Some Basic Question For Noob Please!

[dangerousdan 16]

Hi,

I'm new to shooting and after reading the FAQ stickys at the top I'd just like to ask a few, probably basic, questions! At the moment I shoot sub-12 air rifle at public ranges, but thinking of joining a proper FAC rated rifle club as well.

1. As I understand it, you need to have a valid reason for owning any FAC rated gun, but joining and shooting target at a rifle club would be a valid reason on its own? I'm not too bothered about shooting live quarry (at the moment) so not searching for any permissions and don't intend to for the foreseeable future.

2. If you have an FAC rated air gun, does that mean you can take it to normal public air gun ranges like with my sub-12 air gun, or can you only shoot it at the registered club? Can you shoot a FAC rated air gun in your garden like a sub-12?

3. Could someone please tell me about the different calibres available? .22 & .17 just sound like air rifle pellet sizes to me so I assume they just get shot out out more powerful guns? I realise there are bigger calibres too, like up to .50 size. Do people own guns like this in the UK?

4. How do gun collectors get on with FAC process. The sticky seems to imply that you can only have as many guns as you need. If I joined a shooting club I'd guess I'd only need one gun, but what if I wanted to have a collection of all different guns?

 

5. What if I wanted to do competitions? Are there competitions in these FAC rated categories? Are you allowed to transport your gun and ammo to competitions and shoot at locations not named on your FAC?


Just gaining knowledge for now, haven't approached a club yet.

Thanks
Dan

Edited September 30, 2013 by dangerousdan

[Deker 3,478]

Hi,

 

I'm new to shooting and after reading the FAQ stickys at the top I'd just like to ask a few, probably basic, questions! At the moment I shoot sub-12 air rifle at public ranges, did I miss something here, you shoot at public ranges but don't know calibres .22 and .17 as you mention below, what are you shooting then? but thinking of joining a proper FAC rated rifle club as well. Do you know one then?

 

1. As I understand it, you need to have a valid reason for owning any FAC rated gun, but joining and shooting target at a rifle club would be a valid reason on its own? Yes/No, FAC air is not a generally recognised target tool, you may have a problem getting one granted for this purpose, you may have to move up to .22lr. I'm not too bothered about shooting live quarry (at the moment) so not searching for any permissions and don't intend to for the foreseeable future.

 

2. If you have an FAC rated air gun, does that mean you can take it to normal public air gun ranges like with my sub-12 air gun, It will depend on the conditions on your FAC and the club status/rules or can you only shoot it at the registered club? It will depend on the conditions on your FAC Can you shoot a FAC rated air gun in your garden like a sub-12? If your FAC conditions allow it, but generally unlikely.

 

3. Could someone please tell me about the different calibres available? .22 & .17 just sound like air rifle pellet sizes to me try .177, they are pellet and calibre sizes so I assume they just get shot out out more powerful guns? they get shot out of any .22 or .177 calibre gun I realise there are bigger calibres too, like up to .50 size. Do people own guns like this in the UK? probably, but as they are difficult to find/buy and have little practical use ,not many I'd guess.

4. How do gun collectors get on with FAC process. They get the appropriate FAC condition. The sticky seems to imply that you can only have as many guns as you need. If I joined a shooting club I'd guess I'd only need one gun, but what if I wanted to have a collection of all different guns? You can have as many guns as you can justify on a FAC, need/justify may seem similar, you will find the difference when you ask the nice policeman for lots of guns because you are a collector!

 

5. What if I wanted to do competitions? Are there competitions in these FAC rated categories? No generally recognised ones Are you allowed to transport your gun and ammo to competitions and shoot at locations not named on your FAC? It will depend on the conditions of your FAC, conditions may read ".....at all approved rifle clubs....." but they may not.

 

 

Just gaining knowledge for now, haven't approached a club yet.

 

Thanks

Dan

 

Your basic problem is that FAC Air is not a commonly recognised/allowed/used target tool.

 

[dangerousdan 16]

Hi. Thanks.

 

I do know what .22 and .177 air gun pellet calibers are, but I didnt know about all the available rimfire and centrefire calibers. Cant seem to find a guide to all the calibers.

