Wanted: Need shooting experience-Gloucestershire
- Thread starter Robvalley2026
- Start date
Robvalley2026
Member
Will do....small price to pay if it takes a few extra months.
Robvalley2026
Member
My issue is I lamb outside. The mules are also of an age where they all have triplets now!!! So easy picking for the foxes. Ive had years with zero problems but you only need one bad fox... They are too clever for traps....yet to try snares but a worry with the old dears dog here a lot....
Should you be able to make it down to Cornwall I’d be happy to spend a weekend with you getting some shooting under your belt
Your only cost would be ammo and accommodation
J
Your only cost would be ammo and accommodation
J
Shot loads with a shotgun, he needs to make a start and if they are that brazen you will get a few, coupled with a few cage traps and wires.
50gm 1/2's,
Ben it took you 16 years to put in for your FAC
Just saying hi from sunny (today) Nottingham. I've just put in for my fac, been shooting shotgun for 16 years.
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
But if he's got own land, & has applied for FAC as part his job, it seems downright incorrect to have to jump through hoops. Yeah, I didn’t feel need/desire to apply before then. But i was granted on first application & then soon later (cant remember how long but sure i mentioned it on here, so you've probably got it written down somewhere to quote it Tim) i had ticket opened up to get CF i wanted - and I cited my job/work needs as reason for centrefire.Shot loads with a shotgun, he needs to make a start and if they are that brazen you will get a few, coupled with a few cage traps and wires.
50gm 1/2's,
Ben it took you 16 years to put in for your FAC
Just saying hi from sunny (today) Nottingham. I've just put in for my fac, been shooting shotgun for 16 years.
Yes it might be but you can shoot foxes with a shotgun so it is an option what is weird is dismissing other option of a SGC.
Also traps and wires work very well and in the mean time others might help (or not)
It might be "incorrect" but it is fine others making bullets for the OP to fire but in the end he will have to make up his own mind and sieve out the wheat from the chaff.
I am a great believer in looking at all options as you can sit in the hide watching pigeons fly past 150 yards on a line all day or move.
I think there's a market for a training course to educate people on safe gun handling and rifle skills for new shooters. Because this mentoring/ experience thing is just too vague.
When talking to the feo if you can tell them everything you know about your land, footpaths, rights of way, boundaries, houses in the distance, safe arcs of fire, places you would never shoot. Shooting off a bipod can be less safe depending on the ground, suggest only shooting from a high seat. That way your not tempted to shoot in an unsafe direction. I nearly always shoot of sticks which can make shots safer. Backstop backstop backstop.
If all of these kind of considerations just roll off your tongue then your demonstrating knowledge and careful thought. All the feo wants is to keep the public safe and if you speak to them and you say you want a gun to wack a few ginger bastards, there less likely to grant you anything.
I think you've got a fine reason to get a rifle, a 223 will be a great fox stopper.
When talking to the feo if you can tell them everything you know about your land, footpaths, rights of way, boundaries, houses in the distance, safe arcs of fire, places you would never shoot. Shooting off a bipod can be less safe depending on the ground, suggest only shooting from a high seat. That way your not tempted to shoot in an unsafe direction. I nearly always shoot of sticks which can make shots safer. Backstop backstop backstop.
If all of these kind of considerations just roll off your tongue then your demonstrating knowledge and careful thought. All the feo wants is to keep the public safe and if you speak to them and you say you want a gun to wack a few ginger bastards, there less likely to grant you anything.
I think you've got a fine reason to get a rifle, a 223 will be a great fox stopper.
Nickb
Well-Known Member
No the same 24 hours mate - but his are just faster27 hours a day in Essex
Yes the other 3 is for the fallow and muntjac27 hours a day in Essex
People have to appreciate that using a full bore firearm without a good knowledge of safety and ballistic trajectory can be dangerous to the public (including the applicant).
Police have a duty of care to consider that along with the “good reason” to issue a firearm license. I’m not sure I would want to make this decision day to day.
That said there’s a lot of good advice here on this forum to provide an answer to your (what must be devastating) loss of livestock.
If I were you I would do the following blended approach of the information given but obviously depends upon your individual circumstances…
1) Apply for a Section 2 shotgun now and ask your FEO to expedite it as soon as you are ready with the following training points and get a 3 shot semi automatic Understanding the law is a sub topic here what’s a section 1 section 2 and firearms transport storage and ammunition storage requirements
2) Get as much hands on practical firearms handling as possible both shotgun and rifle use whatever is available to you if that’s clay pigeon or clay rabbit or target shooting under instruction of an approved instructor - that’s all about safety.
3) Do an accredited course like the DSC1 although that focuses on Deer, the chunk of safer gun handling and shooting is 100% relevant - you might find a DSC provider that will do a days shooting training and assessment without the deer part
4) Progress the offers made here and remember people have different backgrounds so you should be able to get someone that has a good sense of safety to let you do some zeroing and hopefully pest control
5) Learn ballistics YouTube target shooting at range understanding moa and mils and clicks so you can zero and be on target first time is not only vital for safety but also you want clean humane shots
6) Without knowing your land and what calibre(s) you’ve already applied for it’s difficult to tell what could be done but as others have alluded to using a 22RF or 22WMR or 17HMR might be something the FEO is happy with so consider having several different options a shotgun and a RF and a larger calibre if the distance and topography requires it
7) if not done already invite the FEO to review your land and walk round with you tell you what concerns and conditions they have - most people start with a FAC that only allows them to shoot on land that’s approved for the specific calibre and that’s normal Understand areas that might be higher risk to shoot
8) Assume you have a cabinet ready to go don’t let that be a last minute barrier
I know a local pest controller that enjoys the company of people coming out with him and that gets you to see circumstances other than what’s in front of you on your property
Obviously that’s a lot of stuff but it is important that you are competent and confident and safe be it a shotgun or rifle
And one last thing don’t become adversarial with your FEO, irrespective of if their justification and judgment is exactly right or not they do have a lot of responsibility to discharge and probably issuing a first time FAC with no formal training like a HO target shooting course is probably the most high risk thing they do so work with them and don’t get upset about it but try and get a written list of what they want to see so you can tick it off (and exceed it) just in case someone else takes over your case for any reason
Good Luck
Be Safe
Robvalley2026
Member
I totally agree. I asked them many months ago if I should go on a safety course. He said...we want proof of you firing the calibres applied for on your land !!!
Anyway, I went to a local centre fire range and asked for an introduction session. I found it a very safe and relaxing environment to start shooting. His blaser R8 was a treat too!
But like you say, a course for this kind of thing could be excellent. Start off with safety and gradually gain the experience you need. Day and night...all they types of vermin etc. Setting optics and using all of the other gear too. So much to learn and so many potential mistakes could be avoided.
Robvalley2026
Member
Great....
Robvalley2026
Member
Thanks for the detailed response. They refuse to do anything until I have the experience so no chance to show them around and gain some confidence. Pitty. I guess they are just super busy and don't want to put any time in, unless everything looks straight forward. Yes I want them to look at my proposed cabinet position as this could be a massive issue if they are not happy...Infact I will mail him about this. I always get on with people and will do what they say. I find it very reassuring how hard it is to get a license. Slightly concerning a guy at work did a £300 safety course and then got a shot gun....maybe he watered the story down a bit...
Paul is a great instructor @HME
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
Hm, I never had to do any shotgun courses before I was granted an SGC re a centre fire FAC I had done15 years in a smallbore club in Kent but with lots of overseas time spent away working then I got a .270 in New Mexico, I applied for my centre fire FAC while back on holiday and it was granted non of this risk aversion that I see today.
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