Recommended purchases

[00111001]

Yeah, practical shotgun is the aim. Hence the SGC now, and the FAC as soon as possible. Then I can get myself a section one Benelli M3

[Skean Dhude]

If that is the only reason for the FAC I wouldn't bother. The hassle is too much imo. Just get a couple of shotguns and the bits for converting them. For future expansion of course. Despite all the hype 3 shots is enough for most circumstances and 3 shotguns each with three shots is more valuable than one shotgun with 7 shots.

JMI

[00111001]

(23 May 2012, 08:39)Skean Dhude Wrote: If that is the only reason for the FAC I wouldn't bother. The hassle is too much imo. Just get a couple of shotguns and the bits for converting them. For future expansion of course. Despite all the hype 3 shots is enough for most circumstances and 3 shotguns each with three shots is more valuable than one shotgun with 7 shots.

JMI

I also want the FAC for rifle shooting - letting loose down the range is great fun. Spotted a nice .22 AR15 lookylikey. I must have this. MUST. I presume it's expensive, so I may have to sell the wife, but I need this

[Tonka]

(23 May 2012, 08:02)00111001 Wrote: Yeah, practical shotgun is the aim. Hence the SGC now, and the FAC as soon as possible. Then I can get myself a section one Benelli M3

Do you know of a Practical Shotgun facility in the area?

I found one in Romsey, but it looks like membership is by recommendation from an existing member only, but it's hard to tell.

[Skean Dhude]

(23 May 2012, 08:45)00111001 Wrote: I also want the FAC for rifle shooting - letting loose down the range is great fun. Spotted a nice .22 AR15 lookylikey. I must have this. MUST. I presume it's expensive, so I may have to sell the wife, but I need this

Very nice. Although I went for a 10/22 Ruger. Solid and reliable. I burn off quite a few rounds when I go out and 22LR is quite cheap compared to the other stuff. For some reason I quite enjoy shooting holes in things.

[Timelord]

I would rather have 1 hi capacity shotgun than 3 section2, three shotters. 3 hicap shotguns is even better - if you want to start a collection. Getting an FAC to take up PSG is not particularily too much hassle. PSG itself is a learning curve and being adept with ones firearm is a skill highly valued. Knowing the abilities, strengths & weaknesses of the said weapons system and having the mental programming to use & sort issues with it under pressure is highly recommended.

getting a section 1 licence is not much more complicated than a section 2 one. You just need 2 referees instead of 1 and you need a seperate ammo safe if you stock slug shells(although not necessary to have or use slug) It is however a more likely route to avoid licence application woes - to aquire the Section 2 licence first and and then to go for the section licence maybe the following year. On the flip side of this - if you are attending a club and have joined after so many visits that they will stipulate, then applying straight for the section 1 licence should pose no problems. In this case a section 2 first would be a waste of money & time.
You can purchase & fit the gun cabinet after the initial application for a firearms licence, once you have passed the initial vetting the firearms officer will contact you to arrange a visit to your premises to inspect your gun safe & dwelling security. This way you can avoid buying a cabinet initially if you are worried about being passed by the vetting procedure. You will have time between the officer contacting you and the appointment date to sort this if you get on with it.

Being in a club is one surefire way to get your licence application accepted and it has other benefits, like other experienced shooters to learn from, possibly a training program, club insurance, access to knowledge of all equipment & where to the the best places to buy it. You can usually purchase firearms & shotguns & other related equipment from other club members a lot cheaper and you can club together to purchase ammo & consumables at reduced rates. The clubs have close links with firearms dealers and a working relationship with the police forces. Going the club route is respected by other disciplines & the authorities alike as being a responsible law abiding way to pursue legal use of firearms.

By having a licence, I have no worries about being involved with the legal firearms fraternity. It massively increases my exposure to kit, firearms, ammo, knowledge and everything else involved with the hobby. Therefore I am in a position to take in what I need as & when and store it in my prep archive.

[00111001]

(24 May 2012, 01:06)Tonka Wrote:

(23 May 2012, 08:02)00111001 Wrote: Yeah, practical shotgun is the aim. Hence the SGC now, and the FAC as soon as possible. Then I can get myself a section one Benelli M3

Do you know of a Practical Shotgun facility in the area?

I found one in Romsey, but it looks like membership is by recommendation from an existing member only, but it's hard to tell.

Yup, the romsey one. I'm still waiting to hear back from them, but from what I can tell that's after your probationary membership time is up. I think it'll be the club secretary that'll complete that bit (or someone else who's been at the club a while)

[Tonka]

(24 May 2012, 12:05)Timelord Wrote: PSG itself is a learning curve and being adept with ones firearm is a skill highly valued. Knowing the abilities, strengths & weaknesses of the said weapons system and having the mental programming to use & sort issues with it under pressure is highly recommended.

You have a habit of talking good sense Mr. Lord.

I'm a bit freaked out by how I could have gone this long without knowing about practical shotgun? I used to work in a gun shop, apprenticed a gunsmith... no one mentioned this to me after the hand gun ban. This was all back in the 90's... how long has PSG been common place in the UK? I've been preoccupied with air guns, 4x4s, guitars and motorbikes for the past couple of decades.

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(24 May 2012, 15:04)00111001 Wrote: Yup, the romsey one. I'm still waiting to hear back from them, but from what I can tell that's after your probationary membership time is up. I think it'll be the club secretary that'll complete that bit (or someone else who's been at the club a while)

I may have to contact them myself. Most clubs let you go along before you get your own gun. I've fired everything from a .22 keyring revolver, through a .45 wildey auto mag, big game hunting rifles, and up to a 25 pounder howitzer. However I have limited experience with shotguns. I had a go at clay shooting once. I didn't do well. I didn't persevere as I didn't want to just shoot clays, I wanted to do something that sounds a lot like PSG, but I didn't know it existed!

Please, keep us updated with how you get on.

[Timelord]

I didn't know PSG existed either until about 2 years ago. Now I involved with it my skill level is much improved.

I think PSG has a few reasons why it is pretty unknown in the general populace
1) It is a tiny minority sport.
2) Guns are evil and so no media is going to do a nice write up on the hobby.
3) Advertising concentrates on the mass market which is for clay & rough shooting. Any advertising of even these sports tends to only be in the relevent magazines.
4) The establishment are not going to be attracting attention to it for various reasons.
5) The PSG clubs themselves do not court attention due to two reasons - a) It is easy to attract idiots and thieving scum
b) Less left wing media attention is a wise choice

I will say that the PSG sections of gun clubs have started to increase their number of members in the last few years. Can't think why? Maybe there are more switched on people out there than we give credit for!

I believe PSG continued on after the handgun ban, but was on a tiny scale here in the UK. IN America it is a big deal. Credit to the UKPSA for keeping it alive this side of the Atlantic and developing it along with the IPSC into the substantial & recognised sport it is today.

I found it hard to locate a club originally. half the web links didn't work etc. You have to realise that some of these club organisers are far too busy out there having fun on the ranges than to bother with things like websites! Annoying though it is to enquirers. If you are interested in PSG and find a club contact details, thenjust contact the club official to find out the crit[/i]eria. the blurb on web pages can be very misleading to people new to the sport.

Try this site & message forum members for info.*****
http://four4islands.org/

Some interesting links:-

http://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/
http://www.targetshooter.co.uk/
http://www.midwayuk.com/
http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=index
http://www.siarm.com/index.php
http://www.shootforum.com/forum/index.php

regards, TL

[RFB]

I just bought 2 Russian SKS for $225 Canadian each. The surplus 7-62x39 was $270 Canadian for 1440 rounds. We are limited tho to 5 round clips. They come with the original 10 rd clip, with a little piece of round bar riveted on internally. Which you could quickly cut off if the need arose. Each rifle came with a sling, a cleaning kit, a bayonet, 2 ammo pouches and 3 stripper clips for each rifle. They are flying out of the stores over here. The threat of the Marxist Obama bringing in gun controls in the US is causing problems here for ammo. So every body who likes shooting and hunting is loading up. I am pretty impressed with them, same factory that makes the AK47, good quality. I bought 2 30 round clips as well, they are pinned at 5 rds. But could be returned to original with a file in about 5 minutes. I feel for you guys. The socialists brought in gun control here as well, and the new Conservative government repealed quite a bit of it. After about 2B in wasted tax dollars. They have begun to clue in that criminals don't register and will never obey the laws anyway.