fac air rifle question

[meldino2005 39]

hi all, can anyone help me with this. im wondering how about you go applying for a fac certificate for a air rifle? is it different than applying for a rim fire etc? cheers

[Phantom 631]

Hi there

 

I believe that in the UK an FAC is an FAC (if you know what I mean?)

 

I don't think there are any differances, in fact I'm sure there are none.

 

Contact your local Police Force, they will have details on their website on how to apply (our local force does).

 

Phantom

[pianoman 3,589]

Hi Meldino2005.

It's a faff that that often puts a lot of shooters off applying but...

 

The UK Firearms certificate is a statutary licence by which one can legally hold a weapon classed as a firearm; with the exception of handguns and fully automatic weapons capable of firing more than three rounds rapidly . In the case of an air rifle the application and conditions of the licence equally apply as with a rimfire/centrefire rifle. To get one, you first apply to your Police firearms authority. You local 'nick will tell you where/who this is. You will have few conditions to fulfil upfront.

 

Other than having a criminal conviction that will bar you from applying , get two good passport photos taken of your face and get them signed by a responsible referee who will vouch for your identity and the proceedure basically is as follows.

,

1.As well as a number of personal questions about yourself, you will need to provide the police with a specific description of the make and model of air rifle you wish to purchase and it's likely power output at the muzzle.

2. You will need to provide good reason for owning such a rifle ie "vermin/pest control where a shotgun is impractical".

3.You will need to show written permission from the landowner that you have consent to shoot on his land, unless you are the landowner yourself of course.

4. Security. You must secure your weapon/s in a steel lockable gunsafe that is permanently bolt-fixed to a wall in a discreet part of your home. So you'll need to go buy that upfront. The Police firearms officer will want to visit your home and see that in place. Or he will inspect your house and advise you where to secure it. He may even suggest further security precautions, such as having locks fitted to your windows if you do not have them. It varies between forces how stringent your security needs to be, but the surrounding area environment will be considered.

 

So far so good.

 

Now, he will arrange to inspect your permission or the land you intend shooting the rifle over and it's boundaries. Providing it is of an expanse that will comfortably accomodate the full range of a shot safely, and is land not likely to be used by other members of the public, there should be no problems. Pay your licence fee along with the photos and you should get your licence in the post and you can go buy your rifle

 

All that remains is the Police can visit you in a 5-year period to see you are keeping everything legal. Once your air rifle is licensed, IT STAYS LICENSED! Whether you reduce it to sub 12ft/lbs or not.

 

Photos, referees, good character, good reason, permission, security. Job done!

 

Chat to your local Police who'll put you right on everything.

 

Good Luck!

 

Simon

[Ron Weasley 83]

Great post pianoman, some top advice there.

 

SPA

[pianoman 3,589]

Cheers Ron. Only too glad to be of help to a fellow shooter here. There is one important point of law I forgot to mention to our friend meldino2005 here.

 

When you have your licence and bought your rifle, your now-FAC-licensed air rifle is classed as a catagory-1 firearm, just as a .22 rimfire or 17HMR is. It is therefore illegal for you to fire this licensed air rifle in your back garden, unlike you can, plinking with a sub-12ft/lb rifle. This due to the likely closer-proximity of public footpaths, roads and of other homeowners and their properties and your garden boundaries being substantially more reduced or enclosed than the land you have permission for, that was inspected as a condition of your award of the licence.

 

You have to tread a lot more carefully and respectfully within the law once you get into FAC licenced air weapons because the penalties for trangressions, even if accidental or unintentional, are truly severe. Ignorance of law is no defence in the UK courts. Sorry to sound like an old fart preaching but, it's wise you should know in advance what you are getting into mate.

 

ATB

 

Simon

Edited October 28, 2010 by pianoman