Anyone Shoot?

[AcidHouse]

So, seeing as the American's seem to have all the fun with the firearms laws and we are stuck jumping through countless hoops - does anyone own some firearms themselves?

I'm looking at an air rifle currently, to be replaced next year by a few shotguns and a rifle or two depending on what permissions I can get from our local Firearms Officer's. Hopefully it won't be too much of an issue and I can demonstrate that I am safe and proficient while acquiring shooting permissions throughout the county. I can't see pistol's making a comeback or anything fully automatic but I have my eye on a few shotguns I like the look of and a particular rifle (Ruger 10/22 if anyone is interested!). Hopefully these will help me get some good fieldcraft that I can apply and will feed me, although an air rifle should be enough if the rabbit population doesn't become a problem.

So, to conclude, any firearms and what do you use them for? Pictures are glady welcome!

[Big and Daft]

Yeah, I have both a SGC and a FAC, I use the firearms for target shooting - here are some pics:

My newest toy is a FAC shotgun, a Hatsan MP-A24 in 12g. This isn't mine, but I haven't taken any pictures yet;


Remington 700 in .308 with an AICS fitted;


Marlin 1894c in .357;


Pietta 1858 BP pistol in .44;


I also have a Hatsan Escort pump action shotgun, but since I got the new one I'm looking at selling it as I need the cash.

[loimprevisto]

I had to leave all my guns at home when I moved over. If anyone is particularly familiar with the laws and paperwork I would appreciate advice on how to go about having my bolt-action .22 shipped over legally, or to buy one in-country if that would be easier. My daughter is almost old enough to learn to shoot, and I think it would be neat to teach her with the same gun my dad taught me to shoot with. My wife is also interested in trap/skeet shooting, but we never made time for it when we were in Louisiana.

[the_alias]

Acidhouse and loimprestivo have a read of this should break it down nicely for you viewtopic.php?f=80&t=46928

[Svothe]

I have two shotguns on my SGC A Beretta Silver Pigeon 12 Gauge and a Fabarm 12 Gauge that my friend has given me (sadly he is in jail and so isn't allowed firearms now or when he comes out so he gave it to me.) No pictures as of yet, I will try and snap some next time I go out shooting.

Also got a Weihrauch 97K Air Rifle in .177 and a knackered old BSA Meteor in .22

[AcidHouse]

Well I am hoping to get a nice air rifle shortly - possibly a PCP and a stirrup pump to charge it on. I plan to learn my hunting technique over autumn/winter and then apply for a SGC or FAC in Spring next year.

The air rifle will be either an Air Arms S410, Air Arms S510 or BSA R10. Currently nothing has taken the lead!

[Svothe]

Hey don't discount the Webley Raider 10. 10 Shot PCP and its the cheapest PCP available in europe at only £300 pretty sexy piece of kit and fires bloody well too.

[AcidHouse]

I haven't discounted any. My friend has bought one of them actually but I doubt that I'll be buying anything before September/October time anyway as I want to prepare a solid BOB/BOL firstly. I do like the shrouded barrell on the S510/R10 though although they would still need a silencer to effectively hunt with them.

[Svothe]

Haha don't worry about silencing a PCP. Trust me not sure about the others but the Raider I shot was literally silent. The noise you hear is the pellet hitting the target. There is absolutely no recoil and these two factors are so amazing that when shooting it sometimes I had to check to make sure the rifle had genuinely shot. Quietest gun I have ever heard.

[AcidHouse]

I have shot the models and although quiet, not quite silent so a moderator would be a good investment if I'm trying to take out multiple rabbits/birds that are in a group. Hopefully this WILL make it silent and with the lack of any recoil I'm hoping for easy pickings!

[Apache]

Both myself and the girlfriend shoot. Mixture of clays, bunnies, crows, deer and a little bit of game.

Between us we have 10 shotguns and 2 rifles and a free bullet humane killer. A handful of the shotguns were given to us when a relative left the country. My nice gun is a Beretta Silver Pigeon III (sporter) and I bought a Beretta Perennia III that was a daft price, and I will put it down against another rifle.

Keep meaning to put in for a variation on my firearms, the 'wish list' includes:
FAC Shotgun
.308 Rifle
22-250 rifle
possibly a second humane killer as looking at buying the practice and at times it is so vital we could use a spare (may ask for it to be conditioned for following up deer too)

Don't be put off by UK firearms rules, if you have your head screwed on, secure storage and have a good reason you can have pretty much what you want. I know people with well over a dozen rifles.

[demonwolf444]

Yeah, I have both a SGC and a FAC, I use the firearms for target shooting - here are some pics:

My newest toy is a FAC shotgun, a Hatsan MP-A24 in 12g. This isn't mine, but I haven't taken any pictures yet;


Remington 700 in .308 with an AICS fitted;


Marlin 1894c in .357;


Pietta 1858 BP pistol in .44;


I also have a Hatsan Escort pump action shotgun, but since I got the new one I'm looking at selling it as I need the cash.

