FAC question (yep, afraid so...)

[dromia]

With the licensing authorities that I know of then your main, nominated club has to shoot the "disciplines" that you want your firearms for being a guest of another club doesn't count. There are things like the practical disciplines where if you join the specific bodies and do their courses then that can also be seen as good reason. But generally from what I have seen visiting and shooting as a guest isn't seen as good reason.

If someone has the time and inclination they could search the guidance and see what it says but my experience of the interpretation is as above.

[Kungfugerbil]

They may ask you to do the Basic Safety Course though. Bit of a bugger as they just ran a BSC in Huddersfield last week!

Ah nuts!

My timing is, as always, shocking :) Will get onto them about any future course dates, .

Thanks for the advice all, much appreciated. Makes sense to me.

[kennyc]

So you need a shooters card to shoot on third party ranges? I just thought they were for Bisley or Military ranges which is why I have mine. Also if it is a certified guest day, the guests won't have the cards but still shoot?

the shooters safety card is for Military ranges and Bisley, if you attend as a guest you will be supervised one to one whilst shooting, so will not need a safe shooters card.

[IainWR]

Kennyc is spot on.

Also, S1 shotgun is outside the Home Office Approval scheme, so all (!) you have to do is demonstrate "good reason". Club membership of itself is neither necessary nor sufficient.

However, to get a FAC conditioned for target shooting, you need to be a full member of a Home Office Approved Club that has approval for the class of firearm you want. The classes are : full-bore rifle; small-bore rifle; muzzle-loading pistol. S15 Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 refers.

So, to the OP, it sounds like you will have no problem with a FAC for .22" RF rifles (and BTW there is no requirement to specify your .22"s more closely than that), and you could argue the case for S1 shotgun if you have acccess to a suitable facility and can demonstrate some competence and interest, but centrefire rifles may be an issue until you join a fullbore HOA Club. Do remember that your holding an FAC (of any set of conditions) legally allows such a club to waive the probationary period if they choose (the NRA will do so if you demonstrate competence in a formal assessment).

[Kungfugerbil]

^ good info

I think I'll go ahead with the .22 rifles only while I look at the other clubs and hopefully join up and work through the probation period at the ones I want to keep on with. Good advice, :)

[dromia]

Just be sure and get enough slots on in 22 to cover what calibres you will want later.

[HALODIN]

Don't forget the moderators.