Fac air ???

[Jasonbourne 0]

Hi.

New member but been on forum for a while. On my permissions there are plenty of rabbits. I was thinking about getting a new rifle and maybe upgrading into FAC. I have a SGC at the moment and only use a sub 12ft/lbs air rifle at present for bunnies and this is fine for around the 35 yds Mark. There are plenty more at over 50 yds and further. I enjoy stalking and was just gonna use stealth and May be buy a ghillie suit and be happy with that. The land I shoot over is cleared for sec1 but I have never shot a sec1 rifle and I don't know where to start. I am happy with air and would be asking for FACair on the ticket. Should I leave it at that for the moment ?. I would like to venture into the world of FAC rifle ticket but don't want to end up ' gripping the rail' at crown court for a mistake due to inexperience.

Any help or comments please.

Thanks.

[Simonrees 45]

My advice would be to go for either a .17hmr or a .22 LR. Both will give you far better sport. You will also find that a .22 will work out a lot cheaper than an FAC air rifle. If you have concerns about you experience then consider joining a rifle club..

[jackinbox99 41]

My advice would be to go for either a .17hmr or a .22 LR. Both will give you far better sport. You will also find that a .22 will work out a lot cheaper than an FAC air rifle. If you have concerns about you experience then consider joining a rifle club..

 

Totally agree. FAC air has its place but is expensive. Have you seen the prices of FAC air rifles? You can pick up a 22LR for a fraction of the price. Nearly everyone I know totally raves about the 17HMR, so if you are going to go for all the hassle of applying for an FAC, then why not just go the whole hog and get a 17HMR or / and a .22LR. You`ll find both would be much better in the field than FAC air.

 

The only time FAC air may be better is if your permission isnt really suitable for either of the other guns, but then you say its cleared for section 1 already, so there shouldnt be a problem.

[MR TEA POT 1,287]

I was the same as you a couple of years back was going to go for FAC air on ground that was cleared for sec 1,i decided on a .22 RIMFIRE im so glad i did,it worked out cheaper to buy a rimfire then it did a FAC airifle,go for .22, never used a .17 hmr but some lads rave about them so its upto you.

[stillair1 16]

Near impossible to give the best answer as we cannot see the land. All of the above mentioned rifles have their place.

[riflehunter583 58]

if i were you mate i would get a nice 30 odd ft/lb air gun, nice bolt action .22lr and a nice .17hmr if you can aford it. not cheap tho.

 

from what i am learning each type has its place and uses. 2 acres of market garden with a footpath down the side on one of my shoots definatly not hmr teritory but the owner is happy with an airgun. also where i am with 7 acres airgun is much safer and provided there is clear safe space behind the trees i can also take shots at pigeons in trees i would never do this with the rimmfires.

 

600acre hill top farm with loads of crows and wide spaces is rimfire teritory the wind is to much for the fac airgun.

 

i dont have the hmr yet but i do have a nice airwolf mvt fac and a nice bolt action .22lr.

 

i love shooting each and have been shooting both today at 120 yards with great results. in fact i have enjoyed my shooting very much today. i am sure i would not be so happy having done so if using a sub 12ftlb rifle hunting or target shooting. and both guns are zeroed for stalking also if the mood takes with flatter shooting compare to the sub 12ft/lb at closer ranges like 40 yards.

 

i promise you will not regret getting either of the three if you go steady and are careful - treat it as a careful learning experinece.

 

to be fare the air gun is paying for itself now as i must have shot over 20-30,000 pellets out of it over the last 3 years target shooting. i also really enjoy pumping it up with the fx pump which i got for free. filled the 400cc tank 4 times today with it. it improves my fitness and strenght for the sports i play.

 

at the same time the rim fire is cheap to buy and run and very quiet. shooting is more solid a feeling than the fac air. less effected by the wind and more down range power with more chance of bouncing bullets which can go all over the place over dry groudn of off hard objects.

