer, and make the right impression on him in those first few seconds. It's a combination of self sell and finding a guy who has a need. The TX is a fine rifle. I've got one and am very pleased with it. Shot fifteen rabbits yesterday. One tip though, don't do what I did and circumvent the anti-beartrap mechanism so as to make for quieter cocking. I've done that a lot lately, and regretted it yesterday when a sweaty hand slipped off the cocking lever at almost maximum extension... What a SMACK that was. If I'd had a thumb under the barrel, it would have been badly smashed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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