Paradise Regained

[perry owens]

Finally reunited with all my guns nearly 6 months after moving back to the UK, Thanks to Mike Nehs of ETSS in Colorado, who generously stored them free of charge while I got my licencees and them Fedexed them to my local airport.
A sunny, crisp autumn day in Kent County was the backdrop to my first day at my club's CAS range where we assembled for a practice shoot.

Our little CAS range deep in the woods. English CAS targets tend to be smaller and further away than SASS ones.

Two Old Armys, a coach gun, two 1873s and an 1897 roared, boomed and cracked all day and never missed a beat:-


The 120 year old 1873 cleared all the rifle stages for me.

Then home to a home-made beef and ale pie followed by apple pie with apples from our own garden.
Next time it's the turn of the bigger boomers, the Sniders, Werndl, Martini-Henry and the 1886's, then later in the year off to Bisley to test out the Shiloh Sharps.

I had such a great day with old friends that I almost forgot the hoops I had to jump through to get here:-


Firearm Certificate
Shotgun Certificate
Licence to acquire black powder
Licence to transport black powder
Regulation Black powder storage box.

Perry Owens

[Ben_Rumson]

Looking good! Glad for you

[Old Savage]

Very good - glad that worked out for you.

[TedH]

[gamekeeper]

Great to see that 120 year old 73 making smoke. I saw one for sale at Bisley yesterday in 32/20 but the price was about £2000.

[Nath]

What is the shotgun there in the picture?
Glad you had fun

Nath

[perry owens]

What is the shotgun there in the picture?

It's a Stoeger Coach Gun.They are made by Amantino in Brazil and are good solid low-cost($350-400) guns for CAS. They have screw-in chokes, 3in chambers and most have 20in barrels. Since I shoot all black powder I opted for the 24in barrels to cut down on the flame.
Perry Owens

[rjohns94]

I am glad you have been reunited with your firearms. well wishes. keep those range reports coming

[Ysabel Kid]

I am glad you have been reunited with your firearms. well wishes. keep those range reports coming

+1

Question though - I thought you very VERY limited to the total number of firearms you could own in the UK. Am I mistaken?

[perry owens]

Question though - I thought you very VERY limited to the total number of firearms you could own in the UK. Am I mistaken?

The law does not limit the number of firearms you can have so long as you have "good reason" for having them. Since I shoot CAS,long range black powder and sillhoutte and am also writing a book on early military breechloaders I have plenty of good reasons. I also belong to clubs that practice these disciplines, another requirement.
Unfortunately the interpretation of the law is left to individual area chief constables so official policy becomes subject to local predudice, as I am sure Nath and GK will agree. I live in the London South area and the firearms department is reasonable. They have endorsed my home security arrangements as suitable for up to 15 guns but if I link my burglar alarm to the police station they will increase that to 30. In neighbouring Kent County they are trying to limit new applicants to 3 guns. We are fighting this on the basis that we are a CAS club and you have to have more than 3 guns to compete.

Perry Owens

[gamekeeper]

What Perry has said is right on the button, you have to know all the firearm laws or someone will try to enforce unlawful restrictions on you.

[Borregos]

Glad you got 'em all back and are making smoke again

[Ysabel Kid]

So, in other words, it is all the whim of those in power in any locality.

Man, that is no way to live...

[perry owens]

So, in other words, it is all the whim of those in power in any locality.

That may be how they would want it to be but it's not always the way it goes. The job of the police is to uphold the law, not make it up, and it does no harm to remind them of this from time to time. I also make a point of reminding my Member of Parliament that I elected him to serve my interests. If you want to be a shooter here you better be sure what your legal rights are and prepared to fight for them through the courts if necessary. Unfortunately the shooters organizations here do little to help their members in legal battles, the worst in my experience being the UK NRA.

[kimwcook]

Is the UK NRA a part of the USA NRA?

[gamekeeper]

The UK NRA is not, as far as I know, connected to your NRA. its more like an old boys club for Target shooters. I've seen Hens with more teeth.

[RIHMFIRE]

I can't understand why you would want to go back!

[Nath]

In laymans terms, it's run by a mob and it is in the mobs interest for good folk to not be able to start shooting at them when they twist the thumb screw to far!

Nath.