Buying a rifle.

[Ploddy Paul]

Having read a few posts here about sending a gun to a RFD I thought I would add my tale. It’s quite a long tale with a few rants along the way and also a few things I didn’t know when I started. So if you’re sitting comfortably I’ll begin. A couple of years ago I put in to swap a 243 for a 6.5x55, 12 weeks later it’s approved, that’s 3 months to agree I can have a slightly larger caliber on the same land shooting the same deer. I know it’s been done to death on here but why? These rules are made up and then the FLU complains they are over worked. Anyway got the call tickets been sent out, one week later still no FAC, call them up, give it another week they say. After another week call them back expecting them to be worried that my FAC has gone missing, no worries we’ll issue another they say, can you come and collect it? So we have to guard our FAC’s with due care but if one goes missing from their end, no worries. So got my ticket found a rifle I like the look of, call the shop agree a price , check with my RFD he’s happy for it to be sent to him, covering letter in with the FAC and down to the local post office. Sent first class, recorded, registered, guaranteed next day, gold plated no problem. Phoned the shop next day, no they haven’t received it, went home and went online to track it, there it is scanned in at the post office then nothing. The Royal Mail tracking system only works so long as the postperson scans the item, if he/she doesn’t, for what ever reason, then the system falls over and it can’t be queried. All one can do is to make a claim on their insurance. I would have thought nowadays having a tracking system that you can question would be fairly straight forward, but then I remembered the post office and computer systems don’t go well together. So gave it a couple of days, still nothing on the system, called the FLU expecting them to go ballistic, no worries give it another couple of weeks. Just about to call them again, this is three weeks after I posted the FAC, when I had a call from the shop, its turned up. Happy days, card details over the phone wait for the call from my RFD. Why do we have to send our FAC to the shop and risk it going missing? I know it’s the law but why can’t I pay for the rifle, have it sent to my RFD and he enters it onto my ticket as the issuing agent or something similar? Anyway a couple of days later call from the RFD, good news guns here, bad news it’s damaged. The thread on the muzzle has been dinked, luckily the RFD is also a gunsmith. I’ll cut the end off and rethread he says and then it will have to be reproofed. Yes says I bit daft having to reproof just cause of rethreading, ar no says he it’s because nowadays they put a proof mark at the muzzle end and rethreading removes it so it has to be replaced. In the end he managed to clean up the threads and as the crown was ok it didn’t have to go off to Birmingham. Told you it was a long story, I’m thinking of turning it into a musical!
Paul.

 

[Deerhunter22]

Having read a few posts here about sending a gun to a RFD I thought I would add my tale. It’s quite a long tale with a few rants along the way and also a few things I didn’t know when I started. So if you’re sitting comfortably I’ll begin. A couple of years ago I put in to swap a 243 for a 6.5x55, 12 weeks later it’s approved, that’s 3 months to agree I can have a slightly larger caliber on the same land shooting the same deer. I know it’s been done to death on here but why? These rules are made up and then the FLU complains they are over worked. Anyway got the call tickets been sent out, one week later still no FAC, call them up, give it another week they say. After another week call them back expecting them to be worried that my FAC has gone missing, no worries we’ll issue another they say, can you come and collect it? So we have to guard our FAC’s with due care but if one goes missing from their end, no worries. So got my ticket found a rifle I like the look of, call the shop agree a price , check with my RFD he’s happy for it to be sent to him, covering letter in with the FAC and down to the local post office. Sent first class, recorded, registered, guaranteed next day, gold plated no problem. Phoned the shop next day, no they haven’t received it, went home and went online to track it, there it is scanned in at the post office then nothing. The Royal Mail tracking system only works so long as the postperson scans the item, if he/she doesn’t, for what ever reason, then the system falls over and it can’t be queried. All one can do is to make a claim on their insurance. I would have thought nowadays having a tracking system that you can question would be fairly straight forward, but then I remembered the post office and computer systems don’t go well together. So gave it a couple of days, still nothing on the system, called the FLU expecting them to go ballistic, no worries give it another couple of weeks. Just about to call them again, this is three weeks after I posted the FAC, when I had a call from the shop, its turned up. Happy days, card details over the phone wait for the call from my RFD. Why do we have to send our FAC to the shop and risk it going missing? I know it’s the law but why can’t I pay for the rifle, have it sent to my RFD and he enters it onto my ticket as the issuing agent or something similar? Anyway a couple of days later call from the RFD, good news guns here, bad news it’s damaged. The thread on the muzzle has been dinked, luckily the RFD is also a gunsmith. I’ll cut the end off and rethread he says and then it will have to be reproofed. Yes says I bit daft having to reproof just cause of rethreading, ar no says he it’s because nowadays they put a proof mark at the muzzle end and rethreading removes it so it has to be replaced. In the end he managed to clean up the threads and as the crown was ok it didn’t have to go off to Birmingham. Told you it was a long story, I’m thinking of turning it into a musical!
Paul.

used to work at RM, 1st class goes the same as 2nd and tracked or not makes no difference if it’s a letter and when it gets to this time of year it gets worse aswell. Se if u had chucked the fac into a box it would if got there RM are trying to ditch mail. Got sick of the dispute hence why I left and the dispute surrounded mail and then wanting to ditch it for the parcel market essentially.

