Members will be pleased to note that the Phoenix weekend Friday 28th to Sunday 30th May has classes for historic arms within the various matches. Have a look on the NRA website and see what you can enter. We also draw your attention to the fact that the booking for IHAM is now open. The meeting takes place on 10th and 11th July. The friendly NRA competitions team are ready to assist in any way, either at: competitions@nra.org.uk or Mark at: mark.haigh@nra.org.uk Of course there will be HBSA members entering as usual and thus also present at the meeting, both as competitors and ranges offers, including the match director and classic and historic rep, all of whom will gladly assist and lend a hand, both beforehand by email or at the meeting. It is not expected that there will be an arms fair at this stage at IHAM as that will depend on government regulations in the lead time. We are hopeful that there will be one for the Trafalgar. As HBSA we need to support both preservation of heritage and practical research (sometimes known as shooting) and we do need to keep these meetings going so get out your historic arms and enter! Let’s see increasing entry numbers this year. Good shooting and best wishes Derek Stimpson

Stourport on Severn, Saturday 24th April 2021 Dear Competitors Thank you all for competing in this our 1st Spring Midland Rook and Rabbit competition. See the Match Results here >>> This year it was decided to run a Spring meeting for two reasons, one to celebrate a return to shooting after the long Winter lock down and two to compensate for losing last year’s Rook & Reindeer shoot due to the Covid restrictions.  This Spring meeting may well become a regular event. We utilised the system put in place for last year’s October meeting to meet Covid restrictions with a maximum of 10 shooters on the range at any one time. As always, I would very much like to thank the Committee and Members of Stourport on Severn Rifle club for allowing us the use of their range. The Spring weather was glorious all day long. Flocks of Sand Martins could be seen constantly flying backward and forwards to the nesting site in the sand stone and seemed unaffected by our activities. We originally attracted 19 entrants, unfortunately 4 had to cancel for various reasons. The remaining 15 shot 57 matches. It was pleasing to see the return of Mac Head & Nick Field and a new face Verity Thomas. Unfortunately, the usual supply of superb cake, biscuits and tea was unavailable and the club house had restricted access. I think we all missed the opportunity to have a chat and ogle each other’s treasures so we will have to catch up next time. I must congratulate and commend all those who attended, everyone followed the rules, wore a mask never moaned and kept socially distanced from each other at all times. As previously each detail consisted of 13 shots at both 25m & 50m with the best 10 shots being counted at each distance. Initially this was to reduce the amount of movement in and out of the range. However, the vast majority of competitors have commented that this was big improvement therefore it will now become the norm. Many thanks to all those who attended and helped out during the day. I hope everyone had a good day and that we see you all again. Best Regards Paul Smith

Members may have seen the UK Government announcement regarding lead in ammunition. See the following link:- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-announced-to-phase-out-lead-ammunition-in-bid-to-protect-wildlife The BASC response is here:- https://basc.org.uk/uk-reach-lead-ammunition-review-announced/ This is principally about game shooting but the overall issue relates to lead in all ammunition. We have all the data prepared and used in dealing with EU and it is available now for discussions with the UK Government, including requests for exemptions for ranges, and historic arms and those where no viable alternative exists. We will be working with BSSC as usual and will keep members updated as far as possible. Derek Stimpson

Following my earlier posts the Home Office have now advised us the Transitional arrangements :- The Home Office have just published their circular on the new Regulations – here is a link to it: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0012021-antique-firearms  It sets out the legal and practical effects of the Antique Firearms Regulations and the associated Commencement Regulations, and also provides links to both. The new definition of ‘antique firearm’ will come into effect on 22 March 2021 and the transitional period for licensing etc former antique firearms will run for six months until 23:59 on 21 September 2021. Also attached is a short summary of the changes, plus a flowchart which may assist anyone less familiar with this to decide whether a firearm qualifies as antique, which the H O dropped from the circular for technical reasons. They hope to include it in the HO guidance instead. The following comments may be of assistance:

• When transferred to FAC as a Sect 1 item, an ex 58(2) may only be possessed (as described in Sect 126 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017)
• It will require you to have your own Sect 5 RFD to sell it. That is why Sect 7 is the best alternative as the Sect 7 rules allow more flexibility. The Sect 7.1 option will likely apply to most pistols affected
• Any longarm chambered for the cartridges removed from the list will be Sect 1 and may be added to an FAC and handled as such
• For the seven revolver models involved you do not have to prove good reason to put them on FAC – they will also be a collection
• However you will have to comply with all the other arrangements and security as required for an FAC item
• If you have these 58(2)s to deal with then you must apply for an FAC or variation during the transition period, as mentioned. Once you have done so you will be deemed to have complied even if the issue of your documents goes beyond the transition period
• You may sell these items as a 58(2) during the transition period. Of course if you wish to sell one of the Sect 58(2) items before you may do so. You may also acquire them and include them in your FAC application or variation, during the transition period
• Once the Law is in place, those of you who have rifles chambered for the cartridges added to the Obsolete List (see list in earlier post) which you no longer wish to shoot, you may dispose of any ammunition you possess and tell the police that you wish the rifle(s) removed from your FAC as you will hold them under Sect 58(2.).

I hope that this is helpful. Please contact me by email at chairman@hbsa-uk.org if you have specific questions. Best wishes Derek Stimpson

Members may wish to note that : The Antique Firearms Regulations 2021 were signed by the Minister on 1st March and will come into effect on 22nd March 2021. See link:- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/215/contents/made Please note that these are the Regulations which have already been posted and which we have all seen, so no questions should arise as such from these. We expect the Statutory Instrument putting in force the Commencement Regulations, including the transitional arrangements, to be published next week, together with the Home Office circular. We have requested a transitional period of six months which we hope will be implemented. Any questions or matters arising may be addressed then. Derek Stimpson

The closing date for your response to the consultation is fast approaching with just a week to go. If you haven’t already responded, you owe it to all of us to do so now. The online consultation can be completed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/firearms-safety The HBSA recommended responses can be seen here: https://sites.google.com/site/hbsauk/home/latest-news/governmentconsultationonfirearmssafety-guidance On that same page is a BSSC document of suggested bullet points that you can use to amplify your responses. HBSA contributed to the compilation of those bullet points. It will only take you 5 to 10 minutes – DO IT NOW

Members will find the promised ECHA report at the link below, together with other specific links. There are 900+ pages to be studied and understood which we will be doing carefully, together with BSSC, in relation to all the relevant issues that we raised, and which may need addressing. This is of course proposed EU legislation and what application there may be for UK remains to be seen although it may apply in N.I. We will report in detail as soon as we have analysed the overall situation. There is a lot to digest here including differences between target and game shooting, ammunition manufacture and supply, etc. Our FESAC colleagues are of course strongly affected and we are in touch with them. It must be borne in mind that the report has now to go to the Risk Assessment Committee and the Socio Economic Committee for their views. I am happy to deal with any specific questions at chairman@hbsa-uk.org Regards Derek Stimpson https://echa.europa.eu/en/-/towards-sustainable-outdoor-shooting-and-fishing-echa-proposes-restrictions-on-lead-use Future restriction proposal https://echa.europa.eu/en/registry-of-restriction-intentions/-/dislist/details/0b0236e1840159e6