From: Jonathan Spencer, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Although Steve has provided an answer, I'll expand on it because of
personal experiences in this field wrt FACs.
>From: "Matt", INTERNET:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>A query arose at the club tonight. One of our members is applying for
>a variation (increase in number of firearms to be held) and stated .30
>cal as calibre. The visiting civilian firearms 'officer' said that this
>was not right and .308 or similar should be stated.
Some people don't understand the difference between the meaning of
calibre (nominal diameter of a bullet or barrel) and a cartridge's
nomenclature (e.g. .308 Winchester or 7.62x51NATO). It isn't helped by
the shooting media and others saying things like "the 223 Rem is a great
calibre for ...", or when *we* talk of having just bought "a new 308".
What I recommend we do is be precise and clear in the language we use
whenever we are talking or writing to the licensing authorities. On the
forms I write, for example, "calibre 0.224 inch" and in the covering
letter I say"! am applying for a 0.224 inch calibre rifle which will be
chambered for .223 Remington ammunition". In response, they (now) issue
certificates which say ".224 inch rifled gun" and for ammunition they
put .224 (.223 Rem) and everyone is - more or less - happy.
>This differs to information we have (apparently from either BASC or BSSC
>I'm not sure which now) which quotes the Home Office regulations and says
>that calibre, and not cartidge case size, should be applied for. This
>would give the freedom of making the decision between a .308, .303 or
>other 30 cals at a later date.
In cases where you know full well which cartridge you're after, the
police want it specified. I have been granted 'semi-open' variations in
the past when I could not say which calibre (never mind cartridge) would
be available but that was when I was intending to go rummaging around
shops in Germany.
Most dealers in this country will hold a gun for you while you get a
variation. You simply put down a deposit on (not a gun, can't do that)
'goods and services', and get the Form 101 completed.
Of course, if your police are anything like this lot here, you will be
mucked around for several months (five so far and counting).
--Jonathan Spencer, firearms examiner
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty
is a well armed lamb contesting the vote."
Benjamin Franklin, 1759
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