A pick of the collective brain...... It’s finally purchase time!

[Big_Sparky]

How’do All!

Well, finally managed to line days off up with my local FEO and had my visit last week - in comparison to a lot of experiences of others around the country - what a lovely fella and a totally painless experience! (But I guess that’s another topic for another day!) The end result though - he was more than happy with everything, had already done all the background work and has put big ticks in boxes and said that he’d expect my first grant to arrive ASAP and suggested if I wanted to get something ordered/put a deposit down etc there’d be no issues. So, in the next week or so I should be all ready to go for a .308 and a .22LR. There’s rakes of used .22 setups kicking about, and for not a lot of money, so I’m less worried about that. However, as per some of my previous posts - the plan is to get right the purchase of a .308 setup for stalking with the major caveat of I really need a left handed rifle and all within a £1000 budget.

Having taken into account a lot of replies and information when I previously asked about Tikka T3 etc I’m more than happy with my earlier concerns but wanted to just ask you all (well the more sensible among you for an opinion on 2 rifles I’ve seen advertised and also a more general question as to RFD pricing.

So.... first off is a complete Tikka set up - looks the part and ready to go and within budget.

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Second, has just appeared online today - a used Titan 6. Again - looks in great condition - has a scope but no MOD or bipod etc but also a fair lump cheaper so could obviously still buy those within budget if not well within.

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The dealers website has some pictures - I’ll sort a link to that shortly! (Just running out the door to go and do a lovely day off job!!)

Finally, (if you’re still awake and reading....) the general question - do you “expect” and RFD to have money to play with and if so roughly an idea of percentage? To qualify that - when I first left the army I used to sell cars for a little while and You can usually work out what sort of margin a used car dealer has and what you’ve got to barter with etc - so would you expect a similar experience at an RFD or would the price advertised be the price!

Many thanks as ever!!

 

[Markfox]

I’m surprised he said put a deposit down before you’ve got your licence, that’s a bit of bad advice from him as technically you should have a authorisation on your licence just to put a deposit down


I’d go Tikka T3 synthetic you’ll be more than happy with that

Although I do prefer something a bit heavier to soak up recoil

 

[Harry mac]

I worked (unpaid) briefly in a gun shop a few years ago, and the margin on new rifles can be very small. Used rifles, bought into the shop, on the other hand.......
Glad to see you've gone for something light for the stalking rifle. I've seen too many "new" guys be drawn to the heavy barrelled varmint or tactical style rifles only to be constantly complaining how heavy they are when stalking.

 

[Highlandsjohn]

So.... first off is a complete Tikka set up - looks the part and ready to go and within budget.

If the bore is good this would be my choice (speaking from personal experience of the 243 LH and the same scope)..

 

[Big_Sparky]

I’m surprised he said put a deposit down before you’ve got your licence, that’s a bit of bad advice from him as technically you should have a authorisation on your licence just to put a deposit down


I’d go Tikka T3 synthetic you’ll be more than happy with that

Although I do prefer something a bit heavier to soak up recoil

Fair one - he was generally very laid back about the whole process to be honest - possibly the nature of a country bobby! But I’ll certainly take that onboard - maybe worth just hanging on for the actual licence then. Cheers!

 

[Big_Sparky]

I worked (unpaid) briefly in a gun shop a few years ago, and the margin on new rifles can be very small. Used rifles, bought into the shop, on the other hand.......
Glad to see you've gone for something light for the stalking rifle. I've seen too many "new" guys be drawn to the heavy barrelled varmint or tactical style rifles only to be constantly complaining how heavy they are when stalking.

I see! Thanks. To be fair I’ve tried comparing with RH models as there’s obviously more on the market just to get an idea of where the price “should” be.

The weight/feel etc has been the subject on many of my earlier questions - as an ex Forces fellow I’m used to something with a bit of substance to it so was quite surprised the first time I held a synthetic Tikka but I’ve taken lots of comments on board and tried to remember I’m now older and fatter

 

[Big_Sparky]

So.... first off is a complete Tikka set up - looks the part and ready to go and within budget.

If the bore is good this would be my choice (speaking from personal experience of the 243 LH and the same scope)..

Would you take an RFD’s word for that John? Or agree a sale or return if the bore isn’t as they’ve said? Both of the examples I’ve linked would have to be RFD transfer as I’m up in the Oban area so trying to avoid the huge round trip

 

[Highlandsjohn]

Would you take an RFD’s word for that John? Or agree a sale or return if the bore isn’t as they’ve said? Both of the examples I’ve linked would have to be RFD transfer as I’m up in the Oban area so trying to avoid the huge round trip

Hello BS, The T3 has been on the go for a good number of years. Despite my recent posts on the subject,I am quite a trusting person and if the RFD said the gun was in good condition it probably is. A bore scope request might be a bit excessive lol.
I bought a 2005 CZ from GT and it was in excellent shape as described.
The Ziess scope in good condition is worth about £450,the second hand mod you would pay maybe £150.00,Bipod £60.00. I probably would take a punt on the rifle being a bit of a bargain. Ask them the question..

 

[Big_Sparky]

Hello BS, The T3 has been on the go for a good number of years. Despite my recent posts on the subject,I am quite a trusting person and if the RFD said the gun was in good condition it probably is. A bore scope request might be a bit excessive lol.
I bought a 2005 CZ from GT and it was in excellent shape as described.
The Ziess scope in good condition is worth about £450,the second hand mod you would pay maybe £150.00,Bipod £60.00. I probably would take a punt on the rifle being a bit of a bargain. Ask them the question..

Excellent - really appreciate the opinion. To be honest he’s been great so far with extra pictures etc and they’d sold the rifle when new so he doesn’t seem to have anything to hide. I liked the idea of the Titan as it’s wood but seem to find very varied reviews of them where as the Tikka following, if nothing else, is certainly consistent!

 

[ruger54]

I would go with the Tikka T3 Lite that was my first rifle was never disappointed with it get the best scope that you can afford you will not go wrong then

 

[Sonicdmb73]

I’m surprised he said put a deposit down before you’ve got your licence, that’s a bit of bad advice from him as technically you should have a authorisation on your licence just to put a deposit down


I’d go Tikka T3 synthetic you’ll be more than happy with that

Although I do prefer something a bit heavier to soak up recoil

I’ll clarify that for you. It’s actually an offence to put a deposit on a firearm without authority to acquire it.
Doesn’t seem to stop it happening and I don’t recall hearing of any prosecutions recently.
But it is an offence to try buy a firearm without a certificate.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

I’m surprised he said put a deposit down before you’ve got your licence, that’s a bit of bad advice from him as technically you should have a authorisation on your licence just to put a deposit down

Are you sure about that? I mean why? It’s not as if the RFD could process the transaction until the FAC was in correct order anyway.

I’m not having a dig because I’ve seen the same opinion expressed before, and you may be correct, but it seems entirely appropriate that a customer could ask an RFD to hold a specific firearm by putting some money down whilst they get their FAC correctly varied for the chambering in question. I have done this at 2 different RFDs in the past, and they were happy to do it.

Both 308s look good TBH. The T3 is maybe the better overall value.

 

[VSS]

I don't see why putting a deposit down should be a problem - you wouldn't be acquiring or completing the purchase of the rifle at that point anyway. And besides, what about someone who lodges their firearms with an rfd while temporarily without a FAC? They still own them, don't they? They're just not in possession of them, which is the key thing.
The wording on FAC is "Firearms possessed, or authorised to be purchased or acquired", none of which you'd be doing by putting down a deposit.

 

[Big_Sparky]

Both positions make sense to some degree to be fair! Quite randomly the local FEO drove passed where I was working today (doing a little land clearance job on my day off lol) and saw me and stopped to say hello and to tell me everything is signed off at his end now. I queried the deposit and he said he thought there’d be no issues but to give the FLO in Glasgow a call on Monday to clarify 100% which is a fair shout.

You can’t ask much more than the local
Bobby stopping by to report his conclusion can you!!

 

[jimbo1984]

Go with the tikka

 

[Klenchblaize]

Just realised there's zero point in making a suggestion as you'll no doubt be wanting to install a H&S compliant sound reduction protruberance to the barrel so frankly I haven't a clue what to recommend and certainly not a previously owned Colt Sauer 90 in 243 or 270.

K

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Are you sure about that? I mean why? It’s not as if the RFD could process the transaction until the FAC was in correct order anyway.

The first part of the 1968 Firearms act (as amended) clearly states it is an offence to have in your possession purchase or acquire a firearm.
It is also an offence to attempt to acquire one.
I have been told this by a RFD too who wouldn’t take a deposit.

 

[VSS]

The first part of the 1968 Firearms act (as amended) clearly states it is an offence to have in your possession purchase or acquire a firearm.
It is also an offence to attempt to acquire one.
I have been told this by a RFD too who wouldn’t take a deposit. View attachment 131687

It doesn't say anything in that extract about attempting to acquire. Or have a overlooked it?
Besides, putting down a deposit isn't an attempt to acquire, it merely demonstrates an intention to acquire, which is quite different, surely?

 

[topscots1]

I see no issue with putting a deposit down, in fact I see no issue purchasing the firearm and lodging it with an RFD. You have neither acquired or possessed it until you leave the shop with it.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

It doesn't say anything in that extract about attempting to acquire. Or have a overlooked it?
Besides, putting down a deposit isn't an attempt to acquire, it merely demonstrates an intention to acquire, which is quite different, surely?

Without trailing through the act to find the other part no it’s not all of it.
I’m sorry but I fail to see how you differentiate between an attempt to acquire and an intention to acquire.
If I go give someone a deposit it is part payment for the item I left it for. How is that not purchasing it? At least in part.