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That was the other option but the added cost of ferries to get there and I thought it would actually be quicker overall just driving to Durham.

are you glasgow based too?

No, I have to travel from all the way from Norfolk unfortunately, though it is a fairly straight forward run. With that said I might fly on future trips. As you said the biggest negative with it is the cost of the ferry.

I also looked at 7.3 a little bit but the whole thing comes across as being designed to be as difficult as possible. The cost/necessity of storage, a specifically designated range, a limited choice of firearms, not being allowed to compete etc. And then of course the justification required to obtain one/several in the first place. Having not gone through the process myself I have no idea if it is in fact that bad or not, but the freedom in NI (at least once you've got there) seemed substantially better to me.

sorry to the OP for the thread hijack!

JammyGuns, what club did you go to? I have talked to my mate who works over there every 2nd week and he says the flights are £29! I really would think about going over every couple of weeks to use short pistols again. How does this work? Can i get the pistol put onto my Scottish licence but have the restriction that i keep and use it at the range in NI?

JammyGuns wrote:No, I have to travel from all the way from Norfolk unfortunately, though it is a fairly straight forward run. With that said I might fly on future trips. As you said the biggest negative with it is the cost of the ferry.

I also looked at 7.3 a little bit but the whole thing comes across as being designed to be as difficult as possible. The cost/necessity of storage, a specifically designated range, a limited choice of firearms, not being allowed to compete etc. And then of course the justification required to obtain one/several in the first place. Having not gone through the process myself I have no idea if it is in fact that bad or not, but the freedom in NI (at least once you've got there) seemed substantially better to me.

It is meant to be difficult, as my FEO said they other day when I was asking about hi-powers - I want one to compare against, and was asking if it is possible to get a new one as I want to compare the controls / handling etc to the trials pistols - he basically strongly disagrees that trials pistols are 7.3, luckily the HO disagree, as they are historically significant. He views it as they are for old pistols, not modern.

anyway, it is designed to be hard, as it is not a sidestep to the law, BUT there are possibilities out there, and if you find the right one, it's pretty straightfoward

froggy wrote:Well done with your new toy !! what ever people say , Glock is an no non-sense awesome pistol .
Quite a collection you have now ?

yep, 6 with 2 more about to be applied for.

Cutch wrote:I miss my Glock, it was the first “proper” pistol I had. I have considered the 7.3 licence but I’m in Glasgow and the nearest range to me is in Durham I think! 4 hrs each way.....still thinking about it!

Are you coming down in a motorhome or are you a Suzuki Swift driver?? 2.5hrs tops!

Blackstuff wrote:

Cutch wrote:I miss my Glock, it was the first “proper” pistol I had. I have considered the 7.3 licence but I’m in Glasgow and the nearest range to me is in Durham I think! 4 hrs each way.....still thinking about it!

Are you coming down in a motorhome or are you a Suzuki Swift driver?? 2.5hrs tops!

to be fair I’m usually towing a race car when I’m going down that way so I’m a bit slower than everyone else but the good old google maps has it at just over 3 hrs....still thinking that NI might be a better option ?

Naw with section seven three its is four hours to get from the bottom of the turret to getting into the range and having the gun in your hand, same when you are finished.

Cutch wrote:sorry to the OP for the thread hijack!

JammyGuns, what club did you go to? I have talked to my mate who works over there every 2nd week and he says the flights are £29! I really would think about going over every couple of weeks to use short pistols again. How does this work? Can i get the pistol put onto my Scottish licence but have the restriction that i keep and use it at the range in NI?

When I went over there to join the club it was described to me as becoming an overseas member. I didn't have to go through any sort of probation period e.g turn up a certain amount of times etc - there was a lot of info being thrown my way in just a 3hr visit, along with the excitement of firing handguns for the first time, but that is my understanding. My FAC number was recorded, as were the firearms I own - in other words my FAC seemed to be just as valid in NI as it is on the UK mainland https://www.psni.police.uk/advice_infor ... formation/ .

Bringing across and storing firearms is also possible if you have an RFD to secure them the other end (though you need a certificate of approval to bring them across). As for owning your own one out there?? That is something I'm very interested in eventually finding out and doing myself if possible, but I didn't feel comfortable in raising it on this occasion because I'd only just joined. They need to know me better. It may just be a total dead duck because of non residency but there's no harm in floating it at some point on one of my visits next year, at which point I'll post back my findings. People certainly did do it in the past.

The club was http://www.newtownardsshootingclub.co.uk/ Everyone was extremely welcoming and helpful, can't say enough about the experience. Very professional but you're also free to get on with it once they can see you're safe. Tbh I liked it so much I have half one eye on moving out there at some point... I keep daydreaming on this site http://www.gundeal.co.uk/search?search_ ... s=&search=

bradaz11 wrote:

froggy wrote:Well done with your new toy !! what ever people say , Glock is an no non-sense awesome pistol .
Quite a collection you have now ?

yep, 6 with 2 more about to be applied for.

Do you think they will be easy to shift if you ever did want to sell them?