Brief Guide to guns, shooting and gun law in Mainland Great Britain

(nb different laws apply in Northern Ireland)

Aren't guns banned here?

No-shooting is among the most popular participation sports in Britain. Over a million people every year enjoy this sport, more than take part in rugby, hockey and athletics. In 1997, competitive target shooting with cartridge pistols was banned following the Dunblane tragedy, but target pistol shooting continues here with air pistols and muzzle loading pistols and revolvers, and some British pistol shooters train abroad with their cartridge pistols, mainly in Switzerland. The collecting and study of old guns is popular here too, and some people such as vets and farmers may need a firearm for their work.

What sort of sport is it?

There is a wide range of shooting activities, with something for everyone. The sport is divided primarily between target shooting (shooting at artificial targets) and quarry shooting (game shooting, deer stalking, wildfowling and shooting pest species such as rabbits and pigeon). Target shooting ranges from precision slow fire rifle shooting that requires steady nerves and Zen-like concentration to the excitement of Sporting Clays or Practical shooting, which require fast reflexes and split-second decision making. For those with an interest in the historical angle, there are the smoky, sooty joys of shooting old-fashioned muzzle loaders or Classic competitions for pre-1914 firearms.

Who shoots?

Forget the toff on the grouse moor image, the sport is truly for all manner of people. You can shoot from pre-teens to old age (provided at least one of your eyes holds out), women compete on equal terms with men (although in some target disciplines there are 'ladies' events as well) and it is one of the most popular sports among paraplegics and other disabled groups.

But isn't shooting dangerous?

Quite the opposite-statistically it is demonstrably one of the safest sports in Britain. If you choose to shoot, you should wear hearing protection and shooting glasses, but with these in place, you are at far less physical risk than in most sports. If you want to take part in target shooting with a cartridge rifle or muzzle loading rifles or pistols, the law requires that beginners should receive training at a Home Office approved club. Clay pigeon shooting clubs abound, and there are plenty of training courses and shooting schools for those wishing to start quarry shooting.

Isn't shooting expensive?

Only if you want it to be! If you play golf or are a member of a health club, you may be amazed at how cheap shooting can be. Annual target shooting club membership is likely to be in two figures or low three figures, serviceable equipment can be obtained for a few hundred pounds, and highly competitive firearms for top class shots need not cost more than a couple of thousand pounds. Most target shooting clubs provide 'club guns' free or at nominal cost, so your outlay can be minimal, and you are under no obligation to buy your own firearm, although if you get the shooting bug you will almost certainly want to! If you want to shoot quarry, and are not in the happy position of either being a landowner or knowing one who will let you shoot for free, you will need to pay for your shooting, for instance by joining a 'syndicate' of rough or game shooters who have banded together to lease the shooting rights of a particular piece of land. You will also find shooting and stalking advertised by the day in shooting magazines.

So can I just go and buy a gun?

If you are aged 17 or over, you can buy and possess without a Fire Arm Certificate an air rifle (powered by air or CO2 with a maximum power limit of 12 foot pounds) or an air pistol (with a maximum power limit of 6 foot pounds) or an antique firearm (as a 'curio or ornament' to cherish and admire, but, if you want to shoot your antique, you will need the same sort of certificate as for a modern firearm).

But what about a real rifle or shotgun?

If you wish to possess a cartridge rifle, or a modern muzzle loading rifle or muzzle loading pistol, or certain types of shotgun (for instance with a large magazine capacity), or 'specially dangerous' air weapons you will need to apply at your local police station for a Fire Arm Certificate. For a conventional shotgun (single barrelled, multi-barrelled or a three shot repeating shotgun), you will need to apply at your local police station for a Shot Gun Certificate.

Presumably the police do not give these certificates out with no questions asked?

No, since public safety is paramount, which is reassuring. People with serious criminal convictions are prohibited from possessing firearms, not surprisingly, and the police will consider an applicant's mental health, any history of alcohol or substance abuse, and any aspect of physical health that might affect an applicant's safe handling of firearms, for instance epilepsy. Changes in the law in 1988 and 1997 encourage a high standard of due diligence on the part of the police.

OK, I'm of angelic disposition and fit as a flea. What else would be required of me for the grant of a Shot Gun Certificate?

The law does not absolutely require you to provide a 'good reason', but if you are already a member of a clay pigeon shooting club or you can demonstrate that you have opportunity to use a shotgun, then this can only assist your application. You will have to provide adequate security for your shotgun. Most people buy a steel gun cabinet or gun safe. Once you have your SGC, you may use your shotgun for any lawful purpose without further reference to the police, so having started out as a clay pigeon shooter, you can still accept an invitation to go pheasant shooting. You may also acquire additional shotguns without prior police permission (but both you and the vendor will have to inform your police licensing authority of each purchase, and you will have to advise of any disposals also). Similarly, you may also borrow a shotgun.

And for the grant of a Fire Arm Certificate?

You will need to demonstrate 'good reason'. Good reason does not equate with need, but neither is a passing whim good enough. Acceptable good reasons would include target shooting, deer stalking, vermin destruction or collecting, but you would need to provide evidence to support your good reason. For target shooting, you would need to be a full member of a Home Office Approved rifle or muzzle loading pistol club, having served a probationary period of several months during which you would receive mandatory safety and shooting instruction, when first you join such a club (there are exceptions for people who have been trained by the military or police). For quarry shooting, you would need to show that you have a safe area of land on which to shoot your rifle (the police will have it assessed). If you wish to collect firearms requiring a Fire Arm Certificate, you would have to demonstrate real knowledge of your area of interest, and it would help to be a member of a collectors' organisation. Again you would have to provide security in keeping with the number and type of firearms that you wish to possess. This may go beyond a simple gun cabinet and involve the sort of enhanced security already routinely required by insurance companies for household contents insurance (five lever deadlocks, window locks, etc.) and perhaps an alarm system. You can only use your firearm for the good reason stated on your FAC, so if you decide that you wish to use your deerstalking rifle for target shooting, you would need to apply for a 'variation' to your FAC. You also have to apply for a variation for each additional firearm that you wish to acquire.

You mentioned Game:

Game encompasses pheasants, partridges, grouse, heath and moor game, black game and hares. To shoot game, you must obtain a Game License from a main Post Office.

So where do I go from here?

Visit the website links for the shooting or collecting organisation of your choice-and of course your local gun dealer. The national target shooting organisations can provide information on clubs near you. Target shooting clubs hold 'open' days to allow prospective shooters to try their hand and learn more.

Links

National Rifle Association (UK, not USA) National Smallbore Rifle Association Clay Pigeon Shooting Association British Field Target Association Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain and Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association

Comments, copyright and linking

Comments on this brief guide would be welcome. Also, please let us know if you do put in a link to this guide from your website and we will try to reciprocate with a link from us to your site. Copyright: these pages are protected by copyright and reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited. Copyright belongs to Giant Games Limited, owner of the briefguides.co.uk and onlineshopping.co.uk websites. © 1997-2006 Giant Games Limited, but you are welcome to have a link to this webpage.