FAC air rifle. Can you use it in your garden?

[Nostrolomo]

I’m assuming that you aren’t allowed to use a FAC air rifle in your garden, as you are with a sub 12 rifle. I’m asking for a friend who is considering going down the FAC rabbit hole. I’ve told him to stick to sub 12 he doesn’t need the hassle of FAC.

 

[Mick Aggy]

If you are a land owner with enough space for the firearms team to say it’s ok then yes , if you live in an inner city with people all around you and a small garden then no , it’s all down to safety

 

[DaveP796]

Wouldn't be legal!
Unless you can get the land approved for FAC hunting, to which end your mate would need to inhabit a stately home!
Target shooting is not considered a valid reason to possess FAC Air.

 

[Bighit]

You can use an FAC airgun where its safe to do so but not all gardens may be safe to shoot in even for sub12 never mind FAC air.

 

[Nostrolomo]

If you are a land owner with enough space for the firearms team to say it’s ok then yes , if you live in an inner city with people all around you and a small garden then no , it’s all down to safety

He lives on the outskirts of a town. He has a long thin garden. It’s about 60 meters. We shoot at 40 meters there. I can’t see anyway that he’d be allowed to shoot for example .22lr there. So why would he be allowed to shoot a 28fpe air rifle. I assume a firearm is a firearm. I certainly understand your answer. I agreed. But you can’t tell some people anything.

 

[Chrisj]

It will depend what is on the FAC if it’s an open ie anywhere that the owner sees it safe to use, they don’t give open permits out right away, I had mine a few years before the FEO said he would open it up for me.
Ask the police force he is with.

 

[DaveP796]

I know it's ok to use FAC air close to buildings - I thought there were still rules about overshot space requirements.

 

[Mick Aggy]

As with any situation safety is the primary thing , what happens if ? Where would the shot go

 

[Jimiles]

It depends entirely on the garden. I have an open FAC and a large garden. At the end of my garden are open fields over which I have permission to shoot. As long as no pellet leaves my boundary I can safely, and perfectly legally, shoot vermin at the bottom of my garden.

 

[Bighit]

He lives on the outskirts of a town. He has a long thin garden. It’s about 60 meters. We shoot at 40 meters there. I can’t see anyway that he’d be allowed to shoot for example .22lr there. So why would he be allowed to shoot a 28fpe air rifle. I assume a firearm is a firearm. I certainly understand your answer. I agreed. But you can’t tell some people anything.

All airguns are Firearms in the UK , Even sub 12 .

Up here due to our licensing for airguns we have to have the garden passed to shoot a airgun in it , even a low powered pistol . They either come out and inspect it or go off a map depending on the area. A communal garden would be a No No.

As my garden is an open plan garden with houses on on all side it was not approved to shoot in even with an air pistol. I deemed it unsafe before the FEO even asked about the garden.

I could shoot it in my shed though.

 

[Nostrolomo]

All airguns are Firearms in the UK , Even sub 12 .

Up here due to our licensing for airguns we have to have the garden passed to shoot a airgun in it , even a low powered pistol . They either come out and inspect it or go off a map depending on the area. A communal garden would be a No No.

As my garden is an open plan garden with houses on on all side it was not approved to shoot in even with an air pistol. I deemed it unsafe before the FEO even asked about the garden.

I could shoot it in my shed though.

I didn’t know that. Why did the Scottish government bring in the airgun licensing? Was there a big problem with kids behaving irresponsibly?

 

[DaveP796]

It depends entirely on the garden. I have an open FAC and a large garden. At the end of my garden are open fields over which I have permission...

Doesn't get much better than that!

 

[Bighit]

I didn’t know that. Why did the Scottish government bring in the airgun licensing? Was there a big problem with kids behaving irresponsibly?

A death of a child shot in the head by a junkie and years of misuse . They have been trying to ban or license them for 40+ years up here and finally got it after the airgun legislation was devolved to Scotland.

Airgun crime was incorrectly recorded for years. If i said some one shot my window with an airgun then it was recorded as an airgun crime even if the window had been shot with a catapult . Now they record them as unconfirmed and only recorded as an airgun if they find the airgun.

Airgun crime was going down when it came in and had been going down for years. It rose again though that will also include those caught with an airgun and no airgun certificate like this guy https://airgunforums.co.uk/threads/ex-agf-member-unlicensed-airguns.175638/

A guide to the airgun licensing if you want to have a read. https://www.gov.scot/publications/guide-air-weapon-licensing-scotland/

Regarding Plinking in the garden. Although it says it will only be required in a small number of cases, That has changed as has a lot of more . Its not the soft touch scheme they first set out. When it first came out , people did not even have a home visit, that has changed though not all get a home visit.

"Plinking" is a term often used by those who use air weapons and refers to informal target shooting undertaken at standard or non-standard targets, such as cans and bottles, often in built-up areas. As above, where shooting is undertaken in a confined space, such as a domestic garden, it is incumbent on the shooter to consider if this can be done safely, and to provide evidence of this in support of their application. Shooting in areas to which the public have unrestricted access, such as communal gardens or similar areas is not acceptable.


It should be emphasised that land is not intrinsically "safe" or "unsafe" and any person using an air weapon should exercise discretion in deciding whether to shoot in particular circumstances. However, in considering whether a person has "good reason" to use an air weapon for target shooting, the police will wish to be satisfied that the applicant has considered and taken appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of others. While the police may, in a number of cases, wish to seek further information from the applicant, it is expected that most cases will be determined on the basis of a properly evidenced application. It is expected that a home or land visit will be deemed necessary only in a very small number of cases.

 

[CJM]

Legally fine if the pellet doesn't escape the property and your FAC is either granted for the garden or you have an open certificate

 

[JohnnySweden]

I shoot mine (and rimfires) out from the window of my house across the backyard.

