Buying Primers

[Alpha1]

What's the official/legal position on buying primers I have not bought primers over the counter from a Gunshop in years. My stock is finally running out I was out and about to day so on the way home I called into Northallerton shooting supplies to buy a couple of thousand pistol/small rifle primers. Yes they had them but they would not sell them to me with out producing a firearms certificate this is totally alien to me. So whats the score in buying primers.

[saddler]

Need to show an FAC for pistol or rifle primers, or other proof of authority/exemption.
Shotgun primers are exempt - though some RFDs are blissfully unaware of that fact

Part of the V.C.R.A. (Violent Crime Reduction Act), of, er....2006

You must have had one hell of a stockpile :cheers:
Hope you have some heart medicine to hand, otherwise the prices now may see you in the local ER receiving a few volts until the colour returns to your cheeks.

Best see your hairy Scottish chum when he gets back from his jollies sampling falling down water & running around the croft in last seasons frock

[phaedra1106]

Are you sure it was last seasons frock?, I thought he'd been watching The Sound of Music and cut up some old curtains!

Adam & DodgyRog are a good place to get your primers, I stocked up at the end of last year

On a similar note, anyone know what the procedure is for bringing primers over on a ferry? (DFDS).

My eldest is over from Amsterdam and reminded me that Jared and I still haven't been over to visit him yet. Flying would be easier but they don't like primers!, is the ferry any better?, Bold Action are about 90K from where he lives and have very good prices for lots of things including primers.

[Chapuis]

Phaedra you will have to look at the conditions of carriage for the ferry company to find that out mate but I would guess that there would be some restriction on carrying explosive materials which is what primers would be regarded as. On top of that you would have to consider that if your son does not have a valid FAC in this country that would permit him to possess primers he may encounter difficulties on this side of the channel when he arrives from Holland. The amount you may possibly save probably isn't worth the effort.

[phaedra1106]

I would be going over to buy them when we visit him, he's flying back from Newcastle this afternoon so we'd probably be going over sometime after the school hols are over and prices are back to normal!.

The DFDS website lists shotgun/rifle/air weapon and a minimum amount of ammunition on the Dover ferries FAQs, nothing on the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry route FAQs.

"You can take ammunition, but this must be kept to a minimum and wherever possible, stored separately from any weapon, e.g. in another compartment.

The weapons(s) must remain inside the vehicle and wherever practicable, the bolt, magazine or other vital operating part should be separated from the gun and either carried on the person, secured or hidden in the vehicle, or kept in a locked container, ideally secured to the vehicle. Any weapon must also be obscured from view, under a cover or inside a container. Once onboard, the ships loading officer will be discretely aware of you and will ask you to surrender your car keys for the duration of the crossing. The vehicle must remain locked and alarmed, if fitted. On arrival, the keys will be given back to you.

Once you have informed us of all the details, we must pass the information to other interested parties. All vehicles are subject to searching at both ports and this will avoid any misunderstanding. However, you should still discretely confirm to the check in operator that you are carrying such.

Even if your gun is only for display, the requirements are exactly the same."

[FencepostError]

Once onboard, the ships loading officer will be discretely aware of you and will ask you to surrender your car keys for the duration of the crossing. The vehicle must remain locked and alarmed, if fitted. On arrival, the keys will be given back to you.

This doesn't seem to make much sense as a security measure as you could carry a spare key, or even have someone else travelling on the same ferry carry a spare key. If anything, it only seems to increase the number of people with potential access to the car...

[M99]

Plus you have just handed access to firearms and or ammunition to someone not legally permitted to have access to them.

[Sim G]

On top of that you would have to consider that if your son does not have a valid FAC in this country that would permit him to possess primers he may encounter difficulties on this side of the channel when he arrives from Holland. The amount you may possibly save probably isn't worth the effort.

There is still no requirement to have a certificate to possess primers, the VCR Act 2006 makes it an offence to sell to an individual without authority or for a person to buy primers without authority.

[Sim G]

Plus you have just handed access to firearms and or ammunition to someone not legally permitted to have access to them.

If memory serves, Mike, the pursor of a vessel in the merchant fleet has crown status and may, within the scope of his duties be in possession of arms and ammunition with certificate as a Crown servant.

[Chapuis]

Once onboard, the ships loading officer will be discretely aware of you and will ask you to surrender your car keys for the duration of the crossing. The vehicle must remain locked and alarmed, if fitted. On arrival, the keys will be given back to you.

This doesn't seem to make much sense as a security measure as you could carry a spare key, or even have someone else travelling on the same ferry carry a spare key. If anything, it only seems to increase the number of people with potential access to the car...

That's exactly the situation that happened to me when traveling to France previously, my wife still had her keys to the car though I had handed over my set. They did however make a big thing about parking the car separately to the others and within direct CCTV view so that they would immediately see if I returned to the car deck during the voyage.
With regard to handing over access to my firearms they were never out of my control as I was still the only one with the keys to the locking devices within the car that secured the rifles.

Just had a look at the terms and conditions for that particular ferry company and carrying explosives or hazardous materials may be possible but you will need their express written permission before you board.