Rifle calibre

lordarpad

Hi guys

stoopid question of the day: I have heard that the maximum calibre one can get a rifle in in Ireland is 270. Now this leads to 2 questions:

a) I have seen discussions on this board that mention 30-06 and similar (my preferred calibre) and

b) that 270 winchester? or things like 270 WSM allowable?

cheers

Bernhard

IRLConor

It used to be a matter of policy to not issue a license for calibres over .270 but that hasn't been the case for several years now.

sfakiaman

As a matter of interest, if or when the proposed restricted list comes into force putting a limit on rifle calibers (through the local super) at .308. What will the position be for the other .30 caliber rounds.

In this strange little country of ours I can see a situation where a 32/20 is on the restricted list but the 300 Winchester Magnum is not.

Jonty

Good one sfakiaman.


I've pondered this myself. The .300 win mag, .300 RUM, .308 and 30-06 all use the same diameter bullet head.

All that goes on the bill of sale is ".308" or ".300".

In the guard's eyes the .308 must be more powerful than the .300?

Its a bit like the .22 thing.

Rovi

Jonty wrote: »

Good one sfakiaman.


I've pondered this myself. The .300 win mag, .300 RUM, .308 and 30-06 all use the same diameter bullet head.

All that goes on the bill of sale is ".308" or ".300".

In the guard's eyes the .308 must be more powerful than the .300?

Its a bit like the .22 thing.

The Statutory Instrument (currently commenced, but not being enforced, allegedly) states:

4. (1) Firearms other than those to which subparagraph (2) relates are declared to be restricted firearms for the purposes of the Act:
(2) This subparagraph relates to the following firearms:
<snip>
(c) the following long firearms (not being assault rifles or bullpup rifles):
(i) single-shot or repeating rifled centre-fire firearms of a calibre not exceeding 7.62 millimetres (.308 inch) and whose overall length is greater than 90 centimetres,

No mention of .308 Win there, so I'd see is as applying to any calibre that does not exceed .308 inch (7.62mm).

sfakiaman

[quote=Rovi;58625583

No mention of .308 Win there, so I'd see is as applying to any calibre that does not exceed .308 inch (7.62mm).[/quote]

I must be in nit picking mode today, but where does this leave the .303 British which is .311.

lordarpad

sounds like it is out

Sparks

Not necessarily out, just restricted. In theory, you could licence a .50bmg if you could show it was needed for what you were doing (though I imagine you'd have so many hoops to jump through that it'd be daft).

Sandy22

sfakiaman wrote: »

I must be in nit picking mode today, but where does this leave the .303 British which is .311.

Shhhhh! Have you never heard the expression "Let sleeping dogs lie"?

fish slapped

True Sp[arks but the key word is " Theory " and we all know how that works out! :rolleyes:

lordarpad

Sparks wrote: »

Not necessarily out, just restricted. In theory, you could licence a .50bmg if you could show it was needed for what you were doing (though I imagine you'd have so many hoops to jump through that it'd be daft).

Interesting point. So if I want a 577 T-Rex for hunting Elephants in Africa I could try and argue that? Interesting question also on buying a second barrel for an existing gun.

Sparks

Actually, that wouldn't be the first time that's been argued (and I think there's been a licence for something of that nature for that purpose already, though for some H&H rather than the T-Rex). And yes, it would be valid - you have to learn to shoot the thing before you go on safari, on-the-job training for that sort of thing would be both dangerous and inhumane!

It wasn't me!

Yep, one high-profile shooter has been responsible for more advances in the opening of the law with regard to licensing than most and was responsible for the first licensed pistol in 2004 and the largest rifle I know of around (.375 H&H) which he got for African big game trips. He writes on the subject for the Irish Shooters' Digest and his name is familiar to most, but crucially, it's evidence that, if you have a good reason to license a firearm, the overwhelming likelihood is that you're not going to run into any insurmountable walls when you go to do so.

Mellor

I imagine guidance will be have to be drawn up.
Which includes all the rifles around the cut-off point. Indicating and rifles that are named below .308 but actually have a calibre over .308 (such .303 British, .30-30 Win and .30-06 Springfield). And also any rifles that are named above which are actually under, although I can't think of any, (Rew?)

jwshooter

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Yep, one high-profile shooter has been responsible for more advances in the opening of the law with regard to licensing than most and was responsible for the first licensed pistol in 2004 and the largest rifle I know of around (.375 H&H) which he got for African big game trips. He writes on the subject for the Irish Shooters' Digest and his name is familiar to most, but crucially, it's evidence that, if you have a good reason to license a firearm, the overwhelming likelihood is that you're not going to run into any insurmountable walls when you go to do so.

he got the licence for his .375 but they would not give him a import licence for it for a long time , so he got the first pistol but not the first big cal in to the country . know of 416 ,458 lott and a few 375s .its a long time since he has wrote for a mag in the south if its the same guy would his first name start with a F .

It wasn't me!

jwshooter wrote: »

he got the licence for his .375 but they would not give him a import licence for it for a long time , so he got the first pistol but not the first big cal in to the country . know of 416 ,458 lott and a few 375s .its a long time since he has wrote for a mag in the south if its the same guy would his first name start with a F .

It would indeed, and last time I bought an ISD (maybe three or four weeks ago) he'd written an article on a plains game trip he was on, so he's still writing I guess.

lordarpad

actually I have my eye on the 8.5x64 ... I don't really want to go after the big 5.

jwshooter

It wasn't me! wrote: »

It would indeed, and last time I bought an ISD (maybe three or four weeks ago) he'd written an article on a plains game trip he was on, so he's still writing I guess.

i did not get that one my subscription has ran out .F is a sound lad i know him for years only spent a morning stalking with him last week .in the uk i know they will give a ticket,licence for the big cals but might not allow you to buy or keep ammo for your rifle ,its a sore point with hunters there .

It wasn't me!

jwshooter wrote: »

i did not get that one my subscription has ran out .F is a sound lad i know him for years only spent a morning stalking with him last week .in the uk i know they will give a ticket,licence for the big cals but might not allow you to buy or keep ammo for your rifle ,its a sore point with hunters there .

Yeah, I like the few of his articles I've read from time to time. Gives the impression of being a nice guy.

I'd heard that alright. Also heard in some cases of being allowed the rifle and only allowed FMJ ammo to practise with, expanding hunting ammo not being authorised. Bit of a lame joke.

jwshooter

thats right i have friends in england that hunt big game and they are not allowed expanding ammo and it was a fight to get ammo at all .we think were bad hear were not they cant shoot ,say wild boar if its not on there ticket .

It wasn't me!

jwshooter wrote: »

thats right i have friends in england that hunt big game and they are not allowed expanding ammo and it was a fight to get ammo at all .we think were bad hear were not they cant shoot ,say wild boar if its not on there ticket .

Yeah, I know. They're fecked in an entirely different way. Also, isn't it the case that any big game calibre crosses the threshold of energy values above which most ranges don't allow, and have to be used on military ranges? Fairly sure I heard that at some point.

kowloon

The restriction seems to leave most common calibres untouched, but fecks about anyone who collects antique rifles seeing as the vast majority of BP rifles are in the .45+ region.

It wasn't me!

kowloon wrote: »

The restriction seems to leave most common calibres untouched, but fecks about anyone who collects antique rifles seeing as the vast majority of BP rifles are in the .45+ region.

Isn't there special provision for antique rifles? I'd say it'll be fine, just might require educating the powers that be a little. Walking in and handing in your application for a fifty cal (without explanation) might just get the computer monitor drowned in tea.