Are there any countries in Europe where the semi-auto isn't legal for driven boar?

In the countries where it is legal, what restrictions, if any, are placed on it?

Same question for one of the Marlin lever-action rifles chambered in .45/70?

Restrictions on sights such as maximum magnification?

Both are legal here - tho you are restricted to 2 shots with semi - no such restrictions on lever-actioned rifle.

All semi auto and pump action rifles ( other than .23rf) are illegal in the UK. Lever actions are legal but many lever action rifles don't meet velocity requirements of 2450fps to be legal for deer. We now have boar, but don't think any are driven as on the continent. As to scopes no restrictions and you can use night vision stuff as well.

Don't forget that many military calibres including the 223, 6.5x55, 7x57, 308 and 30-06 are illegal in France and Spain. And much bigger than 30-06 does raise eyebrows with licensing in the uk.

For one rifle to use throughout Europe get a good bolt action in 7x64.

In Romania,
the semi-auto is perfectly legal, is limited to only three shots, although Romanian hunters fail to consider this restriction, particularly hunters who use this type of gun for hunting birds. No restrictions on maximum magnification or any optical or electronic device.

The Fatherland is O.K. with Semi-Autos; as in some other EU countries max legal capacity for hunting semi-autos are as a 3-shooter. 2 round magazine & 1 up the spout.

Could be a real factor if the Customs Official is up on gun/hunting law and knows enough to check magazine capacity.

Can't speak for Benelli but Browning for example have different European SKU numbers for their Semi-Autos that are magazine capacity dependant; one country gets firearm delivered with 2 round magazines, the other 3, some 4, etc.

My L/H Remington 1100 that is marked Remington GmbH (= Remington Incorp.) that I purchased in the UK even has the magazine tube crimped to enforce the 2 round mag. capacity.

Only other point is the black & camo versions may raise eyebrows but for a Hunting Tourist - WTF-Over; you don't have to live here, you're on vacation.

Lever actions, specifially your Marlin query: are, in The Fatherland considered manually repeating firearms, not a Semi-Auto, no restrictions on magazine capacity. Lever-actions in 45/70 & .444 Marlin & the Marlin Magnum; especially those in their Guide series are a realtively common Drive Hunt occurance; often w/Red Dots mounted. Only drawback is having to chamber the rounds thorugh the action to unload during Drive changes. Doesn't compute on my Richter Scale but to some appears to be a factor.

As far as Optics go, there are no magnification restrictions. Red/Yellow/Green (any color) Dots & Reflex sights are O.K. Any other artificial light enhancing, gathering features such as Night Vision that IS ATTACHED BY ANY MEANS TO A FIREARM is strickly VERBOTEN.

Having said that; you can use Night Vision to view & aquire Game as a target; but it cannot be attached to the firearm to shoot.

Personally, I can't figure out the penchant for carrying the inexpensive Night Vision monoculars since - great; you can see game in almost total darkness but afterwards have to aquire the target in your standard non-light enhancing scope and still can't see to make a telling shot. Time to pack-up & go home .....

quote:

Only other point is the black & camo versions may raise eyebrows but for a Hunting Tourist - WTF-Over; you don't have to live here, you're on vacation.

This is why we are so fond of Gerry!

The reason I ask about magnification restrictions was I think I read somewhere that on driven hunts some countries had limitions on the max magnification used. For example on variable power scopes the lowest power setting couldn't be more than 2X such that a 2x12X would be legal but a 3x12X wouldn't be.

I think Poland has a requirement that scopes can be adjusted down to at least 3x.

1.5-6x42 scopes are pretty popular here on drive hunts, plus the various straight tubed options and also Aimpoint type red dot's.

Claret_Dabbler is absolutely right about driven hunt in Poland....the guide in charge checked all the scopes in our group and made sure that no one had more than 3x magnification on their scopes. So 3x magnification is Max.

Good rundown Gerry on what's allowed by law at least in the Fatherland. Funny how countries are different, none of this or that here, but next door fully allowed. Take mufflers for example One comment on NV however . . .

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
. . . Having said that; you can use Night Vision to view & aquire Game as a target; but it cannot be attached to the firearm to shoot.

Personally, I can't figure out the penchant for carrying the inexpensive Night Vision monoculars since - great; you can see game in almost total darkness but afterwards have to aquire the target in your standard non-light enhancing scope and still can't see to make a telling shot. Time to pack-up & go home .....

The object is not to sit out in pitch black all night just to gaze around but rather to get a good look at game and identify and make the call on whether to shoot or not, i.e., Bacha, etc -- but still with enough light to make the shot with normal scope. A lot of times it's not so much a question if there's enough light to shoot, the question is if you should. Some would say, well, I got a 50/50 chance, go for it or not? Or increase you odds with NV, your call Waidmannsheil, Dom.

Bill,
Yes in Poland your scope must have low of 3x for driven hunt.
Pawel