They are some nice guns. I was wondering what you have written on your FAC for your BP pistol as ive always fancyed one, what are the conditions ( can you only shoot it at the range? ) I have a shotgun winchester supergrade ( very old ) 101, a BSA mercury .22 springer 3-9 x 50( Old ) a Norica .22 springer 3-9 x 40( Extrmely old) and an SMK 15 .177 springer 4 x 32 ( new ish), and a Gamo p23 Co2 pistol, thinking of getting a crossman 1066 in .177 as its a nice very light weight semi auto plinker, and i want to get a flintlock musket on my SGC to use as i shotgun, want to apply for fac soon and get a BP pistol, something ive always wanted to get into, and 17 hmr, and a 357 under lever for the range want to get into action shooting or target shooting.... ahh the list keeps growing going to take a few years to get that sorted.

[AcidHouse]

Well, just a quick update on my part as OP. I have decided to completely bypass air rifles as I can basically get myself shooting shotguns for 3/4's of the price. My cabinet is installed, application sent off and the local FEO of is visiting Tuesday to fill out his paper work.

All moving smoothly and after getting the cabinet installed today I cannot wait to purchase my first shotgun. I *think* I am decided on a Hatsan Escort in a Mossy Oak paint-job. Can't believe they can be picked up for under £400 new and I have used one which I get on very well with.

[Svothe]

If your looking for pump guns don't rule out the Mossberg 500 and 590. They can be picked up new in the region of £400.
http://www.saddleryandgunroom.co.uk/gun ... ssberg.php

[Apache]

All moving smoothly and after getting the cabinet installed today I cannot wait to purchase my first shotgun. I *think* I am decided on a Hatsan Escort in a Mossy Oak paint-job. Can't believe they can be picked up for under £400 new and I have used one which I get on very well with.

The Hatsans are love or hate. I was in a RFD when someone brought one in that the choke had blown out of. I know of places that stopped selling them due to the number coming back.

You would be much better getting an older Beretta 300 series or another 2nd hand decent gun. There seem to be some good Escorts but I have heard more complaints about them than every other gun put together.

They don't call them Hat Stands for nothing.

[Witch Doctor]

I would love to get a rifle, being ex-military, but from what I've heard, the fact that I'm on 'happy' pills at the moment means that I wouldn't get the licence

[Svothe]

lol @ Hat Stands but yeah never fired one myself but heard good and bad comments. Seriously though like I said check out the Mossberg 500 very reliable pump gun known all over the world. I'm sure the US ZombieSquaders can very much vouch for its awesomeness.

[demonwolf444]

got a friend, and he has a hatsan pump ( could be semi ) that he uses for roost shooting, his dad cleans all their guns prolifically ( ex mil ) so they are all in pristene condition, however he only has bad things to say about it, the nickle flinish seems to "flake" off and it drives him crazy, He had now sold it and i think is gettting a nice O/U, just his experience with it.

[lailr]

So from the aforementioned post, it does not look impossible to get a firearm in the U.K.....you just have to jump through hoops, and you can't get as much cool stuff as in the U.S.....seeing as my wife and I have thought about relocating in the U.K., how hard is it for a foreigner to get a liscense?

[Mephiston2k]

Yup I shoot, I'm a member of a rifle club here in the UK.

Shoot mostly on MoD gallery ranges, Kingsbury, Sennybridge and some others.

I own a Remington 700 PSS in .308, with a Jackson 2 stage trigger, Badger 20moa rail, Nightforce Scope and a Jet Z (heavy but effective) moderator.

Oh yes by the way, you can own .338 and .50cals in this country provided you are a member of a club. The club I am part of is ran by / part of the UK's only .50cal club. (I think its the only one!)

[fourpaws]

Thats a nice looking long youve got there... Ive just downloaded my firearms licensing forms and they'll be in the post quicker than a quick thing.. then.. all being well.. a nice visit from my Licensing Officer when I get home to look at my cabinet, a few good days at the local range here in Worcester (Norton Gun Club) and then a happy trip to my local gunsmith.. and then eventually, something in .308 to drool over in my cabinet...

[Mephiston2k]

Theres a few nice options for .308's these days. Depends on your budget though admittedly. I partly wish I'd bought one of the Steyr SSG 04's while they were still £1400 now they're £2400!

Remingtons to be fair are good and reliable. Lots of options for improvements too.

[fourpaws]

oh my ! oh my !! ... now thats a GORGEOUS looking piece.. I had to google that SSG 04... wish I hadn't now.. how much would I love to get my sticky mitts on that and a couple of hundred rounds..

Didn't realise that you were allowed magazine fed rifles though... thats made me smile !

[Mephiston2k]

Its not the magazine which is an issue, its how rapid a firearm can be used. It has to be single shot only, no semi auto's apart from .22 rimfires and shotguns, certainly no automatics.

I can convert my rifle to house a magazine however its pointless, as I'm only shooting targets and sharing 1 most the time. This allows it a few mins to cool down between shots, conserve ammo a little and allows plenty of time for clearing and placing a new round in the chamber.

Its also best to not put the bolt back in and to leave the round sitting in the top for as long as possible, as a hot rifle or one which has fired a few shots will heat up the powder within etc. This will change performance.... which when you're looking for consistency is a pain in the ass.