 

I'm not specifically asking about fac air, I'm asking about fac guns in general. If fac air is not a well recognised area then I wouldn't persue that.

 

In your answer about competitions are you just referring to fac air or fac guns in general? I meant fac in general in my questions.

 

And yes there is a local rifle club but im trying to learn more about it before I commit to the expense.

 

I would like to get involved in long range target shooting thats why im asking all this.

[charlie caller 3,654]

You would be much better imho, getting a .22rf for target shooting, and it will cost you a whole packet less than a fancy fac air rifle, and if you do decide to shoot bunnies ect, then all that is needed is some land passed for the calibre or above, and the condition to shoot vermin added and you are away, I think if you go fac air you are restricting yourself quite a bit.

[dangerousdan 16]

Hi. Thanks. As I said im not swayed towards air at all its just that I dont know anything about proper firearms.

 

In my question 5 above, if I joined a club and got my fac then got a .22 rimfire, could I then go and shoot in competitions in different locations? Do you always need to join a club as a member before you can shoot there? It could get expensive if I wanted to rotate between different clubs.

 

My local club has a 25m range but I can shoot this range with my air rifle. Really I'd like to be doing from 100m at least up to...well anywhere really. 500m target shooting is that realistic? I cant find much information on what different disciplines are available, what calibers are best or how to get into it in the first place.

Edited October 1, 2013 by dangerousdan

[hutchey 147]

this might help

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html

[dangerousdan 16]

this might help

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html

Thanks for the link but its a bit too much for my limited knowledge at the moment. It doesnt seem to mention the commonly quoted .22lr or .17 hmr terminology.

 

I could do with just a basic overview of the calibers and what distance target shooting I can do with them?

Edited October 1, 2013 by dangerousdan

[walshie 2,804]

 

this might help

 

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html

Thanks for the link but its a bit too much for my limited knowledge at the moment. It doesnt seem to mention the commonly quoted .22lr or .17 hmr terminology.

 

I could do with just a basic overview of the calibers and what distance target shooting I can do with them?

 

 

My club doesn't allow hmrs for target shooting. .22lr are o.k for 50 yard ranges, maybe a little longer. .223 3-400 yards, .308 up to 1000 yards.

[dangerousdan 16]

So .17hmr isnt more common for target shooting then like .177 pellets are for air rifle target?

 

Are there places to go / clubs to join / competitions to enter where 300 to 1000 ranges exist and would I be allowed to get those calibers?

[walshie 2,804]

Target shooting air rifles and .177 is probably more popular than .22. If you join the appropriate club you can shoot at those ranges if you want to and enter competitions

.

I'm a member of the NRA and shoot at Bisley in Surrey. They have ranges from 25 yards to 1200 yards there. I'm sure there must be something similar up your way.

[dangerousdan 16]

Anyone know of any long distance ranges around birmingham?

 

Would I be allowed to have a 1000 yard capable gun when only a member of a 25 yard rifle club?

 

Im not talking air rifles here either please.

[walshie 2,804]

Obviously you'd have to be a member of a club suitable for the calibre you want to buy otherwise you wouldn't be able to show good reason for owning it.

[dangerousdan 16]

What if there wasnt a club near me that had a range that long but I travelled a long distance every few months to use it? Or if I only travelled to competitions?

 

Would I then need to be a member of the local club to also have a smaller range rifle to use at that one? So I'd need to join both clubs?? The logistics of it are confusing me.

Edited October 1, 2013 by dangerousdan

[Deker 3,478]

What if there wasnt a club near me that had a range that long but I travelled a long distance every few months to use it? Or if I only travelled to competitions?

 

Would I then need to be a member of the local club to also have a smaller range rifle to use at that one? So I'd need to join both clubs?? The logistics of it are confusing me.

 

As walshie said above, to get a FAC with just a target condition you need to be a member of an approved rifle club for that calibre. That "may" mean you need to join 2 clubs.

[dangerousdan 16]

Seems like it would be alot easier to get an fac gun if I had a few acres to run around on rather than wanting to get involved in a sport discipline.

 

Im getting the sense that I wont be able to just jump straight to very long range target sports? So joining the local 25m range and getting a .22lr is the best way to start?

Edited October 1, 2013 by dangerousdan