Certificate conditions

[shotgun sam]

Here is a question that was asked recently about using the bolt action as a member of a gun club based on the wording on the conditioning on a licence.
The use of the term ranges for the bolt action is the point in question some say that that means the bolt can be used in a home office approved range I personally think the ranges is specific to something you set up on ground that you have permission for whilst others seem to think that it allows the use in a gun club range.
The wording on the certificate is as shown below, what is your view on the situation.

The firearm 22 lr bolt action and ammunition shall be used for the lawful shooting of vermin and for zeroing and practice on ranges over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot.

The firearm 22 lr semi auto and ammunition shall be used for target shooting and only whilst as a member of XYZ club or on any other approved club on ranges suitable for the safe use of that class of firearm and with adequate financial arrangements in place to meet any injury or damage claim.

[TattooedGun]

zeroing and practice on ranges over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot

Providing you're not trespassing on the gun club range, I'd say you'd be legally entitled to Zero and Practice there with the bolt action.

[dromia]

It is the second condition that is the limiting one.

The first condition means you can shoot anywhere that it is lawful and have permission to shoot there, that includes club ranges.

[Triffid]

I think that you can over-interpret some of these conditions.

So for example you could interpret the first one as only allowing you to shoot vermin on 'ranges'. So if the bunny's in the middle of Century Range he's fair game, but not if he's sitting in a field.

If in doubt, clarify it with your FEO.

Triffid

[Blackstuff]

The first condition is written with pest controllers in mind and allows you to shoot vermin anywhere you have permission (as opposed to named land) and IF you weren't also a member of a club it also gives you authority to zero the rifle/practice there.

The second condition is written with target shooters in mind and allows you to shoot you guns at your 'home' club and any other approved ranges.

You have both conditions and there is some slight over lap. I think you're over thinking things if this isn't clear. You basically have authority to shoot anywhere that'll have you

[shotgun sam]

Blackstuff,


It has caused some debate at our club I personally have all my guns for both hunting and club use so the wording is not a restriction to me.

However when I first started rifle shooting I had a long chat with the FEO about what everything condition wise meant.
Having had my shotgun certificate for 26 years prior to my fac I knew the FEO all that time He explained that the fac is generally split into two parts one hunting and the other target with people having both conditions. He said to me yes I could apply at that time and as I was a probationer atthe club He would have only given me the hunting side and advised to wait the remaining 6 weeks of my probationary period and make life easier for myself thus giving me both hunting and target at the same time. He was adamant that if you had hunting for a gun you could not use it for target, saying that the terminology has changed in the last 5 years since he retired.

[Blackstuff]

There was (possibly still is) a debate about the wording of the condition as it didn't used to also contain the word 'practice'. Some over-zealous FEO's (and club officials ) therefore took that to mean that you could use it for hunting and ONLY zeroing at the range. i.e. a few shots to get your gun sighted in/check zero and that was it. Its my understanding that the word 'practice' was included as a way to stop this. As your condition has 'practice' in it IMO you're covered.

[Mattnall]

The first condition is written with pest controllers in mind and allows you to shoot vermin anywhere you have permission (as opposed to named land) and IF you weren't also a member of a club it also gives you authority to zero the rifle/practice there.

The second condition is written with target shooters in mind and allows you to shoot you guns at your 'home' club and any other approved ranges.

You have both conditions and there is some slight over lap. I think you're over thinking things if this isn't clear. You basically have authority to shoot anywhere that'll have you

It's two conditions for two different rifles.

But as you mention the bolt-action can be used anywhere you have permission to shoot and it is safe, etc, (that includes farm land or an approved range).
The semi-auto can only be used on approved ranges and not for vermin shooting.

[Blackstuff]

Good spot, didn't notice that it specified the actions of the rifles separately! I've got the same conditions on my certificate but they just say 'firearms' rather than specific calibres/rifles.