Number of guns

[Olly.243]

Number of guns and security

Could anyone help me I currently have 2 rifles and 3 shotguns and am wanting to buy another shotgun (can decide on what to get rid of yet ) is there any restrictions on the number I can have or would it just be down to if they are stored correctly then there should be a problem .
Many thanks

 

[tarponhead]

Could anyone help me I currently have 2 rifles and 3 shotguns and am wanting to buy another shotgun (can decide on what to get rid of yet ) is there any restrictions on the number I can have or would it just be down to if they are stored correctly then there should be a problem .
Many thanks

No restriction on shotguns I am aware of - I have many - but they are keen on security - house alarms, solid doors, split between different cabinets etc, rightly so.

 

[Ray7756]

No restrictions on numbers of shotguns, for security I remove the forestock and store seperate from guns, its no hassle and improves security
Cheers
Ray

 

[VSS]

As said above, no restrictions on shotgun numbers. And you can have as many rifles as you can justifiably demonstrate a need for.

 

[Olly.243]

At the moment I don’t really have any security measures in place other then cabinets of course is it likely that they would try and impose any more going from 5 to 6 guns.

 

[defender]

Hi Olly,

I have 4 rifles and 17 shotguns, when I acquired my last batch of shotguns, given to me because a friend surrendered his licence, I added a cabinet and put it in the loft to supplement the cabinet in the spare bedroom. The FEO came round to inspect and told me that the number of guns I have would normally have required the addition of an alarm but because the cabinets were in separate locations this would not be required, so I have no additional security beyond the 2 cabinets.

Martin

 

[Olly.243]

Many thanks Martin

I already have two cabinets one for firearms one for shotguns and a separate safe for ammo
might just give them a ring and find out what licensing says

 

[kes]

Many thanks Martin

I already have two cabinets one for firearms one for shotguns and a separate safe for ammo
might just give them a ring and find out what licensing says

I would suggest that before you do you contact your shooting organisation and seek advice on how to approach this as each force seems to be different.
My experience is that I have four shotguns and four rifles in a 10 gun Brattonsound - no apparent problem - ammo stored in separate safe but Gwent still asked if I had an alarm ? A lot of forces insist on extra security above 10 rifles and shotguns irrespective of the mix. I havent before heard of it being Ok to have many shotguns if in different cabinets so thats a new one. In terms of ease of purchase - you can have as many section 2 shotguns as you wish.

 

[VSS]

Many thanks Martin

I already have two cabinets one for firearms one for shotguns and a separate safe for ammo
might just give them a ring and find out what licensing says

Why ring them? You're just inventing potential problems where there are none, and you'd be giving them an excuse to impose restrictions on you. Just get the gun. Lock it up in your existing storage facility, or get another cabinet if you think you need to. If any additional security is required they'll tell you at next renewal when they come and have a look.

 

[25 Sharps]

At the moment I don’t really have any security measures in place other then cabinets of course is it likely that they would try and impose any more going from 5 to 6 guns.

I was asked to install an alarm at renewal, a 'reasonable' shed type alarm for the cabinet itself would do, I fitted a battery operated contact alarm that calls my mobile or 2 other numbers if the cabinet is opened when armed, cost me about £80 which I don't begrudge paying.

 

[25 Sharps]

Many thanks Martin

I already have two cabinets one for firearms one for shotguns and a separate safe for ammo
might just give them a ring and find out what licensing says

Don't worry, you'd need to be into double figures before they would worry so as long as you have room to secure properly just make the purchase

 

[DamDama]

Olly
Like you I am in Cornwall and here is my experience with D&C police. I had 3 rifles and 3 shotguns I then acquired another shotgun and was subsequently contacted by the police and asked to fit individual alarms to my cabinets which I did, they cost a tenner off amazon. They then came out to check it had been done. So if you increase number of guns held to 7 or more, they will ask you to alarm your cabinets. Which I would add is a waste of time because if I am not in I won’t hear them going off! Don’t contact them, they will contact you once they have received confirmation of your new purchase.
DD

 

[countrryboy]

DD above do u have mods for all ur rifles??
If so they might class that as a firearm (in there wierd licensing world) so that would bring u up to 10? Otherwise 7 is quite low really.
Every force seems to be different but broadly speaking when u get up to 10ish seems to be the line in sand.
It may also depend where u live, a low crime area or middle of a 'scheme'

 

[enfieldspares]

It does vary from force to force. But a Shot Gun Certificate is in effect "open" and you can buy at will. So for 99.99% of shooters here is no need for a prior permission nor to change to your existing security providing BOTH these are me:

1) There's no condition on it restricting the total number of shot guns that you may possess at any one time;

2) There's room in it in your cabinet of cabinets if your a condition that, say, forends are stored off the guns.

So unless 1) applies is 2) relevant? It may be if say the OP has breakdown size cabinets and he's just decided to purchaset a 36" barrel restricted magazine bolt action Marlin Goose Gun and it won't fit. If 1) and 2) don't I see no issue at all.

 

[Pedro]

enfieldspares, as always has the gen. There are no restrictions on how many shotguns you can own. Security arrangements are also your concern primarily. It's entirely possible that they won't say anything, assuming they know you have the capacity to store them in your cabinet(s). There may come a time when they will want to see more security measures other than cabinets, but if they do, then cross that bridge when it comes, unless you feel you want to beef up your security anyway. As for the number of guns you can have before they start to insist on extra measures, then that not only depends on your force, but also other considerations, such as where you live (burglary hot spot?), your house construction and a few other matters you could no doubt think of.

Unless you collect some type of shotgun or something, I think there's only so many you need. A semi auto for vermin and wildfowl, a posh O/U for posh days, a workhorse O/U for other days. Maybe a SxS for a change and I'm running out of ideas now...

 

[VSS]

Plus one (or two) for the wife, and one each for the kids... And a 410 for HD and for ratting around the yard... It soon adds up, Pedro!

 

[DamDama]

Countryboy
I have mods on all three rifles but they weren’t counting them as separate firearms. They specifically said it was because the number of guns held had reache 7. This was two years ago.
DD

 

[Pedro]

Plus one (or two) for the wife, and one each for the kids... And a 410 for HD and for ratting around the yard... It soon adds up, Pedro!

I guess it can...

 

[bowji john]

Olly
Like you I am in Cornwall and here is my experience with D&C police. I had 3 rifles and 3 shotguns I then acquired another shotgun and was subsequently contacted by the police and asked to fit individual alarms to my cabinets which I did, they cost a tenner off amazon. They then came out to check it had been done. So if you increase number of guns held to 7 or more, they will ask you to alarm your cabinets. Which I would add is a waste of time because if I am not in I won’t hear them going off! Don’t contact them, they will contact you once they have received confirmation of your new purchase.
DD

That's good to know

i now have 6 and was wondering whether I was approaching the alarmed gun room trigger point

 

[Wapinschaw]

That's good to know

i now have 6 and was wondering whether I was approaching the alarmed gun room trigger point

10 seems to crop up a lot.