The Shooting (Firearms) Thread

Soldato
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Apparently there are a few old threads on a similar subject but I thought I'd start a new one.

I have checked with a mod if this was ok to make a thread about.

Can I ask, that all discussion is kept 100% legal and within the law. Responsible grown up people kind of chat where possible. But I'd like to hear what others do, and what guns they have - if they are comfortably sharing that on a public forum. Where they shoot etc?

So anyone into this sport?

I am very new, recently joined up with a local rifle club on a probation period to start, so far been fireing .22 rifles at paper targets, good fun so far, I take my 12 year old son with me, he is also welcome (and a pretty good shot!)

According to the club rules, due to the size of the range, they limit things to .22 rifle, or apparently you can use a pistol chambered rifle, I think they said either up to 70 or 90 grain ammuniation - I'll need to double check.

I already have my eye on a potential rifle if I progress which is chambered for .357, a Ruger 77 series rifle, which is a bolt action rifle and is legal in the UK with the appropriate licence. I am not sure if I could find ammo light enough ammo though for it, I need to do more research.

I have actually fired several guns previously when I used to live in New Zealand, a Glock 17, a few different shotguns, a .22 rifle and a couple of .308's.

One of the .308 was a shorter, almost carbine style rifle, that apparently saw action in some war in south asia, it has tradional iron sights but also a "jungle" combat sight which was jjus ta round circle. That thing kicked like a mule I'll tell you.

(Below is Hickok45's review of the rifle I have been eying up)

 
True. They can do some weird stuff.

Well I guess a ".22" can be vastly different depending on a load of variables, I mean .22 can be .22, or .22 LR or .22 WMR (rimfire) I guess there are others also.

Then it depends of the grain of the ammunation used. Then the type of bullet, being pure soft lead, or hardcast, FMJ etc.

Then barrel length also.
 
So went back to the range today, fired a bolt action .22 today mainly, 100 rounds on that.

Then had a go on some muzzle loading black powder pistol, which looked like it was from the late 1800's but was actually a pretty new replica apparently. The guy warned me it had a light trigger and he wasnt joking, had my finger over the trigger guard, went to put it on the trigger i literally touched it and the thing fired, i hadnt quite got it aimed yet, but oh well, hit the target at least just not where I had intended lol.

Then had a go on .38 lever action rifle, that was good fun, but the iron sights on it were terrible.

Also I checked with them and apparently that .357 chambered Ruger rifle will be fine provided I can find soft lead ammo with a light enough grain.
 
Question about the bolded. When you say "soft lead ammo" are you referring to what we call "ball ammo"? That is, exposed lead with no jacket.

If so, why?

If the range you go to is only able to deal with that, as opposed to fmj then ok. If not, I would never put ball ammo through any firearm I owned. Actually, I would find another range. ( I understand that that might not be possible for you... sorry.)

Yea exposed lead, yea it's because the range is small, there is some steel plating at the back and then a brick wall, they specifically say you cannot use FMJ as they are concerned you'll shoot through the steel plate, go through the brick wall, behind that is a public area.

I didn't realise ball ammo, as you call it can damage your barrel. I definitely don't want to be doing that if I buy that rifle.

As for other ranges there are a few around, but we have weird laws here so I'll need to stick at this one for the time being at least till I can get my firearms license, which will take maybe 6 months from now.

Maybe I'll buy a cheap second hand .22 and then investigate other ranges later.

I'm jumping ahead though, all takes a little time and several hoops to jump through, not like America I'm afraid, we don't enjoy some of the freedoms you do.
 
Depends how serious you take it - doing experience days is usually £30-60 a pop or per month depending how you do it while having membership at a range, etc. and your own guns will quickly escalate especially if you want to shoot full bore or work towards licenses for stuff over 22LR.

In terms of licences do you know how it works?

I was under the impression that once I became a member of this rifle range, I could apply for a firearms licence with a good reason (eg being member of a rifle range) and pretty much get whatever I wanted straight away, is that not the case?

Do you need different licences or applications per gun you own, or different licences for different calibers?
 
