Shooting Giffards

[grahamrob]

Is it the case with modern air rifles that when you put them on an FAC they stay that way? not sure how that works with antique air rifles.

[springfieldm6]

If you look at para 8.6 and 8.7 of the Home Office Guidance on Firearms Licensing it says firearms can be held on licence for the purposes of collecting and occasional firing, so you won’t necessarily need target shooting as good reason.

[AC all day]

I have an aircane...my Firearms team are happy it's antique and off ticket, I have been told I can legally check its function by shooting, but no more than a couple of shots a year.

[springfieldm6]

I think your firearms team may have advised incorrectly…when it’s not on FAC it can’t be fired, regardless of it being an antique. The HO guidance does refer to occasional firing, but only when on ticket.

[Maple]

I think your firearms team may have advised incorrectly…when it’s not on FAC it can’t be fired, regardless of it being an antique. The HO guidance does refer to occasional firing, but only when on ticket.

I also think that this is right. A pal of mine who has a few air canes was told emphatically by his FLO that he must not fire them unless he adds them to his certificate.
I suspect that it's a case of different areas interpreting actual law differently. Not at all helpful to owners !

[keith66]

Is it the case with modern air rifles that when you put them on an FAC they stay that way? not sure how that works with antique air rifles.

Yes modern air rifles its a case that once a firearm always a firearm. This is why putting a modern air rifle on fac will reduce the value, Only route off ticket is deactivation or destruction of reciever & barrel.
With an antique or section 58 it can be held without ticket as antique or obsolete calibre but you cannot shoot it without the requisite ticket.
If you want to revert to not using it or sell as antique it can be removed from your ticket. Best not have any live ammo for it in your posession though!

One crazy aspect of this is that our yacht club uses two Winchester signal cannons to start races, Obsolete 10 bore calibre. They used to live on a shelf above the bar on full display. Today they have to be locked away & one of the club officers holds an fac for them. Only they can technicaly access & use them. Yet take them off ticket & they can go back on their shelf behind the bar!
The intent to use is the key.

It may be that this aspect of the rules may be tightened up on by government one day, in the meantime it means a lot of guns can be still be shot without deactivating them afterwards!

[Unframed Dave]

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't aware of this.

Dave