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

I recently moved to a new area so I had to send in my FAC to have the address changed. At the same time I sent in a variation for a few new firearms. Included in that variation was another .22 rifle and an increase on my .22 ammunition held to 1500 rounds from 1000, because I'll obviously have an extra rifle in that caliber and I'll be shooting practical mini rifle with it, so I'll be going through a decent amount of ammunition. I spoke to the FEO about the variation and he was happy enough with everything I'd asked for, including the ammunition increase, so happy days I should get everything back shortly.

This morning it arrived in the post and all the new slots are on there but my ammunition allocation for .22 has been reduced to 600 rounds! Now this leaves me with bit of an issue because as my previous allocation was 1000 rounds I'm currently holding close to that number. Where does this leave me legally speaking, as through no fault of my own I'm now over the maximum amount to hold? Should I just shoot off the excess tomorrow in order to keep myself covered until this is sorted?

Obviously I'm going to call about it on Monday morning and try to get it sorted, but I may have some issues with that as my FEO told me when I last spoke to him that he was due to leave the job soon, so I may have to deal with someone new.

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Clearly a Police c@ck up!

1) Immediately get the surplus .22rf signed into a friendly rfd or somebody who has space on their ticket for that calibre and room for it spare - really do that RIGHT NOW as you are in breach of your conditions regardless of Plods mistake!!!

2) Then contact local licensing office and calmly explain the MISTAKE they have made. Make it clear politely but firmly that you had been authorised 1000 on your old ticket and the variation that the FEO agreed with was for 1500. Having experienced a similar mistake in the past* they will ask for the ticket back with a covering letter explaining the situation.

This does happen on occasion, the priority is making sure you are on the right side of the law regardless of how much they are in the wrong. Whatever you do don't phone them and say "The ticket is wrong it has 600 on it but I have 900 in the cab!

*On a house move they changed one of my slots from 7.62x51/.308 to just .308. Luckily I hadn't filled that slot yet and they sorted it quickly.

This kind of thing happens, but is easily fixed.
I had a variation put in for where a Sec 1 shotgun could be used, and the quota of slugs for that gun.
The variation came back with the limitations on the shotgun removed and the slugs put on the FAC, but the Sec 1 shotgun itself was off the ticket!
FET fixed it pretty fast.

A couple of replies from folk that haven't experienced this happen on moving to Scotland. ....and NOT due to "admin. errors" or "genuine mistakes"

Mate in the club moved up from England.
They changed his address " issued a new FAC. Massive drop to his ammo holdings across the board, PLUS his shotgun ammo removed entirely!! Took him months of grief to have his rifled slug slot restored.....and even then that was at a third of his previous holding qty.

So yes, "mistakes" do happen. You'd think the government would make life easier by only having one set of national gun laws to allow for standardisation & uniformity!

'Targets' are often the problem. Cheif Constable wants this that and the other. Often a reduction in FACs / Firearms / Ammo. Don't let it be you that is the 'Easy Victim' I had to haggle over a few of my limits but explaing the difference between 9mm Browning Long and 9mm Pb got my 9mm ammo back to where it was. Same for .455 for revolvers and .455 for autos.

Its about time the shooters infiltrated the firearms licencing offices and started acommodating sensible requests.

" Do you really need 24 firearms and 20,000 rounds on your initial grant?" Yes I do...... "OK, thats fine then sir, I'll pop it in the post now"

Already been tried, back then as soon as it was discovered the applicant had a certificate their application went straight in the bin. Supposedly changed recently...

Right so I called today but didn't get much help. I explained what had happened, that I'd had a variation and change of address done and had agreed with the FEO an increase of my .22 ammunition held to 1500 rounds. As I'd thought, my FEO has now left the job so they weren't able to verify this with him. Essentially the response I got was "Oh well 600 is the standard amount we allow". I explained that this was actually a reduction from what I already had, and in decreasing it with no warning they put me in a very awkward position where I could have breached my conditions through no fault of my own.

I was told I'd need to write a letter to the firearms licensing manager to have it looked into and that I should send in my certificate. I was given no timescale on how long it would take or even if it would be sorted at all. Seeing as I've just gotten my FAC back I really don't want to have to send it in and wait for ages to have it corrected. Should I just write a letter and see what response I get before sending it in? Any other ideas?

I would write the letter, formally, include a copy of your certificate as it stands (and again as it was before if you have a copy to explain the situation) with a note suggesting that the FAC is in use and with no turnaround suggested or agreed you cannot be without it, but will surrender it when absolutely required. or words to that effect.

Gazza wrote:"OK, that's fine then sir, I'll pop it in the post now"

Now ... :) Wouldn't THAT be a coup!