Hi to all of you in the UK. The US Air Force is sending me to RAF Alconbury this coming September. Of course, everyone I know has been giving me the "all guns are illegal in Great Britain" line.
I think I have a basic understanding of the firearms certificates, needing approval from a police examiner, having to be a member of a club and etc. from reading this part of the forum. Is the process any different for a US citizen, and what sort of time and expense can I expect? Any chance of being approved for a centerfire rifle, or will I be stuck with a shotgun or nothing at all? How do I start the process, and is there anything I can do before I arrive in country?
I'm also curious about recommendations for good clubs and ranges in the area I'm going to. Looking at the map, the base is near Alconbury and Great Stukeley, Cambridgeshire. Huntingdon is about six miles away, and Cambridge is 24 miles to the southeast. I have not done much in the way of competitive shooting, but I'm not afraid to learn.