Calibre selection for FAC

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BlueJuice

Well-Known Member
Hi guys, im getting all my ducks in a row for my FAC.

I've got my medical sorted, landowners permissions in the works, and a guided stalk + DSC1 booked. In addition to this i've been in touch with a veteran led initiative to build experience in deer management and stalking who are happy to have me - Happy days!

I feel thats a good amount of justification to get down, just need to settle on what calibres im going to go for. In all likely hood I'll probably go for a .308 as itll suit all my needs but its pretty much a toss up between that and a 6.5 creedmore. As these are expensive bits of kit and im happy to go down either avenue, do you think it would go against me putting in for both calibres to give me flexibility come purchase time? Would an FEO be happy with this?

Putting in additional slots on my FAC later down the line seems another lengthy endeavour, would it make sense to basically put in for more than i'm after on initial application simply to have extra slots I can use (or even one for one) at a later date? I can put in justifications for perhaps 3 different calibres off the bat but not sure how well this would be received.

If anyones able to give some insight into what they were granted (for stalking purposes) from the offset that would be helpful, especially those who have gone through the process say since 2021 when things got a bit tighter that would really be appreciated.
 
best advice is talk to your feo. any other advice is pointless as they can just say no ! in some areas you would be pushing your luck asking for a 308 and extra calibers <i dont know your area or the feo> if you ask for 3 rifles eg; 308,223,44magnum etc and can justify them you may have a chance.<308 open ground stalking large deer, 223 woodland muntjac /chinese water deer and fox. 44magnum thick woodland and dence cover area. > but you have to convince your feo . good luck.
 
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all the above rifles are readily available and ammunition is at reasonable cost <not cheap any more>
 
Having 2 slots so you can choose between them is not good reason, there’s nothing to stop you going and purchasing both the same day or the same week.

People have done it but most FLDs won’t like it. To be honest if it’s purely stalking and you’re not pushing ranges (as a new stalker) .308 will be a good choice.
 
BlueJuice said:
Hi guys, im getting all my ducks in a row for my FAC.

I've got my medical sorted, landowners permissions in the works, and a guided stalk + DSC1 booked. In addition to this i've been in touch with a veteran led initiative to build experience in deer management and stalking who are happy to have me - Happy days!

I feel thats a good amount of justification to get down, just need to settle on what calibres im going to go for. In all likely hood I'll probably go for a .308 as itll suit all my needs but its pretty much a toss up between that and a 6.5 creedmore. As these are expensive bits of kit and im happy to go down either avenue, do you think it would go against me putting in for both calibres to give me flexibility come purchase time? Would an FEO be happy with this?

Putting in additional slots on my FAC later down the line seems another lengthy endeavour, would it make sense to basically put in for more than i'm after on initial application simply to have extra slots I can use (or even one for one) at a later date? I can put in justifications for perhaps 3 different calibres off the bat but not sure how well this would be received.

If anyones able to give some insight into what they were granted (for stalking purposes) from the offset that would be helpful, especially those who have gone through the process say since 2021 when things got a bit tighter that would really be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Best bit was no mention of "weapon" well done.
I have 2 C/Fire rifles .243 and .270 but shot %95 with the .243 from Muntjac to Reds last year as that is how the last light shooting has worked out. First deer of 2025 was a muntjac doe shot at 16.52 this evening with the .243.
Good luck.
 
I just went through this as I submitted my application a couple weeks ago. I plan on getting a fairly used rifle and was torn between .243 or 6.5x55 because good deals can be found with either of those. I wanted to put both but knew I didn’t have enough reason at this point. Went with 6.5x55 since I always wanted one.

Now the wait!
 
bbell said:
I just went through this as I submitted my application a couple weeks ago. I plan on getting a fairly used rifle and was torn between .243 or 6.5x55 because good deals can be found with either of those. I wanted to put both but knew I didn’t have enough reason at this point. Went with 6.5x55 since I always wanted one.

Now the wait!
Click to expand...
You made the right choice!
 
BlueJuice said:
Hi guys, im getting all my ducks in a row for my FAC.

