1 and a half days was the quickest I had. 8.30 pm on Wednesday in the post Friday morning 9 am

Shortest was 2 weeks. Longest 3 months. Average seems to be around the month mark

I had a sub that took over a year....

Cass wrote: »

Always within 10 days.

New "FO" and, well how do i put his nicely, they are a problem. Going on 6 weeks now and when i rang i was verbally berated for ringing, asked for stuff that is beyond (and i do mean beyond) the norm for a full application let alone a sub, and then told my one was going to the bottom of the pile because i dared to challenge their "authority".

So fun times ahead.

Ah ****e. Not go straight to the super?

3 months

Does substitution application apply only to same firearm type and same caliber?

Or can you e.g. substitute with a larger calibre?

Never done a substitution and cannot readily see answer online - thanks.

ANNEX E: SUBSTITUTIONS & DISPOSAL OF FIREARMS
SUBSTITUTIONS
Section 11 of the 1964 Firearms Act as amended, provides for the substitution of firearm certificates, both restricted and non-restricted. Traditionally, applications made to the Garda Siochana to substitute one firearm for another were made on a 'like for like' basis with the intention of accommodating owners of firearms to swap a similar make and model firearm in circumstances where, for example, the original firearm was broken or no longer in working order.
It should be noted however that an issuing person has discretion and every application to substitute one firearm for another is considered on its own individual merits. Ordinarily, the process should be completed by the Garda Siochana in a reasonable time frame of 14 days but can take longer if the issuing person decides further enquiries are deemed necessary with regard to the application. However, issuing superintendents shall ensure that no unnecessary delays occur in circumstances where the application is to simply substitute one firearm for another with no material changes.
When assessing an application to substitute, an issuing person should be satisfied that the applicant's 'good reason' for possessing the firearm has not fundamentally changed since the original grant of the certificate. For example, substituting one firearm for another is allowable provided the applicant does not intend shooting deer instead of say species that are destructive to farming or hunting activities. As stated, the 'good reason' must remain fundamentally the same as in the original grant. If the 'good reason' has fundamentally changed then a new application will be required.

The above is taken from the:
The Garda Commissioner's Guidelines as to the Practical Application and Operation of the Firearms Acts, 1925-2009.
ANNEX E: SUBSTITUTIONS & DISPOSAL OF FIREARMS
I've highlighted parts that may relavant.

The long and the short of it is that plenty of people substitute firearms that do not actually meet the guidelines. Rimfires are substituted for centre fire deer calibres and shotguns for rifles and vice a versa. The like for like can be interpreted as 'hunting for hunting use' and therefore in the eyes of the person processing the application would be deemed ok. I could see an issue with rimfires for deer legal centre fire calibres if the applicant didn't have a deer licence or relavant range membership, although I'm open to correction on that.
I can vouch for substituting a rim fire for a deer legal centre fire but then again I had the appropriate deer licence.