Fac Variation and Which large calibre rifle?

[steveR]

Relative of mine is Rhodesian, god forbid calling him Zimbabwean! He said they used to tip the shot out of the first cartridge in the pump actions and replace it with rock salt. That way you could aim the ‘warning shot’ at them and pepper em up first before giving them the rest of the cartridges that were 00 buckshot.

Used to have a Tenant whose old man was old school Rhodesian, sounds like he was cut from the same cloth as your relative!! The family bailed out and went to SA, but that was starting to become less like Home I think... The aforemntioned tenant was an absolute dick however, at least his old man had some character

 

[milkloss]

I think you maybe getting mixed up with shotgun and fac licenses. Shotgun it’s pretty much a right to own one the police have to prove why you don’t need one however fac you have to prove definite need to own one and also why you need that specific calibre and unless you’re on an open ticket you are restricted to where you can use it.

Do you have an open ticket? My route to an open ticket was firstly to accept a mentor (I went from nothing to .22 .17hmr and 308 on first licence) for the 308. My mentor moved due to work and I had a friend doing the dsc1 which I joined and quite enjoyed. Wrote to the firearms and they removed mentor and all restrictions on quarry and location.

So zero to hero in about 9 months even though I disagree with the stipulations the police try and put on some people it does have it place and allows possibilities.

 

[ollie989898]

I’d rather live in a country with licensing laws that mean a few hundred people who should have a firearm but can’t get one than a country with one person who shouldn’t have one but does!

I agree. The average Briton can't use table cutlery safely and will enter a red mist rage if you dare to overtake them on a roundabout. The UK does not need meat heads armed with firearms.

I believe shotguns should not be handed out like sweets, either. They are firearms the same as anything else.

 

[David.]

It is news to me that shotguns are "handed out like sweets".. But I accept that in the wrong hands, they are as lethal as anything else. However, so is a motor vehicle.
I wouldn't object to the "helpful advice" that doing the DSC1&2 would be advantageous.
It would be educational, and give an insight into carcase preparation and inspection.

 

[Phil P]

Do you have an open ticket? My route to an open ticket was firstly to accept a mentor (I went from nothing to .22 .17hmr and 308 on first licence) for the 308. My mentor moved due to work and I had a friend doing the dsc1 which I joined and quite enjoyed. Wrote to the firearms and they removed mentor and all restrictions on quarry and location.

So zero to hero in about 9 months even though I disagree with the stipulations the police try and put on some people it does have it place and allows possibilities.

I’m currently restricted to land that has been passed for my current calibre of rifle/s (which is all my land) so I’m not to worried about that at the moment but it is something I’m going to discuss with the feo at some point.
The lad I’m going shooting with has his dsc1 and my brother is looking to do his dsc1 probably this year so may do it as well with him.

 

[Clive]

308 WSM - lovely calibre and will get you out to 1500m accurately

 

[Andy12345]

As said before, the .243 is a lovely round and will knock down anything you'll find in the UK bar Boar! Might be an issue now with non lead bullets.
Having had a .270 I'd not go that route , recoil is a bit harsh especially on a range day.
As Clive mentioned the .308 is a cracking round , readily available rounds in shops. It will also take down Boar with a heavier round.
I've owned and used all 3 , my preference is the .243 but as said it may have issues with non lead bullets.

 

[Wigeon]

As said before, the .243 is a lovely round and will knock down anything you'll find in the UK bar Boar! Might be an issue now with non lead bullets.
Having had a .270 I'd not go that route , recoil is a bit harsh especially on a range day.
As Clive mentioned the .308 is a cracking round , readily available rounds in shops. It will also take down Boar with a heavier round.
I've owned and used all 3 , my preference is the .243 but as said it may have issues with non lead bullets.

I always thought the same about a 270, but I shot a few hinds in Scotland with one in the autumn and was very pleasantly surprised. Synthetic tikka with a big moderator and bipod and I could see the bullet strike.

 

[sidjon]

In the process of getting back my Fac use tikka 6.5 creedmoor in NZ for reds at distant, but did like the pump action 308 I used for pigs , unfortunately I can't get one here, so will get a 6.5 creedmoor as will be doing pest control on red deer only.

