Just found th HO guidelines
http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/pub...policing/HO-Firearms-Guidance.pdf?view=Binary
These are dated 2002, I assume they are still current as I cant find any more recent. Here are the parts I thought relevant:
4.7 Section 10(2)(b) of the 1997 Act amends
section 5A(4)(b) of the 1968 Act so that
the use of expanding ammunition is in
connection with the various exempted
purposes. This allows, for example, a deer
stalker or vermin shooter to zero with their
rifle on a range or other suitable land and to
do sufficient training and testing with the
expanding ammunition. It does not allow
them to take part in target shooting or any
competitions, such as running deer using
expanding ammunition. For this reason, the
quantity of expanding ammunition or bullets
for such ammunition which any shooter is
allowed to possess at any one time should
be carefully controlled by the certificate
(see also paragraph 3.17). Consideration
should though be given to each shooter’s
individual circumstances, particularly where
re-loaders are acquiring missiles or where the
shooter is a professional deerstalker.
4.8 The bulk purchase of ammunition for
the purpose of economy is not acceptable as
good reason for possession. Possession of
250 rounds with authority to acquire 200
rounds should generally be regarded as
reasonable (but see paragraphs 4.7 and 13.28 ).
13.28 The shooting of deer is governed by
the Deer Acts which require that deer be
shot with rifle cartridges of particular muzzle
energy and (in Scotland) muzzle velocity and
bullet weight (see Chapter 14 for further
detail). The Deer Acts also require that
“soft nosed or hollow nosed” (expanding)
ammunition, or in the case of Scotland
ammunition “designed to deform in a
predictable manner”, must be used for
shooting deer. Deer stalkers will normally be
authorised to possess up to 250 rounds of
ammunition and to acquire 200 rounds but
account should be taken of individual
circumstances, for example where re-loaders
are acquiring missiles or where the shooter is
a professional deer stalker.
Just waiting for the phone call to see if I need to quote any of this.