I intend to apply to take part in the 2006 Red deer cull on Arran (providing BASC renews the lease) and was looking at last years terms and conditions on the BASC webpage when I noticed this statement; "Only factory ammunition will be accepted, no home loads are to be used"

This is a little worrying as most of my stalking rifles are tight necked and will not chamber factory ammunition. I load all my own ammo to what I consider to be safe, high standards of accuracy and Deer legal, as required by the Deer Act. So I wondered if anyone here can comment on this policy, is it strictly adhered to - why is it in place??

Thanks in advance

Cynical answer is to put your handloads in factory box. How will the bureaucrats know the difference?

Claret,

that would be very easy to do, (if a little unethical, would I feel comfortable doing that, I don't know), but I wondered why this policy has been made. As far as I am aware the Forestry Commission do not impose similar conditions in other let stalking areas and as BASC are supposed to be one of the "premier" shooting organisations in the UK, they must surely realise that many of their members who stalk or participate in fox control or other rifle competition, also reload.

Andy, I recently found out that when you are doing the shooting test for DCS1 you are ony supposed to use factory ammo. I did mine about five years ago with handloads. Everyone there knew I was using handloads and there was not a single comment made about it.

Some barstool lawyer somewhere has came up with this as a way of heading off some preceived future potential liabilty.

I did mine three years ago with handloads and nobody made mention of it being not PC. In fact I don't recall seeing anyhting about it on any of the paperwork at the time, and I know for a fact others were using handloads.

I expect you are right though, some bright spark has got his head so far up his jacksi all he can see is bad teeth.

Regards

John

Hi all, as far as I know this 'factory only' thing is a bit of a throwback as I recall in the mists of time when the FC would only let you stalk on their land with factory ammo and certainly on the BASC schemes. I remember that there was a particular downer on handloads at the time and the phrase that springs to mind was ' a handload was submitted for proof that that had the potential of a small bomb' now I might be remembering incorrectly but that is what I think it stems from rather than the fear of any specific litigational reasons. They simply would rather people didn't bring handloads at the time as the profile of reloading was such that they weren't confident of their performance.
I have always found that the grouping target tends to settle things and I would have no qualms whatsoever about putting my handloads into a factory box and keeping schtum.
What the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve over.

Z

I did it and, not having read that section, did so with handloads. Not mentioned in the briefings etc.

It's very well run - you need to be fit and I would STRONGLY suggest you go with a mate as it seems to draw from across the whole cross section of the stalking fraternity.

Gents,

thanks for the replies so far, i was hoping Griff might reply as I think he is one of the co-ordinators?

anyway, two things, I took part in the ajudication of the range assessments for DSC1 for a number of years at Grizedale and there was never any restrictions on the use of home loads whatsoever, in fact, if I recall, those who shot home loads were in the main more settled (unruffled by the pressure of the test) and shot far better groups "on target" that those using factory.

The concensus appears to be take homeloads and keep shtum, it may be the way to go, but i'd rather personally do it the way they want (JMHO) If there is sound reasoning behind the rules then so be it, but as far as I can see, so far there is no basis for this rule.

1894mk2, thanks for the advice, I do intend to go with a buddy, (who is there at the moment on the clear up) I am reasonably fit, (for a fat lad anyway ) One assumes from your last post that there are some more competant than others who have attended the scheme and if you don't go with a mate, you may end up "lumbered"?

Gentlemen,

I thought I would appraise you with the fact that I posed the reloading question re Arran to BASC.

I recieved a message from Alan McCormack their Deer expert, who informed me that the restriction on home loaded ammunition does not apply anymore and that this clause will be removed from the Arran prospectus for the 2006 season.

Andy

Andy,
will be looking foward to seeing you on the Arran stalking scheme.
The original thinking behind the "homeloads" ban was to protect us the co-ordinators when on the range.I personally do not have a problem with it and can only speak for myself, however you are next to someone on the range, and we thought it a little unfair to subject someone to the possibilities of a what could be a potential disaster.
We have just secured a new 3 year lease, so the scheme will continue til 2009.
The scheme has just finished and will re-open in Sept 2006, such has been the success that early bookings is advisable.As with all newly formed schemes there will be teething difficulties, these have been ironed out and the scheme runs well, weather is the predominant factor on the island and getting a good soaking is the norm rather than the exception. There have been weeks when the stalking has been difficult, and weeks when it has been relatively easy with deer showing themselves around every corner.This week just gone only produced 6 hinds although there several occasions when stalkers had seen in excess of 10 deer per outing, the deer seeing them first!
The first outing in January produced 18 hinds with a few deer being missed..
The original cull figure was 40 Stags and 65 hinds.
We stand at the moment with 34 Stags and 64 hinds, considering the weather and the newness of this scheme,we think we have done well!
When the scheme starts in Sept we will have it fine tuned and the results should be even better..
To all those who attended Thanks! and those that didn't " you don't know what you missed"

regards

griff

Griff

many thanks for the conciese report!

I am booked on the list already!