help with try9ing to get open fac please

[jamie g 17]

hi lads ive had my ticket for around 18 months now and its closed. i going shooting abit with 3 other lads they all have open tickets they have seen me shoot and trust me and no im safe. so im going to put in and ask for my ticket to be opened if poss.

 

it mite be a long shoot but i have ground which is passed up to 308 but a couple of other pieces that is only covered for 22lr. i no there are places on there i could shoot centrefire safely from high postion. and no the land very well day or night.

 

i also shoot over a golf course that is passed up to 22 lr and again it could shoot centrefire on there from some postions.

 

of course im not going to say i want to shoot over them thats why i want open ticket. because the police will say they are past for 22lr and would most likely say anything bigger wouldnt be safe

 

i could shoot at my friends places if my ticket was open and give them a hand with vermin control. and i have missed out on land here where i live because soon as you say to a farmer can i have the land checked they dont really like other people around there places so have missed out on that front.

 

my friends have said if the police want to ring them about my shooting and and gun handling then thats fine they will

tell them that i am safe which i am and that i no my rifles very well and handling and shooting of them.

 

im going to write a letter in and ask if they could open it for me and that it would be helpfull for my shooting.

but i think im going to ring the flo 1st.

 

what do you think would be the best way to word it to him ? to be fair i am more clued up then him on the rifles ! he dont really no what a hmr is ! i dont want to come a cross as a know it all otherwise he mite think im trying to rub his noise in it

 

what would you guys say on the phone and how would you word the letter

[SportingShooter 0]

Oooer, thats a tough one

 

To be honest, the main reasons they open up a closed FAC is through Ammunition usage (lots of it) and through other pieces of land which you want checked.

 

If you are ringing them and asking them every week for a new piece of ground to be checked and you are using a lot of ammunition, or are using a lot of ammo and are waiting for numerous pieces of land to be checked, then they would probably Open it.

 

If I were to ring the Dept or FEO I would ask them about the main criteria for an Open Cert, and ask him if your situation fits the bill. He may tell you, he may not.

 

In a letter I would write something along the following,

 

"To whom it may concern,

 

Following my consultation via phone with ......... regarding the Opening of my Firearms Certificate, I would formally like to ask if my Firearms Certificate may be Opened.

 

I have had it as a Closed Certificate for the last 18 months and in that time I have shot a fair/large amount of ammunition over several pieces of land.

 

During the past few months it has become apparent that my ability to carry out Vermin control has become difficult, due to the fact of having a Closed Firearms Certificate. This is due to both, new pieces of ground needing to be checked and that Landowners do not wish to have the hassle of other people visiting their land for it to be checked.

 

I am confident that my manner of shooting is sufficiently safe to shoot on other pieces of ground at my discretion. I also have acquaintances who hold Firearms Certificates, willing to comment on my safe manner of shooting.

 

Yours faithfully

 

XXXXXX"

 

SS

[Deker 3,491]

Generally down to experience and usage....and also making the life of the FLO easier.

 

As has been said above as well...... put your best case together showing NEED, experience, safety!!

 

ATB

[jamie g 17]

cheers for the advise lads i will give that a try. i think its abit silly how they look at the amount of ammo you use really. for instant i only have the one piece of land cleared for 22/250 its about 170 acres so its not small but not big by any means.

 

but the fact is there is only amount of ammo im going to be using on there doing vermin control. if i went to a range alot then of course my ammo amount would look like i have used a hell of a lot.

 

plus the fact that i have been using reloaded rounds so my fac havent got a lot wrote down on it.

maybe i should include a letter saying that i have used a health ammo of reloaded ammo so they no i have been using the rifle and not just the rounds i have paid for from the shop !

[welshdragon 6]

cheers for the advise lads i will give that a try. i think its abit silly how they look at the amount of ammo you use really. for instant i only have the one piece of land cleared for 22/250 its about 170 acres so its not small but not big by any means.

 

but the fact is there is only amount of ammo im going to be using on there doing vermin control. if i went to a range alot then of course my ammo amount would look like i have used a hell of a lot.

 

plus the fact that i have been using reloaded rounds so my fac havent got a lot wrote down on it.

maybe i should include a letter saying that i have used a health ammo of reloaded ammo so they no i have been using the rifle and not just the rounds i have paid for from the shop !

 

hi jamie if it was me i don't think i would say anything about ......you used a health ammo of reloaded ammo because its not wrote down on your FAC some one may get in trouble i may be wrong ...when they came to see me they looked at how much ammo i used how many farms i have plus how many times a week i go shooting

[Lewdan 17]

hi lads ive had my ticket for around 18 months now and its closed. i going shooting abit with 3 other lads they all have open tickets they have seen me shoot and trust me and no im safe. so im going to put in and ask for my ticket to be opened if poss.

 

it mite be a long shoot but i have ground which is passed up to 308 but a couple of other pieces that is only covered for 22lr. i no there are places on there i could shoot centrefire safely from high postion. and no the land very well day or night.

