Shotgun Licence
Discussion
I want to get a shotgun, for the impending zombie apocolypse (and also for clays and game shooting).
I have the forms and a referee, can drop my doc a note and tell him he'll be getting asked about me but...
Is it worth speaking to the firearms licencing officer first? Would that go in my favour?
Do I need a gun safe installed now, or will he/she come and visit and tell me where is best to fix it?
Would being a member of a club help (I know of one I'd like to use for some clay lessons, but my friend beats for various shoots and can get me on beaters days)?
Any hints/tips - aside from under no circumstances mentioning the impending zombie apocolypse?
I have the forms and a referee, can drop my doc a note and tell him he'll be getting asked about me but...
Is it worth speaking to the firearms licencing officer first? Would that go in my favour?
Do I need a gun safe installed now, or will he/she come and visit and tell me where is best to fix it?
Would being a member of a club help (I know of one I'd like to use for some clay lessons, but my friend beats for various shoots and can get me on beaters days)?
Any hints/tips - aside from under no circumstances mentioning the impending zombie apocolypse?
you don't need the gun safe yet - better to wait so the officer can approve where you want to put it.
Join the CPSA, maybe join a local club, but not important for Shotgun Certificate.
You can do the CPSA Shotgun skills course, which may help your application, but will certainly help you when you start going to a clays club (some of them don't let new members with no experience go out un-escorted for a couple of months - the skills course shows you know what you are doing and are safe)
no real need to talk to firearms officer- shotgun certificate is fairly straightforward - it is the FAC that is a pain in the arse
Join the CPSA, maybe join a local club, but not important for Shotgun Certificate.
You can do the CPSA Shotgun skills course, which may help your application, but will certainly help you when you start going to a clays club (some of them don't let new members with no experience go out un-escorted for a couple of months - the skills course shows you know what you are doing and are safe)
no real need to talk to firearms officer- shotgun certificate is fairly straightforward - it is the FAC that is a pain in the arse
Edited by filski666 on Thursday 16th October 16:14
Maxf said:
The guide for safes is that is has to be out of site of a casual visitor and fastened to the fabric of the building - right?
I was thinking of bolting it to the back of a built in wardrobe in the study (solid, loadbearing wall). Sound ok, in priciple?
Think that is correct, out of sight and bolted to the wall of the house with special bolt things. I was thinking of bolting it to the back of a built in wardrobe in the study (solid, loadbearing wall). Sound ok, in priciple?
james S said:
I would call them and ask their advice on where to put it. They follow the advice and invite them to come and see.
Many of them are underresourced and fitting in two visits, given they will need to see it installed could take forever.
Agree. Many of them are underresourced and fitting in two visits, given they will need to see it installed could take forever.
Slight Financial Risk (£100 for a BS gun cabinet), but I bought and fitted mine before the Firearms Officer came around. When he turned up I showed him exactly where I was intending to keep my gun(s). He appreciated the fact that I had already fitted the safe as it had saved him an extra journey. It also shows that you have given prior thought to the responsibilities of owning a gun before you have bought it.
Being a member of a gun club (prior use of a shotgun/safety) is a plus point. You will often find that the firearms officer is a shooting person as well. I struck up a conversation with mine as we were doing the paperwork - turned out he used to shoot with my Father In-Law a few years back, which may have indirectly helped with my application.
Took me 5 weeks to get my licence. Should have taken longer, but I asked for his help to push me up the line a bit because I had been 'invited to be a gun on a private shoot'. No doubt that the chat I had with him helped me here.
Happy Shooting. Let me know if you have any other questions.
HTH
A couple of months after your application the firearms officer will visit you at your home and interview you and ask where you intend to put the cabinet (you do not need a cabinet at this point). Then, all things being well, he will contact you again to inspect the cabinet and if satisfied, hand you your certificate 
I have a cabinet which my friend has decided to upgrade. I think I'll go ahead and get it fitted and use it for pool cues if I get rejected 
On the gun safe topic - this 'free' cabinet is a short cabinet which requires guns to be broken down prior to storage. I don't have a problem with this, although I might be overlooking something obvious. Am I?
On the gun safe topic - this 'free' cabinet is a short cabinet which requires guns to be broken down prior to storage. I don't have a problem with this, although I might be overlooking something obvious. Am I?
Providing it fits the requirements it is fine for getting your license, however your friend is getting rid for a reason, that being the fact they are a PITA. Get license with freebie, sell it and get a proper one, I have to break my trap gun down to fit in my (big) safe and it is a pain in the arse, if only it was shorter!
wildoliver said:
Providing it fits the requirements it is fine for getting your license, however your friend is getting rid for a reason, that being the fact they are a PITA. Get license with freebie, sell it and get a proper one, I have to break my trap gun down to fit in my (big) safe and it is a pain in the arse, if only it was shorter!
Well, duh! Just use a hacksaw and take a few inches off the barrel(s) 
whitechief said:
Sicob said:
You will more than likely need a separate cabinet for ammo. I have one available that conforms to all standards. Let me know if interested.
There is no requirement for secure storage of cartridges.Sicob said:
You will more than likely need a separate cabinet for ammo. I have one available that conforms to all standards. Let me know if interested.
Complete nonsense, there's absolutely no requirement to store shotgun cartridges in a locked cabinet, that's reserved for S1 Firearms ammunition.As for joining a club or shooting organisation, both are a good idea BUT will have absolutely no bearing on your application.
Provided that you meet the requirements re: prohibited persons, mental history etc. the licensing officer would need to show good reason to refuse your application, unlike a FAC for which YOU need to show good reason.
Technically you don't actually need a cabinet, particularly if you only have 1 gun, but most forces flout the Home Office guidelines and insist on one.
Maxf said:
whitechief said:
Sicob said:
You will more than likely need a separate cabinet for ammo. I have one available that conforms to all standards. Let me know if interested.
There is no requirement for secure storage of cartridges.Maxf said:
whitechief said:
Sicob said:
You will more than likely need a separate cabinet for ammo. I have one available that conforms to all standards. Let me know if interested.
There is no requirement for secure storage of cartridges.Sicob said:
Maxf said:
whitechief said:
Sicob said:
You will more than likely need a separate cabinet for ammo. I have one available that conforms to all standards. Let me know if interested.
There is no requirement for secure storage of cartridges.Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff