Shooting Buyers Guide > Shotgun Laws

It is an offence (except in certain circumstances) to possess a shotgun without a current shotgun certificate or temporary police permit.

Shotgun Laws

Most shooters do most of their shooting in the UK with a shotgun. The law defines this as a smooth-bored gun with barrels of not less than 24”. If the gun is a semi-automatic or pump-action, the magazine must be restricted to hold no more than two shells, with a third in the chamber. This is quite confusing these days because some modern wildfowling magnums are chambered for 3 ½” shells. This makes it possible to load more than the legal maximum number of shells into the gun if you use 65mm cases. Readers are strongly advised not to do so because the police may construe your shotgun as a ‘de facto’ Section 1 firearm if it is used in this way.

To buy, sell or possess a ‘Section 2’ shotgun you are required to hold a valid Shotgun Certificate. You can see the form you need on the Metropolitan
Police website:www.northumbria.police.uk/ . This can be applied for through your local police station and is issued by your constabulary. They will ask you to complete a form and provide photographs and pay a fee. They will visit you and check your security before deciding if they will issue you a Shotgun Certificate. It is the right of every citizen to have a Shotgun Certificate granted unless the chief police officer believes there are grounds to stop you from having one. He must make these grounds clear in the case of a refusal. A past conviction for a serious crime may be one such reason.

The security requirement for shotguns is quite stringent. The police will inspect yours and advise you on their requirements. The law says you must secure your guns from theft. This usually means you will need to lock them in a steel cabinet of police-approved design and quality. Try www.safesecurityservices.co.uk to see examples. The cabinet must be secured to a supporting wall by means of coach bolts and be flush with the wall to prevent it being prized away. A SGC holder may have as many shotguns as he wishes, providing he can secure them to the police’s satisfaction.

Each shotgun must be entered on the SGC and the police must be informed of each purchase and disposal. A SGC holder may borrow a shotgun from another SGC holder for 72 hours without informing the police.

Some forces advise shotgun owners to have a monitored alarm so that the police are automatically informed if your house is broken into. These cost around £400 for installation and incur a monthly service charge of around £14. See www.its-home-security.co.uk for examples of services and prices.

When travelling with shotguns, try not to leave them unattended in a vehicle. They should be stowed out of sight and the fore-ends should be removed to render them useless should they be stolen. Trigger locks or cable ties are also a wise precaution.