Chapter and verse:
https://assets.publishing.service.g..._on_Firearms_Licensing_Law_April_2016_v20.pdf

But also speak with your local firearms officer and start making friends.

Thanks, blimey what a huge document. I skim read most of it and I think it is pretty much what I thgouht. I'll become a member of this rifle range first (giving me the good reason), once a member apply for a licence, give them 2 referees which is no problem. Seems you have to declare up front what you intend to own so I'll just put down a .22 rifle and a .357 rifle and try for both I guess, I mean ideally if approved I would want to get one of each anyway.

They come and visit you at your house, and run background and medical checks, all should be fine. I guess I could ask them about storage when they come but I planned on getting a decent gun safe, putting that in the garage and bolting it to the wall (attached garage to house) hopefully that should be enough, otherwise I guess I could whack the safe in the loft and bolt it to the wall, although thats more of a pain in the ass to get to. Keep the ammo in a separate safe.

Doesn't seem too bad.
 
You have the gist of it. You put down all the firearms you will want to buy in the next 5 years and the FEO will quiz you on why you need them at the interview, they will normally start telling you that you can’t have that many so the common method is to ask for more than you need to give yourself haggle room. Same with the amounts of ammunition you are allowed to own. Outside of Scotland all the firearms departments are run at county level, some departments are relaxed and pro shooting such as Derbyshire and other departments are massively anti shooting and will be extremely stingy on what they will let you have down to the point where they just start making stuff up (pseudo law / home office guidance interpretation) - so that is just luck of the draw I am afraid.

Keeping the safe in a garage, even if it is attached to the house is rare these days unless you get really lucky with the particular force. Likewise keeping it in the loft is often not allowed as they think you might be tempted to not put the firearms away if it is tricky to get to. Tough one to balance if you have another half not keen on having a gunsafe in the back of cupboard!

Cambridgeshire is my county.

I'll have to see what they say on the home interview with regards to location of the safe, I hope I can do one of the two, I guess it could go under the stairs but it'd look ugly the Mrs will moan for sure.
 
Went back last night fired more of the lever action .38 with a fresh target this time so I could see where we were hitting.

12 year old had a go, pretty good shooting quite tight spread near the bullseye.

My turn, 10 rounds fired. Went to inspect the target, well, I had quite a nice tight group also, unfortunately about 4 inches completely off above the target lolololol.

After speaking to my 12 year old!!!! He explained how he was lining up the iron sights.

Now normally, with iron sights (at least with what I've fired before) you line the tops up. With this rifle, it has like a "U" shaped rear sight or like a wine glass shape, and your supposed to line the front sight up with a notch at the bottom on the rear sights!

Oh well, I'll know for next time.
 
You have discovered Buckhorn Sights, most commonly found on underlevers - I love them. Your 12 year old has schooled you correctly, I am surprised no one at the club gave you advice - you would have been shooting very high!

On the safe thing, you want it installed before the officer comes as they will want to check it before giving you the go ahead on the licence.

Ok thanks mate.

I've actually found a place a bedroom cupboard provided the safe isn't too big should fit and it's out of sight.
 
Back again this evening, this time with a lever action .357 (as a pose to a .38) and this time I had figured the "buckhorn" sights out so much more sucessful.

Then about 75 rounds with the bolt action .22, havign a look around today seems teh enarest half decent range to me is in Oundle in Northamptonshire that has a 100m range that you can fire anything. Unless anyone knows any others in the Cambridgeshire (ish) area?
 
Went back again today, no .38 or .357 but fired a couple of .22's bolt action CZ and a semi auto ruger.

Was shooting them standing the ruger was much lighter and easier standing up but... was shotting as normal say 30 rounds in, half way through a 10 round magazine the pulled the trigger and "click". pulled the slide back and shook the gun a bit, put my finger in to try and wiggle the round out, out it came heard and I heard it drop on the table. Looked down on the table looking for a cartridge with the round still in it, couldnt see it, then noticed this like, tiny white pellet stuff all over the gun. The bloody cartirdge had seperated from the bullet and the bullet was still in the barrel!

The guy at the range was quite appreciative that I had realised and not tried to put another round through it.
 
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