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

Hi,


Dont know if this is the right place for this sort of question, but I have been wondering for a while: Are there more Target Shooters (FAC weapons - not Low-powered Airguns) or more Deer Stalkers/ Pest Controllers etc in the UK. A large discrepancy may explain the support levels for recent pro-pistols petitions (not to suggest deer stalkers etc wouldnt sign, but probably less likely to do so that a target shooter I.M.H.O), for example. I have googled and Can't find any figures for this, just overall FAC figures. (According to the Guardian, in England and Wales There were 141,775 firearm certificates on issue on 31 March 2010.)
Anyone got any ideas for the breakdown of what form of shooting is most common?
Just a thought.

I do know that deer stalkers and a couple of vermin shooters who frequented my local shop used to look down their noses at target shooters. The manager sent one of them packing one day when he was sneering at "why would anyone want one of those?" refering to the shelf of "Tacticool Rimfires". The shop owner told him in no uncertain terms that there was no way he would ever have stayed in business if it was for the one rifle and scope he'd bought in the previous 20 years or the forty rounds of ammo he bought per season....

BASC has more members than NRA.

Mmm...
Strange logic in parts.

I know that the use of pistols NOW among deer stalkers is not uncommon.
How many target pistols are in use by comparison?

The illogical situation in mainland UK is it's deemed to a valid reason to want a pistol for shooting injured deer, but not for shooting at bits of paper...

I target shoot ... And hunt !

I target shoot, shoot deer, fox and vermin, and shoot shotguns for vermin, game, clays and practical shotgun. If it is shootable, I'll shoot it :shakeshout:

I target shoot and I stalk.

saddler wrote: I know that the use of pistols NOW among deer stalkers is not uncommon.
How many target pistols are in use by comparison?

The illogical situation in mainland UK is it's deemed to a valid reason to want a pistol for shooting injured deer, but not for shooting at bits of paper...

There are quite a few stalkers try this one on the Police, but very few actually get the paperwork and thus the pistol.

I've never come across one, but I have come across one who tried to get the authorisation, failed and took it all the way to the House of Lords and still failed.

I was at Catton park today at Catton Rifle sport (Even caught a climpse of an elusive Badger! With some nice wooden toys?) There were probably 100 or so shooters there, I would say the majority were stalkers and or in to pest/vermin control and yet we spent the day shooting 'targets' , ok, so these ranged from paper, animal shapes, clay pigeons, spuds, onions, gongs and other metal reactive targets out to 400yds. Oh and golf balls, although the 'pawed' one found these challenging with his mad minute!

A lot of these guys also shoot 'targets' on a regular basis, but I would suggest there are more FAC holders shooting targets than quarry.

Mike

DW58 wrote:

saddler wrote: I know that the use of pistols NOW among deer stalkers is not uncommon.
How many target pistols are in use by comparison?

The illogical situation in mainland UK is it's deemed to a valid reason to want a pistol for shooting injured deer, but not for shooting at bits of paper...

There are quite a few stalkers try this one on the Police, but very few actually get the paperwork and thus the pistol.

I've never come across one, but I have come across one who tried to get the authorisation, failed and took it all the way to the House of Lords and still failed.

conversly, I know at least one stalker that has one, and am aware of several more that have pistols (although those I haven't personally seen) as to using a pistol for humane despatch, there are times when a centre fire rifle is not suitable, neither is a knife, and who has the pocketspace for a .410 shotgun when stalking?