New laws coming?

[Christel]

It's complying with the law - it's not like a Volkswagen test cheat, where they only self-eject during testing - then go semi-auto in normal use is it?

good one Mikaveli

[Mikaveli]

Self ejecting rifles have been around for 100 years... (
https://www.invaluable.co.uk/auction-lo ... f503fe974d ).
Check out this bad boy from the 60's:

https://youtu.be/g1QkW6_ymlE

There's no invention / new tech in either the MARS rifle or the lever-release (just great engineering). Trigger-releases have been seen before (on quite a few machine guns).

...and as for "lever-release" that's not really an action - unless you want to count every straight-pull AR. They all allow the bolt to be held back, and they all have a bolt release lever that will chamber a new round.

"Lever-release" is really a marketing term for a self-ejecting, spring-assisted bolt-action. That's all they are. Whilst rare, it's nothing new (usually referred to as "auto-eject" rifles). Why they didn't stick around should be obvious. However, as there's now legislation that prevents the self-loading stage, here they are again.

[dromia]

Reason is wasted when the establishments attitude is that no one should have guns, gun owners are bad people and it is an us and them situation.

Meaningful intelligent discourse is not possible in such an environment where the other has no interest in listening to our "national" bodies pleading, who go to the table as supplicants not equals.

[breacher]

Self ejecting rifles have been around for 100 years... (
https://www.invaluable.co.uk/auction-lo ... f503fe974d ).
Check out this bad boy from the 60's:

https://youtu.be/g1QkW6_ymlE

There's no invention / new tech in either the MARS rifle or the lever-release (just great engineering). Trigger-releases have been seen before (on quite a few machine guns).

...and as for "lever-release" that's not really an action - unless you want to count every straight-pull AR. They all allow the bolt to be held back, and they all have a bolt release lever that will chamber a new round.

"Lever-release" is really a marketing term for a self-ejecting, spring-assisted bolt-action. That's all they are. Whilst rare, it's nothing new (usually referred to as "auto-eject" rifles). Why they didn't stick around should be obvious. However, as there's now legislation that prevents the self-loading stage, here they are again.

Good points.

However as I said, I believe they see us as pushing boundaries. And they see mars / lever release as attempts to achieve semi auto rates of fire. And they see assisted opening knives as an attempt at flick knives by another name.

As we know, those who draft the laws are woefully ill-informed. I bet they were unaware of those historical self ejecting rifles when writing the 1988 legislation.

I dont agree with their reasoning but I can see it for what it is. They see themselves as tightening up what THEY see as loopholes.

On the subject of .50cal - does anybody know of any Boyes .55 anti-tank rifle held on FAC for target shooting ?

[Mikaveli]

On the subject of .50cal - does anybody know of any Boyes .55 anti-tank rifle held on FAC for target shooting ?

If there is, it makes a mockery of the 50 cal ban (according to gun-Jesus, .55 Boys was designed because .50 BMG lacked enough penetration).

Over 10,000 ft/lbs though, so you can't have one as a club gun

[Laurie]

I saw a Boyes in range use at a gun club maybe 20 years ago. It had been rechambered to .50 Spotting though and the cartridges downloaded to meet the MoD ME ceiling of the time, that and an MV limit being the only restrictions in use at the time. The bullets and powder came from pulled .50 BMG rounds and the bullets shot on that occasion were all tracer with huge orange traces, the still burning pellets ejected in some cases well over 100 ft into the sky after hitting the backstop - just as well it had been raining for days and the surrounding woodland was saturated otherwise there would probably been a forest fire! I still have a recovered 750gn bullet somewhere.

An illustration of how much the cartridge was downrated from what the rifle was intended for was that the anti-recoil spring loaded join between the receiver and stock saw little or no movement - which was just as well as a riflescope had been fitted and if the barrel / receiver assembly had been allowed to recoil at all, the user would have had one helluva 'scope bite'. There was also a huge muzzle brake whose design was apparently taken from some larger calibre weapon and downsized. (I was told the rifle had been modified and been previously owned by a Royal Ordnance Factory engineer.)