 

[alberta boy]

Having read a few posts here about sending a gun to a RFD I thought I would add my tale. It’s quite a long tale with a few rants along the way and also a few things I didn’t know when I started. So if you’re sitting comfortably I’ll begin. A couple of years ago I put in to swap a 243 for a 6.5x55, 12 weeks later it’s approved, that’s 3 months to agree I can have a slightly larger caliber on the same land shooting the same deer. I know it’s been done to death on here but why? These rules are made up and then the FLU complains they are over worked. Anyway got the call tickets been sent out, one week later still no FAC, call them up, give it another week they say. After another week call them back expecting them to be worried that my FAC has gone missing, no worries we’ll issue another they say, can you come and collect it? So we have to guard our FAC’s with due care but if one goes missing from their end, no worries. So got my ticket found a rifle I like the look of, call the shop agree a price , check with my RFD he’s happy for it to be sent to him, covering letter in with the FAC and down to the local post office. Sent first class, recorded, registered, guaranteed next day, gold plated no problem. Phoned the shop next day, no they haven’t received it, went home and went online to track it, there it is scanned in at the post office then nothing. The Royal Mail tracking system only works so long as the postperson scans the item, if he/she doesn’t, for what ever reason, then the system falls over and it can’t be queried. All one can do is to make a claim on their insurance. I would have thought nowadays having a tracking system that you can question would be fairly straight forward, but then I remembered the post office and computer systems don’t go well together. So gave it a couple of days, still nothing on the system, called the FLU expecting them to go ballistic, no worries give it another couple of weeks. Just about to call them again, this is three weeks after I posted the FAC, when I had a call from the shop, its turned up. Happy days, card details over the phone wait for the call from my RFD. Why do we have to send our FAC to the shop and risk it going missing? I know it’s the law but why can’t I pay for the rifle, have it sent to my RFD and he enters it onto my ticket as the issuing agent or something similar? Anyway a couple of days later call from the RFD, good news guns here, bad news it’s damaged. The thread on the muzzle has been dinked, luckily the RFD is also a gunsmith. I’ll cut the end off and rethread he says and then it will have to be reproofed. Yes says I bit daft having to reproof just cause of rethreading, ar no says he it’s because nowadays they put a proof mark at the muzzle end and rethreading removes it so it has to be replaced. In the end he managed to clean up the threads and as the crown was ok it didn’t have to go off to Birmingham. Told you it was a long story, I’m thinking of turning it into a musical!
Paul.

Wow , that just sucks .

AB

 

[TringSaint]

Having read a few posts here about sending a gun to a RFD I thought I would add my tale. It’s quite a long tale with a few rants along the way and also a few things I didn’t know when I started. So if you’re sitting comfortably I’ll begin. A couple of years ago I put in to swap a 243 for a 6.5x55, 12 weeks later it’s approved, that’s 3 months to agree I can have a slightly larger caliber on the same land shooting the same deer. I know it’s been done to death on here but why? These rules are made up and then the FLU complains they are over worked. Anyway got the call tickets been sent out, one week later still no FAC, call them up, give it another week they say. After another week call them back expecting them to be worried that my FAC has gone missing, no worries we’ll issue another they say, can you come and collect it? So we have to guard our FAC’s with due care but if one goes missing from their end, no worries. So got my ticket found a rifle I like the look of, call the shop agree a price , check with my RFD he’s happy for it to be sent to him, covering letter in with the FAC and down to the local post office. Sent first class, recorded, registered, guaranteed next day, gold plated no problem. Phoned the shop next day, no they haven’t received it, went home and went online to track it, there it is scanned in at the post office then nothing. The Royal Mail tracking system only works so long as the postperson scans the item, if he/she doesn’t, for what ever reason, then the system falls over and it can’t be queried. All one can do is to make a claim on their insurance. I would have thought nowadays having a tracking system that you can question would be fairly straight forward, but then I remembered the post office and computer systems don’t go well together. So gave it a couple of days, still nothing on the system, called the FLU expecting them to go ballistic, no worries give it another couple of weeks. Just about to call them again, this is three weeks after I posted the FAC, when I had a call from the shop, its turned up. Happy days, card details over the phone wait for the call from my RFD. Why do we have to send our FAC to the shop and risk it going missing? I know it’s the law but why can’t I pay for the rifle, have it sent to my RFD and he enters it onto my ticket as the issuing agent or something similar? Anyway a couple of days later call from the RFD, good news guns here, bad news it’s damaged. The thread on the muzzle has been dinked, luckily the RFD is also a gunsmith. I’ll cut the end off and rethread he says and then it will have to be reproofed. Yes says I bit daft having to reproof just cause of rethreading, ar no says he it’s because nowadays they put a proof mark at the muzzle end and rethreading removes it so it has to be replaced. In the end he managed to clean up the threads and as the crown was ok it didn’t have to go off to Birmingham. Told you it was a long story, I’m thinking of turning it into a musical!
Paul.

