Shooting on private land

[Porcupine]

I have heard people talk about getting land 'cleared' for X or Y caliber but I'm not sure what this means.I take it then that you cannot just shoot what you like on your own land (or someone else's land with permission, using your own gun etc), rather you need a piece of land to be approved (how? by whom?) for particular calibers? Does land need to be cleared for -anything- or are some things exempt? I would assume shotguns since they are so common...

[spud]

if you are new to firearms , you may a condition on your ticket stating where you can and where you cant shoot it, the land they seem suitable is classed as havintg permisson for . usually it needs to be safe for that calibre and you have the land owners permisson to shoot on it


once youve had a ticket for a while you can apply for an "open ticket" which means that the "making sure land is ok for a suitable calibre responssibilty falls on you."



simply put

[Dave 101]

Hi Porcupine .

I take it your not in the UK . All firearms ownwership has to be approved by the Police under the guidence of the Home Office ,
We have 2 certificates 1 for shotgun ownwership known as a SGC . which are section 2 firearms , barrel has to be smooth bore over 24" in length with a magazine of no more than 2 rounds . If you want a larger capacity mag it has to be sec 1 FAC .
To own a rifled firearm you have to have a Firearms Certificate [ FAC ] . We are not allowed full auto or semi auto other than .22 rf or shotgun . No Hand guns except long barreled revolvers with an arm brace , and black powder guns with rifled barrels . Also toown an air rifle over 12 ft lbs it has to be on FAC .
Thats the basics which affects most people , there probably are lots of other intricacies .
Places to shoot also have to approved by the HO , there is no land in the UK that isnt owned by someone , so you cant just go out in the woods and start shooting .
The FAC has conditions of use for each firearm , eg range or hunting or both , each calibre has to be approved , certain land can be used as a range , a lot of ranges are military owned .
Farms or estates for hunting have to be inspected by the police to gain approval , [ providing you have written consent of the landowner or his agent ] if deemed not safe approval can be denied or granted only safe for a certain calibre , Calibres have to be approved to the quarry , which means you have to state on the FAC which species you want to hunt with what rifle . So its no good having say a .223 as a catch all from rabbit to deer .
Sure theres a lot I have missed out but it gives an idea of whats involved

Dave

[Porcupine]

Thanks. Dave, I am in the UK (though I've done more shooting in the US than in the UK) - I have a shotgun certificate but not a FAC yet.

So, when I apply for my FAC - suppose I want a .303 for target shooting and taking deer. For the first of these, I believe I would write something like "...for target shooting at [the club where I am a full member] and any other suitable location," so as to allow me to shoot both there and at other ranges... and presumably also on private land where I have permission? By which I mean a field or whatever where I/the owner can set up a target - but that is not run commercially as a range.

What about the second? Do I need a letter giving me permission to shoot on a particular piece of land then and there, or can I say generally "...for shooting deer on land on which I have permission to shoot." If the former, suppose I send the police a letter giving me permission to shoot on X piece of land in Berkshire, but I then get given permission to shoot on Y piece of land by a friend in Scotland - do I need a variation to allow me to shoot on on Y piece of land, or can I write on the application "...on [the land I have a letter for] and any other land I am given permission to shoot on"?

Finally, suppose I were to buy a piece of land somewhere. I could then shoot shotguns on it, but not firearms until I have had a police visit? And then, does the officer assign some kind of maximum energy/velocity/caliber for that land or do I need to specifically ask "Can I shoot X caliber on this land?" I'm thinking, if I own a piece of land and get it approved only for .303, and a friend wants to come and shoot .223, or .300 Win Mag, do I have to go back to the police and ask if that's ok?

[Robin128]

Pocupine..

Have a read thru this...sooner rather than later.

http://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=9

Provided you do not have a criminal record and can get someone to mentor you in centrefire rifle, Police may allow you a s1 FAC to shoot over land that has been approved by them to shoot specific vermin, fox etc up to specific calibres. Clearly you will need permission to shoot such animals from the landlord and the tenant...and better get it in writing...there is a form.

Join BASC to get good advice and indemnity...

http://www.basc.org.uk/en/codes-of-prac ... actice.cfm

http://www.basc.org.uk/en/utilities/search-website.cfm

[Dave 101]

Thanks. Dave, I am in the UK (though I've done more shooting in the US than in the UK) - I have a shotgun certificate but not a FAC yet.