The whole thing was so long that the user (an RFD who'd taken it in part-exchange and sold it on after firing the few cartridge supplied with the rifle) had to transport it with the barrel removed and assemble it / setting headspace and locking the barrel up a la Savage on the firing point.

A mighty beast indeed, but quite tame in this form - the original .55 would have been rather different and 'exciting' I'm sure

[Mikaveli]

Looks like lever-release rifles are back in scope :(

UKPSA / BSSC are reporting that the Home Office views them as one and the same.

[breacher]

Looks like lever-release rifles are back in scope :(

UKPSA / BSSC are reporting that the Home Office views them as one and the same.

Do you have a source or link ?

[TattooedGun]

Looks like lever-release rifles are back in scope :(

UKPSA / BSSC are reporting that the Home Office views them as one and the same.

Do you have a source or link ?

This was posted on the UKPSA Site by a Gary Dyer

With the latest attack on shooting sports in the UK from the Government with the proposal to ban .50 cal rifles and lever release/MARS rifles, the UKPSA P.R.O. who is Adam Rowsell, has a meeting planned with The Home Secretary Amber Rudd for next Saturday. This is additional to his continued work with BSSC on behalf of the UKPSA. He has sent this message for all to read;
The unification of shooting bodies through BSSC is very important in approaching challenging and politically fuelled differences in attitude towards lawful firearms ownership. We need at all times to remain reasoned and positive. Our best hope of improving public safety is to work with our government to help them realise the error in any misguided approach to persuing more draconian restrictions.
We must emphasis the safeguards that already exist and the lack of benefit to alienating voters who have a justified reason and lawful authority for owning firearms. BSSC has succeeded in strengthening communication and cooperation between all shooting interest groups, and also in strengthening relations with the government, home office and police. The initial outlook from the recent home office publication is that together all shooting groups see the suggested measures as incapable of yielding improvements to public safety. It is also felt strongly that this is an unacceptable line, which if crossed, could lead to further unnecessary losses of freedoms for legitimate, responsible shooters. Significant losses that will be certain to yield no benefit to the public.
It is very important at this stage to separate the complicated issue if managing risks associated with lawful firearms ownership, from a need to reduce an apparent increase in criminality involving street violence. The evidence available at this time is clear and these issues remain separate and unrelated. None of the types of firearms referred to in the home office statement have been involved in any incident warranting their prohibition or further restriction.
Public fears can often be misguided and badly informed. We can only work with the facts to dispel the myths and reconcile irrational fear where possible. We are also keen to avoid jumping to any conclusions at this stage. By sitting down and being prepared to work closely with the government through discussion of this issue, we hope we will have the best chance of understanding it better, and avoiding any catastrophe that could result from poorly considered government initiatives.
We will try to keep the membership updated of the developments as and when we know more. We would like to assure everyone that work on this, as well as many other important issues occurs continually. The subject of lawful firearms ownership is constantly under attack. Sadly, misguided and oversimplified attempts to damage, restrict or prohibit ownership by civilians are not that uncommon. Fundamental parts of our historic culture and freedom are at risk, but we remain calm and continue to pursue what is fair, well reasoned and just. Without any reasonable proof that public safety will improve as a result we simply cannot accept a relentless apatite to disarm the public for the sake of misplaced fear.
We will work hard during the meeting to demonstrate that the lawful means to allow the safe and responsible use of firearms requires preservation, and we hope that Amber Rudd can be sympathetic to our plight. Amber has made at least one visit to a local shooting club in Sussex and even had a try at shooting. She remarked that she enjoyed her visit at the time and so I am optimistic she may be open to taking on board our views.

This may be the source.

[Sim G]

Have the BASC not had their meeting already and had clarification, hence their statements? There's the UKPSA promoting BSSC, but they already appear behind the curve....?