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Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:37 am
by Brian838
If ever comes to me having to hand in my MARS, the last thing I want is for it to end up on the front page of a tabloid with the headline "police confiscate terrifying military weaponry".
My plan is to strip off the butt stock, pistol grip, hand guard etc. (which I will put on the straight pull version I plan to buy) and just leave the serial numbered body. I will then spray paint what's left BRIGHT SHOCKING PINK! and then hand it over to the police.
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:38 am
by Brian838
Blackstuff wrote:Well now at least we seem to know what we're dealing with. (I bet Bob at SGC is secretly grinding his teeth that his rifles action has been dismissed as not 'fast firing' though
)
Once the consultation starts its time to start bombarding them!
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:05 am
by bradaz11
James048 wrote:Here's what I sent.
Dear Mrs Maria Miller,
I am contacting you regarding the upcoming consultation on offensive weapons as announced by the Home Secretary, Ambur Rudd which includes the moving of .50 calibre and certain rapid firing rifles from Section 1 to Section 5 'prohibited' firearms. They are termed as 'dangerous firearms' within the initial announcement.
I fully appreciate and understand the other areas of this consultation (restricting open sales of acids and online sales of knives) due to their usage in recent crimes within the UK, however I am concerned as to the reasoning behind the reclassification of two legal, Section 1 types of firearm being moved when there has to date not been a single crime committed in the UK with either.
-snip-
The outcome I am seeking from this correspondence is that you consider the above points and the fact that there will be no benefit to public safety by prohibiting these two types of firearms. The UK shooting community consists of upstanding and law abiding citizens who use these firearms to challenge themselves as a sport, be it using a .50 for long range or a MARS rifle for shorter range target shooting. I ask that if you have any visibility of the proposed consultation and/or the thinking behind it that you air the idea that perhaps this minority of responsible sportsmen and women should not be punished for enjoying a hobby with firearms that are deemed by a few to be unsuitable for a licensed, vetted and competent individual to own and use on approved sites within the UK.
Yours sincerely,
good letter, but not sure I agree with the acceptance that banning online knife sales is also helpful. companies like heinnies make a lot of effort to ensure you are 18+
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:12 am
by HH1
I would imagine as part of the consultation, a definition needs to be established as to what constitutes a "Rapid Firing Rifle".
There are videos out there of people rapidly shooting off 10 rounds from old Lee Enfield Rifles.
But if we take a modern .22rf semi-auto as the baseline, then a MARS system rifle can at best only achieve 1/2 the speed, deduct a little more for the cycling time of a much larger round. With the MARS system the shooters hand and trigger finger can stay in the same place until the magazine is empty.
Firing speed of the SGC lever release rifle depends quite a bit upon the person shooting the rifle. Factors such as handgrip style / size, version of lever fitted and finger length are all going to play a part.... I personally listen for the specific "thud" of the bolt flying forward and chambering a round before pulling the trigger as I find that sometimes when using a brass catcher, an empty case can bounce back and jam the action.
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:16 am
by Mikaveli
HH1 wrote:I would imagine as part of the consultation, a definition needs to be established as to what constitutes a "Rapid Firing Rifle".
BASC have met with the Home Office and confirmed that this consultation specifically relates to MARS-based actions (where they refer to rapid-firing). No other rifle types are being targeted, other than .50 calibre (but not for its rate of fire).
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:37 am
by Blackstuff
Brian838 wrote:
If ever comes to me having to hand in my MARS, the last thing I want is for it to end up on the front page of a tabloid with the headline "police confiscate terrifying military weaponry".
My plan is to strip off the butt stock, pistol grip, hand guard etc. (which I will put on the straight pull version I plan to buy) and just leave the serial numbered body. I will then spray paint what's left BRIGHT SHOCKING PINK! and then hand it over to the police.
Its funny you should mention that because I was just wondering what exactly constitutes the firearm when you're handing it in? Presumably only the licensable parts? If so you can pretty well strip the VZ58 of everything other than the receiver, barrel and bolt.
To remove;
Stock (Providing you haven't chopped the barrel)
Handguards
Receiver cover with recoil springs
Bolt Carrier
Striker assembly
Piston
Piston Spring
Pistol grip
Trigger group
Front and rear sights
Muzzle brake/thread protector
Side accessory rail
Magazine catch and components
If it comes to having to hand them in and there isn't 100% compensation paid I think mine will be getting covered in something a lot more pungent/staining than paint
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:43 am
by bradaz11
bin the barrel, add a new one without gas hole, then you have a straightpull? do it before they become sec 5 and theres no once sec 5 always bla bla...
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:44 am
by Dellboy
Mikaveli wrote:HH1 wrote:I would imagine as part of the consultation, a definition needs to be established as to what constitutes a "Rapid Firing Rifle".
BASC have met with the Home Office and confirmed that this consultation specifically relates to MARS-based actions (where they refer to rapid-firing). No other rifle types are being targeted, other than .50 calibre (but not for its rate of fire).
Yet
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:54 am
by Dark Skies
bradaz11 wrote:
good letter, but not sure I agree with the acceptance that banning online knife sales is also helpful. companies like heinnies make a lot of effort to ensure you are 18+
No, I don't agree with anything to do with banning selling legal objects on-line either.
I don't often have cause to buy a knife but when I do I don't want to have to drive for miles to collect a simple tool.
Furthermore once they get the idea that banning on-line sales of legal tools and accessories fools the average citizen into thinking something meaningful has been done they may just look at reloading equipment and related expendables.
Living in the South I don't much care for the idea of either having to drive to up Henry Krank or pay unreasonable fees to an RFD every time I want a bullet mould or set of dies.
In my experience letters should be concise and to the point.
The recipient gets hundreds of letters a day - they're skim-reading from the get go.
Write your letter in a manner so that isn't necessary.
Address the subject in hand and tell them why their stance is wrong - with brief citations to support your case.
DO NOT get personal.
DO NOT support or suggest other items they could thrown under the bus instead.
Aside from giving notice that you're open to some sacrifices it provides the perfect excuse to ignore half your letter and focus on the distraction.
Re: New laws coming?
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 11:10 am
by Gazza
Brian838 wrote:
If ever comes to me having to hand in my MARS, the last thing I want is for it to end up on the front page of a tabloid with the headline "police confiscate terrifying military weaponry".
My plan is to strip off the butt stock, pistol grip, hand guard etc. (which I will put on the straight pull version I plan to buy) and just leave the serial numbered body. I will then spray paint what's left BRIGHT SHOCKING PINK! and then hand it over to the police.
Dont forget to poo down the barrel too