.22lr pistol ownership questions

duffyer · 31-01-2012 01:53PM #1

Lads i have a few questions about .22lr pistol ownership.

Can a restricted pistol licence be applied for? Example the new Ruger Sr22 with its too short barrel length. Or are only unrestricted licences being granted?

What are the storage requirements if i already have 2 unrestricted guns and apply for a restricted licence?

Where are all these pistol ranges that are so hard to find any information on!!!!!!!!! AHH!!!!

Are pistols only permitted to be used on an authorised range or can you ZERO them on land you already have permission to shoot on.

Do you need to be a member of a pistol range or can you just pay as you go. Would this be acceptable when applying for a licence. I only ask because i am based in meath and i dont know if there is a pistol range
close to me, and its not worth joining if the closest one is a 2hour drive away.

Any help is greatly appreiated, cheers Duffyer

BattleCorp · 31-01-2012 02:26PM

Hi OP,

New restricted pistol licences aren't being given out any more so no, they won't give you a licence for a restricted pistol (unless you have held the licence since 2008 - and even then many people have to go to court to get their licence). I can't see you getting a centerfire pistol licence.

Pistols can only be used on an authorised range, not in fields or quarries etc.

You have to be a member of a club that caters for pistols before you apply for the licence. That's the only way they will allow you to have a pistol, it's your reason for having it. As far as I know, there aren't any ranges that allow you to pay as you go. But if you ask at the range, maybe they will accommodate you and accept memberships in installments. It can be expensive to get started out in pistol shooting, having to pay for range membership, buy gun, apply for licence etc etc, but it's well worth doing if there is a range near you.

Check out harbourhouseshooting.com, that's the range nearest me but I reckon it is a long way away from you.

I'm sure someone else will come along with info on ranges closer to you.

If you have your heart set on a pistol, then it'll be a .22 rimfire pistol for you until they change the law (fingers crossed).

Best of luck.

Bananaman · 31-01-2012 03:20PM

duffyer wrote: »

Can a restricted pistol licence be applied for? Example the new Ruger Sr22 with its too short barrel length. Or are only unrestricted licences being
granted?

No new Restricted short firearm license applications are being accepted at the moment. (Only If you held a license for one prior to Nov 2008 you can re-apply)

duffyer wrote: »

What are the storage requirements if i already have 2 unrestricted guns and apply for a restricted licence?

if it is a restricted short firearm the application will not be accepted.

If it is a restricted long firearm then the Garda Licensing Guidelines outline the requirements for each number of firearms.

duffyer wrote: »

Where are all these pistol ranges that are so hard to find any information on!!!!!!!!! AHH!!!!

www.nasrpc.ie should be able to help you out.

They do not cover all clubs and rnages though - the nearest one to you would be WTSC but I think they are Air Pistol only.

duffyer wrote: »

Are pistols only permitted to be used on an authorised range or can you ZERO them on land you already have permission to shoot on.

Only on an Authorised Rnage.

duffyer wrote: »

Do you need to be a member of a pistol range or can you just pay as you go. Would this be acceptable when applying for a licence. I only ask because i am based in meath and i dont know if there is a pistol range
close to me, and its not worth joining if the closest one is a 2hour drive away.

You must be a member. No Pay as you go.

B'Man

clivej · 31-01-2012 03:53PM

Most but not all 22lr pistols with a maximum mag. of 5 rounds are Not restricted. Any 10 round or more mags must be limited to 5 rounds with a plug to meet the requirements

The only reason to own is for target shooting and therefore you must be a member of the shooting range that allows pistol shooting

rowa · 31-01-2012 04:01PM

duffyer wrote: »

Lads i have a few questions about .22lr pistol ownership.

Can a restricted pistol licence be applied for? Example the new Ruger Sr22 with its too short barrel length. Or are only unrestricted licences being granted?

What are the storage requirements if i already have 2 unrestricted guns and apply for a restricted licence?

Where are all these pistol ranges that are so hard to find any information on!!!!!!!!! AHH!!!!

Are pistols only permitted to be used on an authorised range or can you ZERO them on land you already have permission to shoot on.

Do you need to be a member of a pistol range or can you just pay as you go. Would this be acceptable when applying for a licence. I only ask because i am based in meath and i dont know if there is a pistol range
close to me, and its not worth joining if the closest one is a 2hour drive away.

Any help is greatly appreiated, cheers Duffyer

I was looking at the ruger sr22 as well , it looks like a nice little pistol and anything i have bought by ruger has been well made, hopefully they will do a longer barreled version of it soon.

