{"id":17882,"title":"Get Into Shooting","description":"FAQs and Need-To-Knows","content":"<h2><strong>FAQs and Need-To-Knows<\/strong><\/h2><p><strong>What firearms can we own in the UK?<\/strong><\/p><p>We can own quite a few different types of firearms here. Generally, there are two types of licenses:<br \/><strong>Section 1 Firearms Licence<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><p>.22lr Semi-Auto Rifles<\/p><\/li><li><p>.22lr Semi-Auto Long Barrel Pistol<\/p><\/li><li><p>Long Barrel Revolvers in calibers such as 9mm, .38\/.357mag.<\/p><\/li><li><p>Manual action centerfire rifles (i.e. straight pull or bolt action in calibers such as .223\/5.56, .308, 6.5, .338 and even .50BMG!<\/p><\/li><li><p>Magazine fed shotguns<\/p><\/li><li><p>Tube-fed shotguns with a capacity of 4 or greater.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Section 2 Shotgun Certificate<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><p>Double barrel shotguns<\/p><\/li><li><p>Semi-auto shotguns with a capacity of 2+1 or less<\/p><\/li><li><p>Pump-action shotguns with a capacity of 2+1 or less<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Getting a Section 1 Firearms Licence<\/strong><\/p><p>To get a license, you need what the police call a 'good reason'. This can include being a member of a Home Office Approved Club or having land to shoot over.<br \/>Apply using the online form on your local Police Force's website:<br \/>E.g. For the Met Police:<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.met.police.uk\/ar\/applyregister\/fao\/af\/apply-firearm-shotgun-explosives-certificate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.met.police.uk\/ar\/applyregister\/fao\/af\/apply-firearm-shotgun-explosives-certificate\/<\/a><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>How do I find my local club?<\/strong><\/p><p>Governing bodies have great club finders to help you find your nearest one:<\/p><ul><li><p>NRA (National Rifle Association) - <a href=\"https:\/\/nra.org.uk\/clubs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/nra.org.uk\/clubs\/<\/a><\/p><\/li><li><p>The NRA is a club well worth joining itself, it has ranges from 25yards to 1000+ yards. Its postcode is GU24 0NY if you want to see how close it is to you.<\/p><\/li><li><p>NSRA (National Small-Bore Rifle Association) - <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsra.co.uk\/index.php\/home\/clubfinder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.nsra.co.uk\/index.php\/home\/clubfinder<\/a><\/p><\/li><li><p>UKPSA (United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association - <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukpsa.co.uk\/clubmap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ukpsa.co.uk\/clubmap\/<\/a><\/p><\/li><li><p>CPSA (Clay Pigeon Shooting Association - <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpsa.co.uk\/clubs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cpsa.co.uk\/clubs<\/a><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>\u00a0Can I try shooting before joining a club?<\/strong><\/p><p>Clay shooting with a shotgun is very easy to try without a license. You can simply book an instructor to take you around, a good example of this is Bisley Shooting Ground <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bisleyshooting.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.bisleyshooting.co.uk<\/a><br \/><br \/>For rifle shooting, some clubs run guest days where you can try a range of different rifle disciplines. I know for certain that Ham and Petersham do this!<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hprpc.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.hprpc.co.uk\/<\/a><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Are handguns\/pistols legal in the UK?<\/strong><\/p><p>Yes and no...<br \/>We can't have pistols in the traditional sense. We can have LBP and LBRs (long barrel pistols and long barrel revolvers) that have a 12-inch barrel and are 24 inches in overall length. They can be semi-auto in .22lr (rimfire cartridge) and revolvers in calibers such as .38special, 357magnum, 44magnum, or 9mm.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>How old do you have to be?<\/strong><\/p><p>You have to be 14 years old before being granted a firearms license and must prove that you have a good reason for possessing the firearm you wish to use. You will also have to show that you have somewhere suitable to use it. However, there is no minimum age for a shotgun certificate, though you are not allowed to use a shotgun without an adult supervisor until you are 15 years old. With a Section 2 Shotgun certificate, you do not need to show that you have somewhere to use the gun or that you are a member of a shooting club<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0Top 3 things to know if you want to get into shooting<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><p>Do a guest day at your local club. See if you even like it first!<\/p><\/li><li><p>Join a club! You'll meet tons of like-minded people who will be happy to help!<\/p><\/li><li><p>Don't be put off by the laws and paperwork of joining a club and getting a license. It's worth it in the end. You can always contact us or ask people are the club if you need help. The shooting community will always help each other out!<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>What is the process of getting a firearms license?<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><p>Ensure you have a 'good reason' e.g. being a member of a club or having land to shoot over<\/p><\/li><li><p>Find your local Police Force's firearm licensing page on their website<\/p><\/li><li><p>(<a href=\"https:\/\/britfireshooting.com\/blog\/whats-your-local-police-force-to-apply-to\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/britfireshooting.com\/blog\/whats-your-local-police-force-to-apply-to\/<\/a>)<\/p><\/li><li><p>You can apply online<\/p><\/li><li><p>You need two referees to vouch for your character<\/p><\/li><li><p>You need security arrangements of how the firearms will be stored<\/p><\/li><li><p>You need your GP's details.<\/p><\/li><li><p>Upload your photo and pay!<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Anything Else?<\/strong><\/p><p>Give us a message on Instagram, Facebook, or using the Contact Us button!<\/p>","urlTitle":"get-into-shooting","url":"\/blog\/get-into-shooting\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/get-into-shooting\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/britfireshooting.com\/blog\/get-into-shooting\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1652636639,"updatedAt":1653310586,"publishedAt":1653310586,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":3407,"name":"Britfire Shooting"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1p4eyysawdkgkn6l4w3p8uht2vueoamf5krnc7tj0yybx7yo.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1p4eyysawdkgkn6l4w3p8uht2vueoamf5krnc7tj0yybx7yo.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1p4eyysawdkgkn6l4w3p8uht2vueoamf5krnc7tj0yybx7yo.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":17883,"title":"What's your local police force to apply to?","url":"\/blog\/whats-your-local-police-force-to-apply-to\/","urlTitle":"whats-your-local-police-force-to-apply-to","division":3407,"description":"What's your local police force to apply to?","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/a6y12xduc1muk5jsevumilvuarejxcwgxeuidzlupds82gom.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/a6y12xduc1muk5jsevumilvuarejxcwgxeuidzlupds82gom.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}