Questions about applying for FAC.

[LordGamebore 0]

How many rounds of ammo should I ask for?

 

Also, would it affect my application if I ask for more than one caliber for my first ticket, i.e 22lr, 17HMR, FAC Air?

[njc110381 0]

If you can show a genuine need for more than one calibre then there's no reason you shouldn't get them. I got .22lr, .17HMR and 6.5x55 on my first application.

 

I'd suggest you drop the FAC air and perhaps ask for a .22lr and .223. That will give you a good quiet gun where your normal air rifle is out of it's depth and a good humane Fox gun. If you think you may need to shoot Deer too then sub the .223 for .243.

[LordGamebore 0]

If you can show a genuine need for more than one calibre then there's no reason you shouldn't get them. I got .22lr, .17HMR and 6.5x55 on my first application.

 

I'd suggest you drop the FAC air and perhaps ask for a .22lr and .223. That will give you a good quiet gun where your normal air rifle is out of it's depth and a good humane Fox gun. If you think you may need to shoot Deer too then sub the .223 for .243.

 

 

You think I'd get a .223 on my first application, without a mentor? The estae I shoot does have a fox problem so I guess I could dow with a centerfire. Not sure I'd get it though.

 

I don't want to appear to eager, nor do I want to have a mentor.

[njc110381 0]

A .223 is hardly a cannon. Depending on your force I'd expect them to be ok with it if you say you need to shoot Foxes. I'm in Gloucestershire and a mate of mine put in for a HMR, then a matter of a couple of months later got a .223 and then a .308. No mentoring involved.

 

Apart from a Hornet the .223 is at the lower end of the power scale of centrefires so I can't see it being an unreasonable request. If it came down to it though do you have anyone who would be willing to mentor you? It feels like a pain to start with but really it's only a matter of a couple of months and a few boxes of ammo and your mentor could sign you off as safe anyway. Better to have a rifle with restrictions than to not have it at all, and in fact I still shoot with my mentor now and again even though I don't need to!

 

I suggest that you apply for one and see what's said at the interview. My home visits have always been friendly experiences and usually the guy who comes out is really helpful. Put it to them that you need to shoot Foxes and you've been advised by more experienced shooters that a rimfire isn't ideal, so have asked for a .223 as it's one of the slower .22 centrefires. If you make it look like you know there are bigger options but are trying to keep things to a minimum as you're new to shooting they may well just let you have it because you're trying not to push your luck. If they say no it wont cause any problems for the rimfire, they'll just scribble out the .223 on the paperwork and ask you to get back to them in a few months.