Open ticket

[dinglejacket]

Without sounding daft , can anyone shed light on an open ticket fac for me please, I've been advised that an open ticket means I don't have to notify the law if I acquire new land and it's down to my discretion as to the calibre I see safe to shoot , correct! But I've been told I can go out and purchase let's say a 6.5 creedmore rifle because I see fit to use it ? Basically open means I'm legal to own any reasonable calibre I see fit to use ? I'm unable to find any links on line to deem this correct? Open surly means able to shoot on land without notifications p.s I've been shooting for a while and own a .243 & .22 but never considered an open ticket till now

 

[JTO]

Basically open means I'm legal to own any reasonable calibre I see fit to use ? I'm unable to find any links on line to deem this correct?

You won't!

 

[Tim.243]

Without sounding daft , can anyone shed light on an open ticket fac for me please, I've been advised that an open ticket means I don't have to notify the law if I acquire new land and it's down to my discretion as to the calibre I see safe to shoot , correct! But I've been told I can go out and purchase let's say a 6.5 creedmore rifle because I see fit to use it ? Basically open means I'm legal to own any reasonable calibre I see fit to use ? I'm unable to find any links on line to deem this correct? Open surly means able to shoot on land without notifications p.s I've been shooting for a while and own a .243 & .22 but never considered an open ticket till now

One thing also is good reason to possess as you would be putting in for a variation to own the larger calibre.
Have you looked in the Firearms Guidance notes? (under variations)

 

[Miki]

Without sounding daft , can anyone shed light on an open ticket fac for me please, I've been advised that an open ticket means I don't have to notify the law if I acquire new land and it's down to my discretion as to the calibre I see safe to shoot

Correct. It is your responsibiloity to ensure that it is safe to shoot (as it is with any land you have premission to shoot over).

, correct! But I've been told I can go out and purchase let's say a 6.5 creedmore rifle because I see fit to use it ?

No, you can't.
The 'reasons' to own a 6.6CM are the same as the 'reasons' to own a 243 or a 25-06 or a 30-06 you just need to state the where and 'why'.
If you land with permission to shoot over you still need to tell the FLO, if he/she/it has an objection then you will still get refused.
If you request a 30-06 to shoot rats in a barn or a 22LR to shoot deer .......

Basically open means I'm legal to own any reasonable calibre I see fit to use ? I'm unable to find any links on line to deem this correct? Open surly means able to shoot on land without notifications

Absolutely not.

p.s I've been shooting for a while and own a .243 & .22 but never considered an open ticket till now

If the land you shoot over is 'cleared' for a maximum cailber of .243 what was the reason given ?
Have you any other restrictions ?

 

[Liveonce]

Each firearm may be conditioned different on a certificate depending on its merits, so if a member of a rifle club for example some may be restricted to target shooting only and if you also had good reason others for vermin/fox and even possible to have say a .22lr open but a .223 closed. The devil is in the detail on your certificate.

and no

Basically open means I'm legal to own any reasonable calibre I see fit to use ?

You still need good reason to own any calibre.

 

[VSS]

Without sounding daft , can anyone shed light on an open ticket fac for me please, I've been advised that an open ticket means I don't have to notify the law if I acquire new land and it's down to my discretion as to the calibre I see safe to shoot , correct! But I've been told I can go out and purchase let's say a 6.5 creedmore rifle because I see fit to use it ? Basically open means I'm legal to own any reasonable calibre I see fit to use ? I'm unable to find any links on line to deem this correct? Open surly means able to shoot on land without notifications p.s I've been shooting for a while and own a .243 & .22 but never considered an open ticket till now

"Open ticket" just refers to whether you have to have the land inspected and passed for your particular calibre by the police ("closed ticket"), or whether you can make your own judgement as to the suitability of a piece of ground ("open ticket").
It doesn't affect what calibres you can purchase and use.

If you own several rifles, some may have open conditions and some may have closed conditions.

 

[Morkai]

But I've been told I can go out and purchase let's say a 6.5 creedmore rifle because I see fit to use it ? Basically open means I'm legal to own any reasonable calibre I see fit to use ?

It would be nice wouldn't it.

 

[bullet chucker]

"OPEN" To shoot or not to take the shot, the choice and full' responsibility are yours!...."Closed" Certificate will tell whether you are legal or not.

BC.

 

[Miki]

All this Open or Closed disquietude, it's just English angst ...

 

[Cogswell & Harrison]

At the turn of the year I summited a variation to my local FLO asking for a .223 for target use and at the same time to allow me to use my .22 rimfire(s) over a specified piece of land. Twixt the submission and the anticipated grant I did a thorough survey of the land in question and compiled a set of notes etc.

After about six weeks I took a call from the FEO asking to visit to discuss the variation. During the visit the .223 for target was a formality, the rimfire(s) were not quite so straightforward. I was asked to specify which rimfire rifle I wished to use and therefore nominate which I did. This came as a surprise as I was expecting to be able to use any of all four, not so.

The FEO asked a number of safe shooting questions and had a look at the land, on his own, then after a week or so my licence arrived.

So what do I have? All my firearms are "conditioned" for target use, the specified rimfire above I can shoot over any land where I have permission and sufficient insurance, that's to say I make the call over suitability and safety. My certificate, I believe, is a "conditioned for target" one with an "open" facility for a "specified" firearm.

I would add though that nominating an additional rimfire to my "open" scenario would not be a problem, (FEO advised this), I just need to give good reason such as a semi auto being useful at times or WMR being more effective.

I've just been granted a .243, the phone call from the FEO was interesting but that's another story. I believe that my FLO has an incremental approach to these things, show some experience, put in the time, apply common sense and you will be rewarded.

