Shooting and getting permission

Hi, I'm in the middle of applying for my shotgun licence and hoping to move onto bullet guns in the near future when I have suitable land to shoot on.
Just wondering how others went about getting permission and were you's turned away much ?

I don't think they have many problems in Brixton or Salford

On a more serious note,---being a member of a recognised gun club as this is the easier route.They normally have shooting rights or clay clubs and people who will keep you in the correct direction regarding firearm license applications

Alright thanks that's something I will have to look into

Its very hard, its not what you know but who, start asking around and tag along if you can, then think about getting your class 1 FAL, in the mean time, spend time on the clays getting good, get **** on with an air rifle and just keep at it,

I had great intentions of doing as you but have only made it out to a local farm once and spent most of my time shooting clays instead.

[timwilky]

As somebody that held an FAC and shotgun certs for over 20 years.

Join a club, even for clay busting. I used to shoot .22 at 25/50 yards indoor and 7.62 at upto 1000 yards. Plus pistols before Dunblane.

The police are not idiots, unlike the US you do not have a right to own a firearm and must be able to demonstrate a need. Hence active club membership is usually your best starting point.

Additionally I doubt any farmer these days will let a total stranger on his land to shoot. I used to shoot my .223" for foxes at my dads and a couple of local farms. But the local firearms copper had approved me for them only.

Id like a shotgun, clays though not game, ive been told with shotguns its upto to the police to give a good reason why you cant have one, whereas a firearm you have to give a valid reason why you'd like one.

Originally Posted by specialone

Id like a shotgun,

You'd like a tank really, right?

Originally Posted by The Idle Biker

You'd like a tank really, right?

Both tbh

[yorkie_chris]

It's worth joining BASC I reckon, helps if you can say to farmers that you're insured and a member.
I reckon hunting with air rifle has it's advantages, no licence rubbish to worry about, quiet and cheap.

Any shooting permissions I have are through friends. I don't think calls out of the blue are particularly successful.

Shooting clubs are good fun and good for licence and general contacts. I would not think it wise to be getting your FAC for a full bore rifle with only some hunting land to shoot on, I'd want to be a member of a club to have use of their range first to get to know the weapon properly first.