 

i also shoot over a golf course that is passed up to 22 lr and again it could shoot centrefire on there from some postions.

 

of course im not going to say i want to shoot over them thats why i want open ticket. because the police will say they are past for 22lr and would most likely say anything bigger wouldnt be safe

 

i could shoot at my friends places if my ticket was open and give them a hand with vermin control. and i have missed out on land here where i live because soon as you say to a farmer can i have the land checked they dont really like other people around there places so have missed out on that front.

 

my friends have said if the police want to ring them about my shooting and and gun handling then thats fine they will

tell them that i am safe which i am and that i no my rifles very well and handling and shooting of them.

 

im going to write a letter in and ask if they could open it for me and that it would be helpfull for my shooting.

but i think im going to ring the flo 1st.

 

what do you think would be the best way to word it to him ? to be fair i am more clued up then him on the rifles ! he dont really no what a hmr is ! i dont want to come a cross as a know it all otherwise he mite think im trying to rub his noise in it

 

what would you guys say on the phone and how would you word the letter

Hi Jamie.

Had my ticket made open condition after about 18 months, i phoned the FEO and explained that i regularly shoot with a mate whose ticket is already open condition, and that we have been offered permission to shoot over more land near to areas that have been assessed for my .17 , i explained that the land owners wanted us to carry out vermin control on a regular basis,and this was a condition of the permission, but if my mate could not make it i could not go myself because of the closed condition limitations, i also remarked that it would also be easier on their resouces if an open condition could be granted rather than name each individual permission for assessment which the owners did not want anyway The FEO was very understanding , he contacted my mate within a week asking him to supply a letter which would confirm what i had said, and also comment on my suiability regarding safety and handling of a firearm two weeks later my ticket was made open condition

PS open condition was only granted on the calibre i had at that time ie .17 hmr, not sure if it would apply on centre fire if owned less than 18 months

 

Go for it & Good Luck

[martin 332]

Good luck Jamie,cos,if you were under Avon & Somerset mate you could go and whidtle.I asked for an open ticket and they told me under no circumstances would they even consider it for 3 years,and,I already have a .22lr on an open ticket and have had for about 10years,but,good luck anyway..............martin.

[SportingShooter 0]

PS open condition was only granted on the calibre i had at that time ie .17 hmr, not sure if it would apply on centre fire if owned less than 18 months

 

Go for it & Good Luck

What does the condition relating to your Hornet say on your FAC?

[welshdragon 6]

hi lads ive had my ticket for around 18 months now and its closed. i going shooting abit with 3 other lads they all have open tickets they have seen me shoot and trust me and no im safe. so im going to put in and ask for my ticket to be opened if poss.

 

it mite be a long shoot but i have ground which is passed up to 308 but a couple of other pieces that is only covered for 22lr. i no there are places on there i could shoot centrefire safely from high postion. and no the land very well day or night.

 

i also shoot over a golf course that is passed up to 22 lr and again it could shoot centrefire on there from some postions.

 

of course im not going to say i want to shoot over them thats why i want open ticket. because the police will say they are past for 22lr and would most likely say anything bigger wouldnt be safe

 

i could shoot at my friends places if my ticket was open and give them a hand with vermin control. and i have missed out on land here where i live because soon as you say to a farmer can i have the land checked they dont really like other people around there places so have missed out on that front.

 

my friends have said if the police want to ring them about my shooting and and gun handling then thats fine they will

tell them that i am safe which i am and that i no my rifles very well and handling and shooting of them.

 

im going to write a letter in and ask if they could open it for me and that it would be helpfull for my shooting.

but i think im going to ring the flo 1st.

 

what do you think would be the best way to word it to him ? to be fair i am more clued up then him on the rifles ! he dont really no what a hmr is ! i dont want to come a cross as a know it all otherwise he mite think im trying to rub his noise in it

 

what would you guys say on the phone and how would you word the letter

Hi Jamie.

Had my ticket made open condition after about 18 months, i phoned the FEO and explained that i regularly shoot with a mate whose ticket is already open condition, and that we have been offered permission to shoot over more land near to areas that have been assessed for my .17 , i explained that the land owners wanted us to carry out vermin control on a regular basis,and this was a condition of the permission, but if my mate could not make it i could not go myself because of the closed condition limitations, i also remarked that it would also be easier on their resouces if an open condition could be granted rather than name each individual permission for assessment which the owners did not want anyway The FEO was very understanding , he contacted my mate within a week asking him to supply a letter which would confirm what i had said, and also comment on my suiability regarding safety and handling of a firearm two weeks later my ticket was made open condition

PS open condition was only granted on the calibre i had at that time ie .17 hmr, not sure if it would apply on centre fire if owned less than 18 months

 

Go for it & Good Luck

 

hi the FEO came to my house he was hear for neally a hour... then he got intouch with the chap i go shooting with plus the farmer who's land i do most of my shooting on...then they got intouch with the forestry commission ..