Our only legal requirements are that the projectiles must stay within the property and danger for others musent occur.

 

[Bowland Blades]

Wouldn't be legal!
Unless you can get the land approved for FAC hunting, to which end your mate would need to inhabit a stately home!
Target shooting is not considered a valid reason to possess FAC Air.

Not exactly correct ! Your force might do that but others do not . I can shoot any place within said landowner whishes' As can most experienced shooters as std with consent of course from the landowner . I also have a range in my garden that i can shoot whatever i want But i think that would not get granted on its own merits or as a club ground though i wont ever take that route.
Have heard that FAC air target shooting is not allowed to support an ask but i serious don't get the why

 

[Nostrolomo]

A death of a child shot in the head by a junkie and years of misuse . They have been trying to ban or license them for 40+ years up here and finally got it after the airgun legislation was devolved to Scotland.

Airgun crime was incorrectly recorded for years. If i said some one shot my window with an airgun then it was recorded as an airgun crime even if the window had been shot with a catapult . Now they record them as unconfirmed and only recorded as an airgun if they find the airgun.

Airgun crime was going down when it came in and had been going down for years. It rose again though that will also include those caught with an airgun and no airgun certificate like this guy https://airgunforums.co.uk/threads/ex-agf-member-unlicensed-airguns.175638/

A guide to the airgun licensing if you want to have a read. https://www.gov.scot/publications/guide-air-weapon-licensing-scotland/

Regarding Plinking in the garden. Although it says it will only be required in a small number of cases, That has changed as has a lot of more . Its not the soft touch scheme they first set out. When it first came out , people did not even have a home visit, that has changed though not all get a home visit.

"Plinking" is a term often used by those who use air weapons and refers to informal target shooting undertaken at standard or non-standard targets, such as cans and bottles, often in built-up areas. As above, where shooting is undertaken in a confined space, such as a domestic garden, it is incumbent on the shooter to consider if this can be done safely, and to provide evidence of this in support of their application. Shooting in areas to which the public have unrestricted access, such as communal gardens or similar areas is not acceptable.


It should be emphasised that land is not intrinsically "safe" or "unsafe" and any person using an air weapon should exercise discretion in deciding whether to shoot in particular circumstances. However, in considering whether a person has "good reason" to use an air weapon for target shooting, the police will wish to be satisfied that the applicant has considered and taken appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of others. While the police may, in a number of cases, wish to seek further information from the applicant, it is expected that most cases will be determined on the basis of a properly evidenced application. It is expected that a home or land visit will be deemed necessary only in a very small number of cases.

Thank you for taking the time to reply in such detail. I did wonder why Scotland went alone with the licensing. If it ever looks like happening in England, I’ll be selling my rifles. I’m an occasional shooter, hoping to do more in the new year. My brother has just bought an air rifle, and he doesn’t mind driving us to the range. If I had to apply for a license, I’d give it up. I don’t want to be penalised for other people’s irresponsible behaviour. I gave up shooting pistols in 1997 when the ban became law. I was just about to buy my first revolver, a club member told me to wait. I’ve always been grateful to him. Only recently got back into shooting with sub 12 rifles. Really enjoying it.

 

[DaveP796]

I stand corrected

Have heard that FAC air target shooting is not allowed to support an ask but i serious don't get the why

Probably based on lack of suitable venues. I understand a lot of clubs ban the use of FAC air because most targets and target holders aren't designed to tolerate the extra hammering. So where is this target practice going to be taking place?

 

[Bighit]

Thank you for taking the time to reply in such detail. I did wonder why Scotland went alone with the licensing. If it ever looks like happening in England, I’ll be selling my rifles. I’m an occasional shooter, hoping to do more in the new year. My brother has just bought an air rifle, and he doesn’t mind driving us to the range. If I had to apply for a license, I’d give it up. I don’t want to be penalised for other people’s irresponsible behaviour. I gave up shooting pistols in 1997 when the ban became law. I was just about to buy my first revolver, a club member told me to wait. I’ve always been grateful to him. Only recently got back into shooting with sub 12 rifles. Really enjoying it.

Its a ball ache as they have the legislation and the FEO's often mix up the AWC with FAC and SGC like safe storage. They have to be under lock and key so a non AWC holder can't have access to them if you are not there but some of the FEO's are demanding cabinets when there is other safe storage like you have in England and wales .

That puts a lot of shooters off as they can't afford a cabinet for a £100 or less airgun or not able to fit one for any number of reasons.

I cant leave my airgun unlocked when my wife is home and I have to go out of the house for any reason as even though she is over 18, she has No AWC cert.

If your garden is not suitable then you need to be a member of a club or have land to shoot on, That again is an issue as there is not many clubs in some areas and if you do find one , they may have a waiting list for people joining and if you cant get land then you have no good reason to own one despite you wanting to join a club or get land.

Some who said they were shooting in their garden when it came in at the start got their certs but later when renewing them, Their garden was deemed unsafe and they had no where else to shoot so they had to find somewhere or give up their certs and airguns.

You could get a collectors cert to either fire where safe to do so or just for collecting and not firing. I know a guy who has a collectors cert .

Some airgun shooters in England and Wales are in favour of licencing there but they don’t understand not all will be able to get one for the reasons above even though they could . I’m alright jack attitude.

Application form here to have a read of and see what you have to do to get a AWC. https://www.scotland.police.uk/spa-...air-weapon-certificate-awl1.doc?view=Standard

 

[Nostrolomo]

“Some airgun shooters in England and Wales are in favour of licencing there but they don’t understand not all will be able to get one for the reasons above even though they could.” I can’t see why anyone would wish for that.. Who needs the hassle and bureaucracy.. Still we live in strange times. Many people appear to want changes that would make their lives more difficult..