Using your firearms to take out clients under the estate rifle rule?

New Avon Arms
James0586

James0586

Well-Known Member
Hi,
I have been asked by a friend to take some clients out with/for him during the winter months and was wondering What do I need to do legally to take clients out with my firearms and is it worth the agro (if any)?

I’m not going to do it unless it’s done right.

Any help will be great.
Cheers
 
Last edited:
Is it in a strictly professional capacity? If so you will want appropriate insurance. Disregarding any complications from that, there's nothing in the way of you taking out other people and them using your guns provided the following criteria are met:

  • You are a licensed individual
  • The gun used is your own and legal for the intended use
  • The client will be in your presence when using your gun
  • The gun will be used adhering to your conditions
  • The gun will be used on land that you have permission to use them on

I think there may also be an age restriction for the client with the estate rifle rule (18+?) but not sure
 
Last edited:
What are the rules for the use of an estate rifle?

What makes my rifle an estate rifle or doesn’t it matter as long as I have a license and stay with the person throughout the stalk and their not exempt to use firearms ?
 
James0586 said:
What are the rules for the use of an estate rifle?

What makes my rifle an estate rifle or doesn’t it matter as long as I have a license and stay with the person throughout the stalk and their not exempt to use firearms ?
Click to expand...
The rules are in the Home Office guidance document, there is a link at the start of the legal section.
The relevant words with regard to estate rifles are Servant and Occupier.
 
The point about insurance is a good one, as If you are guiding professionally both you and the clients won’t (or are very unlikely to) be covered by the typical type of insurance offered by BASC, SACS or similar. Check with someone like Cliverton for professional stalking insurance. You may find that the stalking lease requires it. If it is already in place, check if you need to be named on the policy.

With regards to the rifle itself, if you have clients who will be stalking over a couple of days then look at the option of getting your rifles added to your friend’s FAC and his to yours. That way a client can stick with the same rifle for the entire trip - for example if the client zeros with your friends rifle before an evening stalk with your friend, you can then meet-up and take the rifle home and be in possession of it overnight ready for the trip out to accompany him the following morning, after which you can then pass it back to your friend. If you guide the client when using your friend‘s rifle and without your friend being there, it is in your possession, not his.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Failure to renew???
2 3
Replies
55
Views
4K
quarrystalker
Q
Time Spent out of UK/Overseas Convictions
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
markj1
markj1
Use of shotguns on deer under Deer Act 1991 in England and Wales to become de facto illegal under lead shot ban.
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
Nickb
Nickb
Help/Advice Sought: Open FAC Withdrawal Without Land
2
Replies
23
Views
1K
Liveonce
L
Firearms application, unaware of "low mood" marker on medical record
2
Replies
20
Views
4K
maxtich
maxtich
The Stalking Show - 11th to 12th April 2026 - Staffordshire County Showground
Back
Top