So, when I apply for my FAC - suppose I want a .303 for target shooting and taking deer. For the first of these, I believe I would write something like "...for target shooting at [the club where I am a full member] and any other suitable location," so as to allow me to shoot both there and at other ranges... and presumably also on private land where I have permission? By which I mean a field or whatever where I/the owner can set up a target - but that is not run commercially as a range.

Yes you will need to be a club member to shoot targets , the club you join is your primary club and is stated on the FAC . if you leave that club you have to already be a member of another club otherwise the target shooting condition will be removed .
You cant target shoot on private land , when applying for FAC make sure you have the condition to ZERO the rifle otherwise technicaly you have no way to test fire before hunting .

What about the second? Do I need a letter giving me permission to shoot on a particular piece of land then and there, or can I say generally "...for shooting deer on land on which I have permission to shoot." If the former, suppose I send the police a letter giving me permission to shoot on X piece of land in Berkshire, but I then get given permission to shoot on Y piece of land by a friend in Scotland - do I need a variation to allow me to shoot on on Y piece of land, or can I write on the application "...on [the land I have a letter for] and any other land I am given permission to shoot on"?

You will need written permision for each farm / estate you want to hunt on , the FEO will want maps showing boundries footpaths etc , they may even want to walk round it with you to see if its suitable .
everything has to be specified under the conditions of the FAC , there are 2 further options called an open ticket and a closed ticket . Open means you can shoot on land you permision for without inspection , closed is as above , getting it approved first .

Finally, suppose I were to buy a piece of land somewhere. I could then shoot shotguns on it, but not firearms until I have had a police visit? And then, does the officer assign some kind of maximum energy/velocity/caliber for that land or do I need to specifically ask "Can I shoot X caliber on this land?" I'm thinking, if I own a piece of land and get it approved only for .303, and a friend wants to come and shoot .223, or .300 Win Mag, do I have to go back to the police and ask if that's ok?

The clearance is worded up to a certain calibre , so you would ask for .22 for rabbit for instance , .223 / fox . .303 / deer .
not forgetting to apply for the hollow point and expanding ammo , also you would need to apply for moderators the same as you would a firearm , each one needs a slot on your ticket .

Best thing to do is have a word with BASC or look them up online , get to know your FEO most of them a decent enough to help out they know what there dept does or doesnt allow for example here in Essex they wont allow rimfire for fox where as other counties do .

Dave

[Angelfire]

Reading this post brings it home just what a real "pain" owning full bore rifle's can be. After having them for many years I handed back my certs as members on here know. I'm glad I'm not just entering into the sport like our friend Porcupine here, it seems to be getting more and more difficult as the years pass to get an FAC. I appreciate only the vetted safe members of society should own these firearms, but the hoop seems to be getting smaller and smaller that we have to jump through to continue our wonderful hobby, and of course we have no option but to jump when we are told to.

Regards

Phil*

[spud]

they say jump we say how high master

thats life im afraid

[douglas670]

Hi there
not really about shooting on private land but interested to see porcupine saying a 303 for target shooting and deer stalking.

My hobby is WW1 Living history portraying a british tommy in the essex regiment. I am part of the 10th essex group. Some of the members in our group and others whether brit or german use live firing smle's or the G98 but the condition on the certificate states for blank firing only. So we can use live firiers but only for firing displays/etc. Now for some unknown reason even till this day, I had to join a gun club???? why i dont know as i didnt have the authority to fire live ammo. Now some other members of another group have on their certificate blank firing AND Target shooting with the same rifle, BUT i had to buy a seperate rifle for live firing, i would have thought we had the same the home office for Scotland/england?. I must admit i was annoyed to have to buy another smle for target shooting. their excuse was i could use the wrong rifle???????????????? , in esence i can see what they are saying but it cost me another 400 quid.

now while i can see why the same 303 could be used for deer stalking and target but could there also be a possibility of having to have a seperate 303 for target, just for arguments sake using Expanding rounds in one rifle and say surplus for target.? in the other, just incase you used the wrong rounds!!!!
appreciate its just a hypothetical question if you can see where i might be comming from?.
sorry for being long winded
regards
douglas