The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

The home office today announced they were removing a number of calibers from the obsolete list. The published calibers are primarily used in historic revolvers:

– .320 British (also known as .320 Revolver CF, short or long)
– .41 Colt (short or long)
– .44 Smith and Wesson Russian
– .442 Revolver (also known as .44 Webley)
– 9.4mm Dutch Revolver
– 10.6mm German Ordnance Revolver
– 11mm French Ordnance Revolver M1873 (Army)

This represents a huge loss to those interested in the exhibition, study and preservation of some very historic firearms.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gove ... M1ByAiSn8I

Shit, I've always wanted an 1873

won't do anything for crime, just means a load of guns owned will now be useless.
maybe I'll be able to pick up a cheap one now and pop it on 7.1 or 3??

As a Very small silver lining the following calibers are planned to be added to the Obsolete list:

.26 BSA (.26 Rimless Belted Nitro Express)
.33 BSA (.33 Rimless Belted Nitro Express)
.360 No 2 Nitro Express
.40 BSA (.40 Rimless Belted Nitro Express)
.400/360 2 ¾ in Nitro Express
.425 Westley Richards Magnum
.475 x 3 ¼ in Nitro Express
.475 No 2 Jeffery Nitro Express
.475 No 2 Nitro Express
.476 Nitro Express (.476 Westley Richards)
.50-90 2 ½ inch
.50-110 2.4 inch
.577 – 3 in (Black Powder & Nitro Express)
.577 – 3 ¼ in (Black Powder & Nitro Express)
6.5 x 53mm R Mannlicher (Dutch/Romanian)
8 x 56mm Mannlicher Schoenauer
8 x 58 mm R Krag
8 mm Murata
9 x 56mm Mannlicher Schoenauer
9 x 57mm R Mauser
9 x 57mm Rimless Mauser
9.5 x 57mm Mannlicher Schoenauer
8mm Roth Steyr

The full publication is here... https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... 1-2020.pdf

Ah well, that is three more rifles I could take out of the Armoury and hang on the wall if needed.

If you want the full story written by knowledgeable journalists with associated pictures - Look away now.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... legal.html

Six people were killed in 13 years (mostly criminals by criminals) with antique guns - About 40 were killed by lightening in the UK in the same period.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents states that ’30-60 people are struck by lightning each year in Britain, and on average, 3 (5-10%) of these strikes are fatal.’

So on the pictures, shotgun cartridges will become illegal!.

Does anyone know of any of the S58 items in need of a good home. I would willingly take them on, just to make sure they are not destroyed, plenty of FAC space.

The difference being that you can’t buy lightning strikes as far as I know.

I’m not surprised by the reclassification, all of these are straight walled cases and easy to make from readily available others. I always thought that .44” Russian was a bad idea and the .320” would probably take any .32”. Criminals aren’t fussy so long as it goes bang, I believe that in one case .45” ACP was used in a Dutch revolver albeit made to fit with electrical tape. Sadly the actions of one selfish RFD and a FAC holder have foisted more laws upon us. It didn't help by he BBC showing a documentary on how to buy a .44" Russian revolver in the USA and legally bring it back.

On the plus side the addition of many to s58 means that a number of classic sporting and double rifles will become available. I once had a Mannlicher in 6.5*53R but gave it up as components were getting hard to source. Now I would be able to have one as a s58 and I've always wanted a Rolling Block in 8x58R but didn't want one enough to give up an existing slot.

We have a couple of 8x58R and a 6,6x53R here along with the dies :(

Moving forward what will happen if you are the currently legitimate holder of one of the revolvers?