Shooters are giving up

[tackb]

Will it ? Speaking to my mate who was in the England team , he has just given up as he says the lead ban will destroy it.

an entirely unnecessary lead ban !

we could do with an organisation that actually fights for us and shooting rather than throwing us under the bus

still , when there is no shooting there will be no need for shooting organisations

 

[Heym SR20]

People are always giving up. Always have, always will do. Plenty take up a new sport or hobby. Get really enthusiastic, buy all the gear, spend all their money on the “best” experience in most exotic locations. And a couple of years later they are doing the “next” sport or hobby.

The trade loves such individuals.

However in my rifle club we are seeing a steady number of new members coming into deer stalking and rifle shooting. Over the last few years I have mentored a few who now have their FACs and are good stalkers.

Yes the rules on “guest” days with HO approved clubs are strict. And they should be. We ask that they become probationary members and they go through the usual Police checks. As probationers we get to know them well, and if they are “house trained” they are put forward for full membership at the next AGM. It’s a process that quickly weeds out the time wasters and wannabes.

Many clubs have club rifles, and many members of such clubs shoot at such clubs for many years without ever going through the hassle of getting their own FAC. They don’t need to.

Equally plenty of people shoot game and stalk deer without needing an FAC / SC and having their own guns, preferring instead to shoot with a loader or go out with a stalker.

 

[newsatten]

an entirely unnecessary lead ban !

we could do with an organisation that actually fights for us and shooting rather than throwing us under the bus

still , when there is no shooting there will be no need for shooting

This will not end until private individual ownership of all firearms is prohibited,
Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional,
Just enjoy the experience while you can

 

[Liveonce]

I think the argument that licensing is prohibitively expensive and killing shooting is a disingenuous argument.

It is no doubt an irritation that prices have gone up, and may not be a justified price rise, but the amount of people on here desperate to throw money at shooting through changing kit / optics / custom knives all the time, having a second vehicle for hobby shooting, rebarrel or custom made guns, paid stalks etc makes me think it isn’t going to be licensing cost that kills it. And as others have said, you can door knock for permission, you can buy a very good rifle for £200 sometimes with a scope, use a mora, you can stick a carcass in the boot if you have to. Etc.

Delays in issuing certificates and awkward rules certainly could kill shooting, and it will be very surprising for shotgun only owners if the rules change to treat them the same.

indeed come the consultation reply only about the public safety , they don’t care how much we have to pay to shoot or the hurdles we have to jump through to have a gun.

The process for a section 2 or section 1 firearm regarding public safety and applicants safety is exactly the same.

 

[Liveonce]

Yes the rules on “guest” days with HO approved clubs are strict. And they should be. We ask that they become probationary members and they go through the usual Police checks. As probationers we get to know them well, and if they are “house trained” they are put forward for full membership at the next AGM. It’s a process that quickly weeds out the time wasters and wannabes.

Many clubs have club rifles, and many members of such clubs shoot at such clubs for many years without ever going through the hassle of getting their own FAC. They don’t need to.

Equally plenty of people shoot game and stalk deer without needing an FAC / SC and having their own guns, preferring instead to shoot with a loader or go out with a stalker.

Why? go back many years and as HO approved clubs we never had “guest” days and never had problems.

Yet again just us as shooters accepting more and more hurdles into the sport.

 

[shakey jake]

You want me to post more?????

He said young ben not imature!

 

[6mmarc]

As your UK based none of this "cold dead hands" stuff then?

Nah
I just get that horrible feeling we will loose them before I pass on
Let’s be honest government and police and most the public hate shooters and shooting these days and most country sports too

 

[enfieldspares]

Why? go back many years and as HO approved clubs we never had “guest” days and never had problems.

When I started I was a member of the Leicester Post Office Smallbore Club (we shot at the underground indoor ranges at the Grandby Halls while folks ice skated above us) that was in 1974 or so, the Leicestershire Fullbore Rifle and Pistol Club from 1976 to maybe 1986 and 1976 to 1979 the Leeds University Pistol Club.

Then finally the only commercial "club" the Leicester Shooting Centre Club from 1986 to 2002. With the main one, the LFR&PC the probation period was about whether you were "clubbable" if that makes sense? It helped that my older brother was already a member but for sure all was long before the need for these "guest days". And never was there a problem.

 

[Jamouk]

ive been trying to join my local shooting club for 6 months now they are at full capacity with a 12 month waiting list !

 

[JoJo15]

Again if you cant be bothered thats your problem, do they not go shooting much I presume so not worth it.

Shooting is my passion and therefore will continue regardless of hassle and cost , what else would I do if I stopped ?

Vermin will always need controlling.

View attachment 454445

Well said! I completely agree, if shooting is your passion then you will do whatever it takes to pursue it !

 

[Chris Richardson]

Well said! I completely agree, if shooting is your passion then you will do whatever it takes to pursue it !

Not when private firearm ownership is banned you won’t , vote labour

 

[Mike1979]

I love shooting and will continue to do so for as long as we are allowed to. To my mind if people cant be arsed then they are not passionate enough as there is no way I would give it up unless "forced"...and I really hope that isnt anytime soon.

And just to clarify I most certainly didnt vote Labour

 

[Nickb]

Not when private firearm ownership is banned you won’t , vote labour

That's not giving up though thats having no option.

If you are passionate enough you will carry on if not go and play golf.

