Shooting without a certificate

You may shoot without a shotgun certificate when a legal exemption applies and the ground allows it. These rules cover England, Wales and Scotland.

At a police-approved shoot

Section 11(6) of the Firearms Act 1968 allows a person without a shotgun certificate to use a shotgun at a time and place approved for shooting at artificial targets by the local chief officer of police.

Ask the ground whether its approval covers your session and what instruction or supervision it requires.

Borrowing on private premises

Section 11A allows a person without a certificate to borrow a shotgun on private premises to shoot artificial targets when all four conditions are met:

• The borrowing and possession must be for shooting artificial targets, hunting animals, or shooting game or vermin.
• The lender must be 18 or over, hold a certificate for the shotgun, and have the right to allow others onto the premises for hunting animals or shooting game or vermin, or written authority from someone with that right to lend the shotgun there.
• The borrower's possession and use must meet any conditions on the lender's certificate.
• During the loan, the borrower must be in the presence of the lender or another person aged 18 or over who meets the same premises-authority conditions and holds a certificate for that shotgun or another shotgun.

Section 11A replaced the former section 11(5) exemption in 2017. Bringing a friend with a certificate does not, by itself, meet these conditions.

Children

Section 22 requires a person under 15 to have supervision from someone aged 21 or over when they have an assembled shotgun with them, unless it is securely covered so it cannot be fired. People under 18 cannot purchase or hire firearms or ammunition.

Grounds may set their own minimum ages, supervision rules and booking conditions.

Buying cartridges

Under section 5 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, a customer buying shotgun cartridges usually produces a certificate for the gun. The section also provides exceptions for someone entitled by law to possess the gun without a certificate, or someone who produces another person's certificate and written authority to buy on their behalf. Dealers and businesses selling cartridges have separate provisions.

The ground's policy

A legal exemption does not require a ground to accept your booking. Each ground page separates an instructed session from shooting with a certificate-holding friend. Ask the ground to confirm permission, ages, ID and supervision before you book.

If you are unsure how the law applies to you, ask your police firearms licensing team. This guide does not decide whether you are eligible to possess or use a shotgun.

Updated October 2026