I've got my medical sorted, landowners permissions in the works, and a guided stalk + DSC1 booked. In addition to this i've been in touch with a veteran led initiative to build experience in deer management and stalking who are happy to have me - Happy days!

I feel thats a good amount of justification to get down, just need to settle on what calibres im going to go for. In all likely hood I'll probably go for a .308 as itll suit all my needs but its pretty much a toss up between that and a 6.5 creedmore. As these are expensive bits of kit and im happy to go down either avenue, do you think it would go against me putting in for both calibres to give me flexibility come purchase time? Would an FEO be happy with this?

Putting in additional slots on my FAC later down the line seems another lengthy endeavour, would it make sense to basically put in for more than i'm after on initial application simply to have extra slots I can use (or even one for one) at a later date? I can put in justifications for perhaps 3 different calibres off the bat but not sure how well this would be received.

If anyones able to give some insight into what they were granted (for stalking purposes) from the offset that would be helpful, especially those who have gone through the process say since 2021 when things got a bit tighter that would really be appreciated.
Click to expand...
You need to justify whatever chambering you ask for. For example I have a 222 (fox, small deer & Roe in Scotland) 6.5x55 Roe upwards on piece of land literally out my garden. 270 Sika on a different piece of land and 30-06 for Sika and wild boar. I have other rifles each with its own "good reason"
However your FEO and FLD might not like to give you a 308 for example "because it's too big" or whatever other reason they can think of. I have had similar in the past and my lad (ex Matelot) had no problem with a 223 and 243. But they wouldn't give him his 7x64 barrel (Sauer 202) not enough experience apparently. Ridicules as the FEO knows he grew up around firearms so has used similar previously out with me.
That said get your "good reason" squared away and be prepared to argue your choice (Home Office Guidelines Firearms is worth a read for this reason)
I would suggest you have a look at your local gunshop and see what they stock ammo wise for the 6.5 and 308. Hopefully a decent selection of each, but it might help if one is better catered for than the other. Then you should be able to find something that gives the accuracy and terminal performance you're happy with. You might need to try a few brands and or weights till you are happy with the results. Which leads to you can then chose from the rifles in either cartridge that you like the fit and feel of.
 
Thanks for the info guys, all much appreciated. Will probably be getting my FAC submitted at the start of next week.

Just to make sure i have all the info I need, ive gone through the form without submitting it to make sure I have all the info needed.

Theres one final question i have on it, and rather than starting a new thread ill just ask it in this one. The rifle will be for deer stalking so under the 'good reason' section if i choose 'quarry shooting' its wanting me to put in the details of the land i have permission to shoot over:
Screenshot 2025-01-04 153808.webp
Screenshot 2025-01-04 153825.webp

This is where it gets a little confusing, I have guided stalks booked and also an agreement to join a deer management organisation. It doesn't seem like this really fits in as they are after a specific location? I can shoehorn it into the available boxes but doesnt seem the right place for it.

Alternatively if i choose the 'other' option rather than 'quarry shooting' i get a blank box i can fill out. I do have some potential land permissions on the cards but to be honest I feel the deer management stuff is the main driver here and the land permissions is more of an extra bit of supporting info.

What do you guys think is best?
 
BlueJuice said:
Yeah happy with that, however does than mean I select ‘other’ as a justification and stick all the info in there?
Click to expand...
Just put it wherever it fits best. As long as you get all the info on there it doesn't matter too much whether it went in the right boxes or not. You'll get an opportunity to talk through the whole application with the FEO anyway, and that's when you can fine tune it.
 
VSS said:
Just put it wherever it fits best. As long as you get all the info on there it doesn't matter too much whether it went in the right boxes or not. You'll get an opportunity to talk through the whole application with the FEO anyway, and that's when you can fine tune it.
Click to expand...
Thanks mate
 
My officer said I could have either 308 or a 6.5 creedmoor. I opted for 6.5 creedmoor. I was also allowed.223 and .22 at the time that covered everything I wanted. I’m now looking to add another- maybe 22-250
 
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