What .22lr pistols can I own in the UK?

[Quarters]

I'm a bit confused.

I know about black powder pistols and the Taurus .357 but I'm seeing .22lr semi autos here and there and I want one!

Do they have to have a 12in barrel and be 24in overall or can you have a .22lr semi auto pistol that is just normal size?

Also, what do I apply for on my FAC (I'm in Surrey if that matters)?

Finally, are they any good or just a poor relation to proper pistols?

Thanks for any answers or advice.

[Sixshot6]

I'm a bit confused.

I know about black powder pistols and the Taurus .357 but I'm seeing .22lr semi autos here and there and I want one!

Do they have to have a 12in barrel and be 24in overall or can you have a .22lr semi auto pistol that is just normal size?

Also, what do I apply for on my FAC (I'm in Surrey if that matters)?

Finally, are they any good or just a poor relation to proper pistols?

Thanks for any answers or advice.

12/24 rule only and are treated as any other long arm. Its debatable whether they are as good (having no true pistol experience I can't compare my buckmark at all. I love it though). Most people have gone nowadays to those and grandpowers for cost. I believe the Low Mills 1911s are good and some people have those stockade products Ruger Mk3 LBPs. It's subjective, but its close to the old days so it's what we have.

[nickb834]

Yup - 12/24 as above - so your choices are as far as I know:

Browning Buckmark
GSG / TSC / Low Mill 1911 - GSG variants available all over the place
Sig 226 - Ex Icon Arms - you'll have to search 2nd hand now
Glock - Suffolk Rifle
Grandpower K22 - Caledonian Classic Arms
Taurus Revolver - still a fair few about in dealers hands
Pardini K22 - Single shot, not sure where you'd find them now
Westlake Britarms

anybody think of some more?

[DavidRees]

The GrandPower K22 (10-round mags as standard) feels like a true pistol in the hand -- light enough for single-hand use, and balanced very well. Extremely accurate too. See http://full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... 6&start=10 for an example of how accurate it can be.

The Pardini K22 is a "free pistol", adapted to meet the 12/24 rule here in the UK. Used for ISSF 50m pistol events. Like all free pistols, not easy to use unless you are a good to excellent pistol shot. Available from Paul Cutts at Diverse Trading, I believe -- but they are about £1500 now, so not an impulse buy...

[joe]

Yup - 12/24 as above - so your choices are as far as I know:

Browning Buckmark
GSG / TSC / Low Mill 1911 - GSG variants available all over the place
Sig 226 - Ex Icon Arms - you'll have to search 2nd hand now
Glock - Suffolk Rifle
Grandpower K22 - Caledonian Classic Arms
Taurus Revolver - still a fair few about in dealers hands
Pardini K22 - Single shot, not sure where you'd find them now
Westlake Britarms

anybody think of some more?

Unless of course icon makes a comeback

[Quarters]

Hi all

Thanks for all your replies. Very helpful.

[saddler]

Pure pistols, none*

12/24 "rifles" that are sort of cobbled together from pistol donor designs; but comply with minimum length laws - quite a few




*unless you are on the Isle of Man or Northern Ireland, in which case the answer is - any .22 pistol you have the cash & an FAC slot for.
On the UK mainland you MAY also possibly have a .22 pistol on FAC - but only under very limited circumstances (S.7-3, S5 Humane despatch, etc.) i.e. ZERO hope for purely target shooting usage

[joe]

Pure pistols, none*

12/24 "rifles" that are sort of cobbled together from pistol donor designs; but comply with minimum length laws - quite a few




*unless you are on the Isle of Man or Northern Ireland, in which case the answer is - any .22 pistol you have the cash & an FAC slot for.
On the UK mainland you MAY also possibly have a .22 pistol on FAC - but only under very limited circumstances (S.7-3, S5 Humane despatch, etc.) i.e. ZERO hope for purely target shooting usage

Yeo we can't simply be trusted with such dangerous
arms deigned only to kill so only the government and police rightly must have them only

Ps. These were the type of comments i remember in 97

[Hunter87]

The answear to the question is zero you can own some stupid looking LBR's And LBP's if you really want to tho.

[HALODIN]

I love my Taurus .44 LBR, it's awesome.