Travelling with loaded magazines
- Thread starter Tallguy
- Start date
As someone fairly new to s1 ownership, as the certificate doesn't come with a 'user manual' I try to keep on the right side of the law by looking at the written law which is in my eyes the firearms act 1968 as amended to the current date.
As far as I can see, within the act there are 2 sections which are relevant to the question posted. 19 & 57.
View attachment 365601
Section 19 states that it is an offence to have 'any other firearm in
As far as I can see, within the act there are 2 sections which are relevant to the question posted. 19 & 57.
View attachment 365601
Section 19 states that it is an offence to have 'any other firearm in
This must be getting a bit dull, but can anyone let me know whether there is is law which differentiates between loaded and unloaded S1 firearms?
So, if I were driving or walking on the public highway with a rifle, and I had with me ammuntion for that rifle - would there be any difference in law if that ammuntion was in a magazine in the rifle, compared to its being in its box in my pocket?
Clearly there are safety and 'good practice' considerations with respect to how close the rifle's condition is to being ready to fire at any point in relation to urgency with which its likely to be needed - but what does the actual law say?
So, if I were driving or walking on the public highway with a rifle, and I had with me ammuntion for that rifle - would there be any difference in law if that ammuntion was in a magazine in the rifle, compared to its being in its box in my pocket?
Clearly there are safety and 'good practice' considerations with respect to how close the rifle's condition is to being ready to fire at any point in relation to urgency with which its likely to be needed - but what does the actual law say?
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south-nofolk-stalker
Well-Known Member
I think you have answered your own question, there are enough “experts “ on the SD that if such legislation was there it would have been found and posted by now.
All that keeps rolling around are opinions nothing more, nothing less , nothing concrete to back anything up, just a lot of scaremongering
With all the paranoia on display here do some people ever go out shooting? The fear of actually getting a rifle out of a safe must be hideous let alone actually loading a magazine and using it.
For all it’s worth I load a magazine at home and place it in my pocket and with the rifle in a slip head off in a truck or Gator. On ground put magazine in rifle. When moving to another piece of ground reverse the process.
For all it’s worth I load a magazine at home and place it in my pocket and with the rifle in a slip head off in a truck or Gator. On ground put magazine in rifle. When moving to another piece of ground reverse the process.
Similar situation but different outcome.
Gamekeeper friend, driving between fields foxing in a kubota. His mate was standing in the back with loaded rifle on a bipod resting on the roof. Cops stopped him, and just shook their heads, while saying something along the lines of "of course it's you Dave!"
All they were worried about was poaching or vehicle theft.
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Great Post
Cogswell & Harrison
Well-Known Member
Yes, plenty, but we each have our own way of doing things. The way I do it is the way I was taught by those far more experienced than I'll ever be.
So much stalking then? Where you get to the ground in the dark, one sight or ear shot of the deer?
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Cogswell & Harrison
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure where we're going with this but, stalking? No, a quick backtrack through my posts will reveal that I am, as we speak, doing my DSC1.
However, "hunting" in general terms? That would be yes and loading magazines in the dark, half light, cold or whatever does not cause me any problems. If I spook an animal so what? Just like fishing, some days we blank and some we do not, there's always another day another fish or another animal or pest?
Full circle. The tread posed a scenario and I simply added my 2p
You asked, “what savings are there to be had?”. I am pointing out it may allow you to shoot more animals, which is why a lot of us are out there. I don’t go out to blank, many others don’t go out to blank either.
There is no harm in having a loaded magazine, separate to the firearm, when you travel to your ground.
I was out foxing last night, using the new rem 700 .243 LVSF a buddy gave me for the first time, great little rifle bar one problem, blind box mag!!
What an absolute pain in the arse loading and unloading the rifle each time I drove on the public road between fields, lost out on one fox because of how slow it is, as lovely as the Bell and Carlson stock is its going to have to go, I need to be able to drop a preloaded magazine in and out when doing this type of shooting, no ifs, no buts!!
Potentially Putting my head on the block here, but might the fact that there is zero reference in the firearms act to when a section one firearm is classed as loaded, be because anyone who posesses one legally is deemed to be a big enough boy or girl to act with their judgement... a bit like having "open" conditions on their firearms? As said in the act 'without lawful authority or reasonable excuse' (For the person to prove)
Anyone (over 18, other clauses apply) in England and Wales can own an air rifle (non fac) .. likewise section 2 owners do not have to prove 'good reason to own'
?
That does sound a pain. Clearly it would be ill-advised to have a round in the chamber when driving between fields - but is it really necessary, having cleared the chamber, to empty the magazine as well?
If not confident of that alone as a safety-measure, it might be easier simply to remove the bolt, rather than be messing about loading and unloading the magazine in the dark?
I’d happily drive under loaded on the ground from a safety perspective but driving 1/2 a mile between or more spots on the public road I unload. This ground is around a village, not in the middle of nowhere.
To add to the thread, I have been stopped, and been asked to show the weapons were not loaded. I did not get asked if o had any magazines on my person.
A loaded gun is a gun with rounds in the magazine or chamber, of the gun. If that magazine full of cartridges is in your pocket, or backpack, then your gun is unloaded and safe. The only way an unloaded gun can cause physical injury is if it is dropped on someone's toes. Easy as that. Transporting ammo in a magazine isn't any different from storing them in the box you buy them in.
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