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

TomH wrote:

Sim G wrote:

Gazza wrote:So if these law changes come about will our club lose its 50 cal or will it be a different kettle of fish for clubs?

.50 cal, like s1 shotguns, LBRs and Long Range Pistols are not regarded by the Home Office as firearms available to approved clubs. How did your club manage that? And yes, it would go also.

Looks like there is a way round it Sim. From the FCSA-UK website:

Having obtained Home Office clarification on the 10,000ft/lb rule, we have commissioned a 50BMG club rifle that has NOT been designed to discharge a projectile that exceeds 10,000ft/lbs, in fact the rifle has been designed to generate around 9,500ft/lbs using factory ammunition, military surplus and home loads (within SAAMI specs). The Home Office has confirmed that this is within their rules, and within the terms of the club license, as such this rifle is available for members to use as of 2016.

http://www.fcsa.co.uk/rules

Is that by having a shorter barrel ?

Dellboy wrote:
Is that by having a shorter barrel ?

Ahh, yes, thats probably the way rather than the ammo

This helpful link came to my inbox from Firearms UK.

https://firearmsuk.org/direct-action/of ... rs-rifles/

Dellboy wrote:

TomH wrote:

Sim G wrote:
.50 cal, like s1 shotguns, LBRs and Long Range Pistols are not regarded by the Home Office as firearms available to approved clubs. How did your club manage that? And yes, it would go also.

Looks like there is a way round it Sim. From the FCSA-UK website:

Having obtained Home Office clarification on the 10,000ft/lb rule, we have commissioned a 50BMG club rifle that has NOT been designed to discharge a projectile that exceeds 10,000ft/lbs, in fact the rifle has been designed to generate around 9,500ft/lbs using factory ammunition, military surplus and home loads (within SAAMI specs). The Home Office has confirmed that this is within their rules, and within the terms of the club license, as such this rifle is available for members to use as of 2016.

http://www.fcsa.co.uk/rules

Is that by having a shorter barrel ?

Or a gas vent?

I have sent a email to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP regarding the issue, the DUP are no fans of gun control and have concealable influence with the government i will be interested to hear his response.

Dear all,

Online consultation here:

http://www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/WX2TN/

I would recommend that we all complete this (I have already done so).

Another option is to contact your MP. This can be done here https://www.theyworkforyou.com/

The advantage of this method is that it can be completed online.

The following was posted by a shooter on another forum, pointing out the possible hidden agenda in the new Home Office proposals:

This isn't intended to usurp the current thread. But to highlight the hidden barb in the HO proposals. It is a throwaway line in relation to knife type and martial art type weapons possessed in private premises. It is this:

“Even if the owner of the weapon in question has nointention at all of using it, there is a risk that they may be targeted by criminals intendingto steal it.”


The is NO qualification about such an item being allowed if "kept securely" and, knowing how the HO sets up way markers that it then goes back make use of to then introduce further restriction it is a future possible threat to gun ownership.

I have seen this before.

That having had accepted the idea that item X, at home, is a risk to public safety as it could be stolen that idea is then extended to banning it being kept at home. And if it cannot be safely stored away from home then for it to be banned.

So it important even if you've no interest in .50 BMG, or corrosives, to complete the survey and and state that items kept at home should not be prohibited, as in any case if it can be kept securely then its possession at home or on private premises what is the problem that the HO Survey implies.

The HO proposal is a "stalking horse" to eventually require storage away from the owner's home of target weapons and/or air weapons IMHO. But in clubs. And a ban if they cannot. Just as such storage was rejected for centrefire pistols under the Tory handgun ban.

The HO has flown this "kite" before!

I agree with the original author of this post.

The wording of the proposals and the survey are very sneaky; a far-reaching agenda is hidden at the heart of this legislation.

ALL shooters must oppose it: complete the survey and write to your MP. I have done both and urge others to do the same.

Apathy will be the death of shooting in this country.

Those links again-

The “consultation”:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultat ... egislation

Contact your MP:
https://www.writetothem.com/

Not a squeak yet from BASC.
I've asked them why & urged them to act. I suggest anyone who is a member do the same.

Far too much in these proposals is based on 'what ifs' and 'could bes' with no evidence of real risk.
The idea that someone would burgle a house looking to steal a butterfly knife rather than just buying a basic kitchen knife from Aldi is utterly ludicrous.

If these bans go through on either firearms or other weapons it leaves the door firmly open to future bans on anything the Government doesn't like without the ever having to provide a shred of evidence to back up their claims