FAC for target shooting & vermin control??

[HermanE 0]

Hi all!

 

I am trying to get my land shooting rights sorted out, but wouldn't mind doing some target shooting at my local club as well, seeing as one of the guns will definately be a .22 rimfire.

My question is, if I get granted land permission and apply for a FAC with that, can I use my .22 at the target range?

And more importantly, if I don't get shooting rights sorted right now and eventually get my FAC via the target shooting, can I use the rifle for vermin control (with a letter of permission obviously)?

 

Thanks for any help!

[dynamoio 0]

This is similar to the same quandary I'm in.

 

I already shoot .22 @ 25M for target practice and .223 up to 500yds on the military range. I'm soon to apply for my FAC and have also been granted permission for vermin control on 50 acres.

 

I'll be seeing a few club members this weekend at the 25M range, I'll try and get as much advice as I can and post back.

[HermanE 0]

This is similar to the same quandary I'm in.

 

I already shoot .22 @ 25M for target practice and .223 up to 500yds on the military range. I'm soon to apply for my FAC and have also been granted permission for vermin control on 50 acres.

 

I'll be seeing a few club members this weekend at the 25M range, I'll try and get as much advice as I can and post back.

 

Thanks for that!

If I have to choose between the two, then vermin control it is, but being new to the area I only have 1 possible contact with which to start, but my trigger finger is itching, and target shooting is always fun!

[SportingShooter 0]

You will need to do a probation in a Rifle club and become a full member normally before they grant you an FAC and before your secretary will countersign it.

 

For vermin, then you will need a letter of permission to shoot the land and shoot the calibres you want.

 

You can have both on your ticket, either adding one or the other later on if you dont get them sorted in time together.

 

Regards

SS

[Deker 3,478]

You CANNOT Target shoot if you have the gun for Vermin control...and you CANNOT vermin control if you have the gun for target use.

 

It does not matter how experienced you are at anything...you cannot do it until your FAC says you can! (and don't forget to add Zeroing for ALL guns as well!!!)

 

Any doubt just talk to your FEO!

 

[dynamoio 0]

Thanks Deker & SS.

 

Will check everything before committing to my FAC application. I'm arranging a letter of permission, the FEO already knows the person granting me permission as they've a SG cert. I'm a full member of one club, and will be full member of my 2nd club end of next month.

 

It would seem then I'd be best off that my vermin .22/17 is just and only that. To carry on 25M Target, I'll need a 2nd rifle. same applies for CF for foxing / distance target. Bugger, things gonna get expensive.....

 

For the 'Zeroing' for all guns - surely is this to be done at the range? And if so, how much 'Zeroing' before it's considered target practice! The next few months are gonna be a headache!

[Mr_Logic 5]

You can put zeroing down as much as you like, meaning you can shoot your field guns at the range. But, you can't do competitions etc should you wish to until you're a full member because that counts as target shooting.

[HermanE 0]

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated!

I am really not that fussed about shooting target comp anyway, but would love having the option to shoot at a range if I wanted to, so will concentrate on getting that land permission sorted.

 

Anyone in the Aberdeen area that has a rabbit/fox problem???...... I had to try....

[Deker 3,478]

Thanks Deker & SS.

 

Will check everything before committing to my FAC application. I'm arranging a letter of permission, the FEO already knows the person granting me permission as they've a SG cert. I'm a full member of one club, and will be full member of my 2nd club end of next month.

 

It would seem then I'd be best off that my vermin .22/17 is just and only that. To carry on 25M Target, I'll need a 2nd rifle. same applies for CF for foxing / distance target. Bugger, things gonna get expensive.....

 

For the 'Zeroing' for all guns - surely is this to be done at the range? And if so, how much 'Zeroing' before it's considered target practice! The next few months are gonna be a headache!

 

 

If you have a gun for Vermin work and NOT target work, then the likelyhood is you will have to zero on one of your permissions and not down a range.

 

If you only have the rifle for vermin work and you have not listed Zeroing and (in the unlikely event you are caught by the police) you have commited a firearms offence. It might sound daft ... many of the firearms laws are...but it is still not a good idea to go round breaking them!!!

 

In simple terms ZEROING shoud be on EVERY FAC for every gun they hold ..WHATEVER it's use! (excepting perhaps one or two specific slaughtering tools).

[Mr_Logic 5]

I had on my ticket explicit permission to zero on ranges before i was a member of a club (the second time round) so it's fine, but that clause will need to be there.

[JOE BLOCKY 0]

if i have got vermin control and target shooting on my fac, cant i put a target up on the land that i am hunting on and shoot it ??

[Mr_Logic 5]

yes, anyone with vermin can do that, it's zeroing

[Flintlock 0]

I have been a target shooter for many years and have only just applied for vermin control on my FAC.

 

When my FAC returned from variation, the phrase "and for ZEROING on RANGES or LAND at...... and on any other land deemed suitable by the Chief Officer of Police for the area where the land is situated and over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot." was printed as an additional condition no.5. (The capitals are as shown on my FAC.)

 

I didn't have to ask for zeroing. (I didn't think to ask for zeroing, to be perfectly honest. I assumed I would do it at my shooting club on the range.) When I saw it on my FAC I assumed it was granted automatically. It seems logical that anyone shooting vermin should be allowed to zero. How else would you hit your quarry accurately if you changed your brand of ammo or fitted a new scope? If it isn't automatically granted then I think it should be. Perhaps BASC could be approached to consult with the Police on this matter? It seems silly to put people into a situation where they could innocently break the law through an oversight or lack of detailed knowledge of the Firearms Act.

[Mr_Logic 5]

It seems silly to put people into a situation where they could innocently break the law through an oversight or lack of detailed knowledge of the Firearms Act.

But... you said you'd been shooting for many years....

[Flintlock 0]

But... you said you'd been shooting for many years....

You got me on that one!

There are quite a few man-traps out there for the unwary!

Wouldn't it be nice if everything were handled sensibly, simply, and sensitively?

 

I have to admit that my local team here in Surrey do seem to do exactly that, and I can add helpful, and willing to take the time to answer questions carefully and accurately too.