The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Chapuis wrote:
With regard to shooting within 50m from a highway you need to read what the actual law says. It is not an offence to shoot within 50m of a highway unless you cause alarm or disturbance to others (or something like that).

The actual figure is 50 feet from the centre ... the following is an extract from BASC publications:

In England & Wales it is an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to
discharge any firearm within fifty feet of the centre of a highway which consists of
or comprises a carriageway, and in consequence a user of the carriageway is
injured, interrupted or endangered. [Section 161(2) of the Highways Act 1980 as
amended]. It is important to remember that the discharge of a firearm is not
prohibited in itself. It must also be proved that there was an injury, or that
someone’s passage was interrupted or interfered with e.g. they have been forced to
make a detour.

Yes 50 feet not metres. Thanks for finding the actual correct wording Polchraine.

Chapuis wrote:It's a little complicated but I believe the answers given so far are not entirely correct in respect of firing ball from a musket. Surely by definition if only a single ball is loaded then it is no longer regarded as a shotgun. Off the top of my head I can't remember the minimum number of balls and the maximum size of those balls but it could well be as already mentioned by Demonic.

No. The regulations apply specifically to cartridges:

"(a) cartridges containing five or more shot, none of which exceeds .36 inch in diameter;"

So slug ammunition is section 1, but a round ball used in a "smooth bore gun" is not. It's not even considered as ammunition from a licencing perspective.

This goes around and around, because people make the same assumption without checking first...

If you have the same rifle, pre-conversion (so it's just a muzzle loader) it takes round balls which do not fall under any licence category (and won't be on your FAC).
If you then have an old Snider conversion using the same base, that now fires a black powder cartridge - the ammunition is section 1.

Mikaveli wrote:

Chapuis wrote:It's a little complicated but I believe the answers given so far are not entirely correct in respect of firing ball from a musket. Surely by definition if only a single ball is loaded then it is no longer regarded as a shotgun. Off the top of my head I can't remember the minimum number of balls and the maximum size of those balls but it could well be as already mentioned by Demonic.

No. The regulations apply specifically to cartridges:

"(a) cartridges containing five or more shot, none of which exceeds .36 inch in diameter;"

So slug ammunition is section 1, but a round ball used in a "smooth bore gun" is not. It's not even considered as ammunition from a licencing perspective.

This goes around and around, because people make the same assumption without checking first...

If you have the same rifle, pre-conversion (so it's just a muzzle loader) it takes round balls which do not fall under any licence category (and won't be on your FAC).
If you then have an old Snider conversion using the same base, that now fires a black powder cartridge - the ammunition is section 1.

While I agree with some of what you say but think that you may be slightly wrong in some respects so thats why I urge caution.
In particular you mention rifle, I think you meant to say muzzle loading musket. Almost certainly a rifle firing ball will require a firearms certificate not a shotgun certificate.

It's actually a smooth-bore gun if we're being pernickity.
There is no confusion, the guide clearly states what it states and that's the only thing that should concern anyone, as that's what you'll use in your defence if some member of the law chooses to misconstrue the guidance.
I suggest you read the guide, it's all there in black and white:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... ng_Law.pdf

The classification of the weapon firing the missile doesn't affect the classification of its ammunition.

If you have a muzzle loading rifled gun (for shooting, not as an antique etc.) it'll be on your FAC.
A muzzle loading smooth bore gun would be on your SGC.

Both fire a single lead ball, not considered to be section 1 ammunition. Ask the MLAGB, your FEO or anyone else in the know. If it was, as soon as I loaded my ML revolver, I'd be illegally in possession of 6 rounds that I haven't got the authority for on my FAC!

However, as soon as a rifled or smooth bore gun fires a cartridge instead, the rules change. Shotgun cartridges (meeting the previously mentioned criteria), are specifically exempted from the section 1 definition - and instead, require a shotgun certificate to purchase (but not to possess...).

So slug ammunition is section 1, but a round ball used in a "smooth bore gun" is not. It's not even considered as ammunition from a licencing perspective.

So where would this shotgun round fit in then? Definitely a BALL and it hits VERY hard!
I have about 300 of these for the missus home defence use.

IainWR wrote:Yes. There are no conditions on a SGC to prevent it. Of course, if you cock up and the ball exits the far end of Farmer Jones' field and lands in Mrs Miggins' garden and gives Tiddles a nasty fright (or worse), there may be a visit from Mr Policeman and rather a lot of words, including some that aren't very nice, to follow.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :


Some days I wish I was still in CID, how I would have loved to have used the above as a case summary....!!! :lol:

Chuck wrote:

So slug ammunition is section 1, but a round ball used in a "smooth bore gun" is not. It's not even considered as ammunition from a licencing perspective.

So where would this shotgun round fit in then? Definitely a BALL and it hits VERY hard!

ASLUGBALL1.jpg

It's ammunition. It has fewer than 5 projectiles. It requires authorisation of a FAC to possess under S1 Firearms Act 1968 as amended.

Iain

Answered.