First FAC - what am I asking for?

New Avon Arms
weblyish

weblyish

Well-Known Member
Supporter
I know this forum is full of first time FAC questions and I have looked but still not found what I'm after so thanks for reading


I'm about to apply for my first FAC

I intend to buy a .308 for most of my stalking

Plus a .22rf for indoor target and pest shooting (predominantly for practice mounting, walking with and using sticks judging distance and drops etc just time with a gun basically)

I am already a member of a club with an indoor range (rimfire and pistol calibres only)

I have some booked stalks and have completed a few guided stalks already but have no proper ground to shoot on

I have an agreement from someone who manages foxes and rats from time to time on a farm to take me out and let me shoot with them but that's unlikely to be a nice permission on a bit of paper he's not a paper work sort of person


Questions

1. If I also put in for a smaller calibre (let's say .243 for now) as a lighter gun for smaller deer (I might not even buy it but in case I see a nice one)
am I likely to get PC grumpy guts telling me to get the 243 and come back for the 308 next time when I've had some practice
I mainly want the 308 that's all I've ever shot deer with so far and don't want to jeopardize getting that

2. Am I likely to also get the 22 restricted to target only - how do I ensure I get all legal quarry?
I mean what do I specifically ask for? do I not say target at all or is saying both more likely to get it approved

3. Finally ammo
What is even reasonable quantity?

For the 22 I buy cans of 500 at the club (I can't bring them home but they hold them)
So for home I really need something like 1200 rounds (so I can buy 2 full cans at a time plus a few leftovers from before)
That sounds like a lot but is actually only a couple of months at most

Also for the 308 ammo
if I want to try a few makes and weights I'd need to get half a dozen boxes so might want 250 cartridges minimum

Again this sounds like a lot. Is Bobby going to ask if I intend to shoot 2 hundred deer a year or do I just miss a lot or any other crappy police humour?
But I don't want to be driving to bargoed every bloody month by not getting enough in my application



Ta
Weblyish





If
 
Just ask for everything that you have a good reason for. You are way too light on centre fire ammunition if you have to zero in, 750 rounds are reasonable
 
If you ask for both .243 and .308 he most likely will just give the .243 so maybe just ask for .308.
If you don’t have your own land to sign in the license for .22 then it will be closed for the range only.
As for rounds 1000 is fine for target use and seems to be reasonable.

250 centrefire ammo again is suitable as why keep going to the shop.
 
And don't forget you can hold unlimited quantities of reloading components if you when you head down that rabbithole
 
Cc91 said:
If you ask for both .243 and .308 he most likely will just give the .243 so maybe just ask for .308.
If you don’t have your own land to sign in the license for .22 then it will be closed for the range only.
As for rounds 1000 is fine for target use and seems to be reasonable.

250 centrefire ammo again is suitable as why keep going to the shop.
Click to expand...
Hmm
That was my worry might just apply for the 308

Ditto for the 22 I just want something cheap to feed while I put lots of rounds though it in a field on sticks
 
weblyish said:
I know this forum is full of first time FAC questions and I have looked but still not found what I'm after so thanks for reading


I'm about to apply for my first FAC

I intend to buy a .308 for most of my stalking

Plus a .22rf for indoor target and pest shooting (predominantly for practice mounting, walking with and using sticks judging distance and drops etc just time with a gun basically)

I am already a member of a club with an indoor range (rimfire and pistol calibres only)

I have some booked stalks and have completed a few guided stalks already but have no proper ground to shoot on

I have an agreement from someone who manages foxes and rats from time to time on a farm to take me out and let me shoot with them but that's unlikely to be a nice permission on a bit of paper he's not a paper work sort of person


Questions

1. If I also put in for a smaller calibre (let's say .243 for now) as a lighter gun for smaller deer (I might not even buy it but in case I see a nice one)
am I likely to get PC grumpy guts telling me to get the 243 and come back for the 308 next time when I've had some practice
I mainly want the 308 that's all I've ever shot deer with so far and don't want to jeopardize getting that

2. Am I likely to also get the 22 restricted to target only - how do I ensure I get all legal quarry?
I mean what do I specifically ask for? do I not say target at all or is saying both more likely to get it approved

3. Finally ammo
What is even reasonable quantity?

For the 22 I buy cans of 500 at the club (I can't bring them home but they hold them)
So for home I really need something like 1200 rounds (so I can buy 2 full cans at a time plus a few leftovers from before)
That sounds like a lot but is actually only a couple of months at most

Also for the 308 ammo
if I want to try a few makes and weights I'd need to get half a dozen boxes so might want 250 cartridges minimum

Again this sounds like a lot. Is Bobby going to ask if I intend to shoot 2 hundred deer a year or do I just miss a lot or any other crappy police humour?
But I don't want to be driving to bargoed every bloody month by not getting enough in my application



Ta
Weblyish





If
Click to expand...
You will have a closed ticket so be tied into land cleared by the police for an example .243
I had 5 farms cleared for .243 as they belonged to one family so they will be on file as cleared for .243
I shoot a .270 also on a open ticket so the onus for clearing it is down to me, one field is 6 acres.
What I would look at is where you might be come the first renewal @ 5 years.
I have shot my .243 for 14 years from Muntjac to Reds.
What we all want to do is go shooting and new shooters want to gain experience so if a .243 is a easy grant then up grade with your next renewal as an option.
I say get the boots muddy and lots of trips under you belt with a .243
 
Ask for what you want. If you want both 243 and 308 ask for both. If you are only allowed one tell him the one you want and why.

When it comes to ammo, think about how many you're likely to shoot in a year and ask for that. It seems a good starting point, and you can get a batch of the same stuff to keep shooting the same all year/season.

Remember, it is your first FAC, so be prepared to get the tricky questions and the attempts to knock you back especially on ammo. Be firm and have your reasons/arguments ready to fight your corner but also be prepared to compromise.
 
If you have a genuine good reason for having the calibres that you want they have no reason not to let you have them. So ask, and you will get.
It's when your "good reason" is somewhat tenuous (and, let's face it, that is the case for some people) that it gets sticky.
 
On first application I applied for:
.17hmr
.22LR
.243
.308
I got all four plus 1,000 rounds for everything bar .243 and they only gave me 160...
 
Decide why you want 2x deer rifles: species/thermal/weight for woodland open ground etc etc.

If plod say choose one?, ask for the land inspection differences.
 
Crikey. My ammunition was 100 for the .308, upped to 150 on my last variation.

.22lr I have 250 rounds.

If you can get vermin permission, get a .223 or something smaller than .243 and that way there's no arguing the .308 for deer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Variation one for one question.
Replies
2
Views
266
Danny Boy
Danny Boy
FAC variation - any tips
Replies
19
Views
1K
M@tt
M
Kent FLD FAC/SGC timeline
Replies
0
Views
116
DoeeyedJez
D
FAC air guns Scotland
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
ContinShots
ContinShots
FAC Help
2 3
Replies
42
Views
1K
f17ant
F
Braces Airgun Masters
Back
Top