Farmlife · 31-01-2012 04:49PM

Have you talked to any dealers about them? maybe they could let you know if many have been passed?

BattleCorp · 31-01-2012 07:18PM

Just a tip but don't buy a pistol because it looks cool.

Try out a good few pistols and you will soon see that some shoot way better than others. Getting a pistol to suit your hand and style is also more important than looks.

The novelty of a cool looking gun will soon wear off. It's far better to have an accurate gun.

Another point to note is that pistols with a short barrel tend to be not as accurate as longer barrelled guns. It's much easier to line up shots the further away the front sight is from the back sight.

duffyer · 01-02-2012 12:13AM

Cheers for the replies lads. I thought it was just centerfire pistols that werent being licenced, I wasnt sure about a restricted rimfire pistol, but now my little sliver of hope has been crushed by this increasingly annoying country!;)

BattleCorp · 01-02-2012 12:45AM

All rimfire pistols aren't classed as restricted pistols.

There are a few ways though that they can be classed as restricted.

1. If they can hold more than 5 bullets in their magazine. A lot of magazines come with a 10 shot magazine so we get a gun dealer to plug the magazine to make sure it can't hold more than 5 bullets. A plugged magazine is accepted by the gardai.

2. If the gun looks like a tactical pistol. They don't like military looking pistols. This is totally subjective, one Super might think it looks tactical, another might think it is fine.

3. If the barrel is too short.

4. There is a list of .22 pistols approved in the official Garda guidelines. These are only guidelines but unfortunately some Supers are taking them to be law and refusing to licence pistols not on the list. Some lads have received licences for pistols not on the list, but it all depends on your Super.

5. I'm sure there are more reasons why a .22 pistol could be considered to be restricted but the above are the main ones.

If you want to take up pistol shooting, there are plenty of .22 pistols for you to chose from that are capable of being licenced.

The easiest way to go about it is to pick a .22 off the "approved list" and apply for a licence for it.

That said, you are perfectly entitled to apply for any .22 pistol that's not on the list, but you might be unlucky and come up against a Super who doesn't go "off the list".

custom900 · 06-02-2012 02:10AM

Can't find info on this, but does anyone know can you get a licence for .22magnum pistols, or is it just .22lr? Kel-tec are doing a lovely .22wmr, large mag capacity but if that was limited to 5 would it be ok??? Thanks.

http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/pistols/pmr-30/

Hibrion · 06-02-2012 02:18AM

22lr only

Cass · 06-02-2012 03:22AM

As above its .22lr ammo only.

Section 5(b)(ii) of SI 337/2009 (amendment of SI 21/2008). Replacment of the word "rimfire" with "long rifle rim fire".

custom900 · 06-02-2012 10:01AM

Thanks for that, another one bites the dust:(

custom900 · 06-02-2012 10:24AM

Do you know is it "up to" .22lr, or just .22lr? I'm asking because I was also considering looking for something in .17hmr.

kildare.17hmr · 06-02-2012 10:55AM

No target shooting disaplin in hmr or wmr. It is lr only

Grizzly 45 · 06-02-2012 12:55PM

custom900 wrote: »

Thanks for that, another one bites the dust:(

Not to worry,its apprently abit of a turkey anyway.

Cass · 06-02-2012 03:30PM

custom900 wrote: »

Do you know is it "up to" .22lr, or just .22lr? I'm asking because I was also considering looking for something in .17hmr.

It does not state up to. Only long rifle rimfire. IOW - .22lr.

dax121 · 06-02-2012 10:46PM

their is a .22wmr out their that i know of. their is even a single shot hornet pistol out their. so have a chat with ur super and see what his views are on what you want to licence.
ask for a meeting that you want to discuss a possible firearm that you want a licence for. have all your info on the gun when you call in for the meeting. not all supers are hung up on comps just as long as ur joined a club is good enuf.

Bananaman · 07-02-2012 09:10AM

I think the point is that anything other than 22lr in a short firearm is restricted and, currently, you may not apply for a new license for a.restricted short firearm, unless you held a license prior to,November 2008 - so unless you had the wmr revolver four years ago, you cant have it today.

B'Man

dax121 · 07-02-2012 04:58PM

these were issued less than a year ago

Bananaman · 07-02-2012 05:12PM

Well - I doubt that - but if they were - I'm sure your highlighting it here will lead to a change in fortune for someone.

