Shotgun/Firearm Certificate

[Crex]

I'm going to be applying for my shotgun licence in the near future. I don't have, and have no immediate plans to get, a rifle, but would it be sensible/possible to apply for a firearm certificate now in case I decide to in the future? Or just stick with the shotgun certificate at the moment?

 

[TechWise]

I'm going to be applying for my shotgun licence in the near future. I don't have, and have no immediate plans to get, a rifle, but would it be sensible/possible to apply for a firearm certificate now in case I decide to in the future? Or just stick with the shotgun certificate at the moment?

I would apply for the FAC at the same time and put down that you want a rimfire. I went with the .17hmr but the debate about which rimfire to get could go on for ages.

 

[Steevo]

Depends a bit.

Shotgun is easy....you almost have a right to one and it’s for the police to suggest a reason you might not be suitable. No requirement to demonstrate need to hold one.

Firearms are the other way round. You have to prove a reason/need to hold one.

Personally I’d stick to shotgun first off...then at next renewal if you want to go firearms too you can upgrade to both (co-terminus) at that time.

 

[ollie989898]

If you can demonstrate you have a valid reason and somewhere to shoot it a rifle wont be an issue.

 

[milkloss]

I’d go for both but bear in mind you have to choose a rifle calibre (don’t forget to include the moderator) and justify why you want it before you apply. 17hmr is great but you can’t get away from the sonic crack, .22lr is more flexible (sub sonic and dead quiet but suffer from ricochet when it’s dry and hard) and you can have a semi auto if you wish.

Remember that the fuzz aren’t too happy when you renew in five years and haven’t filled the slot as you obviously didn’t need the rifle. So only apply for what you’re realistically going to buy within five years.

 

[Alfred]

As @Steevo has correctly stated you have to prove NEED for a fac license , and as your post states you don't want or "need" a firearm at the moment so why apply for one ??
My police force now ask for a letter of experience when applying for a rifle and the names of people and places you have gained that experience.
Then they check this to be true.

 

[Still Farming]

Someone else on here asking same stuff on another thread?

 

[milkloss]

As @Steevo has correctly stated you have to prove NEED for a fac license , and as your post states you don't want or "need" a firearm at the moment so why apply for one ??
My police force now ask for a letter of experience when applying for a rifle and the names of people and places you have gained that experience.
Then they check this to be true.

I’m not so sure about this. (Edit: proof of experience) I would consult BASC if your firearms team are being a bit ott. When I had much to do with it it wasn’t in the rules but they were still asking for some sort of proof of training which wasn’t required.

 

[Kidds]

Stick with just the shotgun.
No big deal if you change your mind later but it sounds like you won’t.

 

[Alfred]

I’m not so sure about this. (Edit: proof of experience) I would consult BASC if your firearms team are being a bit ott. When I had much to do with it it wasn’t in the rules but they were still asking for some sort of proof of training which wasn’t required.

I was quite happy to provide this to them, after all would you like people wandering about the countryside with large centre-fires with no experience? I certainly wouldn't!!
I have my fac already , I did consultant BASC over my center-fire aplication and we both viewed this letter of experience thing as a very reasonable request. It didn't bother me at all.
I already had lots of experience and had been mentored before applying.
I would add the above mentoring was done by my choice and not a demand placed upon my application process .

 

[Clive]

If you can demonstrate you have a valid reason and somewhere to shoot it a rifle wont be an issue.

This

You have to demonstrate a need so either membership of a target club or land permission for the calibre you apply for

 

[milkloss]

I was quite happy to provide this to them, after all would you like people wandering about the countryside with large centre-fires with no experience? I certainly wouldn't!!
I have my fac already , I did consultant BASC over my center-fire aplication and we both viewed this letter of experience thing as a very reasonable request. It didn't bother me at all.
I already had lots of experience and had been mentored before applying.
I would add the above mentoring was done by my choice and not a demand placed upon my application process .

Which bleeds into having to have a professional qualification such as DSC1 or/and 2. This was BASC issue with it. I do indeed have a dsc 1 but never revealed that to the fac team or else it becomes a tool to beat us with (remind you of red tractor?!) The other way to gain experience points (yes, it becomes like a game to them) is to have a 22lr or hmr for a few years before going large.

 

[Mark]

Also, on an FAC, unlike shotgun certificates, every time you buy ammunition it gets recorded, and if you haven’t bought enough over the five years they can say that you don’t need it, although I’ve never heard of anyone having their renewal rejected because of this. As time goes on the laws are only going to get tighter though (which may make it harder to get FAC in the future).

Personally I’d stick to just shotgun for now unless you get FAC as well and just get a cheap .22LR and go through a few boxes of ammunition a year to prove its being used. Then you’ve got it for the future.

 

[TechWise]

As said above, I would be taking advice from BASC if they asked me for a "letter of experience" before granting an FAC. There is no such requirement in the Firearms Act and the role of the police is to enforce the law, not make up new ones. There is also no mention of this in the last set of Home Office guidance that I read.

There are dozens of people being killed with illegal pistols and semi or fully automatic rifles. Not to mention the hundreds being stabbed to death. Putting more paperwork in front of law abiding firearms users is just a pathetic distraction from the fact that the police can't or won't enforce the existing legislation.

 

[Alfred]

Which bleeds into having to have a professional qualification such as DSC1 or/and 2. This was BASC issue with it. I do indeed have a dsc 1 but never revealed that to the fac team or else it becomes a tool to beat us with (remind you of red tractor?!) The other way to gain experience points (yes, it becomes like a game to them) is to have a 22lr or hmr for a few years before going large.

I think it very unfair to suggest the firearms licensing team "like playing games"
They have a very important job to do, and I for one are glad they do it.
I have always been shown helpful advice from them and view my fire-arms certificate as a great privilege and not a right.
Therefore I was quite happy to respond to their polite request for addition information.

 

[MrNoo]

Round here they are trying to ween people off .22 rimfires as they do ricochet like crazy on our brash soils, chap just applied for a .22 rimfire was told to get an HMR in .17. I use a Hornet .17 (centre fire) and to be honest I havent even fired my .22 since I've had it. Will probably sell it on. Hornet is a superb rifle, not as cheap to feed as an HMR but I re-load my own which brings the cost down a fair bit. It is a devastating fox round despite it's diminutive size.

 

[milkloss]

I think it very unfair to suggest the firearms licensing team "like playing games"
They have a very important job to do, and I for one are glad they do it.
I have always been shown helpful advice from them and view my fire-arms certificate as a great privilege and not a right.
Therefore I was quite happy to respond to their polite request for addition information.

I agree, I didn’t mean the boots on the ground are players, more further up the chain that tend to interpret the law as they choose.

I get on very well with my FLO but he has retired now, some officer turning up in a stab vest nowadays apparently,pretty much in full riot gear which is a bit much imo.

 

[ollie989898]

I agree, I didn’t mean the boots on the ground are players, more further up the chain that tend to interpret the law as they choose.

I get on very well with my FLO but he has retired now, some officer turning up in a stab vest nowadays apparently,pretty much in full riot gear which is a bit much imo.

Always the same. When I first got my certificate years ago the firearms man was a retired policeman who was pragmatic and basically a good guy. The civilian woman who replaced him basically treated everyone as criminals in waiting.

 

[Highland Farmer]

IMO better going for fac and sg as cost is less than doing both separately, it's a real pain if you decide you need a fac half way into the sg certificate valid period. You can always add more to the fac once you have it. The officer didn't really question my choices as you list what you're going to be controlling on the application form.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Remember that the fuzz aren’t too happy when you renew in five years and haven’t filled the slot as you obviously didn’t need the rifle. So only apply for what you’re realistically going to buy within five years.

Been there, done that. One of my regrets.