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 There are three main types of sporting firearms in use. The first, a shotgun, fires a cartridge containing many round pellets. The shotgun is used to shoot moving targets and is effective up to about thirty-five metres.
The second, the rifle, is generally used on larger targets or stationary quarry, particularly deer and pest animals. A single bullet is fired and depending on the calibre (size) can kill accurately at up to 300 metres. Rarely, however, is the target quarry more than a hundred metres away. Smaller calibre rifles are used for competitive target shooting at around 25 yards, or for vermin control in the field. They are particularly well suited to rabbit control.
The third is the airgun which fires a single lead pellet. It is used to control pest species at short distances (35 metres). These include grey squirrels, corvids such as magpies and crows, grey squirrels and Woodpigeon Shootings.
In order to own firearms or purchase ammunition, sportsmen and women need to possess a shotgun certificate or firearms certificate (for rifles). The certificates are issued by the police after thorough investigation. A serious criminal record will prevent someone from ever owning a gun.
As well as being satisfied with the character and honesty of an applicant, the police will visit the applicant to ensure that the firearm will be kept in a safe and secure place. For most people, this will be in a locked, metal cabinet, bolted to the wall. The certificates are renewable every five years on payment of a fee but can be withdrawn by the police at any time if the holder is seen to present a danger to public safety or the peace.
No licence is needed for airguns, provided they do not exceed a certain level of power.
Visitors who wish to bring their own gun to the UK must have a visitors' gun permit. This is obtained through your host - who does not need to be a shooter, but must be resident in the UK. They can get full details from their local police firearms licensing department. But be warned, this can be a lengthy procedure and you must apply several months in advance.
Under certain circumstances however, you may be able to borrow a shotgun or rifle under supervision, but you should seek further advice from BASC Firearms team or your Firearms Licensing Department before considering this approach.
There was a time when, for game shooting, it was considered bad form to use anything other than a traditional side-by-side shotgun. Those days are long past and even the most formal shoots and over-and-under gun is accepted.
There are laws covering the kind of rifle which may be used for deer. In England and Wales the minimum calibre for any sort of deer is .240 with a muzzle energy of not less than 1,700 ft/lbs. In Scotland you may use a smaller rifle for roe deer, provided the bullet weighs at least 50 grains and the muzzle energy is not less than 1,000 ft/lbs. For all other deer in Scotland the minimum bullet weight is 100 grains and the minimum muzzle energy is 1,750 ft/lbs
Click here to view the BASC Shotgun Code of Practice
Click here to contact the Firearms department
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