HAND GUNS

alexam

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Malcolm
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Anyone know where Ican beg - borrow - hire 3 realistic hand guns for some shoots I am arranging in Birmingham for March, May, June and July.

I would like to shoot a 'Charlie's Angel's' set
 
have a look at the various air pistols available. There are quite a few which are very realistic looking and can be owned by anyone without a license. I don't know the prices.

I'm guessing it would be very unlikely that a gun club or RFD would let you use any real ones for props, even fully supervised.

Thanks,
Rick
 
More importantly, since the Firearms Amendment Act of 1997 pretty much banned the ownership of handguns, so in theory, other than antiques and de-acts, there shouldn't be any in private ownership.

Offtopic but please be careful how you use them, I have family who are Armed Response Vehicle crew and get called out to people using replicas. Don't forget the public generally panic when they see a gun (I know, as a former member of the Great Britain shooting team). Make sure the police know what you are doing and where, you don't want to be looking down the wrong end of a G36 if the ARVs turn up.
 
i would contact re enactment ,film or airsoft groups. these are the only ones now able to buy RIF's.
without a defence you can no longer buy RIF's they have to be horrible two tone guns.

airsofters are a good bet as there are sites all over the uk and there always a freindly bunch.
most have the same or worse craving that we do with cameras but with guns instead. so you may even get a choice of what your after.

i know from experiance as at one point i had over 12 rifles and maby 5 hand guns in my collection and have owned over 50 different guns in about 10 years with some costing as much as £1500+ .sadly i cant help you as i sold mine to fund my camera adiction.
 
Google for Airsoft - all weapons are pretty damn realistic to look at (zero one, fire support, patrol base etc etc etc).
There will definitely be a club somewhere in your area - pop along, and ask the question.
If you want them for a long term (several monthly shoots), you may be better buying a few? Approx. £100 each will secure some very realistic replicas.
 
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You have to be a UKARA member to get a realistic looking airsoft. Otherwise wherever you buy them has to paint them two tone in an almost hiving colour.

It was bought in a few years specifically to stop people getting anything that looked even remotely like a real gun.

I wouldn't recommend buying a two tone one and painting it black / removing hi vis paint as its illegal.

Best bet is to borrow under someone's supervision really.
 
I just talked to our gun magazine editor and he said that imitation is a no-no and airsoft looks pap (because of the see-through plastic casings) so you'll be better off buying air pistols, which you can own without club membership or license.

He also said that you're best off, once you've secured the guns, to inform the local coppers out of courtesy if you're doing an outdoor shoot, and also inform all neighbours and local residents.

Might be worth getting in touch with a company like Armex - they do some absolutely top-notch guns that looks the nuts and they apparently do have a shooting ground (a warehouse) in Birmingham.
 
More importantly, since the Firearms Amendment Act of 1997 pretty much banned the ownership of handguns, so in theory, other than antiques and de-acts, there shouldn't be any in private ownership.

Offtopic but please be careful how you use them, I have family who are Armed Response Vehicle crew and get called out to people using replicas. Don't forget the public generally panic when they see a gun (I know, as a former member of the Great Britain shooting team). Make sure the police know what you are doing and where, you don't want to be looking down the wrong end of a G36 if the ARVs turn up.
That's not quite right, quite a lot of us have S.5 handguns, for perfectly legitimate reasons.

But I agree with the rest of your post, it would be very risky not to let the police know exactly what's going on, where and when. There are quite a lot of (too) realistic looking airguns, often based on the colt 1911 and similar. They are probably the best choice.
 
Thanks for helping everyone, I only need them indoor for studio work and no way would they be used outdoors or anywhere else but the shoots I am arranging.

Might try the theatres, but if anyone has another suggestion, please shout. Don't feel I should buy them, but hire them, as they would be surplus to requirements after the shoots and better not left lying around.
 
If the guns are just for props hows about a toy gun, painted and made to look real, just a thought. The guns technically are probably not the main aim(pardon the pun) of the shoot so might not stand out too much.
or a BB gun

spike
 
Good thought Spike and it may come to that. I will try theatre props first because some of the shots (no pun intended) will be close ups and reality is important.
Malcolm
 
It may be worth talking to Armex, as suggested, as they're now the sole importer for Umarex air pistols, most of which are licensed from the 'real steel' manufacturer so are as realistic as you should need. I would expect them to have some demo stock around. Unfortunately we're a bit too far from you to be able to help

We work closely with our local firearms licensing unit and ARG (one recently retired member on our staff) and would completely endorse Mark's comments about keeping the police informed if you're going to be anywhere the public might see you. Also note that whatever you go for, you must use them only where you have permission.

Jonathan
 
Just buy three water pistols and spray them black. You'd have to be pretty close to tell.
 
That's not quite right, quite a lot of us have S.5 handguns, for perfectly legitimate reasons.

But I agree with the rest of your post, it would be very risky not to let the police know exactly what's going on, where and when. There are quite a lot of (too) realistic looking airguns, often based on the colt 1911 and similar. They are probably the best choice.

Sorry, you're absolutely right, for purposes of brevity I'd not gone into folks with section 5 tickets
 
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