The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Sixshot6 wrote:

daman wrote:My grandmother gave me her Jefferys shotgun - it was later destroyed/stolen by the Gardaí Síochána. I'm still bitter over a decade later.

From what I've heard the Gardai make most British police forces look like Paragons of efficiency and ultra competence in firearms licensing and at times we're lucky to have that. Strange world we live in.

Tbh, the Gardaí are probably the most institutionally anti-gun police force I have ever come across, while still employing lots of shooters.

We (my Dad and I) had a very nice composed pair of Jefferys. As I had emigrated they were both on my Dad's ticket. When he and my mum split, he moved to Canada. One month after his ticket expired my Mum got a visit saying she was holding "illegal firearms". She (being the most law abiding person ever) surrendered them immediately. I was back in Ireland a week later and went to the station to see what I could do about recovering the shotguns. I was told in no uncertain terms they had been immediately destroyed.

A few months later I got a call from an old school mate who reckons he saw an off duty Garda with them at a pheasant shoot.

Ireland sucks sometimes.

dodgyrog wrote:which should see me 'til the end of my shooting days

You're only shooting as far as next Friday morning?

I've still got my first live-fire rifle...An Anschutz 54 that my dad bought me when I was 15 (30 years ago) - I used to shoot a lot of 10-bull, but these days shoot Mini-McQueen and Long Range Rim-fire with her...
I've no idea how many rounds I've shot with this rifle, but I've never tiered of shooting it and doubt I ever will

daman wrote:

Sixshot6 wrote:

daman wrote:My grandmother gave me her Jefferys shotgun - it was later destroyed/stolen by the Gardaí Síochána. I'm still bitter over a decade later.

From what I've heard the Gardai make most British police forces look like Paragons of efficiency and ultra competence in firearms licensing and at times we're lucky to have that. Strange world we live in.

Tbh, the Gardaí are probably the most institutionally anti-gun police force I have ever come across, while still employing lots of shooters.

We (my Dad and I) had a very nice composed pair of Jefferys. As I had emigrated they were both on my Dad's ticket. When he and my mum split, he moved to Canada. One month after his ticket expired my Mum got a visit saying she was holding "illegal firearms". She (being the most law abiding person ever) surrendered them immediately. I was back in Ireland a week later and went to the station to see what I could do about recovering the shotguns. I was told in no uncertain terms they had been immediately destroyed.

A few months later I got a call from an old school mate who reckons he saw an off duty Garda with them at a pheasant shoot.

Ireland sucks sometimes.

You have my deepest sympathies, I would not be surprised that essentially what should have been yours was stolen from you. I'm sad to say your mum was foolish for handing them in, should have gone to a dealer instead. But some people foolish think that the police is the answer everytime, it wasn't until I said something when a neighbour died that we showed his wife and son that his shotgun could be sold. The son just wanted to hand it over to police who would have destroyed it. I have a saying that we should save every gun we can.

Two bought on the same day, the day my first FAC arrived:

Smith & Wesson .44 6" Classic Deluxe, new
Walther .22LR GSP, 2nd-hand.

I still miss them (and the others unfairly taken from us).

On the bright side, I enjoy shooting and competing with the odd little item or two I picked up with the compensation!

Ivor Johnson M1 Carbine

soon followed by a .22 Colt Diamondback

The theme's torn between still have it and loved and lost. Very varied responses.

Keeping up the Gardaí theme - The Guard is just starting on Channel 4 - best film about Ireland's finest.

I got my first gun transferred onto my ticket this week from my dad.

It was bought for me when I was 9. a Silma 20 bore O/U that I learnt to shoot on. Likewise had my Beretta Xtrema 2 transferred onto my ticket, 2nd gun bought for me for my 18th birthday.

The first I bought for myself was my Anschutz 2213 Target rifle, some 4 years or so ago, when i got my first FAC.

Never sold a firearm. a trait I picked up off my dad... >.<

Will probably sell my HK416 later this year though to help fund something new from lantac :)

I still have my first live fire firearm, my Walther G22, even though it hasn't worked for awhile now I'm loathed to let it go and holding onto it till I can bodge a repair that needs to be made.

I have only ever sold 3 guns, 2 deacts namely my 1911A1 and an SMLE that I got before I had an FAC and one shotgun I bought on a whim. My main surplus collection will not be sold.