Fac Airguns in UK

[Macloaded]

I live in Scotland and thus airguns growing up were of a sub 12flb (no fire arms certificate required) variety, good for head shot rabbits out to 40 odd yards but not much else. A few years ago I bought a property with a large garden and a large rabbit problem to go along with it. Cracked out my old webley ecplise in .22 and started making a dent in the population of my furry friends. I moved on to an aa propsort and then an hw100 and was thoroughly enjoying myself, even if it was just plinking away after work. Then, in their infinite wisdom and against the advice of our own police force, the snp government required people to apply for a lisence for even sub 12flb airguns so I thought, may as well get a fire arms certificate if I am going to bother at all. 

The process will horrify my Atlantic cousins, but a doctor's certificate, police interviews and home security checks and some thorough background checks and references later, I was the proud owner of a fire arms certificate. Que internet searches and I ended up a long time lurker on this forum, learning a lot from you guys about the strange new world of unrestricted power. The result was my purchasing an fac mark one rapid seven in.22 and an fac streamline in .25. Snow is finally away so off out and tested them both today. All I can say is wow, unrestricted power has opened up a whole new world. I was shooting out to 80 yards with relative ease with the Streamline and am one very happy man with both rifles. I will now doubt push it further over the summer, but it was rather windy today. Just thought I would register here to say thanks for all the tips and reviews that helped me to get back into airguns and chose my new rifles. Also there is clearly a world of difference in what you can do with unrestricted power versus sub 12flb. Now I appreciate lots of people here in the UK do fine with sub 12flb rifles, but in my humble opinion unrestricted power is just so much better. All the best, Macloaded. 

 

[intenseaty22]

Well that sucks, but glad you are getting along much better now. Is that 7+ law just for Scotland? Or all of the UK? Will that license permit you to have an actual Firearm like a 308? 

 

[Macloaded]

I can request any rim fire or centre fire rifle but only a 22lr can be semi auto. A shotgun is granted under a separate certificate which is much less restrictive ie they have to grant a shotgun cert unless there is a reason not to. For any rifle, including airguns, I need to justify why they are needed ie pest control or deer hunting; self protection is not a justifiable reason. For me an fac airgun is all I need for now bunny bashing, but if I head north I will need something bigger for the red deer. The law however does not discriminate between different calibers in terms of the suitability test and security requirements, however asking for a 308 to get rid of a squirrel problem might result in a no from the police. 

Desperate to get out again tomorrow and see if I can push the Streamline further. 25 cal seems to be the way to go as it is just so much better in the wind, although in fairness to the rapid I have it running at only 24flb with 16grain pellets. 

My main problem now is trying to hide all these new guns from the wife......

 

[intenseaty22]

LOL! That may prove a more serious problem than getting the FAC! Happy shooting. 

 

[Windmill01]

Welcome Macloaded it seems your firearm laws are very similar to here in Australia. As for airrifles here they are all treated as firearms and a weapons licence is required.

I was interested in your comments about sub 12 flb compaired to full power. I have watched many many YouTube vids on your country men shooting extremely accurately with the their sub 12 flb rifles, and throughout this forum I read daily about folks installing various kits to increase their accuracy and improving their shot cycle etc, whilst reducing their flb. All my airrifles are full powered and my LGV at. 23joules is what I would consider to be the tamest out of the bunch. I just bought a hw77 which is extremely accurate but twangy something that annoys me so I may install a kit.

Welcome again you’ll have to keep us posted on your progress.

Gary

 

[Macloaded]

Thanks Gary. I agree with you in relation to springers, my 12flb as prosport is fantastic. I tried one at 16flb and the power gain wasn't really worth the loss in accuracy I suffered, at least in my opinion. Not much of a gain in any event, however with pcps the difference is night and day. Here in the UK there are some ingenious tuning kits for springers which can allow you to plink accurately out to 50 or 60 yards, however I personally wouldn't hunt at those ranges in sub 12flb as you can't be 100% sure or a clean kill, at least I can't. 

Intersting to hear Australia has similar controls. If I am honest I am content enough with the system as it makes sense to have to have a good reason for a firearm. I was in western Australia in November, fantastic country but also big country. I presume you guys have massive rabbit problems still, hence I presume airguns come in handy. I personally prefer them to powder burners as you don't need crazy range shooting rabbits and squirrels and you can take a lot of shots that would be a big no no with power burners.

All the best.