 

W.D

[jamie g 17]

hi lads ive had my ticket for around 18 months now and its closed. i going shooting abit with 3 other lads they all have open tickets they have seen me shoot and trust me and no im safe. so im going to put in and ask for my ticket to be opened if poss.

 

it mite be a long shoot but i have ground which is passed up to 308 but a couple of other pieces that is only covered for 22lr. i no there are places on there i could shoot centrefire safely from high postion. and no the land very well day or night.

 

i also shoot over a golf course that is passed up to 22 lr and again it could shoot centrefire on there from some postions.

 

of course im not going to say i want to shoot over them thats why i want open ticket. because the police will say they are past for 22lr and would most likely say anything bigger wouldnt be safe

 

i could shoot at my friends places if my ticket was open and give them a hand with vermin control. and i have missed out on land here where i live because soon as you say to a farmer can i have the land checked they dont really like other people around there places so have missed out on that front.

 

my friends have said if the police want to ring them about my shooting and and gun handling then thats fine they will

tell them that i am safe which i am and that i no my rifles very well and handling and shooting of them.

 

im going to write a letter in and ask if they could open it for me and that it would be helpfull for my shooting.

but i think im going to ring the flo 1st.

 

what do you think would be the best way to word it to him ? to be fair i am more clued up then him on the rifles ! he dont really no what a hmr is ! i dont want to come a cross as a know it all otherwise he mite think im trying to rub his noise in it

 

what would you guys say on the phone and how would you word the letter

Hi Jamie.

Had my ticket made open condition after about 18 months, i phoned the FEO and explained that i regularly shoot with a mate whose ticket is already open condition, and that we have been offered permission to shoot over more land near to areas that have been assessed for my .17 , i explained that the land owners wanted us to carry out vermin control on a regular basis,and this was a condition of the permission, but if my mate could not make it i could not go myself because of the closed condition limitations, i also remarked that it would also be easier on their resouces if an open condition could be granted rather than name each individual permission for assessment which the owners did not want anyway The FEO was very understanding , he contacted my mate within a week asking him to supply a letter which would confirm what i had said, and also comment on my suiability regarding safety and handling of a firearm two weeks later my ticket was made open condition

PS open condition was only granted on the calibre i had at that time ie .17 hmr, not sure if it would apply on centre fire if owned less than 18 months

 

Go for it & Good Luck

 

hi the FEO came to my house he was hear for neally a hour... then he got intouch with the chap i go shooting with plus the farmer who's land i do most of my shooting on...then they got intouch with the forestry commission ..

 

W.D

 

hi mate did you get it opened in the end ?

 

and as for the reloads they dont have to be wrote down on my ticket keith. i just have to state i reload on my mates gear with powder and bullet heads i have got for the gunshop.

 

the only why i could get in trouble if one of the lads i go shooting with sold them to me. which is against the law

Edited December 6, 2008 by jamie g

[Lewdan 17]

PS open condition was only granted on the calibre i had at that time ie .17 hmr, not sure if it would apply on centre fire if owned less than 18 months

 

Go for it & Good Luck

What does the condition relating to your Hornet say on your FAC?

 

Hi SS.

I let the dust settle on the open condition before i applied for variation for the hornet, i think it was about 6 to 8 months later, at that time i had no problems and hornet was added as open condition , but i did submit a covering letter from another mate who i had accompanied hunting ( using a centre fire ) on many occassions, and again he confirmed "in his experience" my suitability to own a centre fire. I must say that my FEO is very good, and if you are up front with him,listen to his advice and supply references when requested he will help you get what you want

PS hope he reads this

[SportingShooter 0]

Are you Gwent or South Wales Police Keith?

[Lewdan 17]

Are you Gwent or South Wales Police Keith?

 

With Gwent police SS, Croesyceiliog Headquarters.!

[jamie g 17]

Im in the same boat myself. just been given the opportunity to shoot vermin for a game keeper over many acres, as well as the opportunity to shoot with some very experienced open certificate holders on many different permissions.

 

I rang my FLO last week and he was bang on, helpfull etc, and sent an email off to headquarters saying he knew me and that I was in his opinion safe enough to own an open cert.

 

He rang me the next day saying that they wouldnt grant me one on the basis of what he said and that I would have to write a letter giving more detailed information so thats what I will be doing shortly. Ive got several people who are willing to vouch for me and provide details of land etc so im keeping my fingers crossed.

 

It just feels as if im being held back drastically as I could be out shooting MUCH more if I had an open cert. I wont tell you what I was told either, as it will have everyone in uproar.

 

good luck mate, It seems to me that every force has different opinions on the subject and even though they are meant by law to follow the same government guidelines they dont.......

 

All

 

what did they tell you mate ? pm me if you dont want to say on the board

[jamie g 17]

well had a quicx chat to woman on the phone from firearms and she said write in a letter asking what i would like to have on my ticket if poss and said get the 3 lads i go shooting with who has open tickets to write me a letter each saying about my shooting and gun handling

 

and she will see what they can do. she said they mite not open the 22/250 up right away but will more then likely open the hmr up for me