BO food for thought & air rifles

[ojiu0u4]

Hey,

So I have been researching my legal obligations so I can be a good law abiding citizen. When we consider BO, and whether we do that in anticipation or post SHTF, given we can not be sure how the sitch will shake down, I think (I myself at a minimum) need to be aware of FAC law regarding legal air riffle (buuny gun) and their treatment loaded or not, pellet ammunition or not, slung or not as firearms for the purposes of "armed trespass" which has the possibility of a 3 month custodial sentence or large fine, on any occasion where we end up or transiting on land without owner permission

This might color plans on a pre-event BO.

[Plymtom]

I would think that most shops make you read a little piece on the law regarding airguns, but yes you're right and I wouldn't be surprised if the same goes for catapults and bows, this right to roam thing may cloud the issue when it comes to going wandering in the countryside, even camping for instance being allowed to go somewhere is one thing, but what you can legally do whilst there is an entirely different matter.
I've often wondered how to go about practicing carrying loads including such things as an air rifle ( not that I'm in the bug out camp) simply because it changes everything in terms of weight and getting snagged on vegetation, perhaps an extra walking pole? I also suggested once that we practice stalking skills with a camera, if you can get close enough to take a picture, then in theory you could have taken the beast or at least had a shot at it, all that said if you really want to go and shoot your air rifle and don't have your own land, get permission or better still join a club it's great fun plus you're not being naughty.

[PreparedKent]

You can legally carry an air rifle (not pistol) unloaded in a public place (or right of way) so long as you are over the age of 14, the rifle is unloaded and in a case that prevents it from being fired.

[handyandy]

except in northern Ireland
if you want an air rifle you need a firearms license so you may as well put on a shotgun,semi automatic rifle
you need landowners permissions to shoot on their land or be a member of registered shooting club
and the psni (police) call at your home to make sure that your approved gun cabinet is secured to a solid wall
in a secure room or cupboard
even an air rifle must be kept in a locked gun cabinet when not in use

[Jotnarjager]

I'd get hold of a decent gun bag and a small luggage padlock. If the police do stop you, you're unlikely to get a tug if the zip is all locked up. Just be careful with what clothes and other equipment you bring along, you don't want to be accused of poaching.

As Plymtom suggests, photography isn't a bad way of practicing. I've used x4 lens and it got some good results. I even managed to get some Roe deer to come to me! (I kept putting my head up occasionally, and they were so interested they all came closer for better look.)

[10hpmclaren]

If you intend having an air rifle with you when yoou are out you have no legal obligation to prove what you ae doing with it BUT and this is the big one. If the police can with reasonable thinking see a way to nick you or take the air rifle away for testing ( legal power) they can and will.
Dont carry an air rifle or for that matter a shotgun in public unles you have good reason to do so.
Any half decent air rifle on the marlet today will have enough power to take any small game from a pidgeon to a rabbit and certainly squirels. And yes squirels make good eating. Red squirels are seriously protected and in my opinion if you shoot one you deserve all you get.
If your looking for an air rifle that will be reliable and easy to use avoid the pre charged rifles, the ones you fill from a dive tank or a HPA pump. Go with a good traditional spring powered rifle. They are easy to service and more than accurate enough to take bunnies at 25 yards. Huge telescopic sights may make you look like a sniper but in truth do little but put the weight up you have to carry. If you have to go with glass sights a fixed 4 power with a 32mm objective will do all you need to hunt food. On the few occasions I shot 1000 yards with glass sights the highest magnification I used was 10 power, and for most of my long range shooting I used iron sights. So at the ranges that small game should be taken at with an air rifle (25 to 30 yards at most) a small power scope will more than do the job.
With that said the only way to learn to hunt is by learning to shoot first. It takes many hundreds of rounds through a rifle to just get to know the weapon let alone shoot it well and a new shooter has to learn many things from breathing control to trigger pull to range estimation.
As said in a previouse post join a club and learn to shoot before you make the move to trying to take game for the pot.

Cheers Kevin

[Smudge]

Hey,

So I have been researching my legal obligations so I can be a good law abiding citizen. When we consider BO, and whether we do that in anticipation or post SHTF, given we can not be sure how the sitch will shake down, I think (I myself at a minimum) need to be aware of FAC law regarding legal air riffle (buuny gun) and their treatment loaded or not, pellet ammunition or not, slung or not as firearms for the purposes of "armed trespass" which has the possibility of a 3 month custodial sentence or large fine, on any occasion where we end up or transiting on land without owner permission

This might color plans on a pre-event BO.

Honestly if your in a situation where you're bugging out and thinking of taking an airgun, rifle, bow or crossbow....... falling foul of the law is probably the least of your concerns.

[Plymtom]

Honestly if your in a situation where you're bugging out and thinking of taking an airgun, rifle, bow or crossbow....... falling foul of the law is probably the least of your concerns.

Yes there's little doubt about that (in the worst scenarios) I always struggle with the concept, it's not an option really bugging out, asides form forced evacuation.
Then when you consider the weight and bulk of anything other than an air rifle and a tin of pellets on top of your essentials for a given time, you get an idea of the problem, anyone who does do shooting or anything similar will tell you, your car soon fills up with stuff you want for a nice day out, never mind longer and more desperate outings

[prepperG]

The law is one thing but spending hours explaining that you have not broken it down the police station is another.
People are very anti-gun in the UK so expect phone calls to the police if you are seen even if you are on your own land.
To be safe always carry the gun in a case with no magazine fitted, ammunition should not be loaded into magazines until you are in a safe area for shooting.
This is to prevent being arrested for “going equipped” the same would apply if you are unable to inform the police of where you are going to legally shoot. You could be arrested to “prevent a breach of the peace”.
You have to have permission to shoot on the land; most common land has a bylaw preventing shooting/camping/open fires so it will probably be private land that you shoot on.
The area you shoot in has to be approved for the calibre you are going to use, for example some land may be suitable for .22lr but not .223. This does not apply to non fac air rifle/pistol or shotgun so long as it’s not using solid slug.
The limit for an air pistol is 6ftlb, for a rifle 12ftlbs over that you need a licence, the “FAC” licence has to specify the reason for the firearms, if you only have target shooting you will be unable to buy expanding ammunition. A hunting FAC is either open or closed, a closed licence details the location you can shoot on, an open licence enables you to shoot on any land with verbal permission. A shotgun can be shot on almost any land even within the 50ft restriction normally imposed as a rule of thumb (from a public highway, road/canal).
To get a licence is quite a process including a probationary cause or 3 month probationary period, police visit and security requirements such as gun cabinet.
Having said all this it’s a great sport to do, weather its clay’s, target, practical pistol/rifle/shotgun or hunting there is nothing boring about the sport.
From a shift point of view carrying a firearm will make you a target as both criminals and the police will want to remove it from you. Even if you have a FAC I would advise a backup such as a bow or air rifle in case the police recall /revoke FAC’s and collect legally held firearms.

[Briggs 2.0]

PrepperG summed it up well. All I would add is that the 50ft from a highway guideline is not a set rule. The law states you must not injure, interrupt or cause alarm to highway or right of way users and that includes falling shot, falling birds and even the sound of your shot. It will come down to who the police and magistrate believe but you can bet the benefit of the doubt will go against the shooter.