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

Lead-Fouling wrote:I'm a SGC holder who has recently gotten into practical shotgun and have been "forced" therefore to confront the faff of a FAC! Something I looked forward to avoiding with my SGC/ clay pigeon interest. I am taking next year out of work, a full 12 months, to pursue shooting I've always felt I could be a decent competitor and want to test my theory, it was simply impossible to get any regular time off work (hard work to save enough to support me for 12 months with limited earning) to get decent practice in regularly or to compete properly. So I have 12 months to make my mind up! Make or break, whether it will be a profession or just a hobby.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you won't make a career out of PSG in this country. If you are exceptional and have connections you might get a sponsorship and get free ammo/clothing etc but thats as far as i've ever seen anyone go

I saw another similar thread and though it sounds like an excellent record for future applicants in similar situations and myself for asking questions.

Currently my only interest is practical and I'm happy to continue my stalking as a paying visitor using estate rifles and clay pigeons and real pigeons less so.

I figure since I'm only applying for shotgun slots my application can be a bit more extensive for a first application, this sensible?

It depends on the force and i'm not aware of the mets position on S1 shotguns, but the norm is quite the opposite, many forces actively dislike people applying for non-restricted shotguns and go out of their way to make things awkward. However, once you have shot a number of competitions and can present evidence of regular use then theres every chance you could get several S1 shotgun slots. I know of someone who has 6 but he's been shooting PSG at an international level for several years

Check list:
Gun safe : Done - Previously checked for my SGC
Ammunition safe: Partial - Ordered, need to upgrade my one to one which will take 300 slugs. Current one is far too small.
Referees: Done
GP medical: Done - Only new complaint is some dandruff shouldn't be a problem?
Cheque:Done .
Fill out form 201: Partial.
Join UKPSA: Done
Join PSA club: Partial - Probationary and LOVING it.
Decide on slots: This one is hard!
Photos: Done.
Silly cartridge belt to make me look like a Practical shotgunner: Done!

What slots I want, I figure I will need at least 2-3 one for manual and one for semi and maybe an "open". These will be large magazine capacity shotgun.

One for each division is entirely feasible

300 slugs to hold, allows me to buy 250 lots. In-line with UKPSA guidance and Essex police guidance( as detailed here http://www.ukpsa.co.uk/PSGV6Police.pdf).

250 to buy, 300 to possess used to be the standard for PSG use, however since the buy allowance is no longer relevant, this may have dropped to 250, but ask for 300 anyway

Questions:
Can I request "up to 12 gauge"? Or "12 or 20 gauge"? Or should I stick to just "12 gauge"? (Difficulty is also allowing for slug storage as they are of course calibre dependant). 20 and 12 are the only ones allowed in competition AFAIK but I could always practice with a .410 I see no harm in that?

I've never heard of someone getting that, the most 'open' slot i've seen (and had) is 12bore multi-shot shotgun, which effectively meant i could buy any ACTION-TYPE, but only in 12bore

Can I request usage as "Practical shotgun, Clay pigeon shooting and Pest and Vermin control"? I figure once I have a Section 1 shotgun I should be allowed to make use of it as I could my other Section 2 shotguns? Or would I be better to put only Practical shotgun to make clear really that’s all I'm interested in?

Apply for the gun(s) primarily for PSG/TSG but ask for the clay pigeon condition/use as well. You'd only be permitted pest/vermin if you can prove you have land to shoot over.

The space for each firearm good reason is tiny!

BTW I'm at the mercy of the Met. if that makes a difference!

Once I've got my form in I'm tempted to upload a scan with details anonymized as a "example" form as I think that would have helped me greatly.

ovenpaa wrote:Head and Shoulders

zanes wrote: Clay pigeon should be (as per the HO guidance) an automatic condition for FAC shotguns, but I would (and did) put a note on the application that I would be expecting this condition as per the guidance.

zanes wrote:Blackstuff, have we discussed this before with restricted action types?

You should just apply for "12 bore shotgun" as a slot.