Requirement for Clubs to Hold Competitions

[MrD]

As club secretary, I regularly used to be asked, "Does X take part in competitions?" by FEOs when they were doing member's renewals - not been asked that this year.

However, I do think that if your club holds competitions, it can only strengthen your request for additional firearms, such as looking to get multiple 308s for different disciplines or a 22 LBP, etc. Surely 'I want a 22 LBP to take part in our club's monthly three gun comp' is more likely to be granted then just saying I want one?

Just my tuppence-worth

Donald

[IainWR]

As club secretary, I regularly used to be asked, "Does X take part in competitions?" by FEOs when they were doing member's renewals - not been asked that this year.

However, I do think that if your club holds competitions, it can only strengthen your request for additional firearms, such as looking to get multiple 308s for different disciplines or a 22 LBP, etc. Surely 'I want a 22 LBP to take part in our club's monthly three gun comp' is more likely to be granted then just saying I want one?

Just my tuppence-worth

Donald

Donald, you are right. The Guide has some fancy words for it at the beginning of the Good Reason chapter, but basically "I want it" isn't enough and "I need it" isn't necessary - Good Reason lies somewhere between those two.

[Hrun]

As club secretary, I regularly used to be asked, "Does X take part in competitions?" by FEOs when they were doing member's renewals - not been asked that this year.

However, I do think that if your club holds competitions, it can only strengthen your request for additional firearms, such as looking to get multiple 308s for different disciplines or a 22 LBP, etc. Surely 'I want a 22 LBP to take part in our club's monthly three gun comp' is more likely to be granted then just saying I want one?

Just my tuppence-worth

Donald

I think the onus comes on the firearms holder. Every one of my guns has been justified as I want it for xxx competition. Therefore, I enter competitions, to justify my ownership.

[Racalman]

I think it depends what is meant by competition.

One of my clubs holds three a year where prizes or trophies are handed out, while the other has "competitions" every month in that each course of fire is scored and the results published but it's very informal.

I have more than one rifle in the same calibre on the grounds that I shoot different "disciplines" but I have never been asked by an FEO about competitions.

[Chuck]

What about the Annual Christmas shoot like my club did...that counts. A simple competition with prizes, what's not to like..And don't think for one minute those are not competitive...some people acted like it was a Bisley international event.

[Mattnall]

Therefore, I enter competitions, to justify my ownership.

This makes it sound like you want the firearms and so to keep them you have to enter the comps. The 'want' came before the 'need'.

Perhaps to use this argument the desire should be to shoot the competitions and (therefore; must) have the correct firearms to do so.

[dromia]

I think the onus comes on the firearms holder. Every one of my guns has been justified as I want it for xxx competition. Therefore, I enter competitions, to justify my ownership.

Each to his own, as I discussed recently on another thread, there are two types of gun owners.

Those who see their guns as tools to another end like Hrun whose driver is obviously competition and the guns are a means to that end as that is what he has said his good reason is just as some live quarry shooters just see their guns as means to harvesting game or controlling vermin.

Then there are the others like me who enjoy guns for there own sake, their history, their manufacture, their calibres and how the perform, handloading for them and comparing and contrasting their performance and getting them to group well and consistently. They give me as much pleasure and interest when I am not shooting them as they do when I am shooting them, researching and making ammunition for them, those are my reasons to posses as competition holds no interest for me.

In the law and the guidance each approach is valid as is all points between, shooters are their own worst enemies when it comes to voluntarily imposing restriction on themselves.

There is no need for clubs to hold competitions and no need for shooters to compete unless they have chosen that as their reason to posses.

In my experience the competitive shot is in a minority and most of us are plinkers using targets as our mark, no law against that, yet.

[Hrun]

It is very hard to put everything that goes on in my head in a post, perhaps it was too short.

I have no issue with people not doing comps, many I know dont. And I do not consider myself very competitive.

When I first applied for my fac, I was told I had to show good reason. As I wanted several .22 and my club ran regular comps, it was an easy way to show good reason and I got everything I asked for. It has not come up as I am too new for a renewal, but all my fullbore variation have been granted without question using the same theory as good reason.

I mainly enter comps as my wife is competitive and likes to beat me, but also as if I am going to use a target as a point of aim it may as well have a comp sticker on it in case it comes up on renewal.

With my 7.62 Mauser, neither of my club ranges are certified so I justified it for long range at Millpool and approved. I could hardly ask for it as it was pretty and made a big bang (although I think this is good reason personally). I have just put a variation in for another .308 as I cannot scope the Mauser without ruining it, so have justified it as needed for long range competition. We shall see if I get it without question as before.

To me, the rules were put in place before I got into shooting, I am not going to change them anytime soon, so jump through whatever hoops are put in place so that I can enjoy my hobby.

Hope this makes sense rather than my quicker post.

[dromia]

If your good reason for having firearms is competitive shooting then that is what you should say, if your good reason is other than that then saying so is disingenuous to your self and firearms certification.

There are no rules in place that say you have to shoot competitions to get an FAC but if you say that is your good reason then it is reasonable for firearms certification departments to expect you to show evidence of this by having entered competitions.

One of my good reasons is target shooting and is reasonable for firearms certification departments to ask for evidence that I have attended the clubs/ranges shot at targets which my attendance sheets demonstrate but as competitions are not part of my good reason then I am not expected to show that I compete, you reap as you sow.

[Hrun]

I am new to shooting and not guilty of the state of shooting in the UK.. Forgive me for working within the current expectations of the rules. My club runs comps and the suggestion was if I can find a comp that requires the rifle I can have it. It has worked so far as I have got everything I want.

More importantly for me is my wife has a hobby she enjoys after she had to give up archery due to arthritis, and I love making a big bang..

I am not suggesting I am right, but it is an easy justification. When my renewal comes up next year, I will let you know if plod gives a damm.