 

[nxy]

Always think its odd plenty of deer (including reds) and wild boar are shot here with solid slugs out of 12 bores yet the .22 is not a legal hunting rifle so can't be used for rabbits etc.

 

[David.]

Is a .17 Hmr legal?

 

[michael N123]

Best thing to do will be get in touch with the lads at gardeners guns and maybe have a trip up there before making your decision

They will definitely point you in the right direction
Or more than likely make you spend thousands on a fancey rifle

 

[Treecreeper]

.308 would be my first choice with readily available ammo and the ability to raise or lower your bullet weight subject to target requirement and rezero. .270 win comes a close second, very flat shooting out to 200m but mine seems to like 130grn bullets the best. .243cal for smaller deer species is more than adequate.

 

[nxy]

Is a .17 Hmr legal?

The answer is complicated but generally yes but only because the law hasn't been updated since its introduction so certain regions allow it . Anything .22 including magnums etc or less is generally regarded as a target calibre only. Local accepted practise is that even a .222 is regarded as too light for killing anything. There would be several times over more rifles over .300 locally than those under.

A 12 bore solid slug or the more recent soft lead dart is also widely used and is a pretty terrifying thing and blows a substantial hole in a Boar or deer.

 

[David.]

How odd.
Although I can see why they would rather idiots weren't tempted to annoy boar with the inadequate rifle they happen to have with them at the time.
Who polices all this in France?

 

[nxy]

How odd.
Although I can see why they would rather idiots weren't tempted to annoy boar with the inadequate rifle they happen to have with them at the time.
Who polices all this in France?

There is a well organised Police de Chasse that control shooting very tightly. Shooting is as popular in France as fishing is in England. Almost 1 in 10 of the population have passed the exam to have a hunting licence which is even more surprising when you hear 97% are men. My (admittedly rather redneck) parish of 140 people (45 of whom are expat brits) can muster 20-30 hunters most weekends from September to March to shoot driven deer and boar with an annual game card of 60 boar, 30 roe deer and a dozen or so reds. The village provides a building where the shooters can meet and facilities for skinning and cutting meat plus a cold room and the meat is shared with land owners whether they take part in the hunt or not. I used to go regularly and its a great way to learn the lingo but now can't spare the time (plus I value my liver).

 

[Hooby Farmer]

The answer is complicated but generally yes but only because the law hasn't been updated since its introduction so certain regions allow it . Anything .22 including magnums etc or less is generally regarded as a target calibre only. Local accepted practise is that even a .222 is regarded as too light for killing anything. There would be several times over more rifles over .300 locally than those under.

A 12 bore solid slug or the more recent soft lead dart is also widely used and is a pretty terrifying thing and blows a substantial hole in a Boar or deer.

A friend's uncle who used to be a game keeper used to cull deer with a .222 he said carrying the bigger rifles around all day really tired him out, you just have to be a bit more precise apparently. He was a real character, an anecdote about the last day of Andy. He died doing what he loved out on a deer stalk miles from anywhere. Unfortunately he had taken a guy out for his first ever deer stalking lesson who he had never met previously, leaving him somewhat traumatised with an angry Pointer.

 

[Hindsight]

Wrong thread as there is a Shotgun Renewal thread somewhere but just listening to the news and brief piece on five police forces operating a pilot system involving applicants spouse and others in the renewal process, allowing the spouse to comment on the suitability of applicant.

 

[Rnold]

Wrong thread as there is a Shotgun Renewal thread somewhere but just listening to the news and brief piece on five police forces operating a pilot system involving applicants spouse and others in the renewal process, allowing the spouse to comment on the suitability of applicant.

So if your wife wants some jobs done around the house and the garden doing you could lose your guns.

 

[PI Stsker]

So if your wife wants some jobs done around the house and the garden doing you could lose your guns.

“Un trustworthy, he said he was going to mow the lawn a month ago!”
“Unreliable, he says he will be back at 5 but rocks up at 7”
“Of a nervous disposition always looking out the window seeing if it’s raining or not”