Best .223 £500-1000

[KimE 487]

"When looking up Tikka ive spotted Sako, that they are from the same manufacturer but sako has better quality components. So now my dilemma is tikka or sako "

Both Sako and Tikka are made in Riihimäki now, Sako are very nice you could get a Sako s20 with aluminium frame stock or a quality Fiberclass stocked 85 for precision but now its 2000€ for only the rifle. 

"As far as a rifle, Mossberg Patriots are like $300 here all day. Again not sure about y'all. But my .243 only needed two days worth of load development to get nice fast sub MOA groups to the point it's pretty boring imo."

Yes for 300$ it would be an easy choise but for 900$ as the patriot costs here and its not as easy to buy more rifles in Europe it may be better to buy a more expensive rifle which you think stay with you for a long time. Still as Mossberg are the only manufactorer with a Swedish flag on it it would be worth to have.

Edited September 10, 2021 by KimE

[Alsone 789]

.223 wouldn't be my 1st thought for long range, probably .22-250 or .204 = flatter and faster with more energy.

Also, it depends on what your FEO will allow. You can pick a calibre, any calibre, but whether your FEO will allow it is another matter. Also, note the Firearms Guidelines which generally draw the line @ .243 although they're not rigid and some forces may allow larger calibres for extreme range whilst others won't grant over .223. Best decide which suits you best then talk to your FEO if he will allow it.

I have some friends with a Remmington 700 and once they replaced the trigger which was crap, they think it's a brilliant gun. Howa, Tikka, Sako all good brands.

 

Edited September 11, 2021 by Alsone

[Stone14 9]

3 hours ago, Alsone said:

.223 wouldn't be my 1st thought for long range, probably .22-250 or .204 = flatter and faster with more energy.

Also, it depends on what your FEO will allow. You can pick a calibre, any calibre, but whether your FEO will allow it is another matter. Also, note the Firearms Guidelines which generally draw the line @ .243 although they're not rigid and some forces may allow larger calibres for extreme range whilst others won't grant over .223. Best decide which suits you best then talk to your FEO if he will allow it.

I have some friends with a Remmington 700 and once they replaced the trigger which was crap, they think it's a brilliant gun. Howa, Tikka, Sako all good brands.

 

Ah so after you get your fac you still can't just buy any gun thats legal in the UK, its dependant on what calibre the local police force will permit to your fac?

[Stavross 15,790]

33 minutes ago, Stone14 said:

Ah so after you get your fac you still can't just buy any gun thats legal in the UK, its dependant on what calibre the local police force will permit to your fac?

I don’t mean to put you down and don’t take this the wrong way as I know we all have to start somewhere but if you are thinking of applying for FAC you really need to gather as much information and preferably experience with firearms as you can before you apply, it’s not as straight forward as filling out a form for what you think you want and away you go, 90% of firearms departments will not grant centrefire on first application, most people start with rimfire, even with rimfire you must have suitable land and a genuine reason for possessing that firearm, if you don’t have land to shoot on or someone to take you out and show you the ropes then rifle clubs are a good way to gain experience and meet likeminded people who will help you, don’t be put off by how long this may take you to get to where you want to be, possession of firearms is not an overnight thing 

if you have any questions you can always ask in this section and someone will always give you their opinion and maybe some good advice 

[BenBhoy 4,706]

8 hours ago, Stavross said:

maybe some good advice

Or maybe take the pisś & go totally off topic with inuendo! 

[Stone14 9]

9 hours ago, Stavross said:

I don’t mean to put you down and don’t take this the wrong way as I know we all have to start somewhere but if you are thinking of applying for FAC you really need to gather as much information and preferably experience with firearms as you can before you apply, it’s not as straight forward as filling out a form for what you think you want and away you go, 90% of firearms departments will not grant centrefire on first application, most people start with rimfire, even with rimfire you must have suitable land and a genuine reason for possessing that firearm, if you don’t have land to shoot on or someone to take you out and show you the ropes then rifle clubs are a good way to gain experience and meet likeminded people who will help you, don’t be put off by how long this may take you to get to where you want to be, possession of firearms is not an overnight thing 

if you have any questions you can always ask in this section and someone will always give you their opinion and maybe some good advice 

Yeah I completely understand, im not looking to get my fac any time soon, im looking to join a club and take lessons. Just looking into equipt because that's an exciting part of it for me and I want to know what I want, for the budget I have, when the time comes, when I have my fac, and ready to start purchasing equipt. So im doing alot of research and preparation, which explains all my noob questions lol. I'm just eager atm.

Edited September 12, 2021 by Stone14

[Alsone 789]

As Stav says it's not as simple as filling out a form and getting a gun. In the US maybe, in the UK, there is a long list of requirements and severe restrictions.

You cannot hold a firearm certificate if you have certain convictions. Some others may restrict your ability to get one. Violence inculding domestic and road rage may also prevent you holding a certificate even if it doesn't involve a conviction. 

You will have security requirements to jump through which will include installing a gun safe to BS standards in an approved location and possibly an alarm or high security locks on your home, depending on the area you live in.

Even then, yes getting an FAC does not mean you can simply buy any firearm you want. You have to apply for a specific calibre and be able to show a good legal reason for holding that calibre. eg. You'll never get a .50bmg for rabbit hunting! You have to apply for something within the calibre guidelines (usually) and show good reason for requiring it.

Note what Stav said about many forces restricting you to Rimfire 1st. Not strictly legal, but many make their own rules up and unless you're prepared to risk £10k+ in a Court case for an appeal, which you may lose, then you're pretty much stuck with what they decide.

If granted you can buy 1 rifle of that calibre and the serial number of the rifle is recorded at the Registered Firearms Dealer along with the sale against your certificate and details which then go on the police records so they can see what rifles you hold. The same with ammo. All sales and quantities are recorded. Your photo is put on the PNC and your house and you flagged as holding firearms.Your doctor will also flag up your medical records as a firearms holder. If the police have to attend your home for an "incident", even if not firearms related, you may face an armed response. It may also result in revokation of your certificate as may any others instances of violence or instability or even minor infractions of the law eg speeding.

The certificate will specify how many rounds of ammunition you can purchase or hold. They will restrict you to what they consider to be the maximum you need which will be the minimum they can get away with. You will probably be restricted in the number you can buy at any one time. If you want another rifle, or a different claibre, you will have to apply for a variation to see if the police will permit a 2nd rifle or a different calibre. They will decide if you can hold a calibre or not again based on you showing a good reason as to why you need an additonal rifle.

The UK is not an easy place to obtain or hold a firearm and with good reason.

The above is not meant to be comprehensive nor a legally correct guide, only my understanding. As ever, if in doubt consult a Firearms Solicitor.

[Stavross 15,790]

Much of it comes down to what type of shooting you want to be involved in, are you interested in target/range shooting, pest control, rabbits, foxes and the likes ( even though fox shooting has become its own sport now, it’s still pest control to me ), deer stalking or a mix of them all, if you are interested in joining a club then you will start off with.22LR  using club rifles gaining knowledge, skills and safe practice of handling a firearm, over a period of time being a member of a club and proving you are the right sort of person to possess a firearm you will be granted a FAC allowing you to keep your own rifle at home , ( probably a rimfire and on a closed ticket only allowing you to use it at the club ) another way is to have permission to shoot on someone’s land for pest control but again very rarely will you get centrefire on first  application and the land will have to be cleared for whatever calibre you want to put on it, do you know anyone who shoots that would allow you to go with them, not to shoot but just to watch and maybe open gates and carry there gear?