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Pete wrote:Single shot with a long barrel's fine for me............

Pete

Whilst I can agree, I also like my underlever and 10/22. Back to my earlier point, I would like a 44 Mag underlever, however, need an update on my FAC for the rifle and moderator sold - a maximum number to posses would be a better option.

Lots of people commenting on this post saying that they have no interest in semi auto full bore pistols, do you not remember the fun of shooting a UKPSA practical course of fire in competition? Whilst I wouldn't want to give up anything that we have now, I personally would love to get the handguns back. As for the central armoury discussion if we can be 'trusted' with what we have now at home then why should that change with handguns.
Just my 2pence worth.

My preference for single shot with a long barrel only applies to rifles..............I'd be quite happy to have my Browning 9mm Hi-Power and DES 69 .22 semi's again............

Pete

Surely the main use of those types of guns would be for practical/'action' type shooting? If you don't do that now with what can already own I can't see much of the current generation (outside of the practical community) putting up with more restrictions to get it for others (lets face it). The NEXT generation however.... Practical shooting is one of the, if not THE fastest growing sector of shooting in this country and that's from an influx of sub 30 year olds taking it up, if there were more options available, especially fullbore handguns I'm sure we'd be over pre-97 levels already. Pistol calibre carbines would be extremely popular too, however given the lack of suitable ranges fullbore rifle cartridge guns might struggle.

Geek wrote:For me it would depend which political party, one or two (probably even more) I would not support irrespective of their views on shooting (Labour, Lib Dems, Green party, etc,).

Yep, that goes for me too, hence I went for the "serious consideration" option.

While I love Pistol shooting, (handed in 7 pistols in 1997, and go to the US to shoot pistols whenever I can afford it), Some things would just make it not worth it..

And the sort of fees/restrictions suggested by MistAgain would be one of those things...!

Blackstuff wrote:Surely the main use of those types of guns would be for practical/'action' type shooting?

Don't see why, at least not for handguns, we don't make that argument regarding rifles - both small-bore and full-bore rifles are regarded as suitable for non-running-about target shooting, so why not pistols? When I had my Hi-Power, I was perfectly content with a target that didn't move about, and me standing still trying to make holes in it in the right place.

If you don't do that now with what can already own I can't see much of the current generation (outside of the practical community) putting up with more restrictions to get it for others (lets face it).

I envisaged this hypothetical regime as an addition/extension, not a replacement for what we have now, i.e. a way for people to get slots for what are S5 weapons, although that's a bit broad-brush, there'd need to be some splitting up of that section; can't see many "leisure pursuit" applications for CS sprays or Tasers, for example. I never intended it to be seen as something to be introduced that would make it harder to get S1/S2 guns as part of that.

The NEXT generation however.... Practical shooting is one of the, if not THE fastest growing sector of shooting in this country and that's from an influx of sub 30 year olds taking it up,

Do you think that's due to some sort of "progression" from paint-balling and airsoft?

TRG-22 wrote: Do you think that's due to some sort of "progression" from paint-balling and airsoft?

In some ways, but I think it's mainly due to social media coverage, one of the first things most people, including other shooters, say is "I didn't realise we could do that here!"

Strangely though there is an entire airsoft handgun section within the practical scene to offer pistol shooting but alternate to LBP's/LBR's, and there has been limited leach over into mini-rifle/shotgun. I think cost is the main prohibitive factor to be honest. Fuelled by the fact that younger generations have been taught that they can literally be the best of absolutely anything without having to slog for it/start at the bottom/with anything but the very best kit.

In 1980, I travelled 150 miles to take part ina practical competition. We were on the range for 9 hours. On the way home in the car, I worked out that I had actually been shooting for two and a half minutes. I gave up practical and concentrated on classics and the police pistol competitions. Today, I would settle quite contentedly for a pistol, single shot or repeater, to shoot precision events.
I never met a shooter who could shoot well quickly who could not shoot well slowly.
Fred

There are enough hurdles for FAC holders to jump so having more just to have our old handguns back is not an option I would choose. I have a black powder .44 revolver that I use for target and cowboy action shooting, yes it is a pain cleaning it but I can shoot it each week.
I also have a Morini ‘free pistol’ .22 rim fire that i shoot at 50 and 25 meters and a Steyr air pistol for practice in my garden at 10 meters so I use the options that are available in the U.K. to get my pistol shooting fix and enjoy myself.

stuarta wrote:There are enough hurdles for FAC holders to jump so having more just to have our old handguns back is not an option I would choose.

TRG-22 wrote:I envisaged this hypothetical regime as an addition/extension, not a replacement for what we have now, i.e. a way for people to get slots for [handguns]

Everybody would be free to carry on with the existing regime for the existing classes of firearms. It would not be compulsory for anybody to go in for extra vetting to be allowed to acquire firearms which they didn't want to acquire.