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Shooting Forum - Firearms licencing information


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applying for a rifle licence

  • 24-09-2009 01:36PM
    #1
    Mexician
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19 ✭


    hi lads. im 26 and a land owner. looking for a rifle licence for vermin control and maybe later apply for a hunting licence.

    thinking of getting a .308, would i get this as my first gun ??
    would i be better off joining a gun club and have a better chance.

    any gun clubs in sligo ??


Comments

  • #2
    foxhunter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 468 ✭✭foxhunter


    Mexician wrote: »
    hi lads. im 26 and a land owner. looking for a rifle licence for vermin control and maybe later apply for a hunting licence.

    thinking of getting a .308, would i get this as my first gun ??
    would i be better off joining a gun club and have a better chance.

    any gun clubs in sligo ??

    While there is nothing in law to say you can't have a .308 for shooting vermin
    It is doubtfull if you would be given a .308 for that purpose.
    Vermin shooting is mostly done with .22mag up to .223 nowadays and in the new guidelines sent to supers even the .223 is down as being more suitable for highland shooting and considered more dangerous than the average .22 calibres such as swift and hornet:rolleyes:.
    Being a member of a club would be an advantage also but again not neccessary.


  • #3
    Dusty87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭Dusty87


    Also vermin licence is thing of the past now.


  • #4
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,679 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    I would say start with a .22LR, Then after a couple of years in which time you can get proficient with rifle handling and safe shooting maybe apply for a centrefire .22
    The ammo for .22LR is cheap 50 rds for €6-7 and will allow you to practice a lot for small money.
    the .308 is running around €30 for 20 rds
    I can't speak for your local Superintendent but seeing as the .308 is the maximum calibre listed as unrestricted, I feel he would be more likely to say no as a first rifle.
    If you want a flatter shooting rimfire try a .17 HMR but again they are lot more expensive to run than .22LR.


  • #5
    No6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,489 ✭✭✭No6


    Mexician wrote: »
    hi lads. im 26 and a land owner. looking for a rifle licence for vermin control and maybe later apply for a hunting licence.

    thinking of getting a .308, would i get this as my first gun ??
    would i be better off joining a gun club and have a better chance.

    any gun clubs in sligo ??

    You would need a deer hunting licence before you would get a licence for a 308, is there deer on your land if there is then you can get a deer licence no problem followed by the gun licence. Its a little to big for vermin control. There is a gun Club at Lough Bo, a friend of mine joined this year and I'm sure there are plenty of other local ones.


  • #6
    foxhunter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 468 ✭✭foxhunter


    Dusty87 wrote: »
    Also vermin licence is thing of the past now.

    There never was a vermin licence for a rifle it was €38 no matter what the rifle was used for.
    The shotgun vermin licence is done away with alright it used to be €6 .
    All licences are now €80 for 3years hence a saving of €34 per rifle licenced over that period.


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  • #7
    Dusty87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭Dusty87


    Yea i know that. Was goin ahead of meself there!:)


  • #8
    Mexician
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19 ✭Mexician


    cheers lads, comments are good.
    have loads of experience on the .22Lr of my father`s.

    also have loads of deers running on the land and the .22Lr is poor at distance. she is need of repair as she doesn`t reload from the magazine.

    any gunsmiths in sligo / Donegal ??

    would the .17Hmr / .223 / .22 Win Mag have a greater distance and be sufficient for deers ??


  • #9
    foxhunter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 468 ✭✭foxhunter


    Mexician wrote: »
    cheers lads, comments are good.
    have loads of experience on the .22Lr of my father`s.

    also have loads of deers running on the land and the .22Lr is poor at distance. she is need of repair as she doesn`t reload from the magazine.

    any gunsmiths in sligo / Donegal ??

    would the .17Hmr / .223 / .22 Win Mag have a greater distance and be sufficient for deers ??

