Firearms
- Firearm Safety
- Fitness to be Entrusted with Firearms
- Grant of a Firearm Certificate
- Buying and Transferring Firearms
- Renewal of a Firearm Certificate
- Variation of a Firearm Certificate
- Prohibited Weapons
What is a Firearm?
The term "Firearm", within the definition of the Firearms Acts, means a lethal barrelled weapon of any description, from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged. It includes any prohibited weapon, whether it is such a lethal weapon as aforesaid or not, any component part of such a weapon, and any accessory to such weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by the firing of the weapon.
Firearm, within the terms of what you are allowed to hold on a firearm certificate, would obviously not include any prohibited weapons. Neither would it include "shotguns", as they are held on a shotgun certificate unless it is classified as a Section 1 firearm and then would be held on a firearm certificate.
What is a Section 1 shotgun?
A Section 1 shotgun differs from a conventional shotgun by virtue of the fact that it has a magazine capable of holding more than two cartridges and/or the magazine is detachable. These are known as "pump-action" or "semi-automatic" shotguns, where cartridges from the magazine are loaded by hand "pumping" the action, or by the discharge of the previous round. These weapons are required to be held on a firearm certificate.
What is a prohibited weapon?
This is a large area to consider and hence detailed information may be found in the section, Prohibited Weapons.
What weapons can be held on a firearm certificate?
Most applicants require small or full bore rifles for target shooting, as a member of a Home Office approved club. Muzzle-loading hand guns may be requested for the same reason. Others use rifles for vermin control or deer stalking. Provided you can satisfy the "good reason" requirement, and there are no other matters of concern, all these weapons can be legally held on a firearm certificate.