 

[dryan]

At the turn of the year I summited a variation to my local FLO asking for a .223 for target use and at the same time to allow me to use my .22 rimfire(s) over a specified piece of land. Twixt the submission and the anticipated grant I did a thorough survey of the land in question and compiled a set of notes etc.

After about six weeks I took a call from the FEO asking to visit to discuss the variation. During the visit the .223 for target was a formality, the rimfire(s) were not quite so straightforward. I was asked to specify which rimfire rifle I wished to use and therefore nominate which I did. This came as a surprise as I was expecting to be able to use any of all four, not so.

The FEO asked a number of safe shooting questions and had a look at the land, on his own, then after a week or so my licence arrived.

So what do I have? All my firearms are "conditioned" for target use, the specified rimfire above I can shoot over any land where I have permission and sufficient insurance, that's to say I make the call over suitability and safety. My certificate, I believe, is a "conditioned for target" one with an "open" facility for a "specified" firearm.

I would add though that nominating an additional rimfire to my "open" scenario would not be a problem, (FEO advised this), I just need to give good reason such as a semi auto being useful at times or WMR being more effective.

I've just been granted a .243, the phone call from the FEO was interesting but that's another story. I believe that my FLO has an incremental approach to these things, show some experience, put in the time, apply common sense and you will be rewarded.

FEO didn't apply common sense!

 

[Cogswell & Harrison]

FEO didn't apply common sense!

His hands were tied. That's the brief he had to work from, I'm assuming, his manager. It did seem rather bizarre but as he pointed out, any other rimfire could & would be added with minimum faff once I could give "good reason".

 

[Foxyboy43]

“and sufficient insurance”
When did it fall within Licensing Authorities purview to require this? Just curious….

 

[Hornet]

Just of interest,dinglejacket, how long have you held an fac for?

 

[Bowland blades]

Without sounding daft , can anyone shed light on an open ticket fac for me please, I've been advised that an open ticket means I don't have to notify the law if I acquire new land and it's down to my discretion as to the calibre I see safe to shoot , correct! But I've been told I can go out and purchase let's say a 6.5 creedmore rifle because I see fit to use it ? Basically open means I'm legal to own any reasonable calibre I see fit to use ? I'm unable to find any links on line to deem this correct? Open surly means able to shoot on land without notifications p.s I've been shooting for a while and own a .243 & .22 but never considered an open ticket till now

Different forces see this different ways and some have only ever issued " Open terms ". With experience over years most find the firearms teams to be far more ready to let you go get on with it, others are a pain . BASC are pushing to get this sorted nationally .

 

[dryan]

Always has been a mess. I had an open ticket within 2 years under GMP, whereas my shooting buddy whose land (and residential farm ) I used to shoot over, wasn't granted an open ticket by Cheshire for 6 years.

AGS, the police force here are headed by a former PSNI member who is trying to make a complete balls-up of the current fit for purpose licensing system- trying to introduce closed tickets etc. Not doing a good job with public order either but that's another issue..

 

[Freightdog]

The terms 'open' & 'closed' are just phrases, colloquialisms, slang, to describe whether or not you have to check with the police if the land you intend to shoot is 'suitable'. This pertains to the rifles on your licence, some or all can be closed or open. My rimfires are 'open', ie I decide whether the land is suitable to shoot them. My .308 is closed, ie I have to phone the police to check whether they have checked the land and deem it suitable. My .357 is target use only etc etc
You'll not find any information pertaining to 'open' meaning you can purchase any rifle you see fit, as it's not true. The Firearms act requires you to prove good reason to possess a firearm and apply for authority to own each one.
Read the conditions on your licence, all the information on what you are allowed to do is there, and it'll be different to everyone else's.

 

[Tim.243]

Always has been a mess. I had an open ticket within 2 years under GMP, whereas my shooting buddy whose land (and residential farm ) I used to shoot over, wasn't granted an open ticket by Cheshire for 6 years.

AGS, the police force here are headed by a former PSNI member who is trying to make a complete balls-up of the current fit for purpose licensing system- trying to introduce closed tickets etc. Not doing a good job with public order either but that's another issue..

People should read the guidance notes, it is there in black type face, but in most cases they never do,
From 2022
Quarry Shooting (for vermin, fox or deer)• The *calibre RIFLE/COMBINATION/SMOOTH-BORE GUN/SOUND MODERATOR and ammunition shall be used for shooting vermin including fox, and ground game/ deer(delete as appropriate) and any other lawful quarry, and for zeroing-practice on ranges, on land deemed suitable by the chief officer of police for the area where the land is situated and over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot.(The words underlined may be omitted once the certificate holder has demonstrated competence. There is no set time for this and each case should be considered on its individual merits).

I read them and used the text in bold to set out a letter included in a variation, a home visit and the cert came back with the previous condition in italics removed. It is not hard you just need the correct answers like in a FAC application to get it changed.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Always has been a mess. I had an open ticket within 2 years under GMP, whereas my shooting buddy whose land (and residential farm ) I used to shoot over, wasn't granted an open ticket by Cheshire for 6 years.

AGS, the police force here are headed by a former PSNI member who is trying to make a complete balls-up of the current fit for purpose licensing system- trying to introduce closed tickets etc. Not doing a good job with public order either but that's another issue..

Well my friend - with the mess he left behind in PSNI’s Firearms Licensing Branch you have much to fear!

 

[Cogswell & Harrison]

“and sufficient insurance”
When did it fall within Licensing Authorities purview to require this? Just curious….

I'm not sure really. It's something that's been on my FAC all the time I have had one this time round, (six years), even though up to this Spring all my firearms were conditioned for club / target only. Club members FAC's are the same including those who are club / target only or otherwise.