 

perhaps get the gun /s you want then take time to learn the capabilities and down range behavour of the amunition in a very safe place.before taking them onto your shoot. maybe a big range or area of large land with little buildings, people and livestock. once you learn how the guns/ammo behave and the down range power and dangers one becomes more comfortable with the risks involved. if you take it steady and learn the danagers and remain risk allert and self restrained at times you should be fine.

 

hope my rambling helps and you make the choice you want to enjoy your shooting to the max.

[s horsfield 7]

could someone just explain what a section 1 is , thanks

[paulus 26]

if your going to put in for an fac, then apply for every calibre that the ground you shoot is cleared for. this will be the one and only time you get to aquire multiple variations for 1 price. youve got 5 years to aquire them and if you dont, you havent lost anything. where as if you decide to add later each variation will cost you £26. ive got fac air and rimmys as there is places where i carnt risk a 22 slug bouncing or the noise of a 17hmr, so put in for the lot and buy what you need as and when you need it and dont forget to add a modderator for each calibre on the application.

[JonathanKent 16]

Sorry Paulus but thats not strickly true.

 

I don't wish to muddy the water and over-complicate matters but once you have your FAC your can apply for a variation as you say its £26. However when you do the variation it is not £26 for each change or addition on your £26 variation you could apply for as many calibres or changes as you wish.

 

For example you could have an FAC granted for an FAC airrifle on a small peice of land and then get a load of permission and then on your single £26 variation apply for a .22LR a .17HMR and a .243 or as many calibres as you can rightly justify

 

Sorry to be geeky!

 

ATB

Jonno

[JonathanKent 16]

S Horsfield a 'Section 1' is any gun which needs to be held on an fire arms certificate (FAC) this ranges from a air-rifle which puts out a pelet at over 12 foot pounds to any gun with a rifled barrel, or a shot gun which hold more than a 3 round capacty all the way up to a tank with a rifled barrel (believe it or not I have 4 friend who all have their tanks on their firearms certificate!!)

 

Hope that helps

 

Jonno

[paulus 26]

Sorry Paulus but thats not strickly true.

 

I don't wish to muddy the water and over-complicate matters but once you have your FAC your can apply for a variation as you say its £26. However when you do the variation it is not £26 for each change or addition on your £26 variation you could apply for as many calibres or changes as you wish.

 

For example you could have an FAC granted for an FAC airrifle on a small peice of land and then get a load of permission and then on your single £26 variation apply for a .22LR a .17HMR and a .243 or as many calibres as you can rightly justify

 

Sorry to be geeky!

 

ATB

Jonno

either way if he applies for all the calibres the land is passed for then he wont need to do another variation and so save £26,

[Rake aboot 4,936]

I put fac air on my first ticket,, but I also had 22lr, once I got the CZ452,I forgot all about fac air, so it came of the ticket at last renewal as never used.

 

Now I need an FAC air rifle so will have to fork oot the 26 quid to add it. and find somebody to tune ma bloody falcon.

[paulus 26]

I put fac air on my first ticket,, but I also had 22lr, once I got the CZ452,I forgot all about fac air, so it came of the ticket at last renewal as never used.

 

Now I need an FAC air rifle so will have to fork oot the 26 quid to add it. and find somebody to tune ma bloody falcon.

i always keep an fac air just for places i carnt use the rimmy, would be better to buy an fac one as if you have yours put up you will devalue it.

[The Duncan 802]

Never felt the need to go fac air as my 12 fpe pcp handles anything out to 45 yards, my rimmie out to 75 yards and my .17hmr takes over beyond that range.

If I had land that needed more 'legs' than a legal limit air rifle, but less down range oomph than a rimfire, I guess I'd get fac air.

 

Remember that the hummer goes off with quite a crack, which can limit its uses.

[stevethefish 80]

Sod the fac air rifle, had a few and still gone back to the .22lr and .17hmr. The .22lr with subs in is pretty much like a high powered air rifle but better all round it hits a 5p at 70- yards every time. I would just go for a ,22lr and .17hmr and you have it all covered, get the CZ's they are cheap and brilliant workhorses.