B'Man

Sparks · 07-02-2012 05:13PM

dax121 wrote: »

these were issued less than a year ago

Then, simply put, they're illegal.
Just because the local Super gives you a licence doesn't mean that that licence is automatically legitimate.
It's the other side of the court cases that just settled in the HC. If the law says that you can't have a licence for it and a garda gives you a licence for it, that licence is null and void. So anyone who has a licence issued in the last year (for the first time and barring any special circumstances like this being a reissue of a licence held prior to 2008) for a .22wmr pistol is in possession of an unlicenced restricted firearm and you ought to have a quiet word and let them know they need to sort that mess out...

Sparks · 07-02-2012 05:19PM

Bananaman wrote: »

Well - I doubt that - but if they were - I'm sure your highlighting it here will lead to a change in fortune for someone.

Or prevent them from a nasty surprise by giving them enough warning to sort out the problem. This keep-it-quite-nobody-say-nothing approach doesn't fix the problem, it just denies you the chance to avoid trouble in the long run.

Bananaman · 07-02-2012 06:27PM

I know of one wmr revolver and the owner has it longer than I have my 9mm pistol and both are perfectly legal.

I'm assuming dax has heard of the same firearm but via chinese whispers, which led to it being issued over the christmas.

B'Man

Sparks · 07-02-2012 06:50PM

Bananaman wrote: »

I know of one wmr revolver and the owner has it longer than I have my 9mm pistol and both are perfectly legal.

Hence this bit above...

Sparks wrote:

for the first time and barring any special circumstances like this being a reissue of a licence held prior to 2008

dax121 · 07-02-2012 07:25PM

no the guy applied for it and got it. same as the single shot hornet pistol both within the last year. if the super is willing to give him a licence for it fair play.
one thing i hate about this fourm is ppl cant be happy someone got a licence for something they wanted. if the super deems it non restricted all well and good. no need for all this bitching but then again their is always one or two haters:rolleyes:

kildare.17hmr · 07-02-2012 07:31PM

dax121 wrote: »

no the guy applied for it and got it. same as the single shot hornet pistol both within the last year. if the super is willing to give him a licence for it fair play.
one thing i hate about this fourm is ppl cant be happy someone got a licence for something they wanted. if the super deems it non restricted all well and good. no need for all this bitching but then again their is always one or two haters:rolleyes:

I dont think they are being haters lad more pointing out the facts, there are only a few people in this country who know and understand the firearm laws and one of them is telling you how it is.

It sounds fairly simple really, the law says they cant have it so the super or chief super is not in a position to change the law which is infact what has been done it seems

LB6 · 07-02-2012 07:35PM

dax121 wrote: »

no the guy applied for it and got it. same as the single shot hornet pistol both within the last year. if the super is willing to give him a licence for it fair play.
one thing i hate about this fourm is ppl cant be happy someone got a licence for something they wanted. if the super deems it non restricted all well and good. no need for all this bitching but then again their is always one or two haters:rolleyes:

That's a bit stong. We are all delighted when any of us get the firearms that we applied for. However, we will tell you when something is illegal. It's not bitching, it's educating. You don't have to like it, but the guy is illegally holding a firearm. Not all Supers know all the rules with regards to restricted gear, and many's the time that they are educated by us. In this case, the super is wrong, ergo, your friend, should he come into contact with a garda or another Super who's more with-it on the law, will be in trouble. After all that - you could be the good person and inform him. He may not like it, but at least he wont be illegal and he may thank you in the long run.

Sparks · 07-02-2012 07:37PM

dax121 wrote: »

if the super is willing to give him a licence for it fair play.
one thing i hate about this fourm is ppl cant be happy someone got a licence for something they wanted. if the super deems it non restricted all well and good. no need for all this bitching but then again their is always one or two haters:rolleyes:

Er, dax, it's not bitching - the super really doesn't have the legal authority to grant that licence, which means your friend has an illegally held restricted firearm and doesn't know it; seriously, given him a bell and let him know he could have a problem before the local Super gives him a bell and he winds up in smelly stuff up to his earlobes.

dax121 · 07-02-2012 07:45PM

id imagine if all info was giveing and the super made that mistake its them that would get the earfull. and the guy would be asked to hand the firearms into a dealer while its being sorted out.
these guys arent friends of mine just people i met in a local gun shop and hand a chat about it.

LB6 · 07-02-2012 07:50PM

nope it's not the super that would be getting the earful. It's that lad. He's the one in possession.

Pity you don't know them, at least now you're educated you can make an informed decision. Your could mention it to that local gun dealer that you met them in. He may know the lads names and put them in the LEGAL picture.

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.22lr pistol ownership questions

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