    You're taking the p##s really aren't you :eek:


  • #10
    BELOWaverageIQ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 703 ✭✭✭BELOWaverageIQ


    Mexician wrote: »
    cheers lads, comments are good.
    have loads of experience on the .22Lr of my father`s.

    also have loads of deers running on the land and the .22Lr is poor at distance. she is need of repair as she doesn`t reload from the magazine.

    any gunsmiths in sligo / Donegal ??

    would the .17Hmr / .223 / .22 Win Mag have a greater distance and be sufficient for deers ??


    H:eek:ave you shot at dear with the .22 ????.


  • #11
    Jonty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,830 ✭✭✭Jonty


    Mexician wrote: »
    cheers lads, comments are good.
    have loads of experience on the .22Lr of my father`s.

    also have loads of deers running on the land and the .22Lr is poor at distance. she is need of repair as she doesn`t reload from the magazine.

    any gunsmiths in sligo / Donegal ??

    would the .17Hmr / .223 / .22 Win Mag have a greater distance and be sufficient for deers ??

    the .243 calibre is the recommended minimum for deer. Its very effective on Foxes


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  • #12
    BryanL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,127 ✭✭✭BryanL


    Barrett 50 Cal is your only option, but you'd need a moderator on it


  • #13
    Dusty87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭Dusty87


    Jonty wrote: »
    the .243 calibre is the recommended minimum for deer. Its very effective on Foxes

    Is it not 22-250 or is that changed?


  • #14
    deerhunter1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,736 ✭✭✭deerhunter1


    No6 wrote: »
    You would need a deer hunting licence before you would get a licence for a 308, is there deer on your land if there is then you can get a deer licence no problem followed by the gun licence. Its a little to big for vermin control. There is a gun Club at Lough Bo, a friend of mine joined this year and I'm sure there are plenty of other local ones.

    Not necessary you could join a rifle club and get a 308


  • #15
    Jonty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,830 ✭✭✭Jonty


    Dusty87 wrote: »
    Is it not 22-250 or is that changed?

    the 22-250 is the legal minimum, but the 243 would be the recommended minimum


  • #16
    BornToKill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,053 ✭✭✭BornToKill


    Dusty87 wrote: »
    Also vermin licence is thing of the past now.
    foxhunter wrote: »
    The shotgun vermin licence is done away with alright it used to be €6

    There never was anything called a vermin licence. There was - and still is - a limited certificate which only applies for shotguns. The 'limited' part means it does not permit you to shoot game.

    It is neither done away with nor a thing of the past. Have a look at the FCA1 form - it's still there as a tick-box. If that's what you use your shotgun for then it's still a viable option if you only want to control pests on your own land and don't want to have to join the gun club or acquire shooting permissions from other land owners.


  • #17
    Cass
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 28,748 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cass


    Not necessary you could join a rifle club and get a 308

    I would be amazed if a Super granted a .308 licence to an inexperienced shooter especially for the purpose of vermin control. No rifle/pistol club will take on a new member, give him a reference letter to get a .308 without knowing how competent he is and without prior experience and at least 2 members vouching for him.

    Start small work your way up. You don't have to start at .22 but don't jump in the deep end either. .220 swift or .223 is a good culling rifle (NOT FOR DEER) and will give you experience on handling a rifle, recoil of a centrefire, knowing where your shot will go and end up (that bit is vital). Up to .223 calibre is perfect for vermin control and fox culling. 22-250 is the legal minimum calibre for deer stalking. Most people use 243 as its more humane and a larger selection of loads, tips etc than 22-250.
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  • #18
    Dusty87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭Dusty87


    BornToKill wrote: »
    There never was anything called a vermin licence. There was - and still is - a limited certificate which only applies for shotguns. The 'limited' part means it does not permit you to shoot game.

    It is neither done away with nor a thing of the past. Have a look at the FCA1 form - it's still there as a tick-box. If that's what you use your shotgun for then it's still a viable option if you only want to control pests on your own land and don't want to have to join the gun club or acquire shooting permissions from other land owners.

    Not officialy but you know what we mean. Also known around here by somepeople as farmers licence.


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