The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

The Viking needs to get a 1:1 in shortly so it will be interesting to see how our people get on now they have merged with Hertfordshire.

mine came yesterday hurrah
douglas

My FEO told me on Thursday,one of the reasons he was behind was because he had a court case in London to deal with,and that took a month.He also said that another FEO that was there was only just starting on FEBRUARYS paperwork :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:


Alan :shifty:

Hi all
stuck in another variation after reluctanly selling another rifle. Unfortunately all have a price .
Anyway the FEO contacted me today and gave me some "advice" he says when am I going to calm down buying and selling rifles!! he says I have had 5 variations since march, (all were one for ones and a couple changing calibres) I did tell him sometimes a dud is bought especially that I shoot and collect military stuff and although it may be shiny and bright /good woodwork etc it doesnt always mean its a good shooter and of course some have to be sold on. He says although I am doing everything in a legal way it could be flagged up as to why so many changes.
He also asked whether anyone at the club ie sec etc was aware of the variations?, does this matter?? they may be aware of one or so especially a dud shooter but surely i dont have to inform them or do i?
I do see where he is comming from but wasnt happy at his "advice" however not wanting to rock any boats anyone had the same experience.
regards
douglas

I certainly cannot see any reason for you to tell the club how many variations you have in a year, in fact I am yet to be a member of a HO Approved club that has asked for details of the rifles or ammunition I hold, all they ask for is my FAC & SGC details. The only place my rifles are logged are with the NRA and Police.

Think its time to be firm and polite with him and tell him it is nothing to do with him your one for ones.

History shows appeasement never works with bullies.

Yep, had the same. My ticket was always in for one variation or another, as like you, I swapped regularly to enhance the collection. And sometimes, one comes along unexpectedly that will fit right in. Personally, I don't think five variations since March is excessive and like the FEO said, everything you are doing is legal. Especially bearing in mind that the framework has had a lot of input from the police.

I was even accused of dealing?!! So I asked for an RFD! That was refused, but it opened up the negotiations for a collectors condition on my FAC. Variations for the collection are no problem now.

Hi Sim G
a good point worth remembering as well incase they go down that route
douglas

douglas670 wrote:Hi all
stuck in another variation after reluctanly selling another rifle. Unfortunately all have a price .
Anyway the FEO contacted me today and gave me some "advice" he says when am I going to calm down buying and selling rifles!! he says I have had 5 variations since march, (all were one for ones and a couple changing calibres) I did tell him sometimes a dud is bought especially that I shoot and collect military stuff and although it may be shiny and bright /good woodwork etc it doesnt always mean its a good shooter and of course some have to be sold on. He says although I am doing everything in a legal way it could be flagged up as to why so many changes.
He also asked whether anyone at the club ie sec etc was aware of the variations?, does this matter?? they may be aware of one or so especially a dud shooter but surely i dont have to inform them or do i?
I do see where he is comming from but wasnt happy at his "advice" however not wanting to rock any boats anyone had the same experience.
regards
douglas

Tell him that you agree, too many variations on a firearms certificate is a pain, then give him your application for a dealer's ticket. Tell him that it will not only save you money, because you can then evaluate a gun before you buy it, but he won't have to keep doing the paperwork.

"I was even accused of dealing?!! So I asked for an RFD! That was refused, but it opened up the negotiations for a collectors condition on my FAC. Variations for the collection are no problem now"

Sim...I went down the same route a few years ago, my FAC has been rather "full" over the years and variations are frequent. I spoke to the head of the Firearms Licensing Dept., about getting an RFD. We met and discussed it and in the end I decided that the requirements were too much. But I did get a reassurance from him that variations, no matter how frequent, were not going to be a problem and that the inclusion of a number of what can be considered "collectors" items that may not get used with any frequency would not be subject to the "use it or loose it" restriction. I can say that over the last 10 years or so I have never had to wait more than 2 weeks for a variation and that proof of use has never been sought at renewal.

It pays to talk to the FEO, it also pays to be firm with them, afterall they are Public Servants and are required to provide a service or explain why they cannot or will not.