licence says .44 rifle

[meles meles]

Oh indeedy. It is worth remembering you can always call the Home Office and query what the law says, and how it was meant to be implemented. That's why the new forms specify calibre only, not chambering. The Firearms Act specifies that calibre is the criterion, not chambering, thus .45 applies equally to, say, .45 ACP and .45-70. A Chief Constabubble that tries to say otherwise is making his own law, and that isn't allowed...

[greenshoots]

I would counter by saying that if you truly did something wrong then they would have hauled you over the coals as an example to the rest of us.

well i have it in writing from my fac dept that no action will be taken this time

exact wording

[Chapuis]

I'm surprised that a dealer actually sold you a .444 on the authority of a certificate that only said .44, although the actual bore size is the same and they often use the same bullets. Or was it a private sale and the seller was a bit lax?

In the case of buying a .44-40 on a certificate that just says .44 I can't see that being an issue unless that is the specific cartridge is mentioned which some forces continue to do despite what the guidance actually says. Similarly I can't see any problem with buying or selling a .45-70 rifle on the authority of a certificate that just says .45 though the buyer would find it hard to explain it if he/she only had access to a range where such a calibre couldn't be used.

[greenshoots]

yes it was a dealer

greenshoots

[greenshoots]

english dictionary difiniction of calibre

the internal diameter or bore of a gun barrel

which makes the 444 marlin 44 calibre

greenshoots

[Sandgroper]

I would counter by saying that if you truly did something wrong then they would have hauled you over the coals as an example to the rest of us.

well i have it in writing from my fac dept that no action will be taken this time

exact wording

Fair enough, but aren't firearms offences absolute? So if you were in the wrong under the act then you would have been facing prosecution and not a letter telling you off?

Firearms Act 1968, s.1

Requirement of Firearm Certificate

(1) Subject to any exemption under this Act, it is an offence for a person -

(a) to have in his possession, or to purchase or acquire, a firearm to which this section applies without holding a firearm certificate in force at the time, or otherwise than as authorised by such a certificate;

My reading (and I'm no expert) is that you did no wrong but simply your dept wasn't happy with yours and the RFD's reading of your FAC authority.