 

[Pete1774]

I never get this it's getting expensive. Shooting is still cheaper than other hobbies like fishing or Motorsports!
The costs are relatively cheap when you spread them over the 5 years your ticket lasts!

I agree. For me it is cheap. All my shooting is unpaid pest control, rabbits, rats, foxes, etc. so no club fees, just SACS membership for 3rd party insurance. Ammo price have certainly increased but for the amount of ammo I use its not a significant cost. There is of course the cost of renewal and medical which is less than £200 every 5 years, so I have a hobby(?) that I can indulge 2 or 3 times a week for just a few pounds. My other hobby is wildlife and landscape photography. Decent camera equipment is expensive and with the £15 per month subscription for Adobe Photoshop etc. (or £900 over the period of an FAC) makes even photography a far more expensive hobby.

 

[Flash G 74]

Hello, I think it is mostly the older generation 60s 70s 80s after many years shooting, Even those who do Pigeon shooting with the absent of Pigeon numbers, Loosing permission due to Farm sales, Land gone to House building, My SGC ends 2029 so will not likely to renew, Even people who are fed up with red tape on SGC FAC applictions . And some due to rising costs of Cartridges, Have enough for 3 years , but could not resist a nice 20b O/U i bought last year, It seems Labour will try to end our way of life in Shooting and Countryside sports, Hope to still carry on with my PCPs

 

[kieran222]

I would be surprised if the increase in costs to date have pushed people out of shooting because the costs haven't risen that significantly compared to the rise in cost of everything else, food, electric, building materials, etc. I don't believe that this is the reason people are leaving the sport. I read some stats earlier this year and both SGC and FAC numbers were increasing every year.
It's just doom and gloom so far, ok if they change the rules on SGC then that will probably have a detrimental effect but that hasn't happened yet. As far as lead ban goes, the costs for that were avoidable so far if you chose to stick with lead.

 

[Liveonce]

lots of different ways to participate in shooting sports, the cost of which can vary a lot, a days clay shooting can cost easily about £100 if you include fuel, food and drink. A good day on the real pigeons again about £100 or more for cartridges, fuel. A plink with an airgun a few pounds and so the list goes on, The other week I spent more on fuel getting to my permission then on ammo for a few rabbits, but a nice evening out.

What we need is a government that recognises the many benefits of country pursuits and to stop using us as easy targets to say they are making improvements to public safety, when they are not,

Rather than being honest that the system failed with the likes of Plymouth.

 

[spanj]

That's the tip of the iceberg. Then there are the costs of the medical form which is well into 3 figures for many, the cost of parking your guns at an RFD while your renewal takes months on end, costs of admin, variations, etc etc.
The comparisons with other hobbies is spurious because those are the cost of the hobbies, not the cost of opening the door. It is cheaper than owning racehorses, yachting and motorsport but that's like saying caviar is cheap food because building your house out of gold is much more expensive.

Assuming you applied in good time if you need to lodge guns with an rfd (assuming there are any left and willing) then the cost of this should be born by the police. That said they must issue a s7 if they are at fault

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Government responded
This response was given on 6 January 2026

The Government has committed to a public consultation on strengthening licensing controls on shotguns. We will consider all views submitted during the consultation before deciding on further action.

The Government recognises that shotguns and firearms are used for a range of legitimate purposes, such as target shooting and hunting, and the vast majority are used safely and responsibly. We also recognise that shooting contributes to the rural economy.

The Government is, however, mindful that legally held shotguns have been used in a number of homicides and other incidents in recent years including the fatal shootings in Keyham, Plymouth, in August 2021. It is for this reason that we committed to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns, to bring them more into line with controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. We announced this on 13 February 2025 when we published the Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation which had been run by the previous Government.

Recommendations relating to strengthening shotgun controls had been made to the Government by the Coroner in his preventing future deaths report issued in May 2023 and followed the inquest into the deaths of those who were shot and killed in Plymouth in August 2021. Similar recommendations on shotgun controls were also made in the report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following its investigation into the Plymouth shootings, and by the Scottish Affairs Committee in its report following a fatal shooting with a shotgun in Skye in August 2022.

We intend to publish the consultation shortly. No decisions have yet been made on whether and what changes might be necessary. We will consider carefully the views put forward during the consultation once it is completed, before deciding what further action to take. We will also provide an impact assessment in relation to any changes that the Government intends to bring forward after the consultation, in the normal way.

Public safety is our priority, and our focus on shotguns and other firearms sits alongside the Government’s aim to halve knife crime in the next decade, which forms a part of the Government’s Safer Street Mission. We are driving an ambitious programme of work focusing on prevention and enforcement, as well as strengthening knife legislation. This includes banning weapons that have no place on our streets, targeting irresponsible sellers, giving the police more powers to deal with those supplying and owning weapons for violent purposes, intervening earlier to stop young people being drawn into crime, and bringing together experts through the Knife-Enabled Robbery Taskforce and the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime.

Home Office

Hate to say it but ………Told you so!

The petition was a pointless exercise!

 

[jall55]

Hate to say it but ………Told you so!

The petition was a pointless exercise!

Wondered where you were - thought you had got stuck under the bridge

Why has it made no difference ? It has engaged 150 people in my community - it has opened up the issue to hundreds more of their friends and family
The Inheritance tax U turn was not a 5 minute job

What is wrong with you ? - 99 percent of the time ?