Changed Times

[Terryorr 27]

10 years or more ago in Northern Ireland it was difficult to get a .22lr on your Firearms Certificate. (Even farmers and Landowners needed a helluva good reason). Now it is so much more relaxed you can have almost any calibre you wish as long as you can justify having it. A young lad I know never shot in his life and when he turned 18 he applied and got a .22 magnum. There was nothing stopping him going for a much more powerful centre fire such as ,223 or .22/250. I am certainly in favour of young men getting into the sport but it just shows how times have changed!

[charlie caller 3,654]

And I am also all for young lads getting into the sport, but if I was issuing the ticket, I would like to see a bit of shooting experience first, or a letter at least from somebody experienced to say they will keep an eye on him.

[Terryorr 27]

Good point Charlie caller, there is actually a condition that comes with a new certificate that states the new holder must be supervised by someone who has same calibre for a period of 6 months.

[DeerhoundLurcherMan 997]

I've had my FAC about 18 months, I originally applied for a .17HMR and a .223 and was knocked back due to not having enough experience, I had only owned shotguns and air rifles before...I was granted a .22lr... At the time I was gutted and thought if your safe with a rifle your safe with any rifle.

 

But after shooting my .22lr for a year, and now just having had my .223 for a week, looking back it was defiantly the right decision by the FAO...

[celticrusader 78]

Yes similar to me mate and I agree, sadly there is no way of prooving Previous experience without them having a paper trail of evidence.