What to look out for when buying a rifle!

[Pippin89]

Ideal curiosity....I wonder what happens with probationary periods at a club, generally they seem to be a fixed 6 months, the amount of times you actually turn up to shoot doesn't seem to be taken into account (or at least it didn't appear to be for my probation period) - I wonder if the six months will still stand or if it will be lengthened due to 'Lockdown'

My club states you must show reasonable attendance in the 6 month probation period with 6 visits as a guideline but down to the committee's discretion. As probationers can only go on Wednesdays I think that is fair.

[20series]

Oundle work on you have to make 6 visits in a max 6months, if after the Home office minimum of 3 months you have done your six then your full membership is considered at the next committee meeting. If you don't do the six in six months then the probationary membership is cancelled.

Alan

[Sonofsammo]

Ideal curiosity....I wonder what happens with probationary periods at a club, generally they seem to be a fixed 6 months, the amount of times you actually turn up to shoot doesn't seem to be taken into account (or at least it didn't appear to be for my probation period) - I wonder if the six months will still stand or if it will be lengthened due to 'Lockdown'

For ours it's 16 times within 3 months minimum and 6 months maximum, 8 of which are indoor and the second 8 outdoor.
As far as probation went, they froze it whilst lockdown was in place and then gave new end dates when they opened up the club again, which took account of the lost time.

[Lancs_Oakley]

If buying second hand its always advisable to try before you buy (or get the owner to run the gun for you whilst you watch)... every second hand gun I have bought has had something wrong with it. Some things really minor other things more major.

If buying new try and buy local because again if you have any issues then you need to easily be able to go back to the RFD. My second rifle I bought I decided to go with a gun shop thats a couple of hours away, well after taking it back 3 times it became a chore!! If I had just used somewhere local it might have cost me £30 more but probably saved me £150 in fuel!!

[Andy632]

Our probationers have to complete a set amount of tuition during visits during the period & take a competency assessment before gaining full membership.

[Blackstuff]

I would really try to buy from new if you don't know what you're looking at. And beware of buying the guns on the Mayfairs walls, some have been there for years and years!

If you must buy secondhand calibre will play a big part in what you're looking out for. Round count means next to nothing in a .22lr, but could be very important in a full-bore rifle calibre gun, especially if its a barrel-burner cartridge.