.30 cal for deer in the UK

[Gerald89]

Hello,

I am just doing my renewal on my firearms certificate in England.

I want to put a .30cal on it for deer probably .308win.

Have any of the brits got experience of this?

The BASC advise that .30cals are acceptable/easy to be granted for Scotland but my .243win is quite enough for UK!

I was advised to show evidence of a scottish booked stalk rather that trying to push for .308 and .243 on my land down here.

What do you think?

thanks Jeza

 

[Brown Dog]

Jeza,

Depends -as always- on the mood of your firearms licensing staff.

BASC always seem to take an extraordinarily weak line on this (ie only an idiot can seriously contend that a 308 is 'more dangerous' than a 243...they are both potentially lethal, they both have range danger templates so close as to be considered identical....they are equally 'dangerous').

Personally..and I've only got experience of N Yorks and Wiltshire licensing....I would be stunned if just applying for a 308 for whatever 'good reason' you have at the moment plus the statement 'and for large deer' were not all you need.

..no 'proofs' of Scottish bookings should even enter the equation.

I got 300win mag for the statement 'and the larger deer species' and 9.3mm for the statement 'for african plains game and the larger deer species'.......no 'proofs' required; but 'good reason' established.

..apply for the variation and see what plod say!

 

[Gerald89]

Thanks for that brown dog, that's a bit more encouraging.

I will give it a go.

Jeza

 

[Centre Punch]

Jeza,
My mate has got a 308 scout for his stalking and its also down for vermin control, he is with Warks.
I have a 270 down for stalking even though i do not have any access to any land, i think 270 is the most well balanced calibre for all species of dear.
If i were only going for the the larger species i would ask for a 30-06.
You should have no problem getting a 308 for dear.

Ian.

 

[Brown Dog]

That reminds me, didn't mention that my 308 is 'deer and fox' ...and tgt shooting!

 

[Gerald89]

Oh no now I have lots of ideas floating around in my head!
New barrel for awp could do all?
Keep 6mm awp for fox and small deer?
New rifle in 300 wsm? for large deer/target (Am going to join the fcsa and have a go a some LR target shooting)


Decisions! decisions!

Thanks for the info

 

[Brown Dog]

Jeza,
By coincidence I just applied to join the NRA (the UK one!) in order to have a go at F-Class at Bisley.
...They have an 'NRA club' that meets twice a month...thought I'd give it a go....NRA are running a £30 membership promotion at the moment too!

...and it's easier to get to than Sennybridge....particularly from your location!

(had a quick look at the FCSA UK site ...and the Offa's Dyke lot.....looks good, but I get put off when I see pics of civvies target shooting in full combats ....one individual even has puttees on. ....I find something just not 'right' when I see rotund civvy target shooters dressing-up as soldiers...just my opinion!)

 

[leslie naylor]

Jeza

Inquire about the Range Officer Association they shoot some interesting stuff at Thetford that would help with the larger calibers usage.

Brown Dog

Enquire if the Artist Rifle Club is still alive at Bisley a lot of interesting chaps who now shoot civvy F class !

 

[Gerald89]

Aficionado, thanks for that I will look them up.

Thetford was what got me interested in the fcsa. I have since found out that they have stopped shooting there due to some problems with .50cal and .338 getting on.

Brown Dog

I am with you on the combat thing!

Yes bisley makes big sense it is 100ish miles verses 200 miles from me!
I have it in the back of my mind that the basc is linked to the nra in some way allowing members to us ranges?
I will check up.

 

[leslie naylor]

Jeza

Thetford had a 600 yard gallery range then range days on the MOD ranges which were multiple self righting targets at all distances.You have to range distances you self.

You could book a range day at Bisley through the NRA on centurary {600yds}which was one target and marked for you.
Orrrrrrrrrr The Artists.
Loads of real history,Lots of real memorability.Great bunch of blokes.
Two different range targets one a.m and one p.m every wednesday.And one Sunday every month the same as before.
i.e 300&900/300&600 etc
If you join you would get all dates for the year with your membership,so your wife cant say you sprung that one on her
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[stag]

Hi Jeza,
I would suggest that you make your local Firearms Enquiry Officer aware that you want your .308 for stalking local Red Deer,
also advise him on the weight of the local deer, as opposed to the weight of Scottish beasts, I've personally shot Norfolk deer that have exceeded 375lbs gralloched out(hide on). A farmer friend ran into exactly the same situation as you, he was having problems with Reds but failed to mention
this on his application, FEO assumed he wanted to shoot roe
and turned down his application for a 308, one phonecall
explaining the weight difference, roe buck clean 45lbs ave.
and everyone was happy!

 

[A Papworth]

I have a 308 as my only deer legal calibre and use it almost weekly on muntjac (live weights of these average 10 to 12 kg's with the largest recorded at 21.6Kg's)and also on fallow and roe. I used to use a .243 and have many friends that do, but there are situations when a poorly shot deer with a .243 will move a considerable distance before dieing and with them being so small can be difficult to find. I know one answer is to hit it in the right place to start with but I also know that none of my deer are any deader for using a larger calibre but they also don't move after being hit properly. My 308 zeroed with 150 grain bullets is usable on any deer in Britian and due to using one rifle alot I have full confidence it and my abilities. The idea that you have to own a different rifle for large and small deer is tosh. I told my Firearms Enquiry Officer many years ago that to be in front of either calibre is catastrophic and a member of the general public is very unlikely to notice a difference. Both need a backstop and for the rifleman to behave in a safe manner. The reason I only have one calibre at present is that the 308 has worked so well that I couldn't justify to myself buying anything else.

 

[Gerald89]

Thanks for the advise!

I am about to meet with him in the next week or so.

My case is strong now backed up with your arguments, I will let you no the result.

Jeza

 

[Gerald89]

Well at last, into the eighth week of waiting and my certificate is back!
It has 300 Mag on it so I guess I can still choose exactly which one.
I have just put it down for target use for now.

I have got my stalking ground sorted out but still need letters from land owners.

When I finally get them sorted it is a simple change on the certificate.

One of the things I also asked for on the new cert was a new barrel for my .243 but there is no mention of it?

Surly they have to say one way or the other not just ignore it.

Oh well back on the phone it is then.

Jeza