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Do you want to get into shooting?

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By Bill Harriman

Tuesday, 10 July 2007

If you are looking to get into shooting of any kind, then read this easy guide. It will give you plenty of hints and tips.

Associations
Associations offer a variety of services including technical, legal and practical advice as well as insurance packages tailored for shooting and related activities. Some will provide legal costs to appeal against police licensing decisions.

Joining an association means your voice will be heard by government and adds weight to their political campaigns for legal firearms ownership.

The British Shooting Sports Council is the umbrella body for shooting sports in the UK and links to its constituent member associations can be found on its website.

Airguns
Airguns are relatively inexpensive and not subject to the same licensing controls as shotguns and rifles.

Air rifles with muzzle energy levels of 12ft-lb or less and air pistols with muzzle energy levels of 6ft-lb or less do not have to be licenced.

Airguns can be used in the garden providing a safe backstop is used to stop pellets leaving the premises. Backstops can be made from easily obtained materials such as old carpets, plywood and newspapers.

The law on air guns and young people is complicated, and the Airgun Training and Education Organisation has an excellent website covering all aspects of airgun use.

Deer
Like any other species, deer need to be managed and the UK's increasing deer population provides wonderful sporting opportunities for hunters.

The law allows someone of 18 or over to borrow and use a rifle under the supervision of the certificate holder. This is a good way of seeing if deer stalking is for you.

Many stalking opportunities are advertised in magazines such as Shooting Times and Shooting Gazette and Sporting Gun magazine.

The BASC stalking scheme offers opportunities for members to stalk in King's Forest, Suffolk and on the Isle of Arran.

Clay pigeon shooting
People who do not have shotgun certificates can still shoot clays at approved venues such as clay grounds and practice ranges, and Game Fairs and country shows.

Learning to shoot is like learning to drive, it's always best to have a series of lessons from a professional coach to stop any bad habits forming.

To find clay grounds and clay pigeon shooting opportunities across the UK take a look at this page of our website.


Books
All of these books are good introductions to the main types of firearms used in sporting shooting.

The Deer Stalking Handbook - Graham Downing
Total Airguns - Pete Wadeson
The Sporting Rifle - Robin Marshall-Ball
The Sporting Shotgun - Robin Marshall-Ball
The Shotgun Handbook - Mike George
Firearms Law: Guidance to the Police 2002 - The Home Office


Insurance
Insurance whilst shooting is not compulsory, but it is common sense to have public liability cover. Many shooting organisations offer insurance as part of their membership benefits.


Shotgun certificates
Any UK resident can apply to the police for a shotgun certificate. This covers smooth-bore guns with barrels longer than 24" which either do not have a magazine or a permanently fixed magazine which cannot hold more than 2 cartridges.

Applicants do not have to prove they have a good reason for acquiring a shotgun, but the police can refuse if they think the reason is not genuine.

Application forms can be obtained from police stations.

Completed forms must be countersigned by a person of some standing in the community; this could be your employer, a professional person, a minister of religion civil servant, bank officer or someone whose name appears in a public work of reference. Countersignatures must be UK residents of good character who have known you for at least two years. Relatives may not countersign.

The police will visit you to interview you about the application and to give advice about the security measures you will need to store your shotgun. Most people find a steel gun cabinet is the best option.

Once you have a shotgun certificate it is valid for 5 years and there is no limit to the number of shotguns you can acquire, providing you store them securely when not in use.

The police cannot put any condition on a shotgun certificate restricting the use of the shotguns to which it relates.


Firearm certificates
Any UK resident can apply to the police for a firearm certificate. This covers rifles and shotguns with magazines which hold more than 2 cartridges.

Applicants must give a good reason for every firearm they wish to acquire. The police will want evidence you have permission to shoot on land. There is no legal requirement to provide written permission, but this may speed up the process if you can.

You must supply the names of two referees, who must be resident in the UK, not members of your immediate family, who are of good character and who have known you for at least two years.

There is no legal requirement to pass any test or undertake any training prior to the grant of a firearm certificate.

Application and referee forms can be obtained from police stations or the forms can be filled in online and printed.

A Firearm Certificate is valid for 5 years and a variation must be obtained before any firearm can be added to it. It will be issued subject to restrictive conditions.

Fees
Grant of firearm certificate: £50.00
Renewal of firearm certificate: £40.00
Grant of shotgun certificate: £50.00
Renewal of shotgun certificate £40.00

Above all - remember to enjoy yourself!

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