What rifle did you buy? And more importantly, are you enjoying the swede?

 

[markj1]

That's my nightmare scenario... which is why the last time I bought a rifle, I drove 3 hours to the RFD, presented the FAC, and took the rifle home with me. Glad you got it all sorted in the end.

 

[Taff]

It’s time the need for proofing was scrapped, no one else gives a crap about it.

 

[Longstrider]

That's my nightmare scenario... which is why the last time I bought a rifle, I drove 3 hours to the RFD, presented the FAC, and took the rifle home with me. Glad you got it all sorted in the end.

Snap ! There's no way that I'd trust RM with my ticket. I drive to Police HQ to collect it at renewal time and then I KNOW where it is. I also drove a good 3 hours each way to buy my most recent rifle face-to-face with the gunsmith (The late and lamented Dennis at UK Gun Repair). Another advantage of doing so was that he fitted the moderator and scope for me while I drank a welcome coffee and browsed the shop

Glad the OP now has his new toy safely in his hands though, even if it is a silly metric thing and not a proper rifle like a .270

 

[kenbro]

It’s time the need for proofing was scrapped, no one else gives a crap about it.

It didn’t need proofing if he didn’t intend selling it on.
Ken.

 

[gixer1]

It’s a joke of a system with no logic….simply a hoop jumping exercise that sometimes I think was designed to give them more time in an already archaic and slow system.

We really need the following -

1) Moderators removed from FAC’s - they are after all less complex than a tin of beans!

2) Electronic system for applications and variations - no sending letters from doctors etc.

3) Restrictions on chamberings if “standard” until it gets up to oddball or high energy 338, 50BMG etc. there is little difference risk assessment wise between a 243 and a 30-06.

4) Silly restrictions on ammunition, if Billy has had all the background checks please explain why he is more dangerous with 500 rounds than Fred is with 250? Unless you are looking for 1000+ rounds it shouldn’t be an issue and many target shooters will need this for say 22LR or 357/38!

5) Silly interpretations of the firearms laws…this “you need DSC1” or wanting to see x years with a 22 or 243 before being allowed a 308….nonsense!

6) lack of trust to Firearms dealers - any of them with this elevated status should be able to check an FAC - no need at all for it to be sent to the other end of the country, it should be like a post office - they are interlinked in a system (which they are anyway!)

Regards,
Gixer

 

[JTO]

The RM computer system seems to be on a par with that of British Gas. I had a service booked at a rental property in Staffordshire. Got a text to say the engineer was on his way. 10 minutes later, I got a knock on my door in Weymouth! "Come to service your boiler"!!!!!!!!

 

[Ploddy Paul]

Very happy with the swede, using Yew tree copper and nothing has taken more than a few steps.
I just get proof of posting now if I have to send any documents, not worth the extra cost.
I don’t get having to justify if you want to change rifle. You have proven that you have a need for a rifle for a purpose, why have to go through it all again if you want to change? I can swap cars no problem and more people are killed by idiots with cars than idiots with guns.
To me the idea of having groups or zones, ie rimfire and fc air, CF 22, CF up to maybe 308 and anything above needs to be applied for. Once you have justified owning a rifle in a group you can have 2 or 3 and swap around as you want, letting the FLU know when it happens. I believe NZ has something like this? Never happen, too sensible.
Paul

 

[John Gryphon]

It’s time the need for proofing was scrapped, no one else gives a crap about it.

Its a 'no such thing here' this proofing poop.

Turn 18, apply for and receive licence, go straight to gun shop or gun sales and buy a .300 magnum, go deer hunting. There is a mandatory 28 day wait for a newly licenced chum to apply for a firearm and from there its a matter of buying and buying and buying ha ha.
Slowly "law creep" is working its way in here though. It wasn't that long ago that you could have as many as you like here but now its only 15 firearms unless one applies the more rigorous storage rules.

 

[Taff]

Its a 'no such thing here' this proofing poop.

Turn 18, apply for and receive licence, go straight to gun shop or gun sales and buy a .300 magnum, go deer hunting. There is a mandatory 28 day wait for a newly licenced chum to apply for a firearm and from there its a matter of buying and buying and buying ha ha.
Slowly "law creep" is working its way in here though. It wasn't that long ago that you could have as many as you like here but now its only 15 firearms unless one applies the more rigorous storage rules.

Same here in Nz, except no standown time, but law creep is happening.

 

[John Gryphon]

except no standown time

Only for first timers but it must be an excruciating wait ha ha.

 

[Smellydog]

Welcome to modern Britain, the new third world member!
Sorry buddy....