A bit about me for your info

[Jack]

I laughed hard at your ruger comment, my brother flies out to the states each year for 6 months running a rifle range at different youth camps mainly though in New Hampshire... He come home claiming that very rifle is the single greatest bit of kit invented!
I don't have a strong opinion either, they certainly have their place, more so in the states where ammo and accesability are relatively common place/easy, my research on the subject was actually done for our very own soldiers who would have in normal situations a variety of weaponry from the standard issue rifle to gpmg's and more specialist equipment. But even for a well equipped group of squadies it was deemed that these weapons be a last resort defensive tool, or where the need arises, a show of force.

If you once shot now banned firearms are we talking section 5 pistols?
You can still legally obtain a pistol on a normal FAC ticket I believe but it has to be a black powder muzzle loader, one of the chaps in herts that shoots at the range my dads just joined was sporting one apparently.

Iv not visited Andover yet, I'm in the sess pool of wiltshire, namely Swindon, luckily my house borders a modest woodland so atleast have the illusion of a secluded home, though 30 seconds out the front door you'd be welcomed by what's popularly believed to be the worse area in town!