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

Hi All,
Quick question....

I've held an FAC for many years and know the rules around having a firearm in a public place, but I'm not sure of the rules around shotguns (only had my SGC for a year...).
By public place I mean the shotgun unloaded, in a gun slip in the concealed boot of a car.

What I'm wondering is am I allowed to keep my shotgun in the car boot even if I don't have a specific reason?

Background.....I want to sell a single barrel 12 bore in a fairly distant gun shop that I pass occasionally but I don't know until I'm out for the day if I'll be going near it or not, so am I allowed to have my shotgun in the boot even if I might not need it (to sell) that day?

FYI: I'm not planning on leaving it overnight and the resale value of the shotgun isn't worth the petrol to make a special trip to sell it.

Cheers

David

Even if it were technically legal (which I doubt very much it is) I would think you would have a very very hard time justifying yourself to the authorities if they discovered it (if for instance you had an accident)
Also, the more time it spends in the car, the more opportunity for it to be stolen which isn't great either.

You only need good reason to have a LOADED shotgun in a public place, so, if you have no cartridges with it....

pnuk wrote:Even if it were technically legal (which I doubt very much it is) I would think you would have a very very hard time justifying yourself to the authorities if they discovered it (if for instance you had an accident)

What makes you think it's not legal? If you have a license to possess and aren't doing something likely to cause concern, what law is being broken?

Unloaded, out of sight and good reason i.e. intention to sell. Sounds fine to me.

Mezzer

Locked gun box and chained to the car boot in some way stops opportunist theft....if they are that determined they get it at least you can show you took all reasonable precautions.

I am always amazed at how being burgled or broken into is always the victims fault when it comes to this sort of thing!

Hi All,

Many thanks for the advice and PMs.

As the shotgun only cost £2.30 (£2 + 30p commission at auction!!!) and I only want to sell it for £20 - £25 I think I'll just wait and try to flog it at the gun club....or hang onto it for the novelty of owning a £2.30 shotgun :)

Cheers

David