Fac Application

[kruby01 114]

My situation is, ive got quite a bit of land to shoot on and I have an air rifle and 12g. A lot of the landowners don't let me use the 12g due to livestock with the noise. I wanted to apply for my FAC anyway but I've only had my SGC for nearly two months so don't know if its too soon to apply or not?

 

I want to apply for .22lr, .17hmr and .22-250 to start and then in time a variation for .308. Or instead of .22-250 and .308 just apply for .243 from the off.

 

My quarry is mainly rabbits and fox and then soon deer hence the bigger calibre in time.

 

The main permissions I want to list are:

 

A hilly 5 acre holding

 

A hilly 35 acre riding centre

 

A downhill 7.5 acre farm

 

A 20 acre flat crop farm

 

A 5 acre downhill riding centre

 

A 20 acre slight uphill crop farm

 

I think I can demonstrate the need for each calibre .22 and .17 for rabbit then either .22-250 or .243 for fox which in time I would either use the .243 for deer or variate for a .308. And the need is that at the moment my air rifle and 12g aren't ideal for the land and quarry I intend to shoot.

 

All I am wondering is in your opinion would the land listed suffice the calibres obviously not the smaller for .243 however the 7.5 acre downhill does have a fox problem that urgently needs controlling and I cannot use the 12g. Also would you put in an application this soon after being granted FAC?

 

Thanks

Billy

[kruby01 114]

After being granted SGC*

[walshie 2,804]

Yes. Apply now, but I'd ask the FEO his advice first. There might be a problem with the land not being considered big enough for a fullbore.

[kruby01 114]

Am I right in thinking that a .22lr and .17hmr are capable of humanely taking a fox but its unlikely to get them listed for that purpose?

[walshie 2,804]

Depends from force to force. Most will accept .17hmr for the purpose, but not .22lr. My FEO (Met) is quite happy for .22lr for fox.

[The one 8,524]

If a lot of the land owners wont let you use a twelve bore will they let you loose with that armory of weapons . I cant see you getting half that due to the size of the permissions as said speak to you F.A.O.

[sussex 5,801]

Have any bits of the land already been cleared for section 1 ?

[kruby01 114]

Armoury? I'm only after three calibres really with good reason for them all.

 

Thanks walshie that makes sense.

 

As far as I am aware none of them are cleared as yet.

 

Thanks

Billy

[Alsone 789]

Yeah but neither .22-250 or .243 are very quiet.

 

If noise was the reason for not allowing you a shotgun they might not been keen on those calibres.

 

Also, the police are a little wary about granting centre fires straight off. Not saying it doesn't happen - I learnt this week that my force won't allow rim fire against fox, so around me if you need fox control they have to grant centre, but many forces prefer you to have rim fire 1st.

 

If you need quiet, .22lr with subs and a moderator is the way to go, near as damn it silent.

Edited July 27, 2013 by Alsone

[DeerhoundLurcherMan 997]

I have 1000 acres to shoot on and applied for .17hmr and .223, I ended up with a .22lr due to lack of experience (I too had an air rifle and sgc for 4 years).

A friend of mine has literally just got his SGC but now he has been out with me he wished he had applied for both SGC and FAC. He phoned the FAO to see what he had to say and he said ideally he would like him to have had his shotgun for 6 months before granting a FAC...

 

Now I do love my new .22lr but it does ricochet like a c**t. If I were you I would go for a rimfire first, if you want to be doing foxes from the off then I would probably apply for the HMR.

 

I got a letter with my certificate which said I had been refused the HMR and .223 due to lack of experience but should ask again in 6-9 months. It would be classed as a free variation.

 

Kent police

[kruby01 114]

Am I right in thinking that a .22lr and .17hmr are capable of humanely taking a fox but its unlikely to get them listed for that purpose?

[DeerhoundLurcherMan 997]

Yes, but I wouldn't shoot a fox further than 60 yards with my .22lr. I have shot 2 or 3 at 60 yards and closer now between the eyes, and although the power is there up to 100 the bullet drops off quickly so I wouldn't be confident in making a clean kill that far.

 

You might struggle to get anything other than a rimfire because of the size of the permissions and being a first grant, and if you want to be shooting foxes out to 100 yards plus then I would be asking for the HMR.

 

Good luck...

[jackg 7]

If you have good reason, they you should get what you want. That is the legal position but plod is a cautious chap and likes to retain their pensions by not taking risks.

BASC have a guide to the application form (101) on the web site: http://www.basc.org.uk/download.cfm/docid/6DADB271-D8D5-4EEF-B71B486DEB7A38C2

What ever the FEO may say get it in writing from the bureau.

Forces should allow 22LR for fox but won't specifically say so on the FAC.

[Alsone 789]

  On 27/07/2013 at 23:15, kruby01 said:

Am I right in thinking that a .22lr and .17hmr are capable of humanely taking a fox but its unlikely to get them listed for that purpose?

 

The Home Office Guidelines don't hold .22lr as good reason for fox.

 

HMR isn't listed as it came out after the guidelines were drawn up but many forces no longer allow .17 HMR either, although most did initially.

 

The guidelines are here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117797/HO-Firearms-Guidance.pdf

 

Page 82 contains calibres vs good reason.

[Beefbeefbeef 10]

  On 27/07/2013 at 23:15, kruby01 said:

Am I right in thinking that a .22lr and .17hmr are capable of humanely taking a fox but its unlikely to get them listed for that purpose?

West Mercia are okay with 17HMR for fox.