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3bigbass
Junior Member
United Kingdom
21 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 20:58:24
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I'm doing more and more shooting work and am thinking about taking the plunge and getting something with a bit more bant than my air rifle, mabe a .22 rimfire or something like that.
What's the procedure for getting a licence, how much does it cost etc.
I've done a safe use of weapons course a while back.
Ken Chadwick |
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NickA
Hyperactive Member
United Kingdom
1081 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 21:20:56
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Pick up the phone book look up Police, then firearms department.
They will come out with the forms for you.
Pests are smart - We're smarter
www.rpcwildlife.co.uk |
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eekamouse
Senior Member
United Kingdom
123 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2007 : 11:14:01
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Big bass
A word from yer grandad!
I feel the.22 rimfire IS the most dangerous of all rifles. It does not go bang - more of a thwack, (especially with a silencer) and therefore you may think it is not really powerful due to this fact. Also the bullet does not explode on impact, as normally hapens with centrefire rifles; it deforms and will ricochet off a hard surface (flint, stone etc.) I have know 2 people killed by not taking full account of this. Also the bullet will go for approx 1.5 miles if there is no background, so always have a good safe backdrop. Never shoot at say bunnies on hilltop etc.
Sure you're au fait with this due to shootng courses.
Also you will have to have permission from at least one area of ground to start with and your FAC will only allow for use on that specified ground; after a few years with no problems (hopefully) it will be relaxed to an "open" FAC whereby you can authorise your own ground if you think suitable.
Hope this helps and good luck
Dave |
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wildman
Starting Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2007 : 10:13:26
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Big Bass
are you scared yet?
Best intentions from eekamouse again with some good info, but maybe a little on the 'what's the point' side.
Used .22 for 21 years now along with many other centre fire rifles and I've only heard of one accident with a .22(three now since eekamouse statement). As you well know - NO WEAPON IS DANGEROUS, IT'S THE PERSON USING IT. Treat all your shooting the same just eliminate any risks (or at least minimise them). Remember - if in doubt.......you know the rest I'm sure.
The very best plan would be to talk to your nearest Gunsmith, he'll tell you all you need to know, including a run down on your FEO (POLICE) cos they're all different.
Take the plunge and do it, you'll never look back again. BASC website is good for info too.
LUCK
Tired and shagged out |
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eekamouse
Senior Member
United Kingdom
123 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2007 : 14:15:04
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wildman
I'm too long in the tooth to worry about what other folks feel about my views on safety however for the record, my point is..........
I would always prefer people to be cautious rather than just assuming all will be OK. It's a much better angle to start from! Any newcomer to a high powered rifle needs to be over cautious, the best way to eliminate risks is to know exactly what the risks are, and that may mean a word from those more experienced and able to advise.
Let's keep bigbass on that line of thought and his chances of an accident are lessened.
regards Dave |
Edited by - eekamouse on 17 Aug 2007 19:44:56 |
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Fenn Man
Senior Member
Ireland
313 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2007 : 05:42:16
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Ken; Was that the course at Masham? I took that ~ air gun safe handling ~ and it was one of the most enjoyable days out Ever! They let us fire a .243 at cans of water 100 yards out. Jesus! What a Bang that thing made ~ and what a mess! When it was my turn to fire, they took the moderator off. I remember to this day how I squeezed the trigger. Got a glimpse of vapourising can before finding myself leaping away from the table yelling, " FAAAAAAAAAAAR KING HELL!!!!! " I thought I'd blown up half of Yorkshire with the Bang that thing produced! 
Anyway, rifles and going for one? Do ye research, mate. Find out the nitty gritty. That's my advice. Like, why think " .22 Rimmy " ? Because it's the first step up from what ye have? Ok. I thought that too. But a mate of mine has a rimmy and told me how it bounced off crows. What do ye hope to shoot with it? Foxes? Need to be so damn close, with a rimmy, a well thrown stone would do as good. Consider that. Why not ask for the so much less complicated 12 Bore? See?
Myself, I did some research ~ and kind of came unstuck. Sort of. I found it goes something very much like; .22 Rimmy. .22 Magnum. .22 Hornet. .222. .223. Then it just gets silly. Stuff I genuinely wouldn't want to handle if they thrust one upon me - like the .243.
People well in the know told me the .222 / .223 calibres produce some of the best fox rifles going. But I also learned a .22 Hornet can knock a fox over at 175 yards (Measure that out some time. It's a hell of a distance to even see a fox clearly at!) So, being a bit crafty and working on bog baisic psychology, while I rather fancied a .223, I actually asked for a .22 Hornet.
My reasoning being that it's all the rifle I should ever need, but it's still 'just a .22'. I didn't want them to see me leaping from an air rifle to a calibre beyond the 'starter rifle' level. But I went for broke and pushed that ".22" vision to the limit. She's right beside me as I write this  Just had my lisence renewed this week.
But now the down side of my 'cunning plan'. Feeding this bitch is completely off the wall! My mate with the rimmy pays about 15 Euro for a box of rounds. Another mate, with a Magnum, pays a shade more. Blokes with .222 or .243's pay that bit more again. I pay damn near Fifty Euros for a box of fifty rounds!!!  I'm effectively paying out about 60p each time I fire my damn rifle! Let that sink in for a while, eh?
So, while matey the rimmy pops off thirty rounds, just to see his new scope rail fits. I start sh!tting myself and considering how much beer I can go without next week after loosing off just Ten rounds to check my zero! Oh for the care free days of pouring slugs through my air rifle with never a thought!
Bottom line? I Really think a .22 Magnum would've suited me just fine! Either way, ye don't need me or anyone else telling ye that ye don't Ever let a firearm point at anything ye don't want to kill. And deciding to squeeze that trigger becomes a decision which can decide the future of the universe, once ye handling 'real' rifles. Because, believe me, f*ck up and Your universe could fast become one of misery and state induced poverty. We each live in a " Litigeous Society " these days. Everyone's out to get lucky enough to sue the skin - and house - off the next sucker.
Just some more food for thought  |
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Paul W
Junior Member
United Kingdom
51 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2007 : 15:47:29
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| If it's just for longer range bunny work,why not consider an FAC rated airgun.Still a dangerous weapon but a hell of a lot safer than a rimfire/magnum. |
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dl
Starting Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2007 : 16:38:00
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i agree go for a fac rated rifle
never cut corners |
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wildman
Starting Member
United Kingdom
7 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2007 : 16:51:37
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Bigbass
Are you even more scared or just plain old confused.
FAC Air Rifle, .22, .222, hornets, magnums. It never ceases to amaze me how many differing opinions there are when it comes down to, well everything really. Life really is great, confusing but great all the same.
eekamouse, sorry if you think that I was critisising, far from it. You always appear to give good constructive advice. It's just that we don't want to put poor young BigBass off now do we.
Just so you know - for the record - shot myself (.22)and have been shot (12 bore). only another 7 to go and I can start rapping with the best of them.
Tired and shagged out |
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eekamouse
Senior Member
United Kingdom
123 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2007 : 18:00:23
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wildman
None taken, glad to have your comments on board. I was once shot by a twelve bore as well, only one pellet stuck but I felt as if I'd been hit by a truck........glad I'm not a woodpigeon heh.
regards Dave |
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Topic |
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Firearms licence
