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Am I correct in interpreting this as to say that a proprietor of a rifle range, with .22 rimfire weapons, does not need to hold a FAC?

Section 11(4) of the 1968 Firearms Act states:
A person conducting or carrying on a miniature rifle range (whether for a rifle club or otherwise) or shooting gallery at which no firearms are used other than air weapons or miniature rifles not exceeding .23 inch calibre may, without holding a certificate, have in his possession, or purchase or acquire, such miniature rifles and ammunition suitable therefor; and any person may, without holding a certificate, use any such rifle and ammunition at such a range or gallery.

I beleive this is how some ranges offer turn up and shoot packages for .22rf whereas a club would be resticted to (I think) 12 guest days a year.

http://www.double-deuce.org.uk/ lets people shoot without being members etc. and they even used to have a mobile .22 range that went to outdoor events etc.

Yip.
100% legit

The recent new indoor range near me also operates on this basis for anyone wanting to shoot .22 rifles.

It's true. I believe it's common for fairground operators to have no FAC for their gallery range rifles, albeit less common to see these days.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that it stemmed from our troops being rubbish at marksmanship during the Boar War. In an effort to foster a nation of decent shots gallery shooting was to be encouraged wherever possible in civilian life in the hope that the skills would cross over with recruits into military life. Believe it or not there was a time when guns meant family fun and loads of pubs and businesses had their own ranges.

I think it was something that just kind of carried on in legislation or wasn't repealed - like still being legally obliged to practice with longbows on a Sunday. Or shoot a Welshman within the confines of Coventry after midnight. That sort of thing.


Even today there are one or two pubs where you can shoot down a tunnel, through a steel plate with a hole, and strike a small bell. Somewhere in Bristol or Wilshire-ish there's one I think.

Bell target tends to be a Wolverhampton/Birmingham area pastime, or was.

Got a good book about it from Frank Spittle when I was at uni in the area.

saddler wrote:Bell target tends to be a Wolverhampton/Birmingham area pastime, or was.

Got a good book about it from Frank Spittle when I was at uni in the area.

I looked that up and it seems we are both right.

http://www.belltarget.com/

Imagine that eh? A Britain when shooting was as common as darts and the word 'shoot' didn't mean charge your underpants with the contents of your bowels upon hearing the word 'gun'. I wish I was born earlier in what was actually a free country.

Bell Target is alive and well, I shoot it regularly as do others in my club.

There are still leagues on the go as well, http://www.belltarget.com/leagues-list.php.

Unfortunately the prizes nowadays are medals and the like rather than mutton dinners.

The NSRA used to produce card Bell Targets which were handy if you didn't have the kit but in their usual desire to inhibit shooting they stopped doing them.

Frank Spittle used to have a Bell Target museum in Wolverhampton but it ceased to operate after his death, another sad loss to shooting. He was a staunch and proactive supporter of airgun shooting and used to have a shop that was always worth a visit.

As far as I know there is still an active Bell Target league around the Lincolnshire Wolds area.

dromia wrote:The NSRA ... in their usual desire to inhibit shooting they stopped doing them.

clapclap

I think 1066 Target Sports in Hastings also operate under that rule. Last time I encountered a mobile .22 range was at a military vehicle show, they had one built into a lorry trailer, guns were 10-22 and the S&W 15-22.

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