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Rifle shooting legislation: UK firearms laws, licensing and your rights explained

Staying on the right side of firearms legislation isn’t optional – and with regulations that are complex, devolved across the UK nations and subject to ongoing change, keeping up to date matters more than ever.

Rifle Shooter’s legislation section cuts through the complexity to give you clear, accurate guidance on the laws and regulations that affect rifle shooters in the UK. We cover firearms certificate applications and renewals, safe storage requirements, permitted calibres for specific quarry species, changes to deer legislation and the implications of any proposed regulatory changes for the sport.

We monitor developments closely – whether that’s Home Office consultations, Scottish Government deer legislation or changes affecting international travel with firearms – and report clearly on what they mean for you in practice.

Knowledge is your first line of defence. Stay informed, stay compliant, keep shooting.

Articles list

Legislation
THE DSC1 ADVANTAGE

Sven Hughes discovers why the DSC1 course is more than just a tick in the box for aspiring deer stalkers seeking deeper knowledge and skill

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
Ballistic calculators

Mark Ripley compares high-end Kestrel wind meters to budget phone apps. He advises that while Kestrels are superior for shots over 500 yards due to environmental adjustments, apps like Strelok paired ...

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
What Is the best distance to zero your rifle?

I now zero at 150m, which puts me 2cm high at 100m... and 6cm low at 200m." Mark Ripley explains why this setup creates a variability of less than 5cm for most hunting distances and advises using a ba...

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
Threadlock on Rifles: Good Idea or Gunsmith’s Nightmare?

Many gunsmiths and rifle builders will damn you for eternity if you use any threadlock... whereas if it had been known about, it would have been a simple matter of applying some heat." The expert expl...

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
Does Reloading Save You Money? A Cost Breakdown

The price of primers seems to regularly double... but you can save money by reloading." The expert breaks down the math, showing how using budget components like HK primers and PPU bullets can drop co...

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
Understanding angles

The fast answer is 'No'... At that range, with any deer-legal calibre the angle will have no relevant effect." The expert debunks the myth that moderate slopes cause major misses at 180 yards and sugg...

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
What to do first when controlling foxes on farmland

Remember, the foxes will know where the birds are vulnerable so you need to plan your ambushes accordingly." The expert emphasises safety first—identifying footpaths and buildings—before conductin...

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
How do I deal with deer disturbance caused by walkers?

Public access always raises issues – the first of which is ensuring you are always polite." Dom Holtam suggests that when deer are disturbed by early risers, the best strategy is to wait for the "la...

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
How to make sure your quarry is true broadside before firing

The only fix is to look to see where all four legs are in relation to the upper body." Andrew Venables explains that a deer might look broadside while actually being curved. He advises checking the le...

By Rifle Shooter
Legislation
What technology is available to help long-range shooting?

When you stretch things way out, they start to fall short." Chris Parkin recommends Ballistic AE for general use but argues that for extreme distances (>800m), a Kestrel 4500 is superior because it...

By Rifle Shooter