Interesting reply in the 16 March issue of the Shooting Times saying that using a semi auto with more than a 2 round magazine capacity is illegal for use shooting wild birds including pigeons. I don’t own one but a mate of mine has just had one put on his FAC largely to go pigeon shooting that is clearly going to come as a surprise and not a good one
FAC rated shotguns for pigeon shooting
- Thread starter Tazz
- Start date
Pete1774
Well-Known Member
Mine is a 6 shot and my tickets says, "The FAC Rated Shotgun shall be used for SHOOTING BIRDS in accordance with the purpose, terms and conditions of the general licence......" etc.
GL42 states:
‘Semi-automatic weapon’ is defined in section 27(1) of the 1981 Act. It means any weapon which is not prohibited by section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 and which has a magazine capable of holding more than 2 rounds of ammunition, where the depression of the trigger discharges a single shot and reloads the next, each subsequent shot requiring a further depression of the trigger, for example Firearms Act section 1 shotguns. ↩
GL42 states:
Methods you can use under this licence
You are authorised to use any of the following methods:- prick eggs
- oil eggs
- destroy eggs and nests
- kill or take by hand
- use targeted falconry
- shoot with any firearm, including ‘semi-automatic weapons’[footnote 10], shotguns or air guns
‘Semi-automatic weapon’ is defined in section 27(1) of the 1981 Act. It means any weapon which is not prohibited by section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 and which has a magazine capable of holding more than 2 rounds of ammunition, where the depression of the trigger discharges a single shot and reloads the next, each subsequent shot requiring a further depression of the trigger, for example Firearms Act section 1 shotguns. ↩
How many times have you needed all 8 shots on pigeons?..........
MAH
Well-Known Member
The detail on a FAC will be important.
For example.
If a FAC shotgun is granted for use at a Practicle Shotgun at a club. Then shooting birds or clays would not be complaint with your FAC condition.
However, crop protection is an acceptable good reason for a high capacity shotgun. And HO guidance states that as an example.
I'd be interested to read the article, can you upload a photo of it?
M.
Triggermortis
Well-Known Member
So’s mine as well as for clays
Rizla_green
Well-Known Member
There was a video on field sports of one of the guys shooting Canada geese with a 5 or 8 shot.
Mine lists all legal quarry as well as clays.
Mine lists all legal quarry as well as clays.
8x57
Distinguished Member
Both the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the relevant General Licence (they are country specific) must be considered with regard to what can be considered to be All Lawful Quarry. Not forgetting the actual conditions on your FAC.
So as usual it's complicated and there's no simple yes or no answer to the question.
The ST article has misquoted Sect 27 (glossary of terms) which clearly states:
"automatic weapon" and "semi-automatic weapon" do not include any
weapon the magazine of which is incapable of holding more than two
rounds:
Key word is “incapable” not ‘capable’ as the article states? To my mind this is just nonsense which basically intimates that, in the eyes of the Wildlife Act, a 3 shot doesn’t even class as a semi auto regardless of its action!?
Top level document is thetefore previously quoted Firearms Act I.e. perfectly legitimate?
"automatic weapon" and "semi-automatic weapon" do not include any
weapon the magazine of which is incapable of holding more than two
rounds:
Key word is “incapable” not ‘capable’ as the article states? To my mind this is just nonsense which basically intimates that, in the eyes of the Wildlife Act, a 3 shot doesn’t even class as a semi auto regardless of its action!?
Top level document is thetefore previously quoted Firearms Act I.e. perfectly legitimate?
Last edited:
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
"Dog" is in Shooting Times too. And as near to life as it might be that ain't true! LOL!
It’s wrong, the general licences specifically mention high capacity shotguns as being allowed
Not needed.
See footnote 10 on the attached
Under methods to be used
- shoot with any firearm, including ‘semi-automatic weapons’[footnote 10], shotguns or air guns
Semi-automatic weapon’ is defined in section 27(1)of the 1981 Act. It means any weapon which is not prohibited by section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 and which has a magazine capable of holding more than 2 rounds of ammunition, where the depression of the trigger discharges a single shot and reloads the next, each subsequent shot requiring a further depression of the trigger, for example Firearms Act section 1 shotguns. ↩
Triggermortis
Well-Known Member
So…..
With reference to condition 7
Am I breaking the law when shooting wild pigeons or not?
Poppycock
Nope….
Nor for Canada geese provided you are shooting as